Drug Discovery Today - Latest News

Four genes identified that influence levels of 'bad' cholesterol

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:20:00 GMT

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.

Breakthrough in the understanding of how pancreatic cancer cells ingest nutrients points to new drug target

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:44:00 GMT

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.

Monoclonal antibodies in drug and vaccine development

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:40:00 GMT

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.

Drug Discovery Today: May Issue

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:39:00 GMT

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 molecular basis of strawberry aroma

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:55:00 GMT

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.

Moving Liquids with Sound Helps Identify Drug Candidates that Traditional Lab Techniques Miss

Sat, 04 May 2013 00:01:00 GMT

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?

Industry evidence sets animal welfare benchmark for short-term toxicity studies

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:00:00 GMT

10% upper limit of bodyweight loss sufficient to determine maximum-tolerated dose

New Genetic Sequencing Lab Creates “Tipping Point” For Personalised Cancer Care In UK

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:00:00 GMT

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.

MRC Technology Supports the ENTENTE Professional Exchange Program to Strengthen European Knowledge Transfer

Wed, 01 May 2013 12:24:00 GMT

Candidates will benefit from MRC Technology’s technology transfer knowledge and experience

THE £50M CRT PIONEER FUND ANNOUNCES FIRST INVESTMENT TO DEVELOP CANCER DRUGS

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:01:00 GMT

THE CANCER RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY PIONEER FUND (CPF) today (Tuesday) has made its first investment in a collaboration with the Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, to develop a promising class of drugs called MPS1 inhibitors to treat cancer.

Proposed ‘superfast’ patent service could help some companies to make the most of Patent Box but only at a price, says Withers & Rogers

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:00:00 GMT

The UK Intellectual Property Office’s (UKIPO) proposed ‘superfast’ patent service could help some companies to make the most of Patent Box but only at a price, according to one of the UK’s leading firms of patent and trade mark attorneys, Withers & Rogers.

La Jolla Institute's surprising finding could alter the face of dengue vaccine development

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:17:00 GMT

As efforts to create a strong and effective vaccine for the dreaded dengue virus continue to hit snags, a new study from researchers at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology offers surprising evidence that suggests the need for a revamped approach to dengue vaccine design. The finding runs counter to current scientific understanding of the key cells that need to be induced to develop a successful dengue vaccine.

MRC Technology and EMBLEM Collaborate to Streamline Drug Development

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:45:00 GMT

Initiative strengthens drug development and commercialization network

Merck Serono's EPP to Finance the Launch of the EspeRare Foundation, a Nonprofit Organization to Advance Treatments for Rare Diseases

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:37:00 GMT

Merck Serono, a division of Merck, Darmstadt, Germany, today announced the launch of the EspeRare Foundation, a nonprofit organization set up by three Merck Serono employees, in the framework of the Merck Serono Entrepreneur Partnership Program (EPP). Merck Serono will donate an initial €2.8 million funding to the EspeRare Foundation.

New antibiotic drug is based on studies of phage

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 16:31:00 GMT

A new broad range antibiotic, developed jointly by scientists at The Rockefeller University and Astex Pharmaceuticals, has been found to kill a wide range of bacteria, including drug-resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA) bacteria that do not respond to traditional drugs. The antibiotic, Epimerox, targets weaknesses in bacteria that have long been exploited by viruses that attack them, known as phage, and has even been shown to protect animals from fatal infection by Bacillus anthracis, the bacteria that causes anthrax.

Found: potential therapy for human prion disease

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:16:00 GMT

Human diseases caused by misfolded proteins known as prions are some of most rare yet terrifying on the planet—incurable with disturbing symptoms that include dementia, personality shifts, hallucinations and coordination problems. The most well-known of these is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which can be described as the naturally occurring human equivalent of mad cow disease.

Drug Discovery Today: April Issue

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:00:00 GMT

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.

Genetic vulnerability of lung cancer to lay foundation for new drug options

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:25:00 GMT

Physician-researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified a vulnerability of certain lung-cancer cells – a specific genetic weakness that can be exploited for new therapies.

