Drug Week back issues from April 2004:
Studies reinforce potential benefits of new stroke-prevention drug.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine announced an analysis of pooled data from two Phase III stroke prevention trials at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) annual meeting in New Orleans. Pooled data demonstrated that ...
Drug can heal, reduce recurrence of fistulas.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- An international study has found that maintenance therapy with the drug infliximab, a monoclonal antibody used to treat Crohn disease, can prevent or delay the recurrence of fistulas, a common complication of that inflammatory bowel disorder. ...
Company to advance LY519818 into phase III studies for type 2 diabetes.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (LGND) announced that Eli Lilly and Co. (LLY) has made the decision to advance LY519818 into phase III registration studies. LY519818 is an oral, once-daily peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) ...
Drug appears safe for some men with congestive heart failure.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Carefully selected men with congestive heart failure appear to be able to safely take sildenafil, a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), if they are not taking nitrates to treat their heart condition and have no evidence of myocardial ...
Crystal structures of NNRT-resistant HIV RT characterized.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The crystal structures of several forms of NNRT-resistant HIV RT have been characterized. "Leu100Ile, Val106Ala and Val108Ile are mutations in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) that are observed in the clinic and give rise to resistance ...
Study: Cholesterol lowering with atorvastatin halts progression of heart disease.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The first head-to-head comparison of two popular cholesterol-lowering medications showed only one of the statins successfully stopped the progression of heart disease. The Cleveland Clinic-led research also found that people's ...
Peptide ester conjugates for ester prodrug stability developed.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists have developed a general strategy for the preparation of membrane permeable fluorogenic peptide ester conjugates for in vivo studies of ester prodrug stability. According to published research from the United States, "To ...
Ultrasounds are advised for all women who request pregnancy termination.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ultrasounds are advised for all women who request pregnancy termination. According to new research from Scotland, "this prospective observational study aimed to determine the correlation between gestational age based on menstrual dates ...
FDA approval granted for immune response modifier for precancerous skin lesions.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to the American Academy of Dermatology, actinic keratosis (AK) affects as many as 10 million Americans each year. Caused by chronic sun exposure, actinic keratoses are precancerous skin lesions, many of which can occur on the ...
Analysis from TACTICS-TIMI 18 trial published.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Guilford Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (GLFD) announced the publication of new data in the journal, Circulation, demonstrating that the addition of AGGRASTAT Injection (tirofiban hydrochloride), along with aspirin, heparin, and coronary stenting, coupled ...
GABA[subscript]B receptor agonists exert bidirectional effects on dopamine.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- GABA[subscript]B receptor agonists exert bidirectional effects on the mesolimbic dopamine system. According to a study from Switzerland and the United States, "The rewarding effect of drugs of abuse is mediated by activation of the ...
Study: Alcohol treatment meds, behavioral therapy effective for cocaine addiction.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Results of a study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), U.S. National Institutes of Health, suggest that disulfiram, a medication used to treat alcohol addiction, is effective in combating cocaine abuse. The researchers ...
Women, drinkers, and older people are at risk for prescription drug misuse.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Women, drinkers, and older people are at risk for prescription drug misuse. "We estimate the prevalence of and risk factors for the problem use of prescription drugs, overall and by therapeutic class," said L. Simoni-Wastila and ...
Beta-adrenergic receptor agonists increase apoptosis of adipose tissue.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Beta-adrenergic receptor agonists increase apoptosis of adipose tissue in mice. According to published research from the United States, "Beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) agonists increase muscle mass and decrease body fat in rodents ...
Preadipose cell changes into smooth muscle-like cells investigated.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Aortic carboxypeptidase-like protein plays a role in the transdifferentiation of preadipose cells into smooth muscle-like cells. According to published research from France, "Adipocyte differentiation involves dramatic cell shape ...
Macugen data presented at Aspen Retinal Detachment Society meeting.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Eyetech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (EYET) presented additional data from the VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) Inhibition Study in Ocular Neovascularization (VISION) at the Aspen Retinal Detachment Society Meeting. Previously ...
Alcoholism and obesity may involve overlapping neuropeptide pathways.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alcoholism and obesity may involve overlapping neuropeptide pathways. "Ethanol is a caloric compound, and ethanol drinking and food intake are both appetitive and consummatory behaviors. Furthermore, both ethanol and food have rewarding ...
