Cancer Research UK’s Drug Development Office (DDO) has launched a new clinical trial of a brand new type of experimental drug to treat a range of cancers.
31 May, 2013
Dr. Jung-Mo Ahn, associate professor of chemistry at The University of Texas at Dallas, has designed and synthesized a novel small molecule that might become a large weapon in the fight against prostate cancer.
29 May, 2013
Traditionally, high-throughput screening (HTS) has been employed excessively during early drug discovery to identify compounds binding to a single target of interest. Nowadays, we experience the shift in research and development toward modulating agents and, more prominently, on small molecules acting simultaneously on a variety of receptors to remedy an indication or disease of interest. In order to increase the outcome of HTS, novel approaches had to be and in fact have been developed. Accomplishing these goals may be attended by more detailed considerations of biological pathways and deeper integration with computational resources.
28 May, 2013
An epilepsy drug shows promise in an animal model at preventing tinnitus from developing after exposure to loud noise, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The findings, reported this week in the early online version of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, reveal for the first time the reason the chronic and sometimes debilitating condition occurs.
28 May, 2013
Manchester, Birmingham & Oxford, UK May 2013 – Cytox Limited, a UK company developing diagnostic and prognostic services for Alzheimer’s disease, announces the publication of new data using its blood-based phenoTOR™ assay technology. The data demonstrate the ability of the phenoTOR assay technology to assess the functional integrity of the mTOR pathway through analysis of lymphocytes and the relationship between this pathway and the development of Alzheimer’s disease pathology. The paper, published in Acta Neuropathologica Communications1, supports the development of the assay in the assessment of Alzheimer’s disease risk in patients.
24 May, 2013
Researchers have pinpointed a catalytic trigger for the onset of Alzheimer’s disease – when the fundamental structure of a protein molecule changes to cause a chain reaction that leads to the death of neurons in the brain.
23 May, 2013
In a striking, unexpected discovery, researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have determined that vitamin C kills drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) bacteria in laboratory culture. The finding suggests that vitamin C added to existing TB drugs could shorten TB therapy, and it highlights a new area for drug design. The study was published today in the online journal Nature Communications.
22 May, 2013
A new study of both computer-created and natural proteins suggests that the number of unique pockets – sites where small molecule pharmaceutical compounds can bind to proteins – is surprisingly small, meaning drug side effects may be impossible to avoid. The study also found that the fundamental biochemical processes needed for life could have been enabled by the simple physics of protein folding.
21 May, 2013
Scientists at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute have identified four genes in baboons that influence levels of “bad” cholesterol. This discovery could lead to the development of new drugs to reduce the risk of heart disease.
17 May, 2013
In a landmark cancer study published online in Nature, researchers at NYU School of Medicine have unraveled a longstanding mystery about how pancreatic tumor cells feed themselves, opening up new therapeutic possibilities for a notoriously lethal disease with few treatment options. Pancreatic cancer kills nearly 38,000 Americans annually, making it a leading cause of cancer death. The life expectancy for most people diagnosed with it is less than a year.
15 May, 2013
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are remarkably versatile protein molecules with numerous applications in human health. More than 30 mAb therapeutics have been approved for marketing and approximately 360 mAbs are currently in clinical studies, with 30 in pivotal trials. The indications of these studies are diverse and include autoimmune disorders, solid and hematological cancers, and infectious diseases. In the preclinical arena, understanding mAb interactions with their targets is also vital to vaccine design. This Drug Discovery Today Editor’s Choice newsletter provides timely reviews on the utility of antibodies as therapeutics and approaches to mAb/antigen interaction studies that aid in vaccine development.
14 May, 2013
The latest issue of Drug Discovery Today is packed full of industry focused research articles, new developments in drug discovery, and expert comment and opinion.
13 May, 2013
You know that summer is here when juicy red strawberries start to appear on the shelves. In Germany, this seasonal fruit has never been more popular: on average 3.5 kilos per head were consumed in 2012 – a full kilogram more than ten years ago. Scientists from the Technische Universität München (TUM) decided to find out what gives strawberries their characteristic flavor.
13 May, 2013
How do researchers know whether new molecules will have a positive or negative effect? How much does the technique for moving a liquid affect the results? What about testing compounds for their environmental or health impacts: Is one liquid handling process better than another when it comes to accuracy of the data?
04 May, 2013
10% upper limit of bodyweight loss sufficient to determine maximum-tolerated dose
03 May, 2013
A new genetic profiling laboratory that will pioneer a quick and cost-effective new tumour test will give doctors a better chance of identifying the right treatment for UK cancer patients and increase access to clinical trials for the latest therapies.
02 May, 2013
Candidates will benefit from MRC Technology’s technology transfer knowledge and experience
01 May, 2013