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Inovio signs agreement with OncoSec to sell non-DNA cancer vaccine technology

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the development of therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today that it has signed an agreement with OncoSec Medical Inc. providing for the sale to OncoSec of certain non-DNA vaccine technology and intellectual property relating to electroporation technology useful for electrochemical and cytokine based immune therapies for treating solid tumors.

17 Mar 2011

Scientist suggests breaking tangled mucus barrier can help treat cancer

Measuring the mechanical strength of cancer cell mucus layers provides clues about better ways to treat cancer, and also suggests why some cancer cells are more resistant to drugs than others, according to Kai-tak Wan, associate professor of engineering at Northeastern University, Boston, Mass.

17 Mar 2011

ACEP, Poison Control Centers raise awareness about drug poisoning dangers

New visits for drug-related poisoning in the United States continue to rise; therefore, the American College of Emergency Physicians and the American Association of Poison Control Centers are raising awareness about the dangers of drug poisoning as part of Poison Prevention Week.

17 Mar 2011

New omalizumab medication may reduce seasonal asthma attacks in children

A new anti-asthma medication dramatically reduced increases in seasonal asthma attacks in children and young adults with allergic asthma, according to a multi-institutional study involving a UT Southwestern Medical Center physician.

17 Mar 2011

Naltrexone may be effective in women with specific genetic variation

Results from a new study suggest that one of the most prescribed medications for alcohol dependence may be more effective in some people. Preliminary results show that naltrexone, one of the only medications approved for treating people with alcohol abuse problems, may only be effective in women and those with a specific genetic variation.

17 Mar 2011

Scientists to develop new universal vaccine against various flu viruses

A vaccine that helps against all types of influenza - for several years? If all goes right for Norwegian company Bionor Pharma ASA, such a vaccine could exist within a few years.

17 Mar 2011

Pharmaron signs agreement to provide Isis with nucleoside phosphoramidites up to 100 kg

Pharmaron has signed an agreement to provide Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. with nucleoside phosphoramidites at quantities up to 100 kg. Nucleoside phosphoramidites are fundamental building blocks in the production of antisense therapeutics.

17 Mar 2011

MorphoSys inks manufacturing agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim

MorphoSys AG and Boehringer Ingelheim announced today the signing of a biopharmaceutical manufacturing agreement for therapeutic antibodies. The agreement covers the process development and manufacturing of additional clinical material for MorphoSys's proprietary MOR208 program and other drug candidates. MOR208, a potent monoclonal anti-CD19 antibody, is in development for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and potentially other B-cell malignancies. The program is currently being evaluated in a phase 1 clinical trial in the USA by MorphoSys's partner Xencor Inc.

16 Mar 2011

Nukepills.com donates 50,000 potassium iodide tablets to Tokushukai Hospital in Tokyo

Approximately 50,000 potassium iodide tablets have been donated by Nukepills.com to Tokushukai Hospital in Tokyo, Japan for immediate distribution to those affected by Japan's nuclear reactor crisis.

16 Mar 2011

Shanghai ChemPartner signs outsource research service agreement with Shenogen Pharma

ShangPharma Corporation, a leading China-based pharmaceutical and biotechnology research and development outsourcing company, today announced that its wholly-owned contract research subsidiary, Shanghai ChemPartner, has signed an outsource research service agreement with Shenogen Pharma Group to develop therapeutic monoclonal antibodies targeting the ER-alpha 36 receptor for cancer treatment.

16 Mar 2011

Researchers discover 3-D structure of key biological receptor

Researchers have solved the three-dimensional structure of a key biological receptor. The finding has the potential to speed drug discovery in many areas, from arthritis to respiratory disorders to wound healing, because it enables chemists to better examine and design molecules for use in experimental drugs.

16 Mar 2011

Optimer receives U.S. patent for fidaxomicin to treat CDI

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent 7,906,489 which covers methods of Clostridium difficile infection treatment with fidaxomicin.

16 Mar 2011

Artesunate more effective against severe malaria

Quinine should no longer be the drug of choice for treating severe malaria, according to an updated systematic review by Cochrane researchers. It is now evident that the antimalarial drug artesunate, which is derived from herbs used in Chinese medicine, is more effective at preventing death in patients with severe malaria.

16 Mar 2011

Study investigates physiological changes within brain due to Prozac treatment

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) such as Prozac are regularly used to treat severe anxiety and depression. They work by immediately increasing the amount of serotonin in the brain and by causing long term changes in brain function. However it can take weeks of treatment before a patient feels any effect and both beneficial effects and side effects can persist after treatment is stopped.

16 Mar 2011

Millennium, SGEN expand ADC collaboration

Seattle Genetics, Inc. announced today that Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, has paid an undisclosed fee to exercise an option to designate a second antigen target under the parties' existing antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) collaboration.

16 Mar 2011

Gadavist approved by FDA for use in central nervous system MRI scans

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Gadavist (gadobutrol), a gadolinium-based contrast agent, for use in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the central nervous system.

16 Mar 2011

NMS announces license agreement with Novartis

Nerviano Medical Sciences, the largest pharmaceutical R&D facility in Italy and one of the leading oncology-focused, integrated discovery and development companies in Europe, today announced a license agreement with Novartis.

16 Mar 2011

Apeiron in antitumor substances deal with Cleveland Clinic

APEIRON Biologics AG announced that it has entered into an exclusive option to license from the Cleveland Clinic a number of novel compounds. These compounds are currently in development at Cleveland Clinic as drug candidates for treatment of various cancers, designed to fight cancer based on stimulation of the immune system. In preclinical models, they have shown anti-cancer activity and a favourable toxicity profile as orally available agents.

15 Mar 2011

Anavex to commence phase I clinical trial in Alzheimer’s disease

Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (“Anavex”) (OTCBB: AVXL) has announced that its clinical trial application (CTA) for ANAVEX 2-73, the company’s lead compound for Alzheimer’s disease, has been approved by the German regulatory health authority, BfArM. The Phase I trial of ANAVEX 2-73, which includes testing in healthy human volunteers, will commence immediately. In this Phase I program Anavex will assess the safety, maximally tolerated dose, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ANAVEX 2-73.

15 Mar 2011

Raymond Associates, BioNeutral enter global sales and distribution agreement for Ygiene antimicrobial technology

BioNeutral Group, Inc., a specialty life science technology-based company, today announced that it has entered into a global sales and distribution agreement with Raymond Associates LLC, a Service Connected Certified Disabled Veteran-Owned Business and executive management consulting firm.

15 Mar 2011