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All news articles > June 2005
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30-Jun-2005
Qiagen, Invitrogen come out top in survey
Suppliers in the RNA purification market seeking to win market share are posed with the challenge of overcoming strong levels of customer loyalty. A survey reveals that Qiagen and Invitrogen came out top as to primary suppliers to laboratories for commercial reagents.
deCODE provides pipeline update
Biopharmaceutical company, deCODE genetics, has provided an update on its lead clinical and preclinical drug development pipeline, emphasising the role human genetics is playing in broadening its preclinical portfolio in areas of unmet clinical need.
29-Jun-2005
Rise of biotech pressurises pharma
The rise of the biotechnology industry is set to create additional pressure on pharmaceutical companies, who already have to deal with unreasonable expectations, where even common molecule failure in the R&D stages result in loss of investor confidence and funds for further research.
Corgentech demonstrates positive IBD treatment
Corgentech announced that its drug candidate was effective in preclinical studies in reducing disease activity in models of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis-both also referred to as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which affects up to over two million suffers worldwide.
Schering details 2006 drug pipeline
German pharmaceutical firm, Schering took the opportunity, during the company’s annual financial meeting, to provide an update on its drug development pipeline, which concentrates on the disease areas of hormonal therapies, cancer drugs, imaging agents and specialised medicines.
Guava announces assay selection for EasyCyte
Scientists in the drug discovery arena, who need to assess cellular function, in particular, mitochondrial membrane potential, cellular proliferation and activation of caspase 3/7 or 8 enzymes, are set to benefit from Guava Technology's assays for its automated, microplate-based EasyCyte System.
28-Jun-2005
Bayer sets up major ARMS deal
Bayer Healthcare has entered into a licence agreement with DxS and BTG in a deal that grants Bayer Diagnostics use of the companies' DNA diagnostic technology to develop pharmacogenomic assays for the $1.9 billion (€1.6 billion) nucleic acid diagnostic market.
27-Jun-2005
Tubulin activity encourages drug R&D
Researchers, for the first time, have revealed the forms taken by structures of tubulin during the construction of microtubules. The discovery is of use to drug researchers and developers as tubulin is a target for anticancer drugs, which can prevent the transition from growing to shrinking states.
FDA gives Astex cancer drug IND
Astex has announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the clinical development of its cell cycle inhibitor, AT7519, for the treatment of cancer.
Pharma growth depends on pipeline sustainability
The pharmaceutical industry faces an uncertain future in which high clinical development costs coupled with declining drug discovery success rates are causing efficiency levels to fall, halting the flow of new products in the R&D pipeline.
Drug found to preserve beta cell function
European researchers have discovered that treatment with an antibody preserved the beta cell function, decreasing the insulin need for at least 18 months in people with recent-onset type 1 diabetes. The discovery represents an important step towards finding ways to prevent type 1 diabetes by altering the clinical course of the disease.
Olympus launches LEXT microscope
Olympus has introduced a new confocal laser-scanning microscope, which employs a higher resolution than conventional optical devices by combining UV microscopy and confocal scanning technology.
24-Jun-2005
Canaccord defeated by animal extremist actions
The activities of animal extremists took a sinister turn as it was revealed the broker to the drug company Phytopharm quit after a bomb exploded beneath the car of one of the firm's executives.
MorphoSys, ProQinase, NMI, strike kinase deal
MorphoSys Antibodies by Design, ProQinase and the Natural and Medical Sciences Institute (NMI) have announced the start of a collaboration to develop an adenoviral siRNA-kinome-chip (ASK chip), that could revolutionise the analysis of all human protein kinases.
23-Jun-2005
Asthma Ab overcomes Phase I hurdle
Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT) has announced positive results of its human anti-IL13 monoclonal antibody, to be used as a potential treatment for severe asthma. The Phase I clinical trial of CAT-354 represents research towards areas of unmet medical need.
Clinical Data acquires Genaissance
Clinical Data is to acquire Genaissance Pharmaceuticals in a deal worth $56 million (€46.3 million). The merger allows Clinical Data to add pharmacogenomic diagnostics and tools to its burgeoning portfolio as it prepares to enter the molecular diagnostics market.
Bii and Lucidyx in drug software deal
The Biosystems Informatics Institute (Bii) and Lucidyx have announced a joint agreement to develop new bioinformatics tools to integrate data storage and Lucidyx's genomic search engine technology to better contextualise off-target drug effects.
22-Jun-2005
Agilent system removes 99 per cent of proteins
Agilent Technologies introduces a high-capacity human protein removal system for proteomics research, that removes up to 99 per cent of the six most common proteins from human blood serum.
thinXXS packs more into new LOC
Microcomponent manufacturer, thinXXS, has launched a novel microfluidic device which combines microprocessing, micromolding and circuit board technology to integrate more functions than other lab-on-a-chip products on the market today.
Lexicon and Xoma strike antibody deal
Lexicon Genetics and Xoma have announced the formation of a collaboration to jointly develop and commercialise antibody drugs that could be effective in treating diet-induced obesity and enhanced insulin sensitivity.
Menopur efficacy recognises infertility drug limitations
Ferring Pharmaceuticals has demonstrated in its latest study with Menopur, resulted in five more pregnancies per 100 women treated, compared to current infertility drug treatments, bringing hope to the 60-80 million couples worldwide affected by infertility.
Gilead initiates HIV integrase inhibitor trial
Gilead Sciences has announced the initiation of phase I/II clinical trial evaluating its latest HIV drug treatment that represents a promising novel class of agents with the potential to inhibit HIV replication, particularly for patients whose HIV has developed resistance to other agents.
20-Jun-2005
Parasites give clues to cancer treatments
New drug treatments and therapies for the management of bowel cancer is a distinct possibility after researchers made a surprising discovery about the immune system that details how the body expels parasitic worms.
Technological advances drive microscopy market
According to a new study, the microscopy sector is set to capitalise on recent technological breakthroughs, with the large-scale digitalisation and advances in image reconstruction and restoration having a positive effect on the market.
First Alzheimer's conference showcases research
A handful of Alzheimer’s drug treatments and lifestyle-based interventions shared the spotlight at the first ever Alzheimer’s Association Prevention conference, in which scientists worldwide took the opportunity to showcase the latest approaches to this neurodegenerative disease.
NIH puts cash behind national screening network
In the US, the National Institutes of Health has awarded $88.9 million in grants to nine institutions over three years to establish a collaborative research network that will use high-tech screening methods to identify small molecules that can be used as research tools.
17-Jun-2005
Affymetrix scanner analyses 5X more data
Affymetrix has announced the launch of a scanner, which enables analysis of microarrays that feature 500 per cent more data than previous generations making it highly suitable for drug development applications such as RNA expression and DNA analysis.
Yellow Fever fragments may improve vaccine
Researchers have claimed that a fragment of the deadly yellow fever virus may hold the key to a safer and more effective vaccine, bringing hope to the 200,000 victims a year. Currently, no drug treatment is effective against the virus.
16-Jun-2005
Alliance starts human TB drug testing
The Global Alliance for TB Drug Development has started testing a promising tuberculosis drug in humans. This development represents the first novel compound of a new class to be introduced for the treatment of TB in more than 40 years.
Pfizer, Vicuron in $1.9 billion merger
Pfizer has struck a deal to buy Vicuron Pharmaceuticals, for $1.9 billion (€1.6 billion) in cash, in a move that places the drug company further into the realms of anti-infective R&D - an area thought to be falling out of favour in the pharmaceutical industry.
FDA approves first-in-class antibiotic
The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of the first-in-class antibiotic, Tygacil (tigecycline), is set to provide doctors with an alternative treatment for skin and intra-abdominal infections that have previously been hampered by the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria.
