Breaking News on Drug Discovery
All news articles > August 2006
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31-Aug-2006
Troubled SFBC changes its name in hope of changing its fortunes
Large global contract research organisation, SFBC International, has changed its name to PharmaNet Development Group in a bid to make a fresh start and turnaround the troubled business after a long period of bad press, legal difficulties and poor financial performance.
30-Aug-2006
Scientists target receptors in new anthrax treatment
Scientists believe they have discovered a novel way in treating people suffering from anthrax poisoning, which could overcome the problem of antibiotic resistance that is becoming increasingly common in southern and Eastern Europe and Africa.
US enzyme demand buoyed on by pharma needs
A new report has suggested the US demand for enzymes for pharmaceutical and biocatalyst sectors will trigger market growth of 6.9 per cent per year reaching $2.2bn (€1.7bn) in 2010.
PerkinElmer introduces novel gas chromatography series
PerkinElmer has released its line of gas chromatography products, which claims to deliver the fastest injection-to-injection time in conventional gas chromatography, reducing cycle time and increasing sample throughput.
Nastech awarded grant for siRNA therapeutics for flu
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has awarded Nastech Pharmaceuticals a development grant for RNAi therapeutics to prevent and treat influenza.
25-Aug-2006
New protein discovery gives hope to bowel disease sufferers
Researchers have identified a protein that is thought to defend the intestinal against microbial invaders offering new insights into how the intestine fends off pathogens and potentially leading to new inflammatory bowel disease medications.
Evotec and CDHI form Huntington Disease alliance
Evotec and CHDI have formed a strategic partnership, which aims to research and develop treatments for Huntington Disease (HD), a genetic disorder that causes programmed degeneration of brain cells and loss of intellectual faculties.
Charles River opens facility at Chicago Technology Park
Charles River Laboratories becomes the ninth contract research organisation (CRO) to open up a new pathology facility within the Chicago Technology Park (CTP), reinforcing the emerging outsourcing trend in pharmaceutical discovery and development.
Peakdale introduces arrays for kinase studies
UK drug discovery company, Peakdale Molecular, has introduced its collection of drug-like molecules targeted towards specific receptor families achieving drug selectivity to modulate therapeutically relevant signalling pathways.
23-Aug-2006
Researchers show efficacy of first Staph drug for decades
Researchers have demonstrated the effectiveness of a new drug for treating infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria representing the first drug of its kind to be FDA approved in two decades.
Scientists develop system for animal behaviour automation
Scientists have developed a new computerised system for controlling cognitive science experiments through automating animal behaviour analysis, allowing efficient drug screening and potentially shortening development time for new drugs.
Test to gauge lung cancer treatments developed
US scientists think they have come up with a novel test that indicates how a patient with early-stage lung cancer will respond to chemotherapy, giving the opportunity to tailor treatment to the individual.
22-Aug-2006
Wanted: science and business journalists
As it continues to expand, Decision News Media is currently seeking two new journalists to join its Pharmaceutical & Science News Group in Central London.
21-Aug-2006
Argos initiates Phase I/II trial with personalised immunotherapy drug
Argos Therapeutics has announced that dosing has been initiated in a Phase I/II clinical trial to test the activity and safety of AGS-003, a personalised immunotherapy for advanced kidney cancer (metastatic renal cell carcinoma).
Alantos initiates Phase I study for DPP-IV diabetes drug
Alantos Pharmaceuticals has initiated a Phase I trial for its lead compound for diabetes, a disease that commands a global market estimated at $11bn (€8.6bn) and is expected to grow by more than 50 per cent by the end of the decade.
Researchers discover HIV inactivates immune cells
Researchers believe they have discovered how the HIV virus avoids the human body's natural defences paving the way for a HIV-specific cell drug treatment that vastly improves on the drugs that are currently available.
Bionas make available its online cell monitoring system
Bionas has launched a product for in vitro profiling the metabolic activity of cells to understand cellular function that could prove highly useful in drug discovery and development.
18-Aug-2006
Ariad issued with cancer drug patent
Ariad Pharmaceuticals has been issued with a patent that covers the novel use of mTOR inhibitors that are designed for the treatment of cancers including soft-tissue and bone sarcomas; prostate, breast, pancreatic, brain, lung and colon cancers; and lymphomas and leukaemias.
Market research dominates early-phase spending
Pharmaceutical companies are spending big on market research during the early stages of drug discovery.
17-Aug-2006
New automated cell counting tool to save labs time
Nexcelom Bioscience, a provider of instruments for cell-based assays, has just launched a new cell counter to make the cell counting process quicker and easier.
Bio-Rad buys Ciphergen's life science instrument business
Ciphergen Biosystems has agreed to sell its proteomics instrument business to life science research firm Bio-Rad Laboratories for $20m (€15.6m).
15-Aug-2006
Researchers identify potential new RA pathway
Biogen has revealed details of a potential new pathway in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that could provide unique insights into the disease process and eventually a new approach to developing RA therapies.
Covance ignites wrath of animal activists
Covance, the world's largest provider of drug-development services, is bracing itself for the onslaught of protests by animal rights activists who are demonstrating against the building of a $100m (€78.6) laboratory in the US.
New light microscope to pinpoint single proteins
Researchers have developed a new light microscope that is so powerful ituses a nanometre-scale resolution to spot individual proteins in a cell byusing a fluorescent labelling method.
Varian introduces HPLC columns for R&D applications
Varian makes available its new HPLC columns that are designed for use in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in pre-clinical development, increasing productivity by enabling more products to be purified in less time.
14-Aug-2006
Defence peptide forms basis for new HIV drug
Researchers have theorised that a peptide found in primates could halt the HIV-1 virus from infecting blood cells. The discovery could form the crux of an effective drug therapy, which may overcome resistance exhibited by current treatment use.
AM-Pharma receives patent for antimicrobial peptide
AM Pharma has been awarded a US and EU patent for its antimicrobial peptide to be used in the development of a novel class of drugs with high efficacy against a broad spectrum of bacterial, fungal and viral infections.
Guava simplifies Ab screening with new kits
Guava Technologies aim to simplify antibody screening with its new range of quantitative bead-based kits designed to quantify either mouse or human IgG antibody (Immunoglobulin G) during hybridoma screening.
Millipore launches new tangential flow filtration device
Millipore launch its version of a tangential flow filtration (TFF) device for the filtration of monoclonal antibodies and other therapeutic proteins that form an integral part of the drug discovery process and development cycle.
11-Aug-2006
Animal-human embryonic hybrids raise serious ethical concerns
A new ethics report has raised concerns about using animal-human embryonic hybrids in drug testing in which the creation of these chimeras are creating exciting avenues of research as well as controversy.
In-vitro genotoxicity proves viable alternative to animal testing
Gentