Nervous System News and Research

Latest Nervous System News and Research

Milestone reached in Biotie Wyeth collaboration for the development of PDE10 inhibitors for schizophrenia

Biotie announced today that it has reached a milestone in its collaboration with Wyeth for the development of PDE10 (phosphodiesterase 10) inhibitors for schizophrenia, triggering a USD 1.0 million milestone payment to Biotie.

28 Aug 2009

Carbon nanotubes may help regrow nerve tissue according to a research study

Carbon nanotubes hold many exciting possibilities, some of them in the realm of the human nervous system. Recent research has shown that carbon nanotubes may help regrow nerve tissue or ferry drugs used to repair damaged neurons associated with disorders such as epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and perhaps even paralysis.

28 Aug 2009

AVANIR raises funds to develop and commercialize Zenvia for PBA

AVANIR Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVNR) today announced it had raised gross proceeds of approximately $10.6 million via the sale of approximately 4.5 million shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $2.34 per share.

28 Aug 2009

Alexza completes acquisition of Symphony Allegro after sharholders' approval

Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALXA) announced that during a special meeting of stockholders held today, its stockholders approved the proposal to issue shares of the Company's common stock and warrants to purchase shares of the Company's common stock to Symphony Capital Partners, LP and their co-investors. Subsequent to this vote, Alexza completed its acquisition of Symphony Allegro, and as a result, Alexza reacquired all rights to AZ-004, AZ-104 and AZ-002.

27 Aug 2009

QRxPharma completes its pilot evaluation study investigating the efficacy of MoxDuo capsules

QRxPharma Limited and announced today successful completion of its pilot study to evaluate the analgesic efficacy and safety profile of MoxDuo(TM) IR (immediate release) capsules in patients with moderate to severe pain following total knee replacement surgery.

27 Aug 2009

Polycystic ovary syndrome in women can be relieved by acupuncture and exercise

Polycystic ovary syndrome, a common condition among women, can be relieved by the use of acupuncture and exercise. This has been shown by a recent study at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

27 Aug 2009

High DHA levels aid in learning and mental development of school children

Getting ready for the start of a new school year traditionally means shopping trips for crisp, new clothes and backpacks bursting with fresh school supplies. But how do you prepare your child mentally and physically for the demands of hectic schedules and endless homework? It's easy for children, be it primary graders or teenagers, to anticipate the beginning of class with both excitement and some anxiety. These stress factors can quickly turn to feelings of being overwhelmed and frustrated as schoolwork and activities intensify.

27 Aug 2009

FDA to review Acorda Therapeutics’ NDA for Fampridine-SR

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACOR) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that its Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee will review the Company’s New Drug Application (NDA) for Fampridine-SR on October 14, 2009.

26 Aug 2009

Sabril (vigabatrin) Oral Solution receives approval from FDA

Sabril (vigabatrin) Oral Solution has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat infantile spasms in children ages 1 month to 2 years. Sabril is the first drug in the United States approved to treat the disorder, characterized by a severe type of seizure that usually appears in the first year of life, typically between ages 4 months and 8 months.

26 Aug 2009

Australian researchers to discover proteins that cause multiple sclerosis

Australian researchers will aim to discover the proteins that cause multiple sclerosis (MS), thanks to a new nationwide research effort. The new research project will receive funding of $1 million over four years, starting this year, under the Australian Research Council's Linkage Projects funding scheme and from MS Research Australia (MSRA), the research arm of MS Australia.

26 Aug 2009

Alvine Pharmaceuticals commences Phase 2a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of ALV003

Alvine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that patient enrollment has begun in a Phase 2a, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the safety and efficacy of ALV003 for use in the treatment of celiac disease.

26 Aug 2009

Venlafaxine alleviates depressive symptoms

The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) was commissioned by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) to investigate whether patients with depression benefit from taking drugs belonging to the selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) drug class.

25 Aug 2009

FDA accepts for filing Salix Pharmaceuticals' NDA for rifaximin tablets

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. (NASDAQ:SLXP) today announced the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing and designated for Priority Review the Company’s New Drug Application (NDA) for rifaximin tablets 550 mg for the maintenance of remission of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Additionally, the FDA has informed the Company of its plan to schedule an Advisory Committee meeting in late February 2010 to discuss the application.

25 Aug 2009

Mark Booth joins Orexigen Therapeutics as the Chief Commercial Officer

Orexigen((R)) Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that Mark Booth has joined the Company as Chief Commercial Officer. Mr. Booth brings over 25 years of commercial and business development experience to Orexigen. Most recently he served as President of Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America (TPNA) where he presided over the commercial, medical and scientific affairs, business development and all support functions.

25 Aug 2009

UCB and sanofi-aventis U.S. receive FDA's approval for XYZAL to treat allergies in children

UCB and sanofi-aventis U.S. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved XYZAL(R) (levocetirizine dihydrochloride) for children age six months and older for the relief of symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis (indoor allergies) and chronic idiopathic urticaria (chronic hives) and for children age two years and older for symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (outdoor allergies).

25 Aug 2009

Scientists cultivate multiple types of retina cells from human stem cells

A team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health has successfully grown multiple types of retina cells from two types of stem cells — suggesting a future in which damaged retinas could be repaired by cells grown from the patient's own skin.

25 Aug 2009

People with high diastolic blood pressure more likely to have cognitive impairment

High blood pressure is linked to memory problems in people over 45, according to research published in the August 25, 2009, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

24 Aug 2009

Biovail enters into an agreement with Santhera to develop and market JP-1730/fipamezole drug

Biovail Corporation (NYSE:BVF) (TSX:BVF) today announced that its subsidiary, Biovail Laboratories International SRL (BLS), has entered into an agreement with Santhera Pharmaceuticals (Switzerland) Ltd., a subsidiary of Santhera Pharmaceuticals Holding AG (SIX: SANN) to acquire the U.S. and Canadian rights to develop and commercialize Santhera’s JP-1730/fipamezole for the treatment of Dyskinesia in Parkinson’s Disease (DPD). JP-1730/ fipamezole is a first-in-class compound that, in a recent Phase IIb study, displayed the potential to reduce levodopa-induced dyskinesia.

24 Aug 2009

Nervous system integrity could play a central role in preventing prion diseases

A new study shows that nervous system integrity and axonal properties may play a key role in prion diseases. The findings, from researchers at the Rudolf Virchow Center and the Institute of Virology of the University of W-rzburg, expand our understanding of the development of prion disease and suggest novel targets for therapeutic and diagnostic approaches in its early stages.

24 Aug 2009

Lundbeck to launch Sabril in the US following FDA's NDA approval

Lundbeck Inc. (“Lundbeck”), a wholly owned subsidiary of H. Lundbeck A/S in Denmark (Copenhagen: LUN), announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted two New Drug Application (NDA) approvals for Sabril® (vigabatrin) Tablets and Oral Solution. Lundbeck plans to launch Sabril in the United States in the third quarter.

24 Aug 2009