15-Jun-2005
Merck emerges victorious in patent appeal
The Supreme Court's decision to allow drug companies to receive exemptions from patent infringement during key early-stage research carries wider significance throughout the industry as it reduces licence negotiation for patented inventions or processes needed for research.
Delphi Med, AB enter outsourcing deal
Delphi Medical Systems Corporation has entered into an outsourcing contract with Applied Biosystems in a move that adds a life science instrumentation manufacturing facility to its operations portfolio.
Kreatech launches 30-min labelling kit
Kreatech Biotechnology launches a series of array-based labelling kits for genomic DNA for microarray based comparative genomic hybridisation analysis, offering a one-step procedure that does not require the need for amplification.
14-Jun-2005
HPV mass production promises to drive vaccine research
A technique that boosts the laboratory production of human papillomavirus by 1,000 times compared to existing methods could accelerate research into new treatments for HPV infection, which causes genital warts and cervical cancer, reports Phil Taylor.
Teranode launches first for screening software
Teranode Corporation has launched new screening automation software that claims to be the first ever solution to transform assay design into assay automation - a tool that is to feature heavily for screening laboratories with changing or emerging assay requirements.
13-Jun-2005
Arena issued metabolic screening patent
Arena Pharmaceuticals have been issued with a patent for drug screening methods for the treatment of metabolic-related disorders, especially in relation to the niacin receptor. Ligands of the niacin receptor play a role in regulating plasma lipid profiles, including HDL cholesterol, the so-called "good cholesterol."
American Diabetes Association (ADA): round up
The latest research included in the proceedings of the annual scientific meeting of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) means that diabetic treatments and other therapies for the disease feature strongly in DrugResearcher's periodic round-up of new compounds entering the clinic.
Tobacco-derived drug prevents cavities
A US company has revealed a unique method in drug development that uses transgenic tobacco plants to cultivate the human protein CaroRx, which could prevent tooth decay in the future.
Topigen introduces FANA oligonucloetide technology
Topigen Pharmaceuticals introduces its proprietary technology that becomes the third generation chemistry to deal specifically with oligonucleotide therapeutics with potential for broad based gene-targeting drug applications.
Rheumatism 'not a major disease,' states Commission
The European commission came under heavy criticism after rheumatism was not recognised as a major disease group in its research and biomedical programme - an outrage, according to The European League against Rheumatism (EULAR).
10-Jun-2005
Roche opens world's largest PCR facility
Roche has opened the world's largest polymerase chain reaction (PCR) manufacturing site in the world, investing more than $150 million and creating approximately 350 new jobs.
Thermo Electron introduces breakthrough mass analyser
Thermo Electron introduces a hybrid mass spectrometer that represents the first new mass analyser to be introduced to the market in over 20 years.
Novartis in hepatitis deal with Anadys
Novartis has announced the formation of a collaboration with Anadys Pharmaceuticals to develop Hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B (HBV) therapeutics in a deal worth at least $570 million (€466 million).
09-Jun-2005
New device could shorten drug development
A new device is set to shorten drug development times by incorporating a method that details protein structure and interactions with drugs and medical devices. The device will be useful for the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in laboratories where protein analysis technology is used.
Researchers discover virus cycle drug target
An opportunity to develop drugs by targeting a recently discovered, and potentially vulnerable, intermediate stage of the viral life cycle, could result in a new pharmaceutical treatment in the fight against HIV and other similar microbes.
08-Jun-2005
Caliper launches liquid handling system
Caliper Life Sciences launches a high-volume liquid handling system, which enables independent control of fluid delivery to individual microplate wells, becoming only one of a handful of liquid handlers currently on the market that can independently control fluid delivery to each well.
PDE-5 inhibitor rises to erectile dysfunction challenge
Surface Logix has commenced Phase I clinical trials for a novel PDE-5 inhibitor for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including endothelial dysfunction and erectile dysfunction.