Increased thrombin activity occurs after allergen challenge.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Increased thrombin activity occurs after allergen challenge. "In addition to its central role in homeostasis, thrombin may play a role in inflammation and remodeling. To investigate the contribution of thrombin to allergic airway ...
Phase II/III trial initiated for ragweed allergy immunotherapy.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Dynavax Technologies Corporation (DVAX) announced the start of a multi-site, phase II/III clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its ragweed allergy immunotherapy product candidate, AIC. The 2-year study will enroll 462 ...
A-beta antibody levels not changed in patients with Alzheimer disease.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- No difference in levels of antibodies to A-beta were found in people with and without Alzheimer disease. "To investigate the immune response to amyloid beta-peptide (A-beta: A-beta[subscript]40 and A-beta[subscript]42) in peripheral ...
ACE gene polymorphism linked to damage in Alzheimer disease.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A polymorphism in the angiotensin 1-converting enzyme (ACE) gene is associated with damage to cerebral cortical white matter in Alzheimer disease. "The impact of the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the angiotensin I-converting ...
Common bacteria linked to brain disease.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The paper "Chlamydia pneumoniae induces Alzheimer-like amyloid plaques in brains of BALB/c Mice," shows a link between the bacteria C. pneumoniae and the amyloid plaques found in the brains of people who have sporadic, nonhereditary Alzheimer ...
Physiological role of beta-amyloid peptide explains Alzheimer disease.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The physiological role of beta-amyloid peptide may explain Alzheimer disease. "The A-beta peptide, which is derived from the processing of the amyloid precursor protein APP, is the principal agent responsible for the pathogenesis of ...
Vaccine shows promise in animal model.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A new vaccine for Alzheimer disease created by researchers at the Farber Institute for Neurosciences at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia has shown promise in initial testing in primates. Vaccinating the animals with ...
Studies support role of glutamate, RNA processing in muscle-wasting disease.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The possibility that a central nervous system signaling chemical called glutamate has a role in the development or exacerbation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig disease) has been strengthened by two recent studies, the Muscular ...
Matrix metalloproteinase-9 is needed for revascularization after ischemic injury.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Matrix metalloproteinase-9 is needed for revascularization after ischemic injury. "Angiogenesis, an essential component of a variety of physiological and pathological processes, offers attractive opportunities for therapeutic ...
Polymorphism in gene promoter linked to increased bilirubin and HDL levels.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A microsatellite polymorphism in the heme oxygenase-I gene promoter is associated with increased bilirubin and HDL levels but not with coronary artery disease. "Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) is involved in the generation of the endogenous ...
Angiotensin II attenuates caspase-3 activation in cortical neurons.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Angiotensin II attenuates chemical hypoxia-induced caspase-3 activation in primary cortical neuronal cultures. "In this study we determined whether caspase-3 is required in mouse cortical neurons for sodium azide-mediated apoptosis ....
FDA-licensed anthrax vaccine supplied to Taiwan.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- BioPort Corporation announced the sale of U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)-licensed anthrax vaccine, BioThrax, to the Taiwanese government, marking the company's entry into the commercial market with its flagship product. "There is ...
Phase I clinical trial results of anthrax vaccine candidate reported.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- VaxGen, Inc., (VXGN) announced results of its phase I trial of recombinant Protective Antigen anthrax vaccine, rPA102, at the International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases (ICEID) in Atlanta, Georgia. The double-blind, ...
Major determinants of activity of antibiotic peptide described.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Aggregation and water-membrane partition are major determinants of the activity of the antibiotic peptide trichogin GA IV. "Water-membrane partition and aggregation behavior are fundamental aspects of the biological activity of ...
Partnership to develop novel formulation of amoxicillin.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Par Pharmaceutical, Inc., the principal subsidiary of Pharmaceutical Resources, Inc., (PRX), has signed a letter of intent with Advancis Pharmaceutical Corporation (AVNC) to develop and market a novel formulation of the antibiotic amoxicillin. ...
Progress in development of blood substitutes reported.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists are making progress in the development of blood substitutes. "Chemically modified or genetically engineered hemoglobins (Hbs) developed as oxygen therapeutics (often termed 'blood substitutes') are designed to correct oxygen ...
Inhaled steroid therapy does not reduce fetal growth.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Inhaled steroid therapy by pregnant women with asthma does not lead to a restriction in fetal growth, researchers report. In the largest sample to date examining the potential effects that inhaled steroids may have on intrauterine ...
Endothelial catalase overexpression attenuates oxidant-mediated injury.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Endothelial catalase overexpression attenuates oxidant-mediated injury. "In a variety of vascular disorders, endothelial cells (ECs) are exposed to high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated intercellularly. Recently, several ...
Better driving by teens with ADHD may be due Concerta.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A medication that many teenagers with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) take to manage the disorder may positively affect their driving performance and attentiveness behind the wheel. Researchers observed that teenagers who ...
Technology company receives award for pharmaceutical automated sales tool.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Synergistix Data Solutions was named the winner of the Microsoft Healthcare Users Group (MS-HUG) 2004 award as the best enabling technology for the health care industry. Synergistix was selected for C.A.T.S. (Call Activity Tracking ...
Method to identify protease genes from B. thuringiensis developed.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have developed a facile analytical method for the identification of protease gene profiles from Bacillus thuringiensis strains. "Five pairs of degenerate universal primers have been designed to identify the general protease ...
Acyl-homoserine lactone binding in Vibrio fischeri is reversible.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers describe reversible acyl-homoserine lactone binding to purified Vibrio fischeri LuxR protein in a recent issue of the Journal of Bacteriology. According to recent research from the United States, "The Vibrio fischeri LuxR ...
YefM antitoxin family carries novel antibacterial target.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The YefM antitoxin family contains a promising antibacterial target. "Although natively unfolded proteins are being observed increasingly, their physiological role is not well understood," scientists in Israel explained. In a ...
Uroxatral marketed in U.S. for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- SkyePharma PLC (SKYE) is to begin marketing Uroxatral (alfuzosin hydrochloride extended-release tablets), a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), directly to primary care physicians (PCPs) in the United States. The 10-mg, ...
The biosurfactant MEL-A cultivates vigorous liposomal transfection.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The biosurfactant MEL-A cultivates vigorous liposomal transfection. According to published research from Japan, "biosurfactants, which are surface-active compounds produced by microorganisms growing on water-insoluble substrates, have ...
Peptide array used to identify Ang II inhibitory peptide.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- An Ang II inhibitory peptide has been identified with the help of a novel peptide array system. In a recent study from Japan, a "peptide array consisting of hundreds of peptides spatially addressed and synthesized on a cellulose ...
SdFFF system aids study of PFC emulsion particle stability.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A sedimentation field-flow fractionation (SdFFF)-based system facilitates the study of PFC emulsion stability in whole blood. Researchers in California conducted a study to determine if SdFFF "could be used to study changes in the ...
A large-sample QTL study in mice examined body composition.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A large-sample QTL study in mice examined body composition. According to recent research from the United States, "Using lines of mice having undergone long-term selection for high and low growth, a large-sample (n approximately 1,000 ...
Low vitamin B-12 levels linked to bone loss in older women.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Older women with low levels of vitamin B-12 are more likely to experience rapid bone loss, according to new research published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM). The new findings help to establish the ...
IL-2-activated NK cells enhance effect of tumor vaccine in brain cancer.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Intratumoral injection of IL-2-activated NK cells enhances the antitumor effect of intradermally injected paraformaldehyde-fixed tumor vaccine in a rat intracranial brain tumor model. "Combined therapy with a fixed-tumor cell vaccine and ...
Proton therapy offers advantages for children with brain tumors, study shows.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Proton beam therapy offers a clear advantage over both conventional external beam radiation therapy and intensity modulated radiation therapy for treatment of the posterior fossa and spinal column in children with brain tumors, according to a study ...
Estrogen interacts with estrogen receptor and SP proteins to control VEGF.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Estrogen interacts with estrogen receptor and SP proteins to control VEGF. "Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is expressed in multiple hormone-dependent cancer cells/tumors. Treatment of ZR-75 breast cancer cells with ...
