Nervous System News and Research

Latest Nervous System News and Research

Cephalon announces receipt of a Paragraph IV Certification Notice Letter regarding ANDA

Cephalon, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEPH) today announced receipt of a Paragraph IV Certification Notice Letter on October 20, 2009 regarding an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. requesting approval to market and sell a generic version of the 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg and 250 mg strengths of NUVIGIL® (armodafinil) Tablets [C-IV].

22 Oct 2009

Contribution of glycosaminoglycans to skeletal abnormalities in patients with lysosomal storage diseases demonstrated

A group led by Dr. Dieter Br-mme at the University of British Columbia has demonstrated that glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) contribute to skeletal abnormalities in patients with lysosomal storage diseases. Their report can be found in the November 2009 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.

21 Oct 2009

Researchers show how to make stem cell therapies safer for spinal injury patients

Animal research is suggesting new ways to aid recovery after spinal cord injury. New studies demonstrate that diet affects recovery rate and show how to make stem cell therapies safer for spinal injury patients. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2009, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news on brain science and health.

21 Oct 2009

Research may facilitate improved understanding of music perception in human nervous system

Music serves as a natural and non-invasive intervention for patients with severe neurological disorders to promote long-term memory, social interaction and communication. However, there is currently no plausible explanation of its neural basis for why and how music affects physical and psychosocial responses.

21 Oct 2009

Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma acquires Sepracor

Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. (“DSP”) and Sepracor Inc. today announce the successful completion of DSP’s acquisition of Sepracor for US$23.00 per share in cash. DSP completed the acquisition through a cash tender offer and by exercising an option to acquire additional shares directly from Sepracor followed by a short-form merger of an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of DSP with and into Sepracor on October 20, 2009. Sepracor is now an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of DSP.

21 Oct 2009

Patients with chronic hepatitis C can benefit by drinking coffee

Patients with chronic hepatitis C and advanced liver disease who drink three or more cups of coffee per day have a 53% lower risk of liver disease progression than non-coffee drinkers according to a new study led by Neal Freedman, Ph.D., MPH, from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

20 Oct 2009

Positive results from KAI Pharmaceuticals' pain therapeutic program

KAI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held drug discovery and development company, announced positive preclinical results from its program targeting the gamma protein kinase C (PKC) pathway for the development of novel therapies for pain.

20 Oct 2009

Targacept presents data from Phase 2b clinical trial of TC-5214

Targacept, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of drugs known as NNR Therapeutics-, today announced the presentation of data from its recently completed Phase 2b clinical trial of TC-5214 as an augmentation (add-on) treatment in subjects with major depressive disorder, or MDD, who did not respond adequately to first-line treatment with the representative SSRI citalopram hydrobromide.

20 Oct 2009

Human neural stem cells protect cone photoreceptors: StemCells preclinical data

StemCells, Inc. announced today new preclinical data showing that its human neural stem cells protect cone photoreceptors (cones) in the eye from progressive degeneration and preserve visual function long term.

20 Oct 2009

Merck Frosst Canada announces the use of ISENTRESS for treating HIV-1 infected adults

Merck Frosst Canada Ltd. is pleased to announce that (Pr)ISENTRESS(R) (raltegravir) is now indicated for use in treatment-naïve HIV-1 infected adults in combination with other antiretroviral agents.

20 Oct 2009

Aspect Medical Systems to present a complete family of BIS monitoring technologies at ASA meeting

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Annual Meeting will feature 62 scientific presentations that reference BIS® monitoring when it convenes on October 17-21, 2009 in New Orleans. BIS-related research will cover a broad range of applications for BIS monitoring, including initial results from studies conducted as part of a comparative effectiveness research collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic as well as findings from a study evaluating use of a Composite Variability Index (CVI) that is based on BIS parameters.

20 Oct 2009

SIMPONI treatment results in greater inhibition of structural damage in arthritis patients

Phase 3 data reported for the first time show that once every four week subcutaneous injections of SIMPONI(TM) (golimumab) resulted in significantly greater inhibition of structural damage compared with placebo plus methotrexate in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

20 Oct 2009

Alabama Supreme Court rules in favor of Novartis Pharmaceuticals

The Alabama Supreme Court today overturned a jury verdict against Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NPC), and directed entry of judgment in favor of NPC. NPC is pleased that the Alabama Supreme Court has found in our favor, which demonstrates that the State of Alabama's claims were unfounded.

20 Oct 2009

New research emphasizes benefits of exercise on brain and related disorders

Research presented today at Neuroscience 2009, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health, provides a better understanding of the brain, nervous system, and related disorders.

20 Oct 2009

Health Canada approves new Lantus ClikSTAR reusable insulin pen

Health Canada has approved the ClikSTAR reusable insulin pen for use with Lantus, giving patients with diabetes an additional option to safely and effectively achieve and sustain control of their blood sugar levels. The new insulin delivery device was launched today in conjunction with the 20th World Diabetes Congress being held in Montreal, Quebec, making Canada one of the first countries worldwide to launch this state-of-the-art pen.

20 Oct 2009

Human Genome Sciences and GlaxoSmithKline to present Phase 3 trial results of BENLYSTA

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK) today announced the full presentation of results from BLISS-52, the first of two pivotal Phase 3 trials of BENLYSTA™ (belimumab) in seropositive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

20 Oct 2009

New technique to treat metabolic disorders in babies while still in the womb

Researchers say a new development in cord blood transplants for inherited metabolic disorders may be curative for some babies who are treated while still in the womb.

20 Oct 2009

UCB reports on the outcome of Cimzia and MTX treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

UCB today announced data that showed rapid and sustained improvements in ACR20, physical function, pain and fatigue of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as early as the first week, and inhibition of progression of structural joint damage (seen at week 24) following treatment with Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), together with methotrexate (MTX), was sustained up to 100 weeks.

19 Oct 2009

Scientists find cause for lupuslike disease in mice

Macrophages, the scavenger cells of the body's immune system, are responsible for disposing of dying cells. Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have identified one pathway in this important process in mice that, if disrupted, causes a lupuslike autoimmune disease.

19 Oct 2009

Children with neurological disorders have low skin temperature

Many wheelchair-using children with neurological disorders have much colder hands and feet than other children, and most receive no special help even though they have had these problems for a long time, is revealed in at thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

19 Oct 2009