News for November 2009

News Archive

Private sector urged to seize opportunity and back Research Council commitment to bioprocessing R&D Private sector urged to seize opportunity and back Research Council commitment to bioprocessing R&D

Private industry has been urged to join a public sector commitment to fund advanced manufacturing research and development in bioprocessing.

MedImmune announces winners of first European cancer research abstract competition MedImmune announces winners of first European cancer research abstract competition

MedImmune has announced the winners of its European research abstract competition, which highlights the work of tomorrow's budding scientific leaders in cancer research.

Astex granted orphan drug status for AT9283 in acute myeloid leukaemia in the USA and Europe Astex granted orphan drug status for AT9283 in acute myeloid leukaemia in the USA and Europe

Astex Therapeutics announced recently that it has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA for AT9283, its combinatorial oncogenic kinase inhibitor, for the treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukaemia.

Immune system activated in schizophrenia Immune system activated in schizophrenia

Researchers have discovered that patients with recent-onset schizophrenia have higher levels of inflammatory substances in their brains.

Heptares Therapeutics reinforces patent protection for the generation of stabilized GPCRs to which novel drug leads can be developed Heptares Therapeutics reinforces patent protection for the generation of stabilized GPCRs to which novel drug leads can be developed

Heptares Therapeutics Ltd has announced the grant of a core patent in the UK on its technology for generating stabilized GPCRs (StaRs) and a series of UK patents on specific StaRs and their use in drug screening (GB2456235, GB2456237, GB2456904 and GB2456236).

AFFiRiS AG moves Alzheimer’s vaccine candidate into clinical Phase II testing AFFiRiS AG moves Alzheimer’s vaccine candidate into clinical Phase II testing

AFFiRiS AG will focus its Alzheimer's vaccine program on one product candidate at an unexpectedly early stage of development: the vaccine candidate AD02 is planned to enter into Phase II clinical trial early in 2010.

FDA approves new drug treatment for long-term pain relief after shingles attacks FDA approves new drug treatment for long-term pain relief after shingles attacks

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the approval of Qutenza (capsaicin) 8% patch, a medicated skin patch that relieves the pain of post-herpetic neuralgia, a serious complication that can occur after a bout with shingles.

Paradoxical protein might prevent cancer Paradoxical protein might prevent cancer

One difficulty with fighting cancer cells is that they are similar in many respects to the body’s stem cells. By focusing on the differences between the two cell types, researchers have found a new way of tackling colon cancer.

Visions of Discovery: a celebration of research images Visions of Discovery: a celebration of research images

'Visions of Discovery', a new exhibition featuring stunning images arising from biological and medical research, has opened at the University of Dundee.

Astex announces strategic drug discovery alliance with GlaxoSmithKline Astex announces strategic drug discovery alliance with GlaxoSmithKline

Astex Therapeutics Limited announced recently that it has entered into a new collaboration agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to discover, develop and commercialize novel compounds directed against multiple therapeutic targets of interest to GSK.

GSM Association and the University of Manchester to establish an m-Health Innovation Centre GSM Association and the University of Manchester to establish an m-Health Innovation Centre

The GSM Association today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Manchester to establish an m-Health Innovation Centre in Manchester, which will act as a UK focus for m-Health activity.

Scientists decipher the formation of lasting memories Scientists decipher the formation of lasting memories

Researchers at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have discovered a mechanism that controls the brain's ability to create lasting memories.

MorphoSys receives regulatory approval to start Phase Ib/IIa clinical trial for MOR103 programme MorphoSys receives regulatory approval to start Phase Ib/IIa clinical trial for MOR103 programme

Germany's Paul-Ehrlich-Institute approves clinical trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Astex announces a CRADA with the National Cancer Institute for its HSP90 inhibitor AT13387 Astex announces a CRADA with the National Cancer Institute for its HSP90 inhibitor AT13387

Astex Therapeutics Limited recently announced the signing of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute to collaborate on the study of its novel small-molecule HSP90 inhibitor, AT13387, for the treatment of cancer.

CureVac launches Phase IIa mRNA vaccine trial in prostate cancer CureVac launches Phase IIa mRNA vaccine trial in prostate cancer

This will be the first evaluation of CureVac's RNActive® vaccine technology in humans.

EMEA grants TikoMed orphan drug designation for IBsolvMIR in the treatment of diabetes patients EMEA grants TikoMed orphan drug designation for IBsolvMIR in the treatment of diabetes patients

TikoMed AB announced recently that IBsolvMIR® has been granted orphan drug designation for the prevention of graft rejection during pancreatic islet transplantation by the Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products of the EMEA.

AstraZeneca withdraws its marketing authorization application for Zactima (vandetinib) AstraZeneca withdraws its marketing authorization application for Zactima (vandetinib)

The European Medicines Agency has been formally notified by AstraZeneca of its decision to withdraw its application for a centralized marketing authorization for the medicine Zactima (vandetinib) in 100 mg film-coated tablets.