Omega-3 offers hope for cancer drugs
New anti-breast cancer drugs could be developed after latest research suggested that Omega-3, a fatty acid found in oily fish, could be combined with an anaesthetic to reduce the ability of breast cancer cells to develop into malignant tumours.
Insulin cell transplant gives hope to diabetics
Living Cell Technologies (LCT) are set to put a major dent in the market for diabetic treatments after they announced the retrieval of live, insulin-producing cells, from a patient, in a transplant that did not require the use of immunosuppressive drugs.
Low-cost MS for protein analysis
Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the US have developed a device that has the potential to reduce the time needed to analyse proteins, shorten development times for new drugs and bring down the overall cost of protein analysis technology.
06-Jun-2005
EU Commission outlines pharmaceutical strategy
The European pharmaceutical sector is falling behind the US in terms of innovation and R&D expenditure and is increasingly under threat from newcomers, especially in India and China.
Add-on adds mass-spec ability
Nanostream, has introduced a fraction collector add-on to its Veloce system, transforming it into a front-end sample preparation tool that lets users rapidly perform MS assays.
Dynal release magnetic bead range
Dynal Biotech has announced two product releases from its new proteomic preparation range, which use magnetic bead chromatography technology to prepare for mass spectrum analysis without the requirement of columns.
Researchers strike gold in cancer detection
Researchers have come up with a unique method of detecting cancer in which gold nanoparticles that were bound to a specific antibody displayed a 600 per cent greater affinity for cancer cells than for noncancerous cells.
Research ids neurological disease gene
Researchers have identified the first gene in patients who have epilepsy, which is associated with a movement disorder. The study provides the first direct genetic evidence that the co-existence of these conditions represents a new syndrome.
03-Jun-2005
Chiron and MMRC initiate PI cancer trials
Chiron and the multiple myeloma research consortium have announced the initiation of a phase I clinical trial for CHIR-258 - the first drug candidate to undergo clinical study through the MMRC - an organisation that integrates leading academic institutions with the goal of accelerating drug development in multiple myeloma.
Virus uses RNA cloak for immune attack
Researchers have discovered that a certain virus appears to cloak itself with a recently discovered gene-silencing device to evade detection and destruction by immune cells. The study is the first to show how a virus uses the gene silencing machinery for its own infectious purposes providing a target for drug treatment.
02-Jun-2005
Agilent introduces industry-first GC/MS system
Agilent Technologies has introduced the industry's first GC/MS system that allows researchers to electronically download and share application methods, accelerating the transfer and method standardisation across laboratories and eliminating the need to manually create application methods on new instrumentation.
US pharma industry ignoring $16 billion jackpot
According to a new report, the US pharmaceutical industry is ignoring as much as $16 billion (€13 billion) in cash as the industry struggles to cope with disappointing single-digit growth, a lack of new products to replace drugs coming off patent, increasing competition and shrinking margins.
Worldwide antibody market to reach $26 billion
The worldwide market for therapeutic and diagnostic monoclonal antibodies is expected to reach $26 million (€21.2 million) by 2010, buoyed on by technological advances that allow antibodies to exhibit a specified targeted attack on disease-causing cells or compounds.
01-Jun-2005
Affymetrix acquires ParAllele BioScience
Affymetrix has signed an agreement to acquire ParAllele Bioscience - a move intended to broaden its variety of microarray applications. This acquisition builds on a two-year collaboration between the two companies.
Targepeutics issued brain cancer patent
Targepeutics has announced the issuance of a patent that targets brain cancer compounds, specifically used to treat malignant glioma. The more specific targeting should allow broader and safer application of recombinant cytotoxins.
Bruker launches post-translational protein tool
Bruker Daltonics introduces a novel protein post translational modification (PTM) discovery tool that represents the first commercially available Electron Transfer Dissociation (ETD) module for PTM discovery and de novo peptide sequencing on high-capacity ion traps
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