News for September 2013

News Archive

New study debunks the myth of a rising medicines bill New study debunks the myth of a rising medicines bill

ABPI Chief Executive Stephen Whitehead has welcomed the publication of a ground-breaking new UK NHS Medicines Bill projection by the Office of Health Economics (OHE) published in Pharmaeconomics. This study corrects common misconceptions by clearly showing that NHS spending on medicines is under control.

to-BBB Presents Clinical Data on Lead Product 2B3-10, a Potential New Treatment Option for Patients with Brain Cancer to-BBB Presents Clinical Data on Lead Product 2B3-10, a Potential New Treatment Option for Patients with Brain Cancer

A novel drug for patients with brain cancer, 2B3-101, has shown preliminary positive results. The Dutch biotech to-BBB has developed 2B3-101 and initiated a clinical trial to investigate this new treatment. The Phase I safety results will be presented at the European Cancer Congress 2013 in Amsterdam at the end of September.

Ablynx and Merck Serono Further Strengthen Their Collaboration on Co-Discovery and Co-Development Of Nanobodies Ablynx and Merck Serono Further Strengthen Their Collaboration on Co-Discovery and Co-Development Of Nanobodies

Creation of dedicated discovery unit at AblynxDiscovery and development of Nanobodies® against multiple targets in Merck Serono’s core therapeutic areas

Cell Medica opens commercial manufacturing facility in Germany Cell Medica opens commercial manufacturing facility in Germany

Imperial Innovations Group plc, a leading technology commercialisation and investment group, announces that portfolio company Cell Medica, a leading T cell therapeutics company, has opened a European manufacturing facility in Berlin-Buch, Germany.

Innovators working hard to avoid patent exclusions in the US Innovators working hard to avoid patent exclusions in the US

By Adrian Tombling, partner and patent attorney at Withers & Rogers (www.withersrogers.com).Just 18 months after a controversial patent ruling in the US, global pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers of diagnostic methods are working hard to overcome some of the nonsensical exclusions that now apply when seeking commercial protection there.

Shark antibodies could provide key to targeting breast cancer Shark antibodies could provide key to targeting breast cancer

Aberdeen scientists are investigating if antibodies found naturally in sharks could be used to target breast cancer.

How meningitis bacteria ‘slip under the radar’ How meningitis bacteria ‘slip under the radar’

Scientists have discovered a natural temperature sensor in one of the bacteria that cause meningitis and blood poisoning, which allows them to evade the body’s immune response leading to life-threatening infections.

The practice of medicinal chemistry The practice of medicinal chemistry

Medicinal chemistry as a discipline has contributed enormously to gains in public health over the past century.

Zealand informs that data presented on Lyxumia® support known complementary effects of this diabetes medicine in combination with basal insulin Zealand informs that data presented on Lyxumia® support known complementary effects of this diabetes medicine in combination with basal insulin

A sub-analysis of results from the GetGoal-L study shows that Lyxumia® added to basal insulin lowered blood sugar (HbA1c) especially when fasting glucose was controlled

As Alzheimer’s Burden Rises, Global Action Needed to Accelerate Research on New Treatments and Prevention As Alzheimer’s Burden Rises, Global Action Needed to Accelerate Research on New Treatments and Prevention

New York Academy of Sciences, in partnership with The Global CEO Initiative on Alzheimer’s Disease and the National Institute on Aging/NIH, to Launch “Path to 2025” Biennial Summit to Drive Progress in Alzheimer’s R&D over Next Decade

Cellectricon announces Cellaxess® ACE project grant winners Cellectricon announces Cellaxess® ACE project grant winners

Cellectricon, a leading provider of advanced cell-based screening technologies and services, has announced the two winners of its Cellaxess® ACE project grant, supporting cutting-edge research in cell biology.

Spin-out company Molecular Profiles purchased by US-based Columbia Laboratories Spin-out company Molecular Profiles purchased by US-based Columbia Laboratories

Molecular Profiles, one of The University of Nottingham’s longest established spin-out businesses, has been purchased by Columbia Laboratories, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRX) of Boston, for approximately $25m (£16m).Molecular Profiles was established in 1997 by an academic group at The University of Nottingham’s School of Pharmacy, who identified an opportunity to deliver sophisticated analytical and development solutions to meet the growing needs of the pharmaceutical industry.

Global Response to Pharma EXPO Grows with Support from Pharmintech Global Response to Pharma EXPO Grows with Support from Pharmintech

Initial space reservations place the new event well ahead of expectations.Industry support is growing for Pharma EXPO, the new pharmaceutical industry event from PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, and the International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE). PMMI, the owner and producer of the PACK EXPO family of trade shows, announces a new partnership with Ipack-Ima Spa, which produces Pharmintech.

Britons want world class access to new cancer treatments, finds survey Britons want world class access to new cancer treatments, finds survey

A new survey has found that four in five adults want the NHS to offer levels of access to treatment at least comparable with other countries. Half believe the NHS should be a world leader in the treatments available to patients and should pay for all treatments regardless of how much they cost, going beyond international standard practice

CHAMPIX® (varenicline) is Effective and Well Tolerated Compared With Placebo in Patients With a History of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) CHAMPIX® (varenicline) is Effective and Well Tolerated Compared With Placebo in Patients With a History of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

Findings from a published double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trial designed to assess the efficacy and safety of varenicline compared with placebo in patients with a history of MDD*

ClinTec International announced as SCRIP Awards 2013 finalist in the category of ‘Best CRO’ in recognition of continued corporate success ClinTec International announced as SCRIP Awards 2013 finalist in the category of ‘Best CRO’ in recognition of continued corporate success

ClinTec International, the global Clinical Research Organisation has been named as a finalist for the accolade of ‘Best CRO’ at the SCRIP Awards 2013, to be held in London’s Lancaster Hotel on November 21st, 2013. Being on the final shortlist for this accolade, at what is one of the biggest ceremonies in the pharmaceutical industry, marks a further landmark in what has been a successful year for the company.

Royal Society of Chemistry Unveils its Conference for Lab Innovations 2013 Royal Society of Chemistry Unveils its Conference for Lab Innovations 2013

The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) is bringing together leading scientists, technical experts and two of science’s most famous names, in a special free-to-attend conference at easyFairs LAB INNOVATIONS on 6 &7 November 2013 at Birmingham’s NEC.

The Future of Drug Discovery by Tamas Bartfai and Graham V. Lees The Future of Drug Discovery by Tamas Bartfai and Graham V. Lees

Who decides which diseases to treat?

Muscular Dystrophy Genetic Therapy Might Have Died Without Patient Group Support Muscular Dystrophy Genetic Therapy Might Have Died Without Patient Group Support

A type of gene therapy heralded as a potentially revolutionary treatment for a severe form of muscular dystrophy was treated with scepticism by major medical funding establishments, and was mostly funded through its earliest development by patient groups.

Cancer Research Technology andTeva Pharmaceuticals Form R&D Alliance for Cancer DNA Damage Response Drugs Cancer Research Technology andTeva Pharmaceuticals Form R&D Alliance for Cancer DNA Damage Response Drugs

Cancer Research Technology Ltd. (CRT), Cancer Research UK’s technology development arm, and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE: TEVA) have signed a multi-project alliance agreement to research and develop first-in-class cancer drugs that modulate DNA damage and repair response (DDR) processes in cancer cells.

MED-EL Founder and CEO Dr. Ingeborg Hochmair to Receive Prestigious Lasker Award for Development of the Modern Cochlear Implant MED-EL Founder and CEO Dr. Ingeborg Hochmair to Receive Prestigious Lasker Award for Development of the Modern Cochlear Implant

Worldwide hearing implant leader MED-EL Medical Electronics today announced that its Founder and CEO Ingeborg Hochmair, PhD, has been selected to receive this year's prestigious Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award for the development of the modern cochlear implant, a device that restores hearing to individuals with severe-to-profound deafness through electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve. She will share the award with Graeme M. Clark (Emeritus, Univ. of Melbourne, Australia) and Blake S. Wilson (Duke University, NC, USA). This highly-respected scientific award honors scientists whose contributions have improved the clinical treatment of patients. The award ceremony will take place in New York City on Friday, September 20, 2013

UK-Swedish team turn to crowdfunding for promising new QS nanoparticle-based Leukemia treatment UK-Swedish team turn to crowdfunding for promising new QS nanoparticle-based Leukemia treatment

Moreinx DuecomplusA’s project seeks Euros 1 million for DUE-C100 AML candidate

University of Warwick wins Domainex’s first Discovery STAR Award to Support hunt for new Chagas Disease Treatment University of Warwick wins Domainex’s first Discovery STAR Award to Support hunt for new Chagas Disease Treatment

Domainex Ltd., a drug discovery company specialising in translational research support, has announced that the recipient of its first Discovery STAR Award; Professor Vilmos Fulop of the University of Warwick. This award will give Professor Fulop access to Domainex’s outstanding drug discovery capabilities to support his research for a much-needed new treatment for Chagas disease- a potentially life-threatening disease.

Almac and Queen’s University, Belfast announce £13 million investment in Cancer Research Almac and Queen’s University, Belfast announce £13 million investment in Cancer Research

Significant milestone achieved in clinical development of ground breaking new cancer drug, ALM201and academic-industrial partnership to create new drug discovery unit

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. 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.

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.

Zealand announces peptide drug research and development collaboration agreement with Lilly Zealand announces peptide drug research and development collaboration agreement with Lilly

Zealand Pharma has announced an exclusive peptide drug research and development collaboration agreement with Eli Lilly and Company (“Lilly”).

Reed Elsevier announces Environmental Challenge winners

Reed Elsevier has announced the winners of the 2013 Reed Elsevier Environmental Challenge, which supports innovative solutions to improve sustainable access to safe water and sanitation.

Scientists succeed in growing human brain tissue in "Test Tubes" Scientists succeed in growing human brain tissue in "Test Tubes"

Complex human brain tissue has been successfully developed in a three-dimensional culture system established in an Austrian laboratory.

Wellcome Trust and KU Leuven announce collaboration with Janssen for development of dengue antiviral drugs Wellcome Trust and KU Leuven announce collaboration with Janssen for development of dengue antiviral drugs

Researchers at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven) are joining forces with Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Janssen) and the Wellcome Trust to discover and develop candidate antiviral drugs for the prevention and treatment of dengue infection.