Breaking News on Drug Discovery

Pfizer's turn to collaborate with BMS

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) has announced its second collaboration this year with a fellow big pharma firm, aimed once again at reducing the inherent risk of drug development.

Turning cancer cells back to normal

Scientists have discovered that inhibiting a protein found in stem cells causes cancer tumour cells to revert back to normal cells.

Clinical outsourcing more common in early stages

Clinical trial sponsors are outsourcing the majority of clinical work in Phase I and gradually bringing functions back in-house as compounds move through the development stages.

Weighing cells in solution

A new tool to weigh and count individual cells could be used to directly detect pathogens, monitor cells during cell-divison, or count the CD4 cells used to follow the progression of AIDS.

Resisting the call for new antibacterials?

While the media calls out for new antibacterials, the majority of large pharmaceutical companies seem disinterested in investing in new treatments, leaving smaller biotechs to pick up the gauntlet.

Solvay files arrhythmia drug for approval

Solvay Pharmaceuticals has filed a niche drug to treat irregular heart beats with US and European regulators.

US biotech drug spending rises while Congress debates 'biogenerics' law

Biologic drugs are expected to account for over a quarter of overall drug spending in the US by 2010, new research has revealed, and clearing the path for generic versions of these drugs could be a solution to controlling rising national healthcare costs.

Technology Focus

Microwave-assisted science

Microwave instruments have been speeding up chemical reactions for over 20 years and the uptake of the technology is now spreading into the bioscience sector as well.

Searching the colon crypt for biomarkers

Researchers have provided the first online searchable high-resolution 2D proteome of the human colon crypt to provide a tool for other proteomics researchers looking for biomarkers and drug targets.

Priming immune system cells

New research suggests that it may be possible to design a vaccine that will enable the immune system to 'remember' pathogens without a preceding strong immune response.

Gene repair technology provokes biotech formation

A new biotech company has been formed to fully exploit technology for repairing genes that cause rare, hereditary diseases such as sickle cell anaemia and spinal muscular atrophy.

Pfizer's HIV/AIDS drug recommended for approval

After a troubling few months, Pfizer has announced some good news - US regulators have recommended its first-in-class HIV/AIDS drug should be approved.

Probiotic teams more useful than single strain - study

A combination of different probiotics strains reduces the ability of potentially pathogenic bacteria to colonise the gut more than single strains, says new research that proposes industry should look to expand research in this area.

No need to bypass a full cardiac profile

Pharma firms can now follow US regulator's recommendations for testing the cardiac safety of drug candidates more fully - thanks to a new addition to Millipore's services.

'Embrace complexity' to enhance drug discovery

A Californian-based pharma firm has signalled that embracing the complexity of human biology is the key to success in a wide range of drug discovery processes.

Addex looks to prevent migraines

Addex Pharmaceuticals has announced its lead drug compound has passed mid stage clinical trials, with the company aiming towards a migraine prevention therapy.

Jeol puts viruses under the microscope

The ever increasing sales of high-voltage field emission Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEMs) highlights the growing importance of understanding structure-activity relationships in structural biology.

Biocon posts strong results on contract research biz

Indian firm Biocon has recorded a healthy performance in the fiscal year 2007, as revenues in its research services unit soared.

Drugs moving into the clinic: 11

The eleventh in a series of periodic roundups of drugs that have moved from preclinical research into clinical testing via the announcement of a Phase I trial or an application for a trial to industry regulators.

Nurturing baby steps in drug development

Nurturing slow and steady progress is the key to successful drug development, rather than relying on breakthroughs, according to a report from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).

Novartis licences lead cancer candidate from Antisoma

Novartis has licensed a potential first-in-class vascular disrupting agent from Antisoma in a deal worth up to $890m (€656m), highlighting the company's increasing focus on the oncology market.

Winners of Life Science Industry Awards revealed

The winners of this year's Life Science Industry Awards have been announced, after scientists from across the world voted for the "best-in-class" companies in the sector.

Preventing protein recycling to tackle leukaemia

A second generation drug, which prevents cells from recycling damaged proteins, could be used to treat leukaemia, according to new research.

BioFocus on a primary path to screening

BioFocus DPI is developing a drug screening service that will use primary cells in an attempt to improve pharma productivity, although first it must persuade the industry that the technique is reliable.

Preclinical services news in brief

In this week's review of activity within the preclinical research services arena, new deals have emerged involving AstraZeneca and Galapagos; Renovis and Pfizer; and Transgenomic.

ABI to speed up drug compound screening

Applied Biosystems (ABI) and MDS Analytical have released a first-of-its kind mass spectrometry (MS) platform that they claim will allow the pharmacokinetic analysis of drug libraries 25 times faster.

Cell Genesys immunotherapy is patient specific

Positive results from trials of Cell Genesys's latest immunotherapy treatment, GVAX, show that the therapy induces a broad immune response in prostate cancer sufferers that is patient specific.

French CRO dips toe in primate research with Singapore deal

French contract research organisation (CRO) Porsolt & Partners Pharmacology has signed a co-marketing deal with Singapore-based start-up Maccine to co-promote their respective preclinical service offerings to pharma and biotech companies.

Monitoring cell migration

A new device has been developed that will further our understanding of cell migration responses - an important factor in tumour metastasis, immune reactions and the development of the nervous system.

ReNeuron awarded EU stem cell patents

The European Union Patent Office (EPO) has granted UK stem cell experts ReNeuron patent protection for three key human neural stem cell lines.

US public calls for tougher, more transparent drug safety system

The American public is calling for a tougher set of drug safety reforms and a more transparent system for clinical trial results, a new consumer survey reveals.

