Biotech Week back issues from October 2003:
Researchers describe simple way to reduce HIV transmission from mom to baby.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Johns Hopkins and Ugandan researchers reported final results of a study showing that a safe, simple and inexpensive treatment reduces transmission of HIV from mothers to babies during childbirth and the first few weeks of life, offering a good ...
Scientists announce vaccine hope.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Vaccines could be used alongside conventional treatments to combat certain forms of cancer, scientists suggest. A Cancer Research UK scientist and his team have found that a vaccine targeted against certain forms of the human ...
Companies sign agreement in field of single-chain antibodies and phage display.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cambridge Antibody Technology (CATG), Micromet, AG, and Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (ENZN) have signed a nonexclusive cross-license agreement, under which all three parties obtain substantial freedom to conduct research under certain of each ...
Production of recombinant botulinum protein vaccine candidate reported.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have produced a recombinant protein vaccine candidate using the botulinum neurotoxin heavy chain fragment. "Structural conversion of the serotype A recombinant botulinum neurotoxin heavy chain fragment (rBoNTA(H[subscript]c) ...
Paxil improves memory and brain structure in PTSD sufferers.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have found that paroxetine HCL (Paxil) produces measurable improvement in verbal memory and also increases the size of the hippocampus, a key area of the brain involved in learning and remembering, in people suffering from ...
MADIT II compares efficacy of implantable defibrillator in Europe, U.S.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Sudden cardiac death from ventricular tachyarrhythmias is the leading cause of death in Europe and the U.S. It affects hundreds of thousands of people each year. Many of them have known heart disease, mainly coronary artery disease. The ...
New study aims to prevent heart disease in pediatric patients.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers from Duke University Medical Center will study the use of cholesterol-lowering drugs to prevent heart disease in pediatric patients with lupus erythematosus. Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries caused by fat ...
SSTR5 mutations unlikely to cause autism.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- SSTR5 mutations do not appear to be responsible for autism development. "Infantile autism is a pervasive developmental disorder with a strong genetic component," researchers in Denmark explained. "The mode of inheritance appears to be ...
Brazil takes first step toward breaking patents on AIDS drugs.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Brazil took the first formal step toward breaking patents with three pharmaceutical companies selling AIDS drugs to South America's largest country after talks failed to produce price reductions acceptable to the government. Negotiations ...
DHHS panel recommends Kaletra as part of protease inhibitor-based regimen.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A panel convened by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has recommended Kaletra (lopinavir/ritonavir), in combination with zidovudine or stavudine plus lamivudine, as a preferred protease inhibitor (PI)-based regimen for the ...
Fall team sports injuries high among adolescents.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Football, basketball, indoor volleyball, swimming, cheerleading, gymnastics, and field hockey are just a few of the team sports that will occupy adolescents' time this fall at school. But these sports also get a lot of attention in ...
Patent issued for antitumor agents.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a patent to Advanced Life Sciences (ALS) for a class of indolocarbazole compounds with a lead molecule, ALS-423, that blocks topoisomerase I, a critical enzyme in cancer cells. ALS-423 ...
Data from phase III study of Combidex published.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Advanced Magnetics, Inc., (AVM) and Cytogen Corporation (CYTO) announced that data from the phase III clinical study of Combidex (ferumoxtran-10) in lymph nodes were published in the September issue of the journal Radiology. The data ...
Company launches GeneChip CustomExpress 11-micron array format.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Affymetrix, Inc., (AFFX) has launched its new GeneChip brand CustomExpress 11-micron array format, which can measure up to 61,000 transcripts and sets a new standard for gene expression data capacity on a single array. The CustomExpress ...
Delayed minimally invasive cranioplasty reduces operative time.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Delayed minimally invasive cranioplasty reduces operative time. "Minimally invasive cranioplasty is presented. Stereolithography is a new technology applied for the manufacture of custom-made cranial prosthesis that can provide an ...
Genomic strategies for diabetic nephropathy reviewed.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers reviewed genomic strategies for diabetic nephropathy in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. "Insight into the molecular mechanisms that underlie the origin and progression of diabetic ...
