Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

EC grants orphan drug designation to S*BIO's SB1518 for treatment of myelofibrosis

S*BIO Pte Ltd today announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted orphan drug designation to SB1518, its potent and orally active JAK2 inhibitor for the treatment of primary myelofibrosis (PMF), post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis (PPV-MF) and post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis (PET-MF). SB1518 has also received orphan drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of the same disorder.

18 Oct 2010

Possibilities of genetics research, personalized medicine, and behavioral intervention

Personalized medicine - improving the fit between patient and treatment - has become a major focus of research in fields from cancer treatment to the psychopharmacology of mental disorders. Genetic studies have suggested that an individual's genetic makeup renders him either more or less sensitive to stressful social environments - but can an individual's unique genotype also determine the effectiveness of preventative or therapeutic behavioral interventions?

18 Oct 2010

Metabolon announces publication of metabolic analysis of biochemical changes in CF primary lung epithelial cells

Metabolon, Inc., the leader in global metabolomics, biomarker discovery and analysis, announces the publication of "Metabolomic Profiling Reveals Biochemical Pathways and Biomarkers Associated with Pathogenesis in Cystic Fibrosis Cells", in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

18 Oct 2010

Major advance in treatment of brain disorders with external genes

In the October 17 issue of Nature Methods, researchers at Thomas Jefferson University describe how they can transfer genes into brain neurons intravenously, using a viral gene delivery vehicle (vector) that causes no side effects.

18 Oct 2010

Celgene acquires Abraxis BioScience

Celgene Corporation today announced it has completed its acquisition of Abraxis BioScience, Inc. For each share of Abraxis common stock, Abraxis shareholders will receive (i) $58.00 in cash (ii) 0.2617 shares of Celgene common stock, and (iii) one tradeable Contingent Value Right (CVR), which entitles its holder to receive a pro rata share of potential payments for future regulatory milestones and commercial royalties.

18 Oct 2010

Researchers identify new paradigm for regulation of alternative splicing

How a T cell decides to make protein X, Y, or Z can have profound effects for fighting foreign invaders or staving off dire autoimmune reactions. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified the steps that control how different forms of an immune cell protein called CD45, which is critical for activating the immune system when faced with pathogens, are controlled in the arc of a body's immune response.

18 Oct 2010

Researchers discover gene that contributes to depression

Yale University researchers have found a gene that seems to be a key contributor to the onset of depression and is a promising target for a new class of antidepressants, they report Oct. 17 in the journal Nature Medicine.

18 Oct 2010

Cempra to present data on solithromycin, TAKSTA at 48th Annual Meeting in Vancouver

Cempra Pharmaceuticals today announced poster presentations on its novel fluoroketolide antibiotic, solithromycin (CEM-101), and the Company's proprietary front-loading oral dosing regimen of sodium fusidate, TAKSTA (CEM-102) at the 48th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America in Vancouver, British Columbia.

18 Oct 2010

Researchers discover blocking beta-arrestin 1 protein can reduce severity of heart failure

A Nova Southeastern University (NSU) researcher has announced a breakthrough discovery to block a protein that can contribute to heart failure. His discovery will appear in an upcoming issue of the prestigious medical journal, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

18 Oct 2010

Genetic link to depression: New avenues for therapy

Yale University scientists have found a gene that appears to play a key role in the onset of depression. This could mean new avenues of therapy for the disease. The gene in question is called MKP-1 and was identified after comparing the genetic codes of 21 deceased people who had been diagnosed with depression with those of 18 otherwise healthy individuals. The findings were published in the journal Nature Medicine on 17th of October.

18 Oct 2010

PTC announces ataluren Phase 2b efficacy data at International Congress

PTC Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that final analyses of Phase 2b efficacy data suggest the investigational new drug ataluren slowed the loss of walking ability in patients with nonsense mutation dystrophinopathy, a disease continuum comprising Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (nmDBMD). These data were presented at the International Congress of the World Muscle Society in Kumamoto, Japan and will be the basis of interactions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and national regulatory authorities in Europe in the fourth quarter of 2010.

18 Oct 2010

2010 AAO-MEACO meeting focuses on genetic medicine

Genetic medicine is the focus of two presentations at today's Scientific Program of the 2010 American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Middle East-Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO) Joint Meeting. The AAO-MEACO meeting is in session October 16 through 19 at McCormick Place, Chicago. It is the largest, most comprehensive ophthalmic education conference in the world.

18 Oct 2010

Genentech and Biogen Idec announce positive results from ocrelizumab phase II RRMS study

Genentech, Inc., a member of the Roche Group, and Biogen Idec today announced 24-week results from a phase II study of ocrelizumab in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), the most common form of the disease. Ocrelizumab demonstrated a significant reduction in disease activity as measured by brain lesions and relapse rate.

15 Oct 2010

Bristol-Myers, Otsuka launch My SPRYCEL Support program to assist patients with CML

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. today announced the launch of My SPRYCEL (dasatinib) Support, a useful resource to assist adult patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who are taking SPRYCEL.

15 Oct 2010

New development of genetic tool to speed discovery of novel genes involved in cancer

Researchers have developed a genetic tool in mice to speed the discovery of novel genes involved in cancer. The system - called PiggyBac - has already been used by the team to identify novel candidate cancer-causing genes.

15 Oct 2010

Journal of Clinical Oncology publishes IPI-504 Phase 2 study results

Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that results from its Phase 2 study of IPI-504, a novel IV-administered Hsp90 chaperone inhibitor, in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

15 Oct 2010

EpiMark Analysis Kit simplifies DNA methylation analysis for epigenetics researchers

New England Biolabs (NEB) has launched a suite of new and validated products designed to simplify DNA methylation analysis for epigenetics researchers. These enzyme-based solutions address some of the challenges of the current methods, including the lack of a reproducible method for the analysis and quantitation of 5-hydroxymethlcytosine (5-hmC) in the epigenome.

15 Oct 2010

Enzo Biochem fiscal 2010 total revenues increase 8% to $97.1 million

Enzo Biochem, Inc. today reported results for the fiscal fourth quarter, consistent with our announcement on September 20, 2010, and for the year ended July 31, 2010.

15 Oct 2010

Study reveals copy number variants exclusive to obese children

A new study by pediatric researchers has added to the evidence that genes have a strong influence on childhood obesity.

15 Oct 2010

FibroGen announces initiation of FG-3019 phase 2 study for reversing liver fibrosis

FibroGen, Inc. today announced initiation of a phase 2 study to compare the efficacy of FG-3019, a human monoclonal antibody against connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), with placebo in reversing liver fibrosis (scarring of the liver) due to chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV).

15 Oct 2010

Gene News and Research

Latest Gene News and Research

EC grants orphan drug designation to S*BIO's SB1518 for treatment of myelofibrosis

Possibilities of genetics research, personalized medicine, and behavioral intervention

Metabolon announces publication of metabolic analysis of biochemical changes in CF primary lung epithelial cells

Major advance in treatment of brain disorders with external genes

Celgene acquires Abraxis BioScience

Researchers identify new paradigm for regulation of alternative splicing

Researchers discover gene that contributes to depression

Cempra to present data on solithromycin, TAKSTA at 48th Annual Meeting in Vancouver

Researchers discover blocking beta-arrestin 1 protein can reduce severity of heart failure

Genetic link to depression: New avenues for therapy

PTC announces ataluren Phase 2b efficacy data at International Congress

2010 AAO-MEACO meeting focuses on genetic medicine

Genentech and Biogen Idec announce positive results from ocrelizumab phase II RRMS study

Bristol-Myers, Otsuka launch My SPRYCEL Support program to assist patients with CML

New development of genetic tool to speed discovery of novel genes involved in cancer

Journal of Clinical Oncology publishes IPI-504 Phase 2 study results

EpiMark Analysis Kit simplifies DNA methylation analysis for epigenetics researchers

Enzo Biochem fiscal 2010 total revenues increase 8% to $97.1 million

Study reveals copy number variants exclusive to obese children

FibroGen announces initiation of FG-3019 phase 2 study for reversing liver fibrosis

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