Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Clue to the blues that come with the flu

Vanderbilt University researchers may have found a clue to the blues that can come with the flu - depression may be triggered by the same mechanisms that enable the immune system to respond to infection.

21 Dec 2010

Positive results from Incyte's COMFORT-I INCB18424 pivotal Phase III clinical trial in myelofibrosis

Incyte Corporation announced today positive top-line results from COMFORT-I, the pivotal Phase III clinical trial of INCB18424 (also known as INC424) in patients with myelofibrosis (MF) being conducted under a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) Agreement. COMFORT-I (COntrolled MyeloFibrosis Study with ORal JAK Inhibitor Treatment) is a double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III trial involving 309 patients.

21 Dec 2010

Scientists boost protein supply to enhance muscle function, reduce nerve-dependent fatigue in mice

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have "engineered" a mouse that can run on a treadmill twice as long as a normal mouse by increasing its supply of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter essential for muscle contraction.

21 Dec 2010

Exome sequencing leads to correct diagnosis and life-saving treatment for mysterious genetic disorder

A genetic testing approach called exome sequencing—which provides a clinically practical alternative to whole-genome sequencing—led to correct diagnosis and life-saving treatment in a child with a previously unknown genetic disease, reports an upcoming paper in Genetics in Medicine, the official peer-reviewed journal of The American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG). The journal is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part of Wolters Kluwer Health.

21 Dec 2010

Proteins that unlock the mystery of over 100 brain diseases

An Anglo-American team of researchers have made a medical breakthrough after identifying a large collection of nerve proteins that are involved in around 130 brain diseases including Alzheimer’s and autism.

20 Dec 2010

Spartan RX CYP2C19 DNA testing system receives European CE Mark certification

Spartan Bioscience Inc., a privately held molecular diagnostics company that develops, manufactures, and markets DNA testing systems for on-demand applications, today announced its Spartan RX CYP2C19 received a CE IVD Mark under the European Directive on In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices. The CE Mark certification allows commercial distribution in Europe as well as in all countries recognizing the CE Mark in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific regions.

20 Dec 2010

DiaGenic issues notification of trade among insiders

On 17 December 2010 mandatory notification of trade among insiders of DiaGenic ASA took place.

20 Dec 2010

RXi's dermal anti-scarring candidate selected to advance into development

RXi Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a recognized leader in RNAi-based therapeutic discovery and development, today announced the selection of its first RNAi therapeutic product candidate to advance into development.

20 Dec 2010

Study finds second skin barrier structure may play a role in eczema development

Like a fence or barricade intended to stop unwanted intruders, the skin serves as a barrier protecting the body from the hundreds of allergens, irritants, pollutants and microbes people come in contact with every day.

20 Dec 2010

Scientists suggest targeting ion channels could offer effective pain relief

University at Buffalo neuroscience researchers conducting basic research on ion channels have demonstrated a process that could have a profound therapeutic impact on pain.

20 Dec 2010

Diagenic, Pfizer enter collaboration to identify biomarkers in early stages of Alzheimer's disease

DiaGenic ASA and Pfizer Inc today signed an agreement for explorative R&D collaboration to identify biomarkers in early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) using DiaGenic's patented gene expression technology and its blood samples from ongoing clinical studies.

17 Dec 2010

Researchers contribute important expertise to new landmark study of medulloblastoma

Pediatric cancer researchers at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia contributed important expertise to a new landmark study of medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor typically found in children. The large multicenter study defines the genetic landscape of this cancer, and holds intriguing clues to gene changes on signaling pathways that may become fruitful targets for future therapies.

17 Dec 2010

Gene variant affects brain function long before brain begins accumulating amyloid: Study

People with a known, high risk for Alzheimer's disease develop abnormal brain function even before the appearance of telltale amyloid plaques that are characteristic of the disease, according to a new study.

17 Dec 2010

Genentech confirms EMA, FDA updates on Avastin for metastatic breast cancer

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, confirmed that following the reviews of Avastin® (bevacizumab) in metastatic breast cancer by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the following regulatory announcements were made by the individual health authorities:

17 Dec 2010

MDA awards Repligen $1.4M for research of new compound with therapeutic potential for SMA

The Muscular Dystrophy Association today announced it has awarded $1.4 million in new research funding to the biopharmaceutical firm Repligen of Waltham, Mass., to complete the preclinical work needed to begin human clinical trials of a promising therapeutic compound for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).

17 Dec 2010

Pediatric cancer researchers study medulloblastoma for new treatment

Pediatric cancer researchers at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia contributed important expertise to a new landmark study of medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor typically found in children.

17 Dec 2010

Human fetal immune system entirely different from adult immune system

UCSF researchers have shown for the first time that the human fetal immune system arises from an entirely different source than the adult immune system, and is more likely to tolerate than fight foreign substances in its environment.

17 Dec 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals progress in delivery and translation of RNAi therapeutics

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, a leading RNAi therapeutics company, presented new data at the 2010 International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies, being held in Honolulu, Hawaii, December 15-20.

17 Dec 2010

First comprehensive guide to hospital emergency preparedness exercise development

With the publication of the nation's first comprehensive, federally funded guide to hospital emergency preparedness exercise development, Dr. Nathaniel Hupert at Weill Cornell Medical College and his collaborators have provided a new toolset for strengthening hospitals' ability to protect communities nationwide against public health disasters, such as creating care centers during an influenza pandemic or treating casualties in the wake of a bioterrorism attack.

17 Dec 2010

Genetic biomarker linked to increased risk for breast cancer found in 'junk' DNA

A new genetic biomarker that indicates an increased risk for developing breast cancer can be found in an individual's "junk" (non-coding) DNA, according to a new study featuring work from researchers at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI) at Virginia Tech and their colleagues.

17 Dec 2010

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

Clue to the blues that come with the flu

Positive results from Incyte's COMFORT-I INCB18424 pivotal Phase III clinical trial in myelofibrosis

Scientists boost protein supply to enhance muscle function, reduce nerve-dependent fatigue in mice

Exome sequencing leads to correct diagnosis and life-saving treatment for mysterious genetic disorder

Proteins that unlock the mystery of over 100 brain diseases

Spartan RX CYP2C19 DNA testing system receives European CE Mark certification

DiaGenic issues notification of trade among insiders

RXi's dermal anti-scarring candidate selected to advance into development

Study finds second skin barrier structure may play a role in eczema development

Scientists suggest targeting ion channels could offer effective pain relief

Diagenic, Pfizer enter collaboration to identify biomarkers in early stages of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers contribute important expertise to new landmark study of medulloblastoma

Gene variant affects brain function long before brain begins accumulating amyloid: Study

Genentech confirms EMA, FDA updates on Avastin for metastatic breast cancer

MDA awards Repligen $1.4M for research of new compound with therapeutic potential for SMA

Pediatric cancer researchers study medulloblastoma for new treatment

Human fetal immune system entirely different from adult immune system

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals progress in delivery and translation of RNAi therapeutics

First comprehensive guide to hospital emergency preparedness exercise development

Genetic biomarker linked to increased risk for breast cancer found in 'junk' DNA

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer