Lymphoma News and Research

RSS

Lymphoma is cancer that begins in cells of the immune system. There are two basic categories of lymphomas. One kind is Hodgkin lymphoma, which is marked by the presence of a type of cell called the Reed-Sternberg cell. The other category is non-Hodgkin lymphomas, which includes a large, diverse group of cancers of immune system cells. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas can be further divided into cancers that have an indolent (slow-growing) course and those that have an aggressive (fast-growing) course. These subtypes behave and respond to treatment differently. Both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas can occur in children and adults, and prognosis and treatment depend on the stage and the type of cancer.

Pfizer to commence Phase 3 trial of oral c-Met and ALK inhibitor

Pfizer Oncology announced today that it will initiate a global, Phase 3 clinical trial of its investigational oral c-Met and ALK inhibitor, PF-02341066, versus standard of care chemotherapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) carrying the ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinases) fusion gene, who have progressed on one prior treatment with a platinum-based chemotherapy.

26 Sep 2009

European CHMP recommends Merck's JANUVIA and JANUMET as add-on to insulin

Merck & Co., Inc., which operates in many countries as Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), has received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s (EMEA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for JANUVIA® tablets and JANUMET® tablets recommending their use as add-on to insulin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

26 Sep 2009

Non-AIDS-defining malignancies more prevalent among HIV-infected patients than non-HIV patients

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that non-AIDS-defining malignancies such as anal and lung cancer have become more prevalent among HIV-infected patients than non-HIV patients since the introduction of anti-retroviral therapies in the mid-1990s.

25 Sep 2009

Folotyn approved for the treatment of Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Folotyn (pralatrexate), the first treatment for a form of cancer known as Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma (PTCL), an often aggressive type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

25 Sep 2009

Scientist reveals that selecting optimal radiation dosage for a patient is possible

An international group of scientists has taken the first step on the road to targeting radiotherapy dosage to individual patients by means of their genetic characteristics, a radiation oncologist told Europe's largest cancer congress, ECCO 15 - ESMO 34, in Berlin today (Thursday September 24). Professor Dirk de Ruysscher, from Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands, said that his team's work might provide the basis for personalised radiotherapy in which, with a simple blood test, doctors may be able to select the optimal radiation dose for a particular patient.

24 Sep 2009

ESMO recognises outstanding achievements of leading cancer specialists

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) has recognized the outstanding achievements of three leading cancer specialists with its three prestigious annual awards: the 2009 ESMO Award, Hamilton Fairley Award and ESMO Lifetime Achievement Award.

23 Sep 2009

Leading oncology experts to discuss management of hematological malignancies

Oncology experts from leading cancer organizations from around the country, including the John Theurer Cancer Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, the Mayo Clinic, Dana Farber Cancer Institute and the National Cancer Institute, will discuss trends in patient care, novel therapies through clinical trials and emerging concepts in the management of hematological malignancies.

23 Sep 2009

Investigative drug hampers the survival of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cells

An investigative drug deprived non-Hodgkin lymphoma cells of their ability to survive too long and multiply too fast, according to an early study published recently in the journal Experimental Hematology.

22 Sep 2009

FBC Acquisition commences tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of Facet Biotech

Biogen Idec Inc. (NASDAQ:BIIB) announced today that FBC Acquisition Corp., its wholly owned subsidiary, has commenced a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Facet Biotech Corporation (NASDAQ:FACT) for $14.50 per share in cash, in furtherance of its previously announced acquisition proposal. The tender offer is scheduled to expire at 12:00 midnight, ET, on October 19, 2009, unless extended or terminated.

22 Sep 2009

Interim data from Micromet's T-cell engaging BiTE antibody study for treating solid tumors

Micromet, Inc. (Nasdaq: MITI), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases, today presented first interim data from a phase 1 dose-escalation clinical study for BiTE antibody MT110, the first T-cell engaging antibody for the treatment of solid tumors.

22 Sep 2009

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services requests BioCryst for proposal for peramivir supply

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: BCRX) today announced that it has received a request for proposal (RFP) from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) for the supply of intravenous (i.v) peramivir for the treatment of critically ill influenza patients under Emergency Use Authorization (EUA).

21 Sep 2009

HHS awards $77.2 million contract to BioCryst to complete Phase 3 development of peramivir

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: BCRX) today announced that it has been awarded a $77.2 million contract modification by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to complete Phase 3 development of its influenza neuraminidase inhibitor, intravenous (i.v.) peramivir, for the treatment of complicated influenza.

21 Sep 2009

Results of Phase 1 study of Oral AEZS-112 announced by Aeterna Zentaris

Æterna Zentaris Inc. (TSX: AEZ; Nasdaq: AEZS) ("the Company"), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on endocrine therapy and oncology, today announced the completion of a Phase 1 study of its orally-active tubulin and topoisomerase II inhibitor compound, AEZS-112, in patients with advanced solid tumors or lymphoma, which may potentially provide a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of cancer.

21 Sep 2009

Today's selection of opinions and editorials

There's enough wrong with the Baucus proposal as it stands to make it unworkable and unacceptable. But that said, Senator Baucus's mark is better than many of us expected. If it serves as a basis for negotiation, and the result of those negotiations is a plan that's stronger, not weaker, reformers are going to have to make some hard choices about the degree of disappointment they're willing to live with (Paul Krugman, 9/17).

21 Sep 2009

Pfizer Oncology to present early-stage research of investigational agents for cancer treatment

Pfizer Oncology will present data from across its portfolio, including results from long-term follow-up of Aromasin® (exemestane tablets) in a study of early breast cancer, updated study results from a Phase 3 study of Sutent® (sunitinib malate) in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET), and early-stage research of investigational agents PF-02341066 and figitumumab (CP-751,871) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

19 Sep 2009

Millennium's sNDA for VELCADE granted priority review by the FDA

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted priority review to the Company’s supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for VELCADE. The sNDA contains long-term overall survival (OS) data from the landmark VISTA trial examining the use of VELCADE based therapy in patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma (MM).

19 Sep 2009

Pharmacyclics announces financial results for fourth quarter and FY 2009

Pharmacyclics, Inc. today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2009. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 Pharmacyclics incurred a GAAP net loss of $5.4 million, or $0.20 per share, compared to a net loss of $4.6 million, or $0.18 per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

18 Sep 2009

Seegene awarded patent in the U.S. and Europe for Annealing Control Primer

Seegene, Inc., a leader in multi-pathogen diagnostic testing, today announced that it has been awarded patent in the U.S. and Europe for Annealing Control Primer (ACP), a new technology for amplifying a specific region of a gene with much higher specificity and reproducibility than conventional approaches.

17 Sep 2009

Weis Markets to hold low-cost flu shot program

Beginning this month, Weis Markets will hold more than 100 low-cost flu shot clinics in its Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia stores. In addition, as part of its WEISCARE Adult Immunization program, many Weis Markets' pharmacies will offer flu shots as an on-going service.

17 Sep 2009

Genentech releases Phase III PRIMA study findings

Genentech, Inc., a wholly-owned member of the Roche Group and Biogen Idec, today announced that a Phase III study (PRIMA) showed that patients with follicular lymphoma who continued receiving Rituxan (rituximab) alone after responding to Rituxan and chemotherapy lived longer without their disease worsening (progression-free survival or PFS) than those who did not continue to receive Rituxan.

17 Sep 2009