Cancer News and Research

Latest Cancer News and Research

Novel mutation in gene encoding ankyrin-B increases risk of type 2 diabetes

Alterations in our response to the taste or smell of food may be another culprit responsible for Type 2 diabetes, according to scientists at Duke University Medical Center who have identified the specific mechanism in human specimens and in mice.

12 Mar 2010

TGen, Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center and Side-Out Foundation team up for breast cancer study

Many women live with breast cancer that does not respond to standard medical treatment, a condition that researchers at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center at Scottsdale Healthcare want to change by aggressively targeting specific genes.

12 Mar 2010

Does Medicare 'doughnut hole' spur increase in foreign drug imports?

Medill Reports: "Unless federal legislation closes the Medicare coverage gap colloquially known as the 'doughnut hole,' seniors may opt for online drug imports to alleviate steep prescription costs. ... 'As seniors start falling into the doughnut hole, they are going online to find deals on prescription drugs, whether they're based in the U.S. or in other countries,' said Gabriel Levitt, vice president of PharmacyChecker.com LLC, a leader in the evaluation of online and mail-order pharmacies in both the U.S. and abroad.

12 Mar 2010

In addition to anal and cervical cancer, HPV can also cause head and neck cancer

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the causative agent responsible for most cases of cervical cancer, but is also associated with several other types of cancer.

12 Mar 2010

Azur Pharma to acquire PRIALT analgesic therapy from Elan Pharmaceuticals

Azur Pharma Limited today announced it has signed a definitive agreement with Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (a subsidiary of Elan Corporation, plc) to acquire the analgesic therapy, PRIALT(R) (ziconotide intrathecal infusion).

12 Mar 2010

OXiGENE signs definitive agreement to sell Common Stock

OXiGENE, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics to treat cancer and eye diseases, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with certain institutional investors to sell 6,578,945 shares of its Common Stock and separate series of warrants to purchase Common Stock in a private placement.

12 Mar 2010

Study questions frequency of heart angiograms

A recent study raises questions about the frequency of doctors' use of elective heart angiograms, which showed no disease in almost 40 percent of patients. BusinessWeek reports: "Doctors may be sending patients too quickly for elective angiograms to detect heart disease, exposing them to radiation and driving up U.S. health-care costs, a study suggests.

12 Mar 2010

PSA test is still the best option for diagnosing prostate cancer

When it comes to the documented 40 percent effectiveness of PSA testing in preventing death from prostate cancer, neither the American Cancer Society nor the discoverer of the PSA protein, Richard Ablin, are telling the public the complete story.

12 Mar 2010

Abbott's sNDA for new six-month 45-mg formulation of Lupron Depot: FDA accepts for review

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted for review the supplemental new drug application (sNDA) of a new six-month 45-mg formulation of Lupron® Depot (leuprolide acetate for depot suspension) for use in the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Palliative treatment helps to relieve symptoms associated with advanced prostate cancer.

12 Mar 2010

Watson Pharmaceuticals' TRELSTAR receives FDA approval for treatment of advanced prostate cancer

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of TRELSTAR® 22.5 mg (triptorelin pamoate for injectable suspension), a new twice-yearly formulation of TRELSTAR®, a proven, simple and effective palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

11 Mar 2010

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center recommends colonoscopy screening to reduce risk of colon cancer

M. D. Anderson Cancer Center are encouraging men and women to learn more about colon polyps and how they affect a person's risks for cancer.

11 Mar 2010

Collaborative center established to reduce obesity-related deaths in African-American and Latino communities

A $6 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has funded the creation of ORBIT: Obesity Related Behavioral Intervention Trials to focus on reducing obesity and obesity-related deaths in New York City's African-American and Latino communities.

11 Mar 2010

FDA provides guidance on Restanza clinical program in treatment of CABP

Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs in the therapeutic areas of infection, oncology and respiratory diseases, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has provided guidance on the clinical program required to assess the approvability of Restanza™ (cethromycin), a novel oral once-a-day antibiotic, in the treatment of outpatient community acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) as well as biodefense indications including anthrax, plague and tularemia.

11 Mar 2010

Pro-Pharmaceuticals announces closing of $335,000 tranche of private placement

Pro-Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that it has closed a $335,000 tranche of a private placement of up to $6.0 million with 10X Fund, L.P., which is purchasing unregistered Series B convertible preferred stock and warrants. This tranche brings the total raised to date from the 10X Fund to approximately $5.1 million.

11 Mar 2010

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals' third-quarter fiscal 2010 total revenues up 45%

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of cancer and serious viral infections, today announced financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2010 ended January 31, 2010. The company also provided an update on its clinical programs and corporate developments.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 11 Mar 2010

Positive results from BioSante Pharmaceuticals' GVAX Leukemia vaccine human clinical study

BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced positive results of a human clinical study that show that its GVAX Leukemia vaccine may be able to reduce or eliminate the last remaining cancer cells in some chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients taking the drug Gleevec (imatinib mesylate).

11 Mar 2010

Advanced Life Sciences Holdings reports decrease in net loss for full-year 2009

Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs in the therapeutic areas of infection, oncology and respiratory diseases, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009.

11 Mar 2010

TTI granted exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize two immunology programs

Trillium Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative immune-based biologics, today announced that it has entered into two definitive license agreements with University Health Network and The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, granting Trillium exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize two immunology programs in the areas of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cancer.

11 Mar 2010

NeoMed invests in CytoCore

CytoCore Inc., the developer of cost-effective products used in the practice of cytology for the detection and diagnosis of cancer and cancer related diseases, announced today that NeoMed has made an investment in CytoCore Inc.

11 Mar 2010

USPTO issues patent related to Seattle Genetics' ADC technology

Seattle Genetics, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent related to its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology. U.S. Patent No. 7,659,241 covers cleavable linkers and potent auristatin drug payloads used in certain of Seattle Genetics’ ADC programs, most notably brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35), as well as many ADC programs in development by its collaborators.

11 Mar 2010