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FDA accepts Sangamo's IND for repeat-dosing in Phase 1 clinical trial of SB-728-T ZFN-based therapeutic

Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: SGMO) announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed and accepted an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to initiate an open-label, repeat-dosing Phase 1 clinical trial (SB-728-T-902) of the company's ZFN-based therapeutic, SB-728-T. A single dose Phase 1 clinical study of SB-728-T was initiated in February 2009 and is ongoing at the University of Pennsylvania.

23 Sep 2009

New drug test promises to yield quick and effective response for cancer therapy

A group of scientists from Hamburg may have taken a big step towards more effective cancer drug development, Europe's largest cancer congress, ECCO 15 - ESMO 34 [1], heard today (Wednesday 23 September). Dr Ilona Schonn, Director of Cell Culture Research at Indivumed GmbH, told the conference that they had developed a preclinical drug test platform that would enable researchers to analyse tumour tissue for individual patient drug responses on the molecular level.

23 Sep 2009

SEA technology to increase potency of monoclonal antibodies

Seattle Genetics, Inc. announced today the introduction of its sugar engineered antibody (SEA) technology, a novel approach to increasing the potency of monoclonal antibodies through enhanced effector function. The technology will be presented today by Dennis Benjamin, Ph.D., Senior Director, Chemistry, during the Americas Antibody Congress being held in Washington, DC.

23 Sep 2009

Preclinical data on Protalix Biotherapeutics' antiTNF released

Protalix Biotherapeutics, Inc., reported today preclinical data on pr-antiTNF, a biosimilar version of etanercept (Enbrel). Produced using the Company’s proprietary ProCellEx technology, pr-antiTNF is a plant cell expressed recombinant fusion protein made from the soluble form of the human TNF receptor (TNFR), fused to the Fc component of a human antibody IgG1 domain. Pr-antiTNF has an identical amino acid sequence to Enbrel.

23 Sep 2009

Biotime's new subsidiary to focus on clinical development and marketing therapeutic stem cell products in China

BioTime, Inc. (OTCBB:BTIM) announced today that it will organize a new subsidiary, BioTime Asia, Limited, for the purpose of clinically developing and marketing therapeutic stem cell products in the People’s Republic of China, and marketing stem cell research products in China and other countries in Asia.

23 Sep 2009

Update from Advanced Cell on pre-clinical activities for its RPE cell program

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc. (Advanced Cell, ACT) (OTC: ACTC) provided an update on pre-clinical activities in preparation of its first IND filing with the Food and Drug Administration for its retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell program for the treatment of various eye diseases.

23 Sep 2009

Gamma Medica-Ideas closes $24 million financing to support digital technologies

Gamma Medica-Ideas, Inc. ("GMI"), a leading developer of digital molecular imaging systems, announced today that it had closed a $24 million financing, the company's first institutional round, in order to support continued growth of the company's proprietary digital SPECT, PET and CT technologies in current and new markets.

23 Sep 2009

Obesity can increase cancer incidence in leukemic children

Obesity is an important factor contributing to chemotherapy resistance and increasing relapse rates among children with leukemia, according to recent findings published online first in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

23 Sep 2009

GeoVax requests FDA meeting to discuss IND for its therapeutic HIV/AIDS vaccine

GeoVax Labs, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: GOVX) (the "Company"), an Atlanta-based, biopharmaceutical company developing human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and other infectious agents, today announced that it has requested a pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to discuss a proposed IND for GeoVax's therapeutic vaccine as a treatment for individuals infected with HIV/AIDS.

22 Sep 2009

Mathematical model of an ischemic wound

Scientists expect a new mathematical model of chronic wound healing could replace intuition with clear guidance on how to test treatment strategies in tackling a major public-health problem.

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

Neurodegenerative disorders are the second-leading cause of early-onset dementia, says report

Neurodegenerative disorders called frontotemporal dementias (FTD) are the second-leading cause of early-onset dementia in persons under age 65 and can emerge sometimes as early as age 20.

21 Sep 2009

Nanoviricides and Southern Research sign agreement to test anti-Influenza and anti-HIV drug candidates

NanoViricides, Inc. (OTC BB: NNVC.OB) (the "Company"), reported today that it has signed a “Master Service Agreement” with the Southern Research Institute (“Southern Research”), Birmingham, AL. Southern Research is a well established, prestigious institution that has performed preclinical testing services for several vaccines and antivirals.

21 Sep 2009

Phase 1 clinical trial results evaluating ARIAD's investigational mTOR inhibitor ridaforolimus

ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARIA) today announced data from a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating oral ridaforolimus, its investigational mTOR inhibitor, in combination with bevacizumab (Avastin®) in heavily pretreated patients with refractory metastatic solid tumors. The data were presented at the Joint Multidisciplinary Congress of the 15th annual European Cancer Organization (ECCO) and the 34th annual European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) taking place in Berlin, Germany.

21 Sep 2009

NIAID awards DOR BioPharma a $9M grant to develop thermostable and rapidly acting vaccines

DOR BioPharma, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: DORB) (DOR or the Company), a late-stage biotechnology company, announced today that it has been awarded an approximate $9.4 Million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

21 Sep 2009

Increasing the half life of proteins to treat diseases such as hepatitis B

Many biopharmaceuticals comprise small proteins that are quickly eliminated from the body. Scientists at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) combine such small proteins with a kind of molecular balloon that swells and thus prolongs the half-life of the proteins in the body. The TUM spin-off XL-Protein GmbH has now started to further develop this new technology with blockbuster potential.

21 Sep 2009

Wyeth and Ambrx collaborate to produce the next generation of biologic drugs

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE) and Ambrx Inc. today announced the formation of a worldwide alliance to discover, develop, and commercialize protein drug candidates for three undisclosed targets in multiple therapeutic areas. The alliance will capitalize on Ambrx's recent breakthroughs in applying its protein medicinal chemistry platform to proteins produced in mammalian cells such as antibodies and antibody-toxin conjugates.

19 Sep 2009

Biopharmaceutical company announces initial public offering

Omeros Corporation today announced the launch of its initial public offering of 6.82 million shares of its common stock. Omeros is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering, developing and commercializing products focused on inflammation and disorders of the central nervous system.

18 Sep 2009

JPO to grant patent from the Tuschl III patent series

Regulus Therapeutics Inc., Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISIS), announced today that the Japan Patent Office (JPO) has notified the Max Planck Society of its intent to grant a patent from the Tuschl III patent series (JP Application Number 2003-532675).

18 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