Small Molecules News and Research

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DNage's observational study assesses natural progression of CS in children

Biotech company Pharming Group NV ("Pharming" or "the Company") announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary DNage has initiated an observational study in children suffering from Cockayne Syndrome (CS).

17 Sep 2009

Pieris AG and Allergan sign collaboration agreement

Pieris AG today announced that they have entered into a collaboration agreement with Allergan, Inc. (NYSE: AGN) that combines Pieris' proprietary Anticalin technology with Allergan's expertise in drug delivery and ophthalmic drug development with a goal of developing agents for the treatment of serious ocular disorders.

15 Sep 2009

miR-200 supression shifts primary lung cancer to metastatic disease

Primary lung cancer shifts to metastatic disease by suppressing a family of small molecules that normally locks the tumor in a noninvasive state, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report in the Sept. 15 edition of Genes and Development.

15 Sep 2009

Alcon to acquire ESBATech AG

Alcon (NYSE:ACL) announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire ESBATech AG, a Swiss biotechnology company. Alcon will pay ESBATech shareholders $150 million in cash at closing, plus contingent payments of up to $439 million based upon the achievement of future research and development milestones that would be expected to create value for Alcon.

14 Sep 2009

Roche scientists use their xCELLigence System to analyze nutlin-induced apoptosis

The p53 tumor suppressor, a transcription factor that activates or inhibits hundreds of genes, either directly or indirectly, triggers a variety of cellular effects and plays a central role in the cellular defense against cancer. One of the main approaches for pharmacological intervention is to activate wild-type p53 in cancer cells by blocking MDM2 from binding to p53.

11 Sep 2009

Proteostasis Therapeutics to use GeneGo's MetaCore integrated software

GeneGo, Inc., the leading systems biology tools company, announced today that Proteostasis Therapeutics has licensed its data mining and analysis platform, MetaCore. Proteostasis Therapeutics is the first company dedicated to the discovery of novel small molecule therapeutics based upon understanding the body's Proteostasis Network. The Proteostasis Network maintains the body's natural balance of proteins to protect us from numerous diseases.

8 Sep 2009

Reversible cell-specific drug delivery with aptamer-functionalized liposomes

For cancer drug developers, finding an agent that kills tumor cells is only part of the equation. The drug also must spare healthy cells, and ideally its effects will be reversible to cut short any potentially dangerous side effects. Investigators from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign report that they have assembled a new cancer drug delivery system that, in cell culture, achieves all of the above.

7 Sep 2009

microRNAs analysis could detect pancreatic cancer

A blood test for small molecules abnormally expressed in pancreatic cancer may be a promising route to early detection of the disease, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report in the September edition of the journal Cancer Prevention Research.

5 Sep 2009

Celgene to collaborate with PTC on advancing drug discovery efforts

PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (PTC) today announced that Celgene Corporation has exercised its option to collaborate on advancing drug discovery efforts on an oncology target addressed through the application of PTC's GEMS(TM) (Gene Expression Modulation by Small-molecules) technology.

3 Sep 2009

PTC Therapeutics collaborates with Roche for developing bioavailable small molecules

PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (PTC) today announced an exclusive research collaboration and licensing agreement with Roche for the development of orally bioavailable small molecules utilizing PTC's technology called Gene Expression Modulation by Small-molecules (GEMS(TM)).

3 Sep 2009

TransPharma's Phase 2A trial of ViaDerm-hPTH(1-34) for treating severe osteoporosis is successful

TransPharma Medical Ltd., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of drug products utilizing a proprietary active transdermal drug delivery technology, announced today the successful completion of the Phase 2A trial of ViaDerm-hPTH(1-34) which is being developed for the treatment of severe osteoporosis.

1 Sep 2009

Researchers devise a live cell morphological profiling approach using the xCELLigence RTCA System

The extent to which protein targets are modulated by drugs or small molecule compounds depends on a number of factors, including the expression levels of the target, the effective concentration of the compound, and the time needed for the compound to perturb the target. To address these restrictions, researchers Abassi et al. (1) have devised a live cell morphological profiling approach for dynamic monitoring of the effect of small molecule compounds that was based on impedance measurement of cells with the xCELLigence RTCA System of Roche Applied Science.

27 Aug 2009

Scientists to discuss effective treatments for serious diseases at Functional Genomics/Chemical Biology conference

A cure for cystic fibrosis, HIV-fighting 'Trojan horses', new pharmaceuticals from the ocean. Chemical biologists use new and innovative approaches to discover medications of the future. On 24 August, some of the field's most prominent researchers will attend an international conference in Gothenburg, Sweden.

24 Aug 2009

Researchers develop new ways for splitting dangerous pair of cancer proteins

A research team led by U of T Mississauga scientists has developed a new way to split up a dangerous pair of cancer proteins, a finding that could ultimately lead to chemotherapy that is more effective and has fewer side effects.

21 Aug 2009

Shape-changing in proteins opens new avenue for drug discovery

Computational biologists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have shown that proteins have an intrinsic ability to change shape, and this is required for their biological activity. This shape-changing also allows the small molecules that are attracted to a given protein to select the structure that permits the best binding. That premise could help in drug discovery and in designing compounds that will have the most impact on protein function to better treat a host of diseases.

20 Aug 2009

PTC Therapeutics achieves milestone in Schering-Plough hepatitis C collaboration

PTC Therapeutics, Inc. (PTC) today announced that it has reached a major research milestone in its collaboration with Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) receiving a $2 million payment in connection with the designation of a development candidate for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

11 Aug 2009

New class of molecules capable of blocking formation of tau protein fibrils

A new class of molecules capable of blocking the formation of specific protein clumps that are believed to contribute to Alzheimer’s disease pathology has been discovered by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. By assaying close to 300,000 compounds, they have identified drug-like inhibitors of AD tau protein clumping, as reported in the journal Biochemistry.

11 Aug 2009

Chemists rationally design inhibitors against an RNA molecule that causes myotonic muscular dystrophy

Chemists at the University at Buffalo have used rational drug design to synthesize small, cell-permeable molecules that are effective in vitro against two common types of myotonic muscular dystrophy, a result that has implications for potentially curing muscular dystrophy, as well as other diseases.

9 Aug 2009

Reversible cell-specific drug delivery with aptamer-functionalized liposomes

For cancer drug developers, finding an agent that kills tumor cells is only part of the equation. The drug must also spare healthy cells, and - ideally - its effects will be reversible, to cut short any potentially dangerous side effects.

6 Aug 2009

Dynamic, 3D pattern formation within protein-based gel

Modern regenerative medicine is on the lookout for implantable materials that can change as the surrounding tissue does, and two Stanford University researchers have made some new gel materials that do just that. Karin Straley and Professor Sarah Heilshorn have developed a method for preparing protein-based implant materials that can evolve with the changing needs of the host biological system. Not only can their new materials change in different ways at different times, they can do so at different places within the implant materials.

31 Jul 2009