News for December 2009

News Archive

Season's Greetings Season's Greetings

Drug Discovery Today staff taking short break over Christmas and New Year holiday period

AstraZeneca and the University of Virginia sign strategic research collaboration to develop novel treatments for cardiovascular disease AstraZeneca and the University of Virginia sign strategic research collaboration to develop novel treatments for cardiovascular disease

AstraZeneca and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville recently announced that they have entered into a strategic research collaboration to enhance the development of new treatments primarily for coronary artery disease with a secondary focus on peripheral vascular disease.

Merck appoints Dr Michael Rosenblatt as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer Merck appoints Dr Michael Rosenblatt as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer

Merck & Co. recently announced the appointment of Dr Michael Rosenblatt as Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. Dr Rosenblatt will be Merck's primary voice to the global medical community.

Cannabis hope for inflammatory bowel disease Cannabis hope for inflammatory bowel disease

Chemicals found in cannabis could prove an effective treatment for the inflammatory bowel diseases ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, say scientists.

Thermo Fisher Scientific’s mass spectrometry technology helps Children’s Hospital Boston isolate biomarker for acute pediatric appendicitis Thermo Fisher Scientific’s mass spectrometry technology helps Children’s Hospital Boston isolate biomarker for acute pediatric appendicitis

The Children’s Hospital research team believes the discovery will lead to more accurate and efficient diagnosis.

FDA grants Cequent investigational new drug for CEQ508 and clears way for first ever clinical trial of orally delivered RNAi therapeutic FDA grants Cequent investigational new drug for CEQ508 and clears way for first ever clinical trial of orally delivered RNAi therapeutic

Cequent Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company that develops products to deliver RNAi-based treatments for the prevention and treatment of human disease, announced recently that the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research has approved Cequent’s first investigational new drug (IND) application.

ThromboGenics announces Phase II trial of microplasmin for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration ThromboGenics announces Phase II trial of microplasmin for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration

ThromboGenics NV announced recently that it has started a Phase II trial of microplasmin for the treatment of exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration.

Light Sciences Oncology anticipates completion of two Phase III cancer trials in 2010 Light Sciences Oncology anticipates completion of two Phase III cancer trials in 2010

Light Sciences Oncology is anticipating significant short-term progress in the company’s multi-front development of Aptocine™ (talaporfin sodium), a novel treatment for solid tumors and benign neoplasms, including BPH.

Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre archives 500,000th crystal structure Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre archives 500,000th crystal structure

The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre has proudly announced the archiving of the 500,000th small-molecule crystal structure to the Cambridge Structural Database.

Mayo Clinic and the National Cancer Institute collaborate to develop and study cancer models of key tumourigenesis pathway involved in drug resistance Mayo Clinic and the National Cancer Institute collaborate to develop and study cancer models of key tumourigenesis pathway involved in drug resistance

The National Cancer Institute has entered into a research and development collaboration with Mayo Clinic to expand on recent research discoveries at Mayo, where researchers have demonstrated the importance of a key protein involved in pancreatic and lung cancer.

Two heads are better than one in a new mode of antibiotic action. Two heads are better than one in a new mode of antibiotic action.

An antibiotic that binds to a well-established target in a novel and unexpected way could be the inspiration for designing new, more potent antibiotic drugs.

Domainex releases its latest generation LeadBuilder virtual screening platform. Domainex releases its latest generation LeadBuilder virtual screening platform.

Domainex Ltd. has released the next generation of its LeadBuilder virtual screening technology. LeadBuilder is the proprietary lead generation platform developed by Domainex to provide unusually rapid and cost-effective access to high-quality small-molecule drug leads, particularly against novel or difficult target proteins.

First ever blueprint of a minimal cell is more complex than expected First ever blueprint of a minimal cell is more complex than expected

EMBL and CRG scientists reveal what a self-sufficient cell can’t do without.

Transatlantic research partnership aims for longer, healthier lives Transatlantic research partnership aims for longer, healthier lives

Research efforts to help the world's ageing population live longer, healthier lives have been given a major boost with the announcement of six new transatlantic research projects that aim to understanding the biology of the ageing process.

Synexus exceeded recruitment target in rotavirus vaccine trial in South Africa Synexus exceeded recruitment target in rotavirus vaccine trial in South Africa

UK-based Synexus recruited in excess of 2000 children aged between five and ten weeks of age over the course of three months, making Synexus the largest single source of subjects for a Phase III trial that investigated a paediatric vaccine against rotavirus and involved more than 3167 children across South Africa.