Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

SwitchGear Genomics, BioCat enter distribution agreement for LightSwitch Luciferase Assay System in Europe

SwitchGear Genomics Inc., a leading provider of products for studying the regulatory elements in the human genome, today announced that the company signed an agreement for BioCat GmbH to distribute the innovative LightSwitch Luciferase Assay System™ in Europe.

9 Feb 2011

bcl3 gene limits lung injury during acute stress from illness, trauma, transplant

Lung injury is a common cause of death among patients with pneumonia, sepsis or trauma and in those who have had lung transplants. The damage often occurs suddenly and can cause life-threatening breathing problems and rapid lung failure.

9 Feb 2011

Vical announces issuance of US patent for HSV-2 vaccine

Vical Incorporated announced today the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 7,879,339, assigned to Vical and the University of Washington, covering DNA vaccines for herpes simplex virus type 2.

9 Feb 2011

New insight into AMD related blindness

more than 50 million worldwideA new study in the journal Nature has reported the pathology of blindness caused by age-related macular degeneration or AMD. This condition affects more than 50 million worldwide and is incurable. The researchers report that when an enzyme known as DICER1 stops functioning AMD starts to develop.

8 Feb 2011

RemedyMD announces new ComprehensiveBMT to solve key HSCT research challenges

RemedyMD has identified the need within the HSCT community to build software that can aggregate, link, harmonize, and analyze data from patients and donors and then report data as necessary to the CIBMTR.

8 Feb 2011

Abbott's Ibis, PLEX-ID technologies identify causative organism of plague in Afghanistan

Today, at the American Society for Microbiology Conference on Biodefense and Emerging Diseases, scientists from Abbott Molecular presented data showing the unique power of the company's Ibis technology to identify and further characterize unknown disease-causing pathogens to help aid in the bioforensic analysis of pandemic outbreaks.

8 Feb 2011

Genentech's OCEANS Phase III study of Avastin in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer meets primary endpoint

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced today that OCEANS, a Phase III study evaluating Avastin® (bevacizumab) in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and gemcitabine) followed by continued use of Avastin alone until disease progression in women with previously treated (recurrent), platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, met its primary endpoint.

8 Feb 2011

TREK1 activity offers a key target for fluoxetine and other antidepressant drugs

Using a unique and relatively simple cell-based fluorescent assay they developed, scientists with the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the University of California, Berkeley have identified a means by which fluoxetine, the active ingredient in Prozac, suppresses the activity of the TREK1 potassium channel.

8 Feb 2011

Study identifies genetic variation linked with increased risk of major depression

Numerous studies have shown that the brain molecule neuropeptide Y (NPY) helps to restore calm after stressful events. A team of University of Michigan-led researchers has now found that people whose genes predispose them to produce lower levels of NPY are more responsive to negative stimuli in key brain circuits related to emotion - and are therefore less resilient in the face of stress and may be at higher risk for developing a major depressive disorder.

8 Feb 2011

Munich research team provides promising alternative to DNA-based procedures

Defects in the genome are the cause of many diseases. Gene therapy - direct replacement of mutant genes by intact DNA copies - offers a means of correcting such defects. Now a research team based at the Medical Center of the University of Munich, and led by Privatdozent Dr. Carsten Rudolph, has taken a new approach that avoids DNA delivery.

8 Feb 2011

Researchers identify enzyme that protects against inflammation, joint destruction

A team of researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, has identified an enzyme that protects against inflammation and joint destruction. Made when the researchers blocked production of the enzyme GGTase-I in transgenic mice, this unexpected discovery could lead to the identification of new mechanisms that control the development of inflammatory disorders, as well as new medicines.

8 Feb 2011

Immune system genes linked to personality traits, mental illness and suicidal behaviour

Genes linked to the immune system can affect healthy people's personality traits as well as the risk of developing mental illness and suicidal behaviour, reveals a thesis from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

8 Feb 2011

Researchers identify CHK1 protein may serve as treatment target for neuroblastoma

After analyzing hundreds of proteins produced by the DNA of tumor cells, researchers have identified one protein that may be central to a new treatment for the often-fatal childhood cancer neuroblastoma. Oncologists hope to translate the finding into pediatric clinical trials of a drug that blocks the protein's activity.

