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Novel bipartite gene therapy for retinitis pigmentosa

In a paper published in the October 2011 issue of Experimental Biology and Medicine, a team of researchers at Columbia University Medical Center led by Stephen Tsang, MD, Ph.D have achieved temporary functional preservation of photoreceptors in a mouse model for retinitis pigmentosa (RP) using novel bipartite gene therapy.

1 Oct 2011

Sagene completes SPI-1972 pre-IND meeting with FDA for erectile dysfunction

Sagene Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing combinations of FDA-approved drugs to treat diseases associated with aging, has completed a pre-IND meeting with the Division of Reproductive and Urologic Products of the FDA to discuss the development plan for SPI-1972, a dual-action combination treatment for erectile dysfunction.

9 Sep 2011

Glenmark commences Revamilast Phase IIb trial in chronic inflammatory disorders

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals today announced that its Novel Chemical Entity "Revamilast" (GRC 4039) has initiated Phase IIb human dose range finding trials globally. Revamilast is an orally active, potent and selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE 4) that is currently being developed by Glenmark for the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders such as Asthma, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory diseases.

10 Aug 2011

Anacor Pharmaceuticals initiates AN2728, AN2898 Phase 2 trial in mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis

Anacor Pharmaceuticals announced today that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase 2 trial of AN2728 and AN2898 to determine safety, tolerability and efficacy of the two compounds for the topical treatment of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis.

18 May 2011

biocrea and Pfizer jointly presented details on novel PDE10 inhibitors

biocrea, a biopharmaceutical company focusing on novel treatments for disorders of the central nervous system (CNS), today reported details on the design and synthesis of novel, brain-penetrating phosphodiesterase-10 (PDE10) inhibitors developed in collaboration with Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE). The data were featured in joint presentations1 with Pfizer at the recent 241st ACS National Meeting & Exposition, an event organized by the American Chemical Society (ACS).

10 May 2011

New insight into Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Armed with a zebrafish model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and a library of 1,200 chemicals already approved for human use, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have identified a compound that reverses the loss of muscle structure and function associated with DMD, seemingly by compensating for the loss of a critical protein.

19 Mar 2011

FDA approves roflumilast to treat COPD

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved roflumilast, a pill taken daily to decrease the frequency of flare-ups or worsening of symptoms from severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

1 Mar 2011

New drug approved for COPD by the FDA

The U.S. FDA has approved a new treatment for people with worsening symptoms of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD affects smokers and the elderly and leads to severe difficulty in breathing, chronic cough and excessive mucus production. An exacerbation can last up to several weeks and result in a decline in lung function and increased risk of death, and it may be associated with severe anxiety, the FDA says.

1 Mar 2011

Preliminary results from Phase 1b/2a trial of MediciNova's ibudilast in opioid addicts announced

Drug addiction investigators with joint appointments at Columbia University Medical Center and the New York State Psychiatric Institute along with MediciNova Inc, a biopharmaceutical company publicly traded on the Nasdaq Global Market and the Jasdaq Market of the Osaka Securities Exchange, today reported preliminary results of the company's neurological drug candidate, ibudilast (MN-166/AV411), in a Phase 1b/2a trial in opioid addicts. The study was largely funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) with MediciNova supplementation.

14 Dec 2010

Forest Laboratories second quarter net sales increase 7.7% to $1,037.3 million

Forest Laboratories, Inc., an international pharmaceutical manufacturer and marketer, announced that diluted earnings per share equaled $1.00 in the second quarter of fiscal 2011.

19 Oct 2010

Palatin reports positive results from bremelanotide Phase 1 trial for sexual dysfunction

Palatin Technologies, Inc. today announced positive results of a Phase 1 clinical trial of subcutaneously administered bremelanotide, its melanocortin agonist drug candidate for treatment of male erectile dysfunction (ED) and female sexual dysfunction (FSD). The results demonstrate that with subcutaneous administration consistent therapeutic blood plasma levels can be obtained without sustained clinically significant blood pressure effects and support the continued development of bremelanotide.

17 Aug 2010

Mediomics receives additional $460,000 in STTR Phase II grant for PINCER protein assay development

Mediomics, LLC has received an additional $460,000 in a renewal of its 2nd year STTR Phase II grant (R42GM079891) from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Since 2007, Mediomics has received over one million dollars of STTR funding to develop its quick and sensitive homogenous PINCER™ protein assay. The major goal of the second year project is to further increase the sensitivity of the biosensor.

28 Jul 2010

CombinatoRx reports $41.3M total revenue for first-quarter 2010

CombinatoRx, Incorporated today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

6 May 2010

Synergistic interactions of A2A Agonist and PDE Inhibitors as adjunctive therapy to GC for treating MM

“Glucocorticoids are a key component of combination therapy regimens in multiple myeloma and other hematological cancers. However, glucocorticoid use comes with substantial dose limiting toxicities. The ability to enhance glucocorticoid dependent effects while sparing associated toxicities may have important implications for the treatment of multiple myeloma and other B-cell malignancies”

15 Apr 2010

Clinical utility and pharmacological action of MN-166 in treatment of MS

MediciNova, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company publicly traded on the Nasdaq Global Market and the Hercules Market of the Osaka Securities Exchange, today reported that this week's issue of Neurology includes two articles related to the potential clinical utility and unique pharmacological action of MN-166 in treating multiple sclerosis (MS).

3 Apr 2010

Convergence between EDC and RTSM solutions simplifies workflow management

Perceptive Informatics, a leading eClinical solutions provider and a subsidiary of PAREXEL International Corporation (Nasdaq: PRXL), today introduced unique product convergence between its DataLabs® EDC solution and ClinPhone® Randomization and Trial Supply Management (RTSM) technologies.

From Parexel 10 Dec 2009

Once-a-day dosing clinical study of udenafil for erectile dysfunction completed

Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Dong-A PharmTech, Co. Ltd. announced today that it has completed a 240 patient once-a-day dosing clinical study of udenafil, its new long acting phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor for erectile dysfunction (ED).

19 Nov 2009

Discovery of molecular pathway in brain may reverse cognitive impact of sleep deprivation

A research collaboration led by biologists and neuroscientists at the University of Pennsylvania has found a molecular pathway in the brain that is the cause of cognitive impairment due to sleep deprivation.

27 Oct 2009

Milestone reached in Biotie Wyeth collaboration for the development of PDE10 inhibitors for schizophrenia

Biotie announced today that it has reached a milestone in its collaboration with Wyeth for the development of PDE10 (phosphodiesterase 10) inhibitors for schizophrenia, triggering a USD 1.0 million milestone payment to Biotie.

28 Aug 2009

Results of Phase IIb dose range finding of oglemilast in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease announced

Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals S.A. (Switzerland), a wholly owned subsidiary of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals India (GPL) today announced top-line results from a Phase IIb dose range-finding study of oglemilast in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Once-daily treatment with oglemilast did not show a statistically meaningful increase from baseline compared to placebo in the primary endpoint trough FEV1, a measure of pulmonary function that is decreased in patients with COPD. Oglemilast was well tolerated at all doses studied.

19 Aug 2009