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IRCM researcher sheds light on inconsistencies between pharmacogenomic studies

A bioinformatics expert at the IRCM, Benjamin Haibe-Kains, recently published an article stressing the importance of standardizing drug screening studies in the prestigious scientific journal Nature. The study supports the need for further development and standardization to improve the reproducibility of drug screening studies, as they are important in identifying new therapeutic agents and their potential combinations with existing drugs.

3 Dec 2013

ATN-224 inhibitor reduces tumor sizes in mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma

Many cancers have adapted to cope with high levels of immune system-produced free radicals, also referred to as reactive oxygen species, by overproducing antioxidant proteins. One of these proteins, superoxide dismutase 1, is overproduced in lung adenocarcinomas and has been implicated as a target for chemotherapy.

3 Dec 2013

Oxygen levels play critical role in determining effectiveness of anti-inflammatory drugs

A new research discovery published in the December 2013 issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology yields an important clue toward helping curb runaway inflammation. Oxygen levels play a critical role in determining the severity of the inflammatory response and ultimately the effectiveness of anti-inflammatory drugs.

3 Dec 2013

Pfizer's Polish subsidiary acquires rights to Polocard from ZF Polpharma SA

Pfizer Inc. today announced that a wholly-owned Polish subsidiary of Pfizer has acquired the rights to Polocard, a low-dose aspirin (acidum acetylsalicylicum), and the leading over-the-counter brand for heart attack prevention in Poland, from ZF Polpharma SA.

3 Dec 2013

Forest Laboratories to acquire exclusive rights in the U.S. for Saphris sublingual tablets

Forest Laboratories Holdings Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Forest Laboratories, Inc. today announced that the company is acquiring exclusive rights in the United States for Saphris (asenapine) sublingual tablets, a treatment for adult patients with schizophrenia or acute bipolar mania, from Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.

3 Dec 2013

FDA extends initial PDUFA date for Biogen Idec's review of ALPROLIX BLA

Biogen Idec announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended the initial Prescription Drug User Fee Act date for its review of the Biologics License Application (BLA) for ALPROLIX, the company's investigational long-lasting recombinant factor IX Fc fusion protein candidate for hemophilia B.

2 Dec 2013

Shire signs agreement to supply authorized generic version of Adderall XR

Shire plc, announces that its subsidiary Shire US Inc. has entered into an agreement to supply an authorized generic version of its product Adderall XR.

2 Dec 2013

Visterra secures exclusive patent license for promising dengue virus antibodies from MIT

Visterra, Inc., a developer of novel antibody therapeutics to prevent and treat major infectious diseases, today announced that it has secured an exclusive patent license from Massachusetts Institute of Technology to a family of early-stage monoclonal antibodies that target dengue virus. These antibodies were developed by MIT in the laboratory of Dr. Ram Sasisekharan, a founder of Visterra, using novel protein engineering approaches. Visterra will apply its proprietary network analysis technology to develop a human monoclonal antibody product candidate capable of broadly neutralizing all four dengue virus serotypes.

2 Dec 2013

Pharmaceutical industry in Asia to experience intensified competition

As Asia emerges as a major engine of global economic growth, the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in the region are expected to experience intensified competition. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, regional pharmaceutical sales are expected to hit USD386bn, reflecting an annual average growth rate of more than 13%.

2 Dec 2013

Cell Therapeutics gets $5 million payment from Teva for TRISENOX

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has received a $5 million milestone payment from Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. related to the achievement of a sales milestone for TRISENOX (arsenic trioxide).

2 Dec 2013

Ascend, 3M partner to develop and evaluate novel immunotherapy treatments for cancer

Ascend Biopharmaceuticals today announces that is has entered into an agreement with 3M Drug Delivery Systems to evaluate 3M’s Toll-Like Receptor 7/8 (TLR7/8) agonist 3M-051 in combination with Ascend’s proprietary cancer vaccine technology. The collaboration will support the creation and preclinical assessment of novel immunotherapy treatments to be potentially used for a number of different solid tumor types.

29 Nov 2013

American scientists introduce novel gel for sealing wounds

In first-aid situations, wounds must be quickly and effectively closed to stop blood loss and prevent infection. For treatment on arrival in a hospital, the temporary seal must be reopened, which often causes additional damage to the injured tissue. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, American scientists have now introduced a novel gel for sealing wounds. The gel can later be dissolved and gently removed.

28 Nov 2013

Modafinil in combination with antidepressants reduces severity of depression more effectively

A new study has concluded that taking the drug modafinil, typically used to treat sleep disorders, in combination with antidepressants reduces the severity of depression more effectively than taking antidepressants alone.

28 Nov 2013

Drugs delivered by nanoparticles hold promise for targeted treatment of many diseases, including cancer

Drugs delivered by nanoparticles hold promise for targeted treatment of many diseases, including cancer. However, the particles have to be injected into patients, which has limited their usefulness so far.

27 Nov 2013

Nonabsorbable antibiotics effective in eradicating CRE colonization

Orally administered, nonabsorbable antibiotics were effective in eradicating carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) colonization, according to a new study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, a publication of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

27 Nov 2013

Multivitamin supplements can reduce incidence of pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy that currently affects 6-8% of all pregnancies in Australia. Griffith Health Institute researchers have recently found that multivitamin supplements, including those that contain selenium, can reduce the incidence of PE, especially for overweight mothers.

27 Nov 2013

Typhoon survivors in Tacloban vaccinated against measles and polio

Children in Tacloban – the city hit hardest by Typhoon Haiyan – were vaccinated against measles and polio in the first phase of a mass campaign by the Government of the Philippines with support from UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and other partners. They also received Vitamin A supplements to help improve their immunity against infections.

27 Nov 2013