7 Feb 2011

Abbott launches PLEX-ID Biothreat Assay to detect, distinguish 17 different pathogens

Abbott announced today that it has introduced the PLEX-ID Biothreat Assay, which is designed to detect and distinguish 17 different biothreat pathogens.

7 Feb 2011

PharmaMar initiates PM060184 Phase I clinical trial in patients with solid tumors

PharmaMar SA has announced the commencement of a Phase I clinical trial with PM060184 for patients with solid tumors. PM060184 is a marine-derived, synthetically-produced compound which has shown strong in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity and a favorable safety profile in preclinical toxicology studies. PM060184 is PharmaMar's sixth compound in clinical development.

7 Feb 2011

XDx and LabCorp enter non-hospital provider agreement for AlloMap molecular expression tests

XDx, Inc., a molecular diagnostics company focused on noninvasive gene expression tests to monitor immune-mediated conditions, today announced that it has entered into a multi-year agreement with Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings to provide heart transplant patients eligible for XDx's AlloMap® test with the convenience of having their blood drawn at participating LabCorp sites across the United States.

7 Feb 2011

Human Vaccines journal publishes paper on Inovio's new DNA vaccine delivery technology

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the development of therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today that its new generation DNA vaccine delivery technology, which provides the powerful enabling capabilities of electroporation without contacting the skin, is highlighted in a paper published in the scientific journal Human Vaccines.

7 Feb 2011

British Journal of Dermatology publishes data on DermTech's new genomic assay for melanoma

DermTech International, a biotechnology company dedicated to bringing genomic medicine to dermatologists, today announced that the discovery data on its new genomic assay for melanoma have been published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

7 Feb 2011

Genomic study identifies link between Native American ancestry, relapse in young leukemia patients

The first genome-wide study to demonstrate an inherited genetic basis for racial and ethnic disparities in cancer survival linked Native American ancestry with an increased risk of relapse in young leukemia patients. The work was done by investigators at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Children's Oncology Group.

6 Feb 2011

Technique that cleared mouse of HIV-like virus sparks hope for new therapy

In a breakthrough, Australian researchers have developed a method to boost the immune system. This technique is seen to be capable of clearing an “HIV-like” infection from a mouse. This could in future lead to a cure for HIV and other chronic viral infections in humans. The findings from Melbourne’s Walter and Eliza Hall Institute are centred on a naturally occurring cell signalling hormone called interleukin-7 (IL-7).

6 Feb 2011

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

SwitchGear Genomics, BioCat enter distribution agreement for LightSwitch Luciferase Assay System in Europe

bcl3 gene limits lung injury during acute stress from illness, trauma, transplant

Vical announces issuance of US patent for HSV-2 vaccine

New insight into AMD related blindness

RemedyMD announces new ComprehensiveBMT to solve key HSCT research challenges

Abbott's Ibis, PLEX-ID technologies identify causative organism of plague in Afghanistan

Genentech's OCEANS Phase III study of Avastin in platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer meets primary endpoint

TREK1 activity offers a key target for fluoxetine and other antidepressant drugs

Study identifies genetic variation linked with increased risk of major depression

Munich research team provides promising alternative to DNA-based procedures

Researchers identify enzyme that protects against inflammation, joint destruction

Immune system genes linked to personality traits, mental illness and suicidal behaviour

Researchers identify CHK1 protein may serve as treatment target for neuroblastoma

Abbott launches PLEX-ID Biothreat Assay to detect, distinguish 17 different pathogens

PharmaMar initiates PM060184 Phase I clinical trial in patients with solid tumors

XDx and LabCorp enter non-hospital provider agreement for AlloMap molecular expression tests

Human Vaccines journal publishes paper on Inovio's new DNA vaccine delivery technology

British Journal of Dermatology publishes data on DermTech's new genomic assay for melanoma

Genomic study identifies link between Native American ancestry, relapse in young leukemia patients

Technique that cleared mouse of HIV-like virus sparks hope for new therapy

Industry Focus eBook - Cell & Gene Therapy (1st Edition) eBook

Real-time Raman monitoring for pharmaceutical hot melt extrusion

Synthetic Psychedelics: A Growing Public Health Concern

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging