Nervous System News and Research

Latest Nervous System News and Research

SYMBICORT improves lung function in African American asthma patients compared to budesonide alone

AstraZeneca announced today that results from TITAN, a 12-week study of SYMBICORT® (budesonide/formoterol fumarate dihydrate) Inhalation Aerosol in African American patients with moderate to severe persistent asthma, showed significant improvement in lung function for patients taking SYMBICORT compared with those using budesonide alone.

3 Nov 2010

Allen Institute releases new data and tools for exploring genes at work in human brain

The Allen Institute for Brain Science announced today its twentieth public data release, which includes new data and tools for exploring genes at work in the human brain. In addition to expanding and enhancing the Allen Human Brain Atlas, the Allen Institute launched two new human brain resources: the Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project and the NIMH Transcriptional Atlas of Human Brain Development.

3 Nov 2010

People hospitalized after stroke on a weekend more likely to die: Study

People admitted to the hospital on a weekend after a stroke are more likely to die compared to people admitted on a weekday, regardless of the severity of the stroke they experience, according to new research published in the November 2, 2010, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

3 Nov 2010

New mathematical modeling shows cellular basis of neural transmission

NJIT Associate Professor Victor Matveev, PhD, in the department of mathematical sciences, was part of a research team that published "N-type Ca2+ channels carry the largest current: Implications for nanodomains and transmitter release," in Nature Neuroscience on Oct. 17, 2010.

3 Nov 2010

Study suggests heredity may play a role in determining infant's susceptibility to AOP

A potentially life-threatening challenge characterized by pauses in breathing that can last for more than 20 seconds, apnea of prematurity (AOP) affects more than 50 percent of premature infants and is almost universal in the smallest of preemies. Caused in part by an underdeveloped central nervous system that can't adequately regulate breathing outside of the womb, especially during sleep, AOP is not yet fully understood by scientists and remains a grave concern among neonatologists and parents alike.

3 Nov 2010

Somaxon awarded $245,000 grant for Silenor under QTDP program

Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the in-licensing, development and commercialization of proprietary branded pharmaceutical products and late-stage product candidates for the treatment of diseases and disorders in the central nervous system therapeutic area, today announced that it has been awarded a non-taxable grant of approximately $245,000 related to Silenor® (doxepin) under the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project (QTDP) program included in the Patient Protection and Affordable Health Care Act of 2010.

3 Nov 2010

Pain Therapeutics awarded $2,000,000 U.S. government research grant

Pain Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded over $2,000,000 in research grants by the U.S. government. These grants are planned to support the Company's on-going biomedical research for nervous system disorders and oncology. Pain Therapeutics expects to receive funding from these research grants now through the end of 2011.

2 Nov 2010

RegeneRx announces positive results from RGN-259 non-clinical study for Dry Eye Syndrome

RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the results of its first non-clinical dry eye study using RGN-259, RegeneRx's ophthalmic, preservative-free eye drop for the treatment of Dry Eye Syndrome (DES). In the study, animals were treated with RGN-259, a vehicle control and a positive control, doxycycline.

2 Nov 2010

TriRima shows positive result in food-induced cardiovascular effects associated with MAO inhibitors

CeNeRx BioPharma, Inc., today announced that a new formulation of TriRima, its lead agent for treatment resistant depression, showed excellent safety in a study designed to test whether it is free of the food-induced cardiovascular effects associated with conventional MAO inhibitors.

2 Nov 2010

FDA grants Clinical Data's PRX-8066 Orphan Drug Designation for pulmonary arterial hypertension

Clinical Data, Inc. today announced that the Office of Orphan Products Development of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) to PRX-8066, the Company's selective serotonin 2B (5-HT2B) receptor antagonist.

1 Nov 2010

Catalyst’s CPP-115 improves retinal safety profile than vigabatrin

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. today announced positive results from a series of CPP-115 preclinical safety and efficacy evaluations. CPP-115 was found to have a significantly improved retinal safety profile compared to vigabatrin.

1 Nov 2010

Acorda reports net income of $12.4 million for third quarter 2010

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2010.

1 Nov 2010

NeurAxon’s NXN-188 compound effective for acute migraine treatment

NeurAxon, Inc., announced today Phase 2 clinical study results for NXN-188, a novel, first-in-class treatment with the potential to raise the current standard of care in acute migraine.

1 Nov 2010

Salix to discuss XIFAXAN therapy for hepatic encephalopathy at AASLD 2010 Annual Meeting

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the 61st Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD 2010) will be an important venue for ongoing discussion of hepatic encephalopathy, or HE.

1 Nov 2010

FDA approves Teflaro for treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia

Forest Laboratories, Inc. announced today that Teflaro(ceftaroline fosamil), a broad-spectrum bactericidal cephalosporin with activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP), including cases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteremia, and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI), including cases caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

30 Oct 2010

Researchers to investigate new drugs for parasitic disease

Urgently-needed new treatment for a parasitic disease is being investigated in research led at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. Human African Trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, affects between 50,000 and 70,000 people in Africa and South America. It is transmitted through the bite of the tsetse fly and attacks the nervous system and brain, leading to fever, headaches and disturbed sleep patterns.

30 Oct 2010

OHSU to lead next phase of HuCNS-SC trial for NCL in children

Oregon Health & Science University Doernbecher Children's Hospital will lead the next phase of a landmark clinical trial to further assess the safety and preliminary effectiveness of purified human neural stem cells (HuCNS-SC-) as a potential treatment for infantile or late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), a rare and currently fatal neurodegenerative disorder that affects infants and children.

30 Oct 2010

FDA approves NUEDEXTA capsules for pseudobulbar affect

AVANIR Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved NUEDEXTA (dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate) capsules, as the first treatment for pseudobulbar affect.

30 Oct 2010

GSK and Amicus announce Amigal development and commercialization agreement

GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK) and Amicus Therapeutics today announced a definitive agreement to develop and commercialize Amigal™ (migalastat HCl), currently in Phase 3 for the treatment of Fabry disease, a rare inherited disorder. Under the terms of the agreement, GSK will receive an exclusive worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize migalastat HCl.

29 Oct 2010

New eight-month pilot program to advance standards of care for people with schizophrenia

The National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare (National Council) today announced a new eight-month pilot program designed to advance standards of care for people living with schizophrenia. This initiative at 10 community behavioral health organizations nationwide is designed to improve the daily functioning of people with schizophrenia and raise expectations for what is achievable.

29 Oct 2010