Fulvestrant gains E.U. marketing approval.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AstraZeneca has received European marketing approval for its new breast cancer drug Faslodex (fulvestrant). The novel drug is indicated for the treatment of postmenopausal women with receptor-positive, locally advanced or metastatic ...
Patients switched from tamoxifen to exemestane more likely to stay cancer-free.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In a large clinical trial, postmenopausal breast cancer patients who switched from tamoxifen to exemestane tablets (Pfizer brand name: Aromasin) had a significantly reduced chance of recurrence and increased disease-free survival compared to ...
Antibody company files for initial public offering.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Inhibitex, Inc., has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Piper Jaffray and Lazard will act as joint book-running managers, with Thomas Weisel Partners, LLC, acting as a comanager ...
Biosciences company updates stock plan, gets patent.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Aastrom Biosciences, Inc., (ASTM) announced that shareholders of the company who wish to enroll in its Direct Stock Purchase Plan (DSPP), but whose shares are held in "street name" through a broker or bank, can now demonstrate proof of their ...
Dermatology company emerges from Chapter 11 protection with new owners.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- ATI Acquisition Company, LLC of Golden, Colorado, announced that it has acquired the assets of Aesthetic Technologies, Inc. The purchase is part of a Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization that was submitted by the Unsecured Creditors ...
Drug development company announces reduced loan principal.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- VaekstFonden has informed Pharmexa that the principal of a loan taken out by Pharmexa in 1997 will be written down from DKK 21 million to DKK 9 million. The DKK 12 million was used in the development of a therapeutic vaccine against the ...
Drug development services provider expands facility and increases credit line.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- SFBC International, Inc., (SFCC) has expanded its Miami, Florida, facility by purchasing the property that houses its Miami operations and corporate headquarters, has increased its line of credit to $25 million from $15 million, and has received an ...
Pharmaceutical company announces vitamin E contract.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Nutri Pharmaceuticals Research, Inc., (NRIP.PK) announced a new open-ended contract to supply high concentrate natural Vitamin E O2PT (oil to powder) product to International Specialty Botanical Products, Inc. The contract calls for the ...
Pharmaceutical company enters agreement to sell MVI product business.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- aaiPharma Inc. (AAII) has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its MVI (multi-vitamin infusion) and Aquasol product business to Mayne Pharma (U.S.A) Inc., a subsidiary of Australia's Mayne Group Limited . Under terms of the ...
Pharmaceutical company makes significant strides in 2003.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- IntraBiotics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (IBPI) reported financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2003. "We have made significant progress in 2003, advancing our product candidate, iseganan ...
Firm combines gene expression, proteomics and reagents businesses.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Agilent Technologies, Inc., (A) announced the formation of the Integrated Biology Solutions (IBS) unit within its Life Sciences and Chemical Analysis business group. This new unit consolidates management of Agilent's growing gene ...
Wellbutrin maker provides updated 2004 guidance.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Biovail Corporation (BVF) announced revised revenue and earnings guidance for 2004. The company believes that the financial guidance contained herein is conservative, achievable and reflects the company's strategic desire to invest in ...
Biopharmaceutical companies announce antibody collaboration.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Y's Therapeutics Co., Ltd., and Abmaxis, Inc., have entered into an agreement to collaborate on the development of a human monoclonal antibody drug targeting a specific antigen, which is overexpressed in many types of tumors. The ...
Pharmaceutical company provides update on second-generation TAPET vectors.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (VION) announced an update on its development of second-generation tumor amplified protein expression therapy (TAPET) vectors. TAPET vectors are modified Salmonella bacteria used to deliver anticancer agents ...
Platelet-activating factor boosts the activation of proangiogenic cytokines.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Platelet-activating factor boosts the activation of proangiogenic cytokines. "Tumor-induced angiogenic responses lead to complex phenotypic changes in vascular endothelial cells, which must coordinate the expression of both proteases and ...
Advocacy group to accelerate the attack on cancer.
Apr 02, 2004 ... 2004 APR 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- C-Change, the first group to bring together the public, private and nonprofit sectors to address cancer as a societal problem, announced its historic collaboration and goal to prevent an additional one million new cancer cases and 500,000 cancer ...