Scientists test new formulation of novel, low-toxicity anticancer agent

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:34:00 GMT

Researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) have found that a new formulation of a promising anticancer agent, the small chemical molecule FL118, is even more effective in controlling two types of cancer than a version reported in PLOS ONE six months earlier proved to be. Additional evidence also suggests that the agent may successfully treat other solid tumors as well.

Cancer drugs an unexpected ally in the battle against malaria

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:54:00 GMT

In the fight against malaria, cancer drugs are far from being considered a useful tool. But new research at Seattle BioMed reveals that liver cells, which are first infected by Plasmodium parasites after their transmission by mosquito bite, actually behave in similar ways to cancer cells. The work also shows that with the help of cancer drugs, the liver can become a hostile environment for the malaria parasite. This exciting new development is published in this month’s issue of the journal Cell Reports.

Mount Sinai leads global programme using stem cells, collaborates with The New York Stem Cell Foundation to accelerate cures for Alzheimer’s Disease

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:34:00 GMT

Sam Gandy, MD, PhD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is leading an international team of researchers working to reprogram skin cells into brain cells to gain a better understanding of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). As part of the Consortium, Dr Gandy is collaborating with Scott Noggle, PhD, the NYSCF – Charles Evans Senior Research Fellow for Alzheimer’s Disease and Director of the New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF)’s laboratory in Manhattan.

Successful Vaccine Developments Aat Themis Bioscience

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:40:00 GMT

The Viennese biotech boutique Themis has reported rapid progress in the development of two highly efficient vaccines against Dengue and Chikungunya fever. In the just concluded preclinical studies, the two vaccine candidates, based on a technology by the Parisian Pasteur Institute, displayed exceedingly good efficacy. With a single vaccination against Chikungunya it was possible to develop full vaccination protection. The Dengue fever vaccine candidate proved effective against all of the four known serotypes of this infection. On the basis of these excellent results, Themis will start the clinical phase I study for both vaccines before the end of this year.

Study reveals how serotonin receptors can shape drug effects

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:48:00 GMT

A team including scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Chinese Academy of Sciences has determined and analyzed the high-resolution atomic structures of two kinds of human serotonin receptor. The new findings help explain why some drugs that interact with these receptors have had unexpectedly complex and sometimes harmful effects.

Drug repositioning: a new path to address unmet clinical needs

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:37:00 GMT

Drug repositioning, the process of finding new indications for existing drugs, presents a promising avenue for identifying better and safer treatments without the full cost or time required for de novo drug development. This young discipline has the potential to supplement flagging drug development pipelines, increase patient quality of life, and address areas of concern, such as rare and neglected diseases. In the past five years, government agencies, academic researchers, and the pharmaceutical industry have worked to move drug repositioning from a serendipitous event based on clinical observation, unfocused screening, and ‘happy accidents’ to a comprehensive and rational search for repositioning opportunities.

Discovery could increase efficacy of promising cystic fibrosis drug

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:29:00 GMT

A little more than a year after the FDA approved Kalydeco (Vx-770), the first drug of its kind to treat the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis, University of Missouri researchers believe they have found exactly how this drug works and how to improve its effectiveness in the future. Described in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, MU researchers have redefined a key regulatory process in the defective protein responsible for cystic fibrosis that could change the way scientists approach the lethal genetic disease.

Xceleron and JCL Bioassay Announce Partnership in Early Clinical Investigations

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:00:00 GMT

New offering will expand access to powerful analytical platforms

Researchers ask “Can Sodium bicarbonate improve Quality of Life in Chronic Kidney Disease?”

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Researchers from the University of Dundee and NHS Tayside are to lead a £1.2million UK-wide project, funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) Programme, to investigate the role of Sodium bicarbonate in improving physical function and quality of life for older people with advanced Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

Fresh hope for thousands of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sufferers who cannot tolerate the most common treatment for this debilitating disease

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:00:00 GMT

Data published today in The Lancet show that over 50% of RA patients can achieve low disease activity or remission with RoActemra, compared to under 20% of those treated with the most widely prescribed anti-TNF Humira when neither drug is combined with methotrexate (51.5% vs. 19.8%, assessed by DAS28 =3.2*). The study exposed a wealth of data indicating the superiority of RoActemra over Humira, with almost four times as many patients achieving disease remission with RoActemra alone, compared to Humira alone (39.9% vs. 10.5%, assessed by DAS28 <2.6*) and almost twice as many patients achieve a 70% improvement in the signs and symptoms of their disease (32.5% vs. 17.9%, assessed by ACR70**).

Novartis compound LDK378 receives FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation for ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:35:00 GMT

Novartis announced that its investigational compound LDK378 has received Breakthrough Therapy designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive (ALK+) metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had progressed during treatment with, or were intolerant to, crizotinib. There are limited treatment options for patients with ALK+ NSCLC, who tend to be non-smokers and younger than NSCLC patients without an ALK translocation.

Smart-bombing cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and more

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:00:00 GMT

In the military, collateral damage means innocent civilians dying. In medicine, it means side effects – and that can mean death for the patient. But Peisheng Xu of the University of South Carolina is helping craft new pharmaceuticals that could dramatically improve a patient’s odds when heavy-duty drugs are prescribed. Xu’s research is focused on developing drugs with the kind of precision that the military seeks with smart bombs.

European Commission approves new pre-treatment options for QUTENZA™ (8% capsaicin patch) in peripheral neuropathic pain

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:34:00 GMT

The European Commission (EC) has approved expanded options for pre-treatment prior to use of QUTENZA (8% capsaicin patch). Before application the patient may now take an oral analgesic, or the treatment area may be pre-treated with a topical anaesthetic.1 The 8% capsaicin patch is the first and only licensed high concentration (8%) capsaicin cutaneous patch for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain in Europe.

FDA adds heart risk warning to popular antibiotic Zithromax

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:44:00 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration is warning doctors and patients that a widely used antibiotic from Pfizer can cause rare but deadly heart rhythms in some patients.

The use of stem cells for drug discovery and organ repair

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 11:31:00 GMT

Numerous currently incurable human diseases arise from the loss or malfunction of highly specialized cell types that lack the capacity to regenerate due to diseases (e.g. heart attack, stroke), traumas (e.g. spinal cord injuries by accidents) or aging (e.g. blindness due to age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma). Recent advances in stem cell technologies have made regenerative medicine, once seen only in science fiction, a reachable reality. In this newsletter focusing on ‘Stem Cells’, we have solicited four articles to introduce some fundamental concepts of stem cells and review some of their immediate applications for disease modeling, drug discovery and toxicity screening as well as future possible therapies.

Government prepares to act to attract drug research projects back to the UK, says Withers & Rogers

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:00:00 GMT

The Government is preparing to take action to attract drug research projects back to the UK by ensuring that patent laws are consistent with those in most other EU member states, according to Withers & Rogers – one of the UK’s leading firms of patent and trade mark attorneys.

Rush scientists identify Buphenyl as a possible drug for Alzheimer’s disease

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:29:00 GMT

Buphenyl, an FDA-approved medication for hyperammonemia, may protect memory and prevent the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Hyperammonemia is a life-threatening condition that can affect patients at any age. It is caused by abnormal, high levels of ammonia in the blood.

Cancer researchers and astronomers team up to beat cancer

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:54:00 GMT

Cancer Research UK scientists have honed techniques originally developed to spot distant galaxies and used them to identify biomarkers that signal a cancer’s aggressiveness among some 2,000 breast tumours, in a study published in the British Journal of Cancer today.

Medical Research Council Technology and MS Society Launch Joint ‘Call for Targets’

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:11:00 GMT

MRC Technology, a technology transfer organisation with its own drug discovery laboratories, and the MS Society, a charity providing support and research funding for people affected by MS, today announced a joint ‘call for targets’ in order to fast-track the discovery and development of novel drugs to slow, stop or reverse progression in MS or treat MS symptoms. The call to academic researchers seeks to fund further validation of small molecule and antibody targets prior to initiating a full scale drug discovery project to produce ‘drug-like’ molecules or therapeutic antibodies that have the potential to become therapies.

Positive Outcome In Clinical Study To Prevent Radiation-Induced Dermatitis In Breast Cancer Patients

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:00:00 GMT

APEIRON Biologics AG (Apeiron) today announced that the clinical trial with their liposomal formulation of recombinant superoxide dismutase (project APN201) which started in March 2012 concluded with positive outcomes in all endpoints analyzed.

Marinomed´s Antiviral Nasal Spray Approved For Use In Canada

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 10:57:00 GMT

An innovative nasal spray that has been proven clinically effective against respiratory viruses has now been authorized for the Canadian market. The product, which was developed by the Viennese biotech company Marinomed, reduces the reproduction and spread of viruses on the nasal mucosa and is based on Marinomed's proprietary technology platform Mavirex®. Based on the expected market success of the nasal spray, one major international pharmaceutical concern has already decided to market the product in the fall.

Drug Discovery Today: March Issue

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:50:00 GMT

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.

Drug Discovery Today: February Issue

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:00:00 GMT

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.

Researchers discover promising prognostic marker for aggressive breast cancer

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:55:00 GMT

Cleveland - A team of researchers led by Goutham Narla, MD, PhD, at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals Case Medical Center, and collaborators at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Erasmus Medical Center, have discovered a gene variant that drives the spread of breast cancer. Published in Science Translational Medicine the study lays the early foundation for predicting which breast cancer patients may develop more aggressive disease and for designing more effective treatments.

Launch of trial of ‘master switch’ drug to treat several cancer types

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Cancer Research UK and its commercial arm Cancer Research Technology (CRT) are launching a trial of an experimental drug shown to simultaneously block many enzymes that control cancer cell growth and death. The ‘master-switch’ experimental drug, owned by Astex Pharmaceuticals, could potentially treat a range of cancer types.

Crescendo biologics announces the Crescendo Mouse

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:41:00 GMT

Crescendo Biologics Limited (Crescendo) announces the Crescendo Mouse, a breakthrough in antibody fragment technology which allows the efficient generation of high-quality fully human single domain antibody VH fragments from a transgenic mouse.

Drug Discovery Today: January Issue

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:41:00 GMT

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.

Terbium: a new “Swiss Army knife” for Nuclear Medicine

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 14:00:00 GMT

A unique collaboration between the Paul Scherrer Institute, CERN’s ISOLDE facility, and the Institut Laue-Langevin, has published preclinical study results for a newly developed set of tumour-targeting radiopharmaceuticals.

Disrupting drug discovery with alternative business models

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 14:00:00 GMT

While much of the recent discussion around healthcare emphasizes that the pharmaceutical industry is under pressure from the high costs of bringing a drug to market and the regulatory hurdles, we tend to forget that other industries have faced challenges too, changed and survived. There are thousands of diseases with no treatments, representing millions of patients who have no treatment. At the beginning of the 21st century our pharmaceutical business models are urgently in need of disruption to address this unmet need. We are seeing that this may come from an unlikely source, the patients and the disease foundations they support.

Researchers identify a new class of drugs, capable of inhibiting the proliferation of various cancer cells

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:51:00 GMT

A pharmacological intervention directed against the proliferation of cancer cells is at the centre of a study conducted by researchers of the Drug Discovery and Development (D3) department of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), based in Genoa (Italy), published on the International journal Scientific Reports, with the title “Discovery of highly potent acid ceramidase inhibitors with in vitro tumor chemosensitizing activity”.

Innovate and TechWorld join forces to create the UK’s biggest multi-sector business event

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:41:00 GMT

The Technology Strategy Board and UK Trade & Investment have announced a joint venture which sees the two organisations unite the highly successful Innovate and TechWorld events. The new, multi-sector, networking event ‘Innovate UK’ will provide opportunities for companies, including those in the healthcare sector who are looking to accelerate their growth through technology innovation, international trade and investment.

BioWales shows off tomorrow’s health solutions

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:59:00 GMT

BioWales returns to the Wales Millennium Centre once again on March 19th and 20nd to show an international audience of NHS, industry and academia how Wales is delivering tomorrow’s health solutions.

New method for uncovering side effects before a drug hits the market

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:28:00 GMT

Side effects are a major reason that drugs are taken off the market and a major reason why patients stop taking their medications, but scientists are now reporting the development of a new way to predict those adverse reactions ahead of time. The report on the method, which could save patients from severe side effects and save drug companies time and money, appears in ACS' Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling.

Roche’s vismodegib named Drug Discovery of the Year by the British Pharmacological Society

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:45:00 GMT

Roche today announced that the first in class Hedgehog pathway inhibitor vismodegib, was named Drug Discovery of the Year by the British Pharmacological Society.

In silico ADMET: applications and new paths

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 11:41:00 GMT

The early and simultaneous consideration of potency, selectivity and ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) has become a characteristic feature of modern drug discovery. Today, prediction methods are an integral part of technology platforms for lead finding and optimization. Besides the efficient application of proven prediction methods, the field needs new developments yielding robust, precise models. Protein structure-based approaches in ADMET prediction might be one of those new paths.

A drug used to treat HIV might defuse deadly staph infections

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 17:00:00 GMT

A new study by NYU School of Medicine researchers suggests that an existing HIV drug called maraviroc could be a potential therapy for Staphylococcus aureus, a notorious and deadly pathogen linked to hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations each year. Their study is published online this week in Nature.

Automated design for drug discovery

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:00:00 GMT

A system of `automated design’ for new drugs could help develop the complex therapies needed for many medical conditions while also improving drug safety and efficiency, new research from the University of Dundee has shown.

The DNA double helix seen, for the first time, through an electron microscope

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:25:00 GMT

The Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia researchers have been able to capture, by Transmission Electron Microscopy, the direct and background-free image of the DNA Double Helix, paving the way to the direct study of the interaction between DNA and proteins, RNA and other molecules.

Biologists engineer algae to make complex anti-cancer ‘designer’ drug

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 12:00:00 GMT

Biologists at UC San Diego have succeeded in genetically engineering algae to produce a complex and expensive human therapeutic drug used to treat cancer.

Alacrita Launches 2012 Charity Auction of One-to One Lunches with Senior Executives from the Pharmaceutical Industry

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 14:52:00 GMT

Alacrita, the transatlantic firm which is changing the face of life science consulting, is delighted to launch its 2012 Life Sciences Seasonal Appeal. Alacrita is offering the unique opportunity for individuals from the life sciences industry to bid for a two-hour, one-to-one lunch with senior executives from the pharmaceutical industry.

Drug Discovery Today: December Issue

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 13:16:00 GMT

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.

Sanford-Burnham research projects selected to go to space

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 14:53:00 GMT

Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (Sanford-Burnham) has announced that two of the Institute’s research teams have won Space Florida’s International Space Station (ISS) Research Competition. Eight teams were selected from a pool of international applicants to send experiments to space in late 2013. The competition was initiated by Space Florida, the state’s spaceport and aerospace authority, and NanoRacks, LLC. Sanford-Burnham’s research will fly as payloads to the ISS aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle and research will be conducted on board the U.S. National Lab at the ISS.

Breakthrough personalised medicine launched for lung cancer

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 13:57:00 GMT

Pfizer Limited announced today that Xalkori (crizotinib), the first of a new class of therapy for a type of lung cancer is now available in the UK. Crizotinib, an oral treatment, has been granted a conditional licence for patients with previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), whose tumours test positively for a specific protein known as ALK. It is the only approved therapy for this subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and signals the most recent advance in personalised therapy in lung cancer.

Drug Discovery Today – Highlights of 2012

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 11:26:00 GMT

Dear reader,In this, the last Editors Choice eNewsletter of 2012, I decided that in common with many other forms of media such as newspapers, radio, television etc., I would review some of the highlights of the past year.To avoid Editorial bias, I thought that I would choose the highlights purely upon the number of times articles were downloaded in each of the first three quarters of the year. Simple, I thought; although selecting the articles was easy and unbiased, it did throw up some issues with respect to highlights of 2012.

Stony Brook researchers look back on scientific advances made as a result of a 50-year-old puzzle.

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 11:50:00 GMT

Fifty years after scientists first posed a question about protein folding, the search for answers has led to the creation of a full-fledged field of research that led to major advances in supercomputers, new materials and drug discovery, and shaped our understanding of the basic processes of life, including so-called "protein-folding diseases" such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and type II diabetes.

A*STAR scientists identify potential drug target for inflammatory diseases including cancers

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 14:54:00 GMT

A*STAR scientists have identified the enzyme, telomerase, as a cause of chronic inflammation in human cancers. Chronic inflammation is now recognized as a key underlying cause for the development of many human cancers, autoimmune disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and metabolic diseases such as diabetes. This enzyme, which is known to be responsible for providing cancer cells the endless ability to divide, is now found to also jumpstart and maintain chronic inflammation in cancers.

New oral drug overcomes resistance in patients with rare sarcoma after failure of standard targeted therapies

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 17:25:00 GMT

A new targeted drug demonstrated its ability to control metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor, an uncommon and life-threatening form of sarcoma, after the disease had become resistant to all existing therapies, report investigators at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute who led the worldwide clinical trial.

Nature Biotechnology study highlights new myelin specific approach to treat Multiple Sclerosis

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 11:35:00 GMT

The Myelin Repair Foundation (MRF) has announced the results of a new peer-reviewed research study published in Nature Biotechnology highlighting a targeted, novel approach for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Formulation of drugs – a key to success

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:16:00 GMT

The formulation of drugs by means of drug delivery systems (DDSs) is challenging yet indispensable to ensure efficacy of treatments especially when using drugs that do not present ideal characteristics in terms of stability, safety and pharmaco-dynamics/kinetics. Although many DDSs have reached maturity, resulting in their commercialization for various applications, further investigations and the introduction of new types of delivery carriers are paramount to stimulate and foster this field of science that has become essential to researchers working in both pharmaceutical industries and academia.

EFIC-Grünenthal Grant: improve the understanding of pain and its therapy

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 12:17:00 GMT

Unique funding opportunity for young scientists from across Europe! Young researchers are invited to contribute with innovative research ideas and to apply for the EFIC-Gruenenthal Grant (E-G-G) 2012, one of the most highly regarded grants worldwide in the field of pain research.

Structure of enzyme unravelled providing basis for more accurate design of chemotherapeutic drugs

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:53:00 GMT

A group of researchers at the University of California, Berkeley have for the first time described the structure of the active site core of topoisomerase II alpha, an important target for anticancer drugs.

Nanokey opens tumors to attack

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:37:00 GMT

There are plenty of effective anticancer agents around. The problem is that, very often, they cannot gain access to all the cells in solid tumors. A new gene delivery vehicle may provide a way of making tracks to the heart of the target.

Smart drug improves survival in older patients with acute myeloid leukemia

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:25:00 GMT

A new study has found Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) patients given a new type of 'smart drug' in addition to chemotherapy treatment are 22 percent less likely to relapse and around 13 percent less likely to die from their disease. The results are from a major phase III Cancer Research UK-funded trial led by Cardiff University.

New, improved mouse model of human alzheimer's may enable drug discovery

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have developed a transgenic mouse that carries a human gene known to increase risk of Alzheimer's 15-fold. This new mouse mimics the genetics of the human disease more closely than any of the dozen existing mouse models and may prove more useful in the development of candidate drugs to prevent or treat the disease.

Drug Discovery Today: November Issue

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:58:00 GMT

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.

Novel database unifies the knowledge of 100 years of drug research

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 10:46:00 GMT

PharmaInformatic, a German biotech-company has developed a comprehensive knowledge base on bioavailability, which enables the targeted development of new drugs.

Core research facilities offer help to scientists affected by hurricane Sandy

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 15:50:00 GMT

Core research facilities on the Science Exchange network announced today their support for those researchers affected by Hurricane Sandy.

CHEST publication highlights efficacy of Daxas® (roflumilast) in the COPD frequent exacerbator phenotype

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Treatment with roflumilast, an orally-administered highly selective phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, can help to shift chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients from the frequent to the more stable infrequent exacerbator state, according to a new data analysis published in CHEST.

New medication shows promise as lipid-lowering therapy for rare cholesterol disorder

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 15:48:00 GMT

An international effort led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has resulted in positive phase 3 clinical trial results for a new medicine to treat patients suffering from a rare and deadly cholesterol disorder.

Next-gen genetic sequencing tool acts as "Google search" for drugs, speeds discovery and disease diagnostics

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 15:40:00 GMT

Today physicists at Wake Forest University and NanoMedica, their biotechnology company partner, received a $700,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to bring to market a new drug-discovery tool using next-generation genetic sequencing.

Immune system fighters speak in patterns of proteins, prefer squishy partners

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:32:00 GMT

When talking to the key immune system fighters known as T-cells, it helps to speak their language. Now researchers from Columbia University in New York and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia have discovered two new conditions for communication that may help scientists one day harness the power of T-cells to fight diseases such as cancer.

Insights into a new therapy for a rare form of cystic fibrosis

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 13:17:00 GMT

Scientists at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto have established that a drug recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat a rare form of cystic fibrosis works in an unconventional way. Their results reveal new possibilities for treating various forms of cystic fibrosis.

Structure discovered for promising tuberculosis drug target

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 13:33:00 GMT

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have figured out the three-dimensional shape of the protein responsible for creating unique bonds within the cell wall of the bacteria that cause tuberculosis. The bonds make the bacteria resistant to currently available drug therapies, contributing to the alarming rise of these super-bacteria throughout the world.

Early signs of new Alzheimer’s treatment in Victoria - researchers discover that specific protein could halt the disease

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:00:00 GMT

European pharmaceutical giant Servier has thrown its support behind a new drug being developed in Victoria that may halt the development of Alzheimer’s disease while also alleviating its symptoms.

Johns Hopkins launches center to improve drug safety and effectiveness

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 17:32:00 GMT

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has established a new research center dedicated to improving the safety and effectiveness of medications. Led by Bloomberg School faculty in collaboration with colleagues from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Zanvyl Kreiger School of Arts and Sciences, the Center for Drug Safety and Effectiveness will address prescription drug use and pharmaceutical policy in the United States and abroad. Core faculty will focus on research, training, clinical care and public service.

Link found between Alzheimer’s disease and protein regulation in the brain - hope for new treatments

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:44:00 GMT

A link has been discovered between Alzheimer’s disease and the activity level of a protein called eIF2alpha. This has been reported in a new study conducted at the University of Haifa’s Sagol Department of Neurobiology, recently published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging. According to Prof. Kobi Rosenblum, head of the Department, altering the performance of this protein through drug therapy could constitute a treatment for Alzheimer’s, which is incurable.

World-leading cancer research organisation signs multi-year deal with Dotmatics to transform research informatics and collaborations across multiple sites and partners

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:29:00 GMT

Dotmatics Limited, a leading provider of scientific informatics solutions and services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, announced that The Institute of Cancer Research, London, has licensed and deployed the Dotmatics informatics platform.

MRI: a flexible and widely applicable modality in drug discovery

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:37:00 GMT

MRI methods play a wide-ranging role in drug discovery and development. This extremely flexible imaging modality is now widely used for in vivo profiling of potential drug candidates in animal models, provides an increasing choice of physiological structure and function markers applicable in clinical development and even has a role in the in vitro optimization of controlled release drug formulations. MRI has particular utility for translational biomarkers, where the same spin physics is used to interrogate the same biological parameter, in the same way, in both animals and humans.

Cold viruses point the way to new cancer therapies

Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:31:00 GMT

Cold viruses generally get a bad rap, which they've certainly earned, but new findings by a team of scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies suggest that these viruses might also be a valuable ally in the fight against cancer.

The revolutionary work of Nobel Prize winners Sir John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:35:00 GMT

Last week British scientist Sir John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2012 for their ground breaking work in stem cell research.

Analyst Insight: World Mental Health Day 2012: A Novel Drug Treatment Approach for Depression, Using Ketamine?

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 17:00:00 GMT

World Mental Health Day is a day set aside to raise public awareness and promote open discussion of mental disorders, their prevention and treatment. This year’s theme is “Depression: A Global Crisis”. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depression affects more than 350 million people globally, and although there are known effective treatments, access to such treatments is problematic in some countries, with sometimes fewer than 10% of those in need receiving treatment.

BerGenBio selects Sygnature Discovery for BGB002 drug development

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 09:37:00 GMT

BerGenBio, an emerging oncology biopharma announced the signing of a contract with Sygnature Discovery, Nottingham, UK, for the pre-clinical development of a small molecule inhibitor against a novel target that mediates highly aggressive drug-resistant tumours.

Drug Discovery Today: October Issue

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 11:44:00 GMT

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.

Smallest and fastest-known RNA switches provide new drug targets

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 12:14:00 GMT

A University of Michigan biophysical chemist and his colleagues have discovered the smallest and fastest-known molecular switches made of RNA, the chemical cousin of DNA. The researchers say these rare, fleeting structures are prime targets for the development of new antiviral and antibiotic drugs.

Canadian lab study for stroke drug accurately predicts outcomes in human clinical trials

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Scientists at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre, located at the Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network have developed the first lab study in the world to accurately predict the outcomes of a human clinical for their drug that protects the brain against the damaging effects of stroke.

Trojan horse drug therapy: a new approach to treating breast cancer

Wed, 03 Oct 2012 11:57:00 GMT

When Linda Tuttle was diagnosed with breast cancer, she never imagined her experience would inspire her colleagues to design new treatments to tackle the disease. An administrative assistant in the Department of Chemistry at Wake Forest University, Tuttle was more accustomed to talking to faculty and staff about meetings and course loads – not doctors’ appointments and treatment plans. But after her 2009 diagnosis, Tuttle’s use of tamoxifen, a drug commonly used to treat breast cancer, inspired medicinal chemist Ulrich Bierbach to develop a targeted therapy that delivers a sneak attack to the disease, similar to a Trojan horse.

New study says nanoparticles don’t penetrate the skin

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Research by scientists at the University of Bath is challenging claims that nanoparticles in medicated and cosmetic creams are able to transport and deliver active ingredients deep inside the skin.

New way of fighting high cholesterol upends assumptions

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 15:00:00 GMT

Atherosclerosis – the hardening of arteries that is a primary cause of cardiovascular disease and death – has long been presumed to be the fateful consequence of complicated interactions between overabundant cholesterol and resulting inflammation in the heart and blood vessels. However, researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, with colleagues at institutions across the country, say the relationship is not exactly what it appears, and that a precursor to cholesterol actually suppresses inflammatory response genes. This precursor molecule could provide a new target for drugs designed to treat atherosclerosis, which kills tens of thousands of Americans annually.

Newly discovered molecule could deliver drugs to treat diseases

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:35:00 GMT

Kansas State University researchers have discovered a molecule that may be capable of delivering drugs inside the body to treat diseases.

Drug Discovery Today: September Issue

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:44:00 GMT

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.

ELRIG Drug Discovery show 2012

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:27:00 GMT

Back in Manchester for another Drug Discovery show. Delegates attending the 6th annual ELRIG Drug Discovery event, on 5 & 6th September 2012 were treated to a vibrant Exhibition, packed auditoria, ELRIG’s answer to Dragons Den, 80 Scientific Posters, lunchtime workshops and lots more action packed fun.

Discovery of reprogramming signature may help overcome barriers to stem cell-based regenerative medicine

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 11:00:00 GMT

Salk scientists have identified a unique molecular signature in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), "reprogrammed" cells that show great promise in regenerative medicine thanks to their ability to generate a range of body tissues