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Proteins are complex molecules that are made up of amino acids. They can be found in every cell in the body, and carry out vital processes that keep human beings alive. Mutations in proteins can lead to a multitude of diseases, the most common being cancer.

Arzerra drug approved by FDA for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Arzerra (ofatumumab) for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a slowly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow.

27 Oct 2009

FDA approves Berinert for adults and adolescents with HAE

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Berinert, the first treatment for acute abdominal attacks and facial swelling associated with a rare and potentially life-threatening genetic disease called hereditary angioedema (HAE).

27 Oct 2009

Innovative approach to build a new drug to treat a number of CNS diseases

Working like an architect, Prof. Hagit Eldar-Finkelman of Tel Aviv University's Sackler School of Medicine is "building" a new drug, L803-MTS, to treat a number of central nervous system (CNS) diseases like Alzheimer's. In pre-clinical studies, it also shows promise against Parkinson's, Huntington's and diabetes.

27 Oct 2009

National Cancer Institute awards Johns Hopkins $14.8 million for cancer research

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Institute for NanoBioTechnology have been awarded $14.8 million from the National Cancer Institute to launch a research center aimed at unraveling the physical underpinnings of the growth and spread of cancer.

26 Oct 2009

Phase 2a clinical trial in nonsense mutation hemophilia A and hemophilia B initiated

PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (PTC) today announced it is expanding the development of ataluren, an investigational new drug, to a third indication with the initiation of a Phase 2a clinical trial in nonsense mutation hemophilia A (nmHA) and hemophilia B (nmHB).

26 Oct 2009

Overview of Compugen’s DAC Blockers Platform presented at Fifth Peptide Engineering Meeting

Speaking today in Barcelona at the Fifth Peptide Engineering Meeting, Compugen Ltd. project manager Dr. Yossef Kliger provided an overview of Compugen’s DAC Blockers Platform and reviewed disease model data for selected product candidates.

26 Oct 2009

Enzyme Mst3b is essential for regenerating damaged axons in live animal model, say researchers

Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston report that an enzyme known as Mst3b, previously identified in their lab, is essential for regenerating damaged axons (nerve fibers) in a live animal model, in both the peripheral and central nervous systems.

26 Oct 2009

Novel protein responsible for changing DNA structure and silencing the expression of genes identified

A study published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) by a team of scientists headed by Professors Hélène Bierne and Pascale Cossart from the Pasteur Institute, in collaboration with colleagues form the CNRS and the French Agricultural Research Institute (INRA), identified a novel protein, BAHD1, which is responsible for changing DNA structure and silencing the expression of genes.

26 Oct 2009

Potential link exists between histone mRNA formation and apoptosis

A study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has identified a key player in a molecular process essential for DNA replication within cells.

26 Oct 2009

Cancer cells fueled by the mutant KRAS oncogene can be killed by blocking its genetic partner

Cancer cells fueled by the mutant KRAS oncogene, which makes them notoriously difficult to treat, can be killed by blocking a more vulnerable genetic partner of KRAS, report scientists at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT.

26 Oct 2009

New urine tests may help predict kidney problems post surgery

Two studies presented at this week's Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists offer new information as to how physicians might better determine which surgical patients may be at risk for developing kidney injury after surgery.

26 Oct 2009

Scientists discover new way to help save lives threatened by traumatic injuries

A discovery by scientists at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation could help save lives threatened by traumatic injuries like those sustained in car crashes or on the battlefield. The work also holds potential for treating severe infectious diseases and diabetes.

26 Oct 2009

Study: High protein levels are associated with heart attack and not stroke

People with high levels of a protein called C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker for inflammation in the blood, may be at higher risk for heart attack and death but not stroke, according to a study published in the October 20, 2009, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

26 Oct 2009

APC enzyme may be effective for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

A chemical cousin of a drug currently used to treat sepsis dramatically slows the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, in mice. The results offer a bit of good news in efforts to develop a therapy to stop or slow the progression of a disease that generally kills its victims within just a few years.

26 Oct 2009

DaVita to demonstrate clinical outcomes, patient care and nutrition through 43 abstracts

DaVita Inc., a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), in conjunction with DaVita Clinical Research®, today announced that company representatives will deliver 43 abstracts—40 posters and three oral presentations—at this year’s American Society of Nephrology’s (ASN) Renal Week to be held in San Diego, Calif., from Oct. 27 – Nov. 1, 2009.

24 Oct 2009

Emodin raises hope for treatment of fibrotic liver diseases

In the last decade, advances in the understanding of genes promoting hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation are impressive. However, there are few breakthroughs in therapeutic intervention of hepatic fibrogenesis. Efficient and well-tolerated antifibrotic drugs are lacking and current treatment of hepatic fibrosis is limited to withdrawal of the noxious agent. Research identifying innocuous antifibrotic agents is of high priority and urgently needed.

24 Oct 2009

Modified NAGA: New enzyme for enzyme replacement therapy

A new study uses a creative structure-based remodeling strategy to design a therapeutic protein that exhibits significant advantages over currently available treatments for a rare disease that often leads to cardiac and renal failure. The research, published by Cell Press on October 22nd in the American Journal of Human Genetics, describes a new and highly promising candidate for enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for Fabry disease.

23 Oct 2009

Findings may lead to new vaccine strategies for pulmonary tularemia

Immunologists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and the have found a unique quirk in the way the immune system fends off bacteria called Francisella tularensis, which could lead to vaccines that are better able to prevent tularemia infection of the lungs. Their findings were published today in the early, online version of Immunity.

23 Oct 2009

Medgenics signs $7 million agreement to develop the Biopump technology for Factor VIII

Medgenics is pleased to announce that it has signed a preclinical development and option agreement with a major international biopharmaceutical company that is a market leader in the field of hemophilia.

23 Oct 2009

Archexin has potential to target and treat multiple life-threatening cancers, finds new study

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage pharmaceutical company commercializing potential best in class oncology and central nervous system (CNS) therapeutics, today announced the results of an animal study that further demonstrates the company’s Phase II oncology drug, Archexin™, as having the potential to target and treat multiple life-threatening cancers.

23 Oct 2009

Protein News and Research

Further Reading

Arzerra drug approved by FDA for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia

FDA approves Berinert for adults and adolescents with HAE

Innovative approach to build a new drug to treat a number of CNS diseases

National Cancer Institute awards Johns Hopkins $14.8 million for cancer research

Phase 2a clinical trial in nonsense mutation hemophilia A and hemophilia B initiated

Overview of Compugen’s DAC Blockers Platform presented at Fifth Peptide Engineering Meeting

Enzyme Mst3b is essential for regenerating damaged axons in live animal model, say researchers

Novel protein responsible for changing DNA structure and silencing the expression of genes identified

Potential link exists between histone mRNA formation and apoptosis

Cancer cells fueled by the mutant KRAS oncogene can be killed by blocking its genetic partner

New urine tests may help predict kidney problems post surgery

Scientists discover new way to help save lives threatened by traumatic injuries

Study: High protein levels are associated with heart attack and not stroke

APC enzyme may be effective for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

DaVita to demonstrate clinical outcomes, patient care and nutrition through 43 abstracts

Emodin raises hope for treatment of fibrotic liver diseases

Modified NAGA: New enzyme for enzyme replacement therapy

Findings may lead to new vaccine strategies for pulmonary tularemia

Medgenics signs $7 million agreement to develop the Biopump technology for Factor VIII

Archexin has potential to target and treat multiple life-threatening cancers, finds new study

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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