Leading pharmaceutical news franchise expands into US

Decision News Media leads the field in Europe for online pharmaceutical technology news with its In-PharmaTechnologist.com, and now plans to repeat the trick on the other side of the Atlantic.

Reactions feel the pressure in enclosed spaces

A new high pressure microreactor has been developed that increases chemical reaction rates compared to conventional alternatives - potentially saving exploratory chemistry labs time and space.

deltaDOT's Peregrine preys on mass spec applications

UK company, deltaDOT is awaiting the completion of its second production run of its novel high-resolution molecular analyser - the Peregrine - with over half the batch already sold.

Vertex to meet hepatitis C patients' needs?

Vertex Pharmaceuticals has released early results on its first-in-class hepatitis C drug that show it has the potential to shorten treatment times for those suffering from the hard-to-treat genotype-1.

GSK meet no resistance for new antibacterial

The approval of GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) Altabax gives clinicians the first new class of topical antibacterial treatments in nearly 20 years - adding more firepower to the fight against bacterial resistance.

'Germinating' sperm from stem cells

A new study has shown that certain human bone marrow stem cells can differentiate into sperm stem cells - potentially leading to a revolution in fertility therapy.

Galapagos inks two 'major' contracts

Galapagos' recent acquisitions seem to be paying off as the Belgian biotech firm has announced its contract services unit BioFocus DPI has inked two new deals with Japan-based Ono Pharmaceutical.

Agilent launch first microarray assay for miRNA

The first commercially available microarray based assay for microRNA (miRNA) has been launched by Agilent to aid in drug discovery research programs.

Clinical trials are saving lives but may be killing the environment

Clinical trials are saving lives but may be killing the environment due to their 'intensive energy use' and 'substantial contribution to greenhouse gasses.'

Drugs moving into the clinic: 10

The tenth in a series of periodic roundups of drugs that have moved from preclinical research into clinical testing via the announcement of a Phase I trial or an application for a trial to industry regulators.

Harnessing the therapeutic power of venom

A new peptide library could make it easier for drug developers to fully exploit the known therapeutic effects of venoms.

Attracting big pharma's attention

Pfizer has given an insight into what it is about smaller companies that makes the world's largest pharma company want to buy them.

Stem cells could blow hole in insulin market

The days of insulin replacement therapy for diabetics could be numbered after a new stem cell therapy has proved effective in early tests and research in the field is tipped to 'explode'.

New therapy attacks multiple sclerosis on two fronts

Scientists have successfully treated an animal model of multiple sclerosis using modified bone marrow and the results could lead the way to a therapy suitable for humans.

Inpharmatica bargain 'good news' for Galapagos

Galapagos has slashed the price it is paying for Inpharmatica by a third after the latter failed to reach a milestone built in to the sale negotiations.

Detecting the 'last gasp' of dying cells

The first steps to a new tool, which could revolutionise drug research, have been taken by researchers measuring the electrical equivalent of a cell's last gasp.

Mapping the proteome of atherosclerotic plaques

The first large scale proteomic map of atherosclerotic plaques using complimentary techniques has revealed proteins previously not associated with the lesions, providing several new potential drug targets.

Leveraging the detection of proteins to new limits

A new millimetre-sized cantilever biosensor has been developed that can detect cells and proteins at lower levels than ever before even under flow conditions, opening the way for new biomarker applications.

T cell antibodies to treat diabetes

A new charity-biz collaboration is testing proteins that could prevent the immune system from destroying insulin secreting cells and help prevent the onset of diabetes.

US stem cell patents 'invalid'

An initial ruling on the validity of three key US stem cell patents could lead to human embryonic stem cells becoming cheaper and more accessible in the US.

Trials halted after bowel drug linked to heart risk

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Adolor have halted development of an innovative drug designed to improve pain relief, amid concerns that the drug could cause heart problems.

Preclinical services news in brief

In this week's review of activity within the preclinical research services arena, new deals have emerged involving Argenta Discovery, SRI International and Discovery Partners International.

'Developing' Japan intent on clinical trial catch-up

Japan is getting serious about clinical trial reform after years of lagging behind the rest of the developed world in the availability of drugs in the country, which ironically is the world's number two pharma market behind the US.

Nonlinear Dynamics unfolds new proteomics strategy

A new range of software has been launched to provide researchers with tools to analyse multiple proteomics techniques and yield more complete data sets.

Drugs moving into the clinic: 9

The ninth in a series of periodic roundups of drugs that have moved from preclinical research into clinical testing via the announcement of a Phase I trial or an application for a trial to industry regulators.

Neopharm faces uncertain future after 'lacklustre' trial results

First its lead product failed a Phase III clinical trial, and now a different anticancer drug has produced 'lacklustre' results, leaving Neopharm with an uncertain future, according to some industry analysts.

Fragmenting bio-sugars yields sweet structural information

New research has shown that the application of a mass spectrometry technique to glyconconjugates could lead to a greater understanding of biological structures and their activity.

Roche expands antibody presence with THP purchase

Roche has continued its spring spending spree with the $56.5m (€42.2m) purchase of antibody research specialist Therapeutic Human Polyclonals (THP).

Ranbaxy and GSK breathe life into COPD research

A drug discovery collaboration between Ranbaxy and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is bearing fruit with the companies stepping up their respiratory inflammation research.

Covance takes biomarker biz further

Covance is seeing the high potential of the booming market for biomarkers and has decided to devote an entire expert team to support clients with biomarker-related services.

Evotec willingly pays the price for drug discovery

Evotec is willing to accept significant losses, at least in the short term, as it moves from being solely a service provider, to having its own drug development programme as well.

Guarding against cancer

New research has shown that inducing senescence, a state of permanent cell-cycle arrest, may be sufficient to guard against cancer development in aged cells.