Accuracy of cytological grading of spindle-cell sarcomas evaluated.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Accuracy of cytological grading of spindle-cell sarcomas was evaluated. According to published research from India, "Spindle-cell sarcomas constitute an important component of soft-tissue sarcomas, where accurate grading may be more ...
ALT-711 DIAMOND positive trial data presented at European cardiology meeting.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alteon, Inc., (ALT) announced that results from the phase IIa proof-of-concept DIAMOND trial of Alteon's lead compound ALT-711 in diastolic heart failure (DHF) patients were presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2003 ...
Patents cover proprietary protein crystallization technology.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Altus Biologics, Inc., announced the addition of United States and European patents to its protein crystallization technology portfolio. United States patent 6,359,118 was issued for the invention, "Carbohydrate cross-linked glycoprotein ...
Program established to pursue research and physician education.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Alveolus, Inc., have announced the establishment of a program to pursue research and physician education in the field of interventional pulmonology. Based at BIDMC, the program will be ...
Patent granted for SPARC sling system.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- American Medical Systems (AMMD) announced that the company received a U.S. patent covering the SPARC Sling System for curing female stress urinary incontinence. "We are encouraged that the U.S. Patent Office recognized the ...
Chronic pain pervasive in all age groups, new study shows.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- New poll results show that more than half of all Americans (57%) have suffered chronic or recurrent pain in the past year. Surprisingly, younger people (18-34) were only slightly less likely than older Americans to be in pain. The impact ...
Company launches new high-density CodeLink UniSet mouse bioarray.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Amersham Biosciences, the life-sciences business of Amersham (AHM), announced the addition of the CodeLink UniSet Mouse 20K I Bioarray to its CodeLink Expression range. This new high density bioarray enables scientists to study gene ...
Process helps achieve largest antisense oligonucleotide synthesis scale per run.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The life sciences business of Amersham (AHM) announced that Isis Pharmaceuticals recently completed the world's largest antisense oligonucleotide synthesis scale per single run. Isis accomplished this pharmaceutical industry ...
Phase I trial initiated for new anti-HIV drug candidate AMD070.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AnorMED, Inc., (AOM) has initiated enrollment into a phase I trial in healthy volunteers to evaluate the safety of AMD070 for the treatment of HIV infection. AMD070 targets the CXCR4 chemokine receptor and prevents HIV from entering and ...
Progress reported in development of new drug delivery device portfolio.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Antares Pharma, Inc., (ANTR) announced that it has completed preliminary clinical testing on several of its new device products, and these devices are now available for licensing for use with specific products. These device products ...
Partial clinical hold on phase III trials of cancer vaccine Oncophage.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Antigenics, Inc., (AGEN) announced that it had completed a meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on product characterization issues. Following a discussion of the company's personalized cancer vaccine Oncophage ...
Classical antisense PTOs used against key multimodal targets.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Antisense Pharma focuses on the drug development for cancer treatment by combining precise selection of key cancer target molecules and DNA based phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (PTO). Positive data from phase I/II high-grade glioma clinical ...
Alliance with NIH, USARMID targets discovery of therapeutics against SARS.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Aphios Corporation has executed a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRID) ...
Chemistry deal signed for development of small-molecule compounds.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- ArQule, Inc., (ARQL) announced that it has entered into a chemistry collaboration with Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Inc., (NIBRI), an affiliate of Novartis AG. As part of this collaboration, ArQule will apply its ...
Telomeric fusion can underlie chromosome 1p loss in meningioma patients.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Telomeric fusion can underlie chromosome 1p loss in meningioma patients. "Characteristic cytogenetic aberrations are found in the various histopathological designations of meningioma," scientists in the United States explained. "These ...
Lifeline announces initial inventory commitments.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Jim Holmes, CEO of Lifeline BioTechnologies, Inc., (LBTT) announced the issuing of four purchase orders to Arthronet Medical, GmbH, CO KB, a German manufacturer of orthopedic surgical hand instruments and innovative arthroscopic shaver blades, for ...
Reconstruction results by vascularized fibula osteoseptocutaneous flap reviewed.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Results of fibular reconstruction by vascularized fibula osteoseptocutaneous flap are evaluated. According to a study from Egypt, "This study included 11 patients with lower limb tumors who had wide local resection and reconstruction by ...
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease does not exhibit hematogenous spread.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The neuropathology of human patients with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease does not reflect hematogenous spread of the disease. According to published research from England and the United States, "To test the hypothesis that the ...
CHARM Programme demonstrates benefits of Atacand.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Data presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) annual meeting demonstrated that Atacand (candesartan cilexetil) reduces both cardiovascular deaths as well as hospital admissions for heart failure across a broad spectrum of patients with ...
CHARM shows ATACAND reduces risk of cardiovascular death.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In a comprehensive trial program with an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) for heart failure, AstraZeneca's ATACAND (candesartan cilexetil) has been shown to improve survival in patients with chronic symptomatic heart failure (CHF) and diminished ...
Direct thrombin inhibitor may prevent major events following myocardial infarction.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Data from a phase II dose-guiding study, ESTEEM, indicate that oral Exanta (ximelagatran), the first in a new class of oral direct thrombin inhibitors (oral DTIs), may provide significant additional benefits compared with the current treatment, ...
SPORTIF III study shows potential for Exanta (ximelagatran).
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Latest data from the full presentation of the SPORTIF III study shows a net clinical benefit for Exanta (ximelagatran), the first in a new class of oral direct thrombin inhibitors (oral DTIs), compared with the current standard treatment, ...
Atrix submits eighth ANDA to FDA.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Atrix Laboratories, Inc., (ATRX) announced that the company has submitted its eighth Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval of a generic formulation of a topical dermatology product. ...
FDA clears urine test for kidney and cardiovascular diseases.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AusAm Biotechnologies, Inc., has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Microalbumin Plus, a diagnostic test for kidney and cardiovascular diseases. Urine testing can detect an excess of the protein albumin, a ...
Biotargeted radiopharmaceuticals being developed based on mTCR technology.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Avidex Limited and The Dow Chemical Company will collaborate to create biotargeted radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment by applying Dow's technology to Avidex's monoclonal T cell receptors (mTCRs), the companies announced. Under ...
Itax licensed from Abbott Laboratories for $75M.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Axcan Pharma, Inc., announced that it has acquired an exclusive license for North America, the European Union (including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain), and Latin America, from Abbott Laboratories to develop, manufacture, and ...
Pyrimidinone antibiotics exhibit improved antibacterial spectrum.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pyrimidinone antibiotics exhibit an improved antibacterial spectrum. "We report the synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of new derivatives of the natural dipeptide antibiotic TAN 1057 A,B containing heterocycles either in the ...
Primary central nervous system lymphoma can have cryoglobulin deposits.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Primary CNS lymphoma can have associated cryoglobulins too. "Primary central nervous system lymphomas (PCNSLs) represent malignant non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas confined to the central nervous system. Recent years have brought a dramatic ...
Architecture of the herpes simplex virus major capsid protein reported.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists have reported the architecture of the herpes simplex virus major capsid protein derived from structural bioinformatics. According to published research from the United States, "The dispositions of 39 alpha helices of greater ...
The strict-late viral promoter UL38p facilitates herpes simplex virus oncolysis.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The strict-late viral promoter UL38p facilitates herpes simplex virus oncolysis. "Confinement of transgene expression to target cells is highly desirable in gene therapy. Current strategies of transcriptional targeting to tumors usually ...
Off-pump coronary surgery is safe and effective.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Off-pump coronary surgery is safe and effective. According to recent research from Argentina, "The learning curve in off pump surgery must be followed due to the fact that beating heart coronary surgery is a completely different ...
Companies count on proper training to avoid regulatory notices.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In the middle of increased regulation and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scrutiny of manufacturing and quality control processes, global business leaders avoid regulatory notices by creating well-trained, knowledgeable staffs, according to ...
Centrex CEO named to board of directors at biotech company.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Centrex, Inc., (CNEX) and Bio-Defense Research Group, Inc., (BDRGI) announced that they have entered into a strategic alliance to explore the joint applications, development, and marketing of their complimentary technologies. Under the ...
Research, supply, comarketing agreement signed for assay development.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., (BIO; BIO.B) announced that it has entered into a research, supply, and comarketing agreement with Cell Signaling Technology, Inc., (CST). Under this exclusive collaboration, Bio-Rad will develop multiplex ...
Reference lab reports substantial gains on record operating results.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc., (BRLI) released its third quarter, fiscal year 2003 earnings for the 3 months ending July 31. The company posted record pre-tax net income of $3,000,464 on record net revenues for the quarter of ...
Animal studies demonstrate normalization of carbohydrate storage in brain tissue.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- BioMarin Pharmaceutical, Inc., (BMRN) announced results from studies indicating that intrathecal injection of recombinant human alpha-L-iduronidase (rhIDU) can reduce carbohydrate storage in brain tissue in the canine model of MPS I ...
Tissue repair biotech company closes private placement.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- BioSyntech (BSYI) confirmed that a previously announced private placement has been closed for an amount of $633,000, representing the issuance of 633 units at a price of $1000 per unit. Each unit comprises 3000 shares of BioSyntech's ...
Oncology company's common stock to be listed on American Stock Exchange.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bioenvision, Inc., (BIOV) announced that its common stock has been approved for listing on the American Stock Exchange. Effective September 8, 2003, Bioenvision's common stock began trading on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) under the ...
SEC guidance issued on device company's revenue recognition question.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Biolase Technology, Inc., (BLTIE) announced that, based upon guidance from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission received on August 28, the company will amend previously issued financial statements to account for timing differences in revenue ...
Data from Theratope vaccine trial to be presented at breast cancer symposium.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Biomira, Inc., (BIOM, BRA) announced that data from the final analysis of its Theratope vaccine phase III clinical trial in metastatic breast cancer will be presented at the 26th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) being held at the ...
Phase I testing of HIV microbicide initiated.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Biosyn, Inc., announced that enrollment has been initiated for a phase I clinical trial for the investigational drug candidate, UC-781, as a microbicide for the prevention of sexually transmitted HIV. UC-781 is an HIV non-nucleoside ...
Hayden named chief financial officer at pharmaceutical company.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bone Care International, Inc., (BCII) announced that Brian J. Hayden has been appointed to the position of chief financial officer, responsible for finance and investor relations, effective October 1, 2003, succeeding Robert A. Beckman who left the ...
Leptin peptide is potent inhibitor of leptin receptor function.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A peptide derived from the human leptin molecule is a potent inhibitor of the leptin receptor function in rabbit endometrial cells. According to recent research from the United States, "In this article we show that rabbit endometrial ...
Class of molecules stimulate optic nerve regeneration.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Boston Life Sciences, Inc., (BLSI), a development stage biotechnology company, announced that scientists at Boston Children's Hospital and BLSI have identified specific carbohydrates (sugars) capable of stimulating optic nerve regeneration. ...
Expression of anti-colorectal cancer polyclonal antibody library reported.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have reported the expression of a prototypic anti-colorectal cancer polyclonal antibody library in mammalian cells. "We describe the production of a prototypic polyclonal antibody library (PCAL), a standardized mixture of ...
Gene expression differs in lung adenocarcinomas of smokers and nonsmokers.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Gene expression differs in lung adenocarcinomas of smokers and nonsmokers. "Adenocarcinoma (AC) has become the most frequent type of lung cancer in men and women and is the major form of lung cancer in nonsmokers. Our goal in this paper ...
Link to cholesterol drugs disputed.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Widely used cholesterol-lowering drugs do not appear to raise the risk of suicide, and might even reduce depression, according to researchers trying to clarify conflicting earlier studies. Some previous studies appeared to connect older ...
Polymer-coated stents offer a way to delivery gene therapy to immune cells.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Polymer-coated stents offer a way to delivery gene therapy to immune cells. According to a study from the United States, "metallic stents coated with a polyurethane emulsion containing plasmid DNA were implanted in rabbit iliac arteries ...
Consumers may be misled by Internet claims on health benefits of herbal products.
Oct 01, 2003 ... 2003 OCT 1 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Herbal products sold on the Internet may have misleading claims that they can treat, prevent, diagnose, or cure specific diseases despite regulations prohibiting these types of statements, according to a new study. Charles A. Morris, MD, ...