Schizophrenia News and Research

Latest Schizophrenia News and Research

Johnson & Johnson second-quarter sales increase 0.6% to $15.3 billion

Johnson & Johnson today announced sales of $15.3 billion for the second quarter of 2010, an increase of 0.6% as compared to the second quarter of 2009. Operational results increased 0.1% and the positive impact of currency was 0.5%. Domestic sales declined 2.8%, while international sales increased 4.1%, reflecting operational growth of 3.0% and a positive currency impact of 1.1%.

20 Jul 2010

Largest effort to find gene-environment interactions underlying schizophrenia risk

At the 23rd ECNP Congress 2010 in Amsterdam, Professor Dr. Jim van Os, Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology at Maastricht University Medical Centre, The Netherlands, will present the EU-GEI project, involving more than 7,500 patients and their families, which brings together a multidisciplinary research team from 15 countries in the largest effort to date to find gene-environment interactions underlying schizophrenia risk.

16 Jul 2010

Sepracor to change name to Sunovion Pharmaceuticals

Sepracor Inc. and Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., an Osaka, Japan-based pharmaceutical company, announced today the intent to change the Sepracor name to Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. in the United States. DSP acquired Sepracor in October 2009 and the name change is planned to occur in anticipation of the one-year anniversary of the acquisition. Sepracor intends to begin officially operating as Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. before the end of 2010.

15 Jul 2010

Pre-clinical study results of EVP-0015962 presented at AAICAD 2010

EnVivo Pharmaceuticals today announced at the Alzheimer's Association 2010 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease results from its proprietary gamma-secretase modulator pre-clinical study. In a transgenic mouse model, EnVivo's EVP-0015962 reduced amyloid plaque buildup which is believed to be a cause of Alzheimer's disease, reversed behavioral deficits and reduced brain inflammation associated with Alzheimer's disease.

15 Jul 2010

Aestus, Eisai collaborate to research and develop novel therapeutics for psychiatric disorders

Aestus Therapeutics, Inc. announced today a collaboration agreement with Eisai Inc. on research and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The multi-year collaboration will entail pre-clinical validation of potential therapeutics leading to clinical proof-of-concept studies.

15 Jul 2010

Texas doctors bristle at Medicaid cuts as Congress to consider extending funds; State pinpoints high prescribing docs

Despite states' warnings that they will face massive budget cuts without help from Washington, Congress has not yet moved to provide $24.2 billion in additional Medicaid funding that many statehouses had anticipated would be included in a failed June bill, American Medical News reports. "Lawmakers return to Washington from their Independence Day break on July 12, but Democratic leaders have not offered a clear path forward on the issue" (Trapp, 7/12).

13 Jul 2010

Scientist leads global discussion, research on insula

A scientist at Barrow Neurological Institute is leading the global discussion and research on a hidden lobe of the brain called the insula. A.D. "Bud" Craig, PhD, who began studying the often-ignored lobe more than two decades ago, has organized and edited a special edition of the journal Brain Structure and Function dedicated to the emerging medical and scientific interest in the insula.

8 Jul 2010

New insights into dendritic spine deficits in schizophrenia

Dendritic spines act as hubs for communication between nerve cells. Reductions in spines may contribute to a lack of coordination in activity between brain regions. This structural abnormality is particularly relevant in schizophrenia, where pyramidal neurons located in layer 3, the principal cell type receiving communication from other brain regions, have fewer dendritic spines.

7 Jul 2010

Study finds decline in homicide, suicide rates among mentally ill people

People with mental health problems are committing fewer homicides while the number of suicides by mental health patients has also fallen, latest figures reveal; a previous rise in homicides by mentally ill people may have been the result of drug misuse, says the report.

7 Jul 2010

CPRIT grants RBM $3 million Company Commercialization Award to expand OncologyMAP program

Rules-Based Medicine, Inc. (RBM) today announced the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) has granted it a Company Commercialization Award to expand and enhance the OncologyMAP™ program for discovery and development of novel diagnostic and prognostic cancer tests. The award of approximately $3 million will fund research and development to more than double the number of cancer-associated biomarker assays in RBM's new OncologyMAP™ product.

6 Jul 2010

Mild prenatal stressors increase risk of developing neuropsychiatric illness during adulthood

Learning and memory impairments are important contributors to the disability associated with schizophrenia. These functional impairments emerge long before the onset of other symptoms associated with schizophrenia, suggesting that they are a consequence of a disturbance in brain development.

6 Jul 2010

Karolinska Institutet researchers contribute at ESOF 2010

Researchers and staff from Karolinska Institutet are contributing to Europe's largest cross-disciplinary gathering place with news of everything from neuroscience to bioentrepreneurship. Carl Johan Sundberg, university lecturer and associate professor at Karolinska Institutet, is the founder and initiator of ESOF.

3 Jul 2010

IRSF reports record turn-out at 11th Annual Rett syndrome Symposium

IRSF's 11th Annual Rett syndrome Symposium held June 27, 28, and 29 in Leesburg, Virginia brought together leading scientists and researchers in the fields of neurobiology from around the globe who are attempting to demystify Rett syndrome. About 25 presenters led a day and a half of in-depth sessions attended by nearly 150 investigators and scientists, volunteers, families affected by the disease and IRSF staff.

3 Jul 2010

Does too much texting puts teenagers at risk?

A seemingly harmless method of communication - text messaging on mobile phones could damage teenagers physically and psychologically a new study has revealed.

1 Jul 2010

Research findings open new ways to enhance memory function and treat catastrophic brain diseases

For the first time, scientists have linked a brain compound called kynurenic acid to cognition, possibly opening doors for new ways to enhance memory function and treat catastrophic brain diseases, according to a new study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. When researchers decreased the levels of kynurenic acid in the brains of mice, their cognition was shown to improve markedly, according to the study, which was published in the July issue of the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.

1 Jul 2010

Neuralstem announces completion of $10 million registered direct offering

Neuralstem, Inc. (NYSE Amex: CUR) announced that it has completed its previously announced registered direct offering of $10 million of units to institutional investors. The units were priced at $2.80 and consisted of: (i) one share of common stock, and (ii) 3/4 common stock purchase warrant. The warrants have an exercise price of $3.25 and a term of three years. Net proceeds from this offering, after deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses, total approximately $9.2 million. All of the securities were offered pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement.

1 Jul 2010

Researchers study mechanism of human brain

Because of its intricate organization, figuring out the wiring diagram that explains how the billions of neurons in the brain are connected, and determining how they work together, remains a formidable task.

29 Jun 2010

Forest Laboratories, Gedeon Richter report positive results from radiprodil Phase II study for DPNP pain

Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Gedeon Richter Plc. today announced top-line results from a Phase II placebo and positive comparator-controlled, parallel-arm, double-blind, dose-response clinical trial of the novel, investigational NR2B-selective NMDA (N-methyl D-aspartate) receptor antagonist, radiprodil (RGH-896), for the treatment of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPNP).

29 Jun 2010

'Beeglue' may help deliver new treatments for fatal infections

Bees could have a key role to play in urgently-needed new treatments to fight the virulent MRSA bug, according to research led at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland.

29 Jun 2010

Aestus Therapeutics announces license agreement with Astellas Pharma

Aestus Therapeutics, Inc. announced today a license agreement with Astellas Pharma Inc. (Astellas; Tokyo, Japan) to provide Aestus with exclusive, world-wide rights to the Astellas product FK614. Aestus will develop the product as ATx08-001, a novel, first-in-class therapeutic for the treatment of neuropathic pain. The first clinical trial will start later this year.

28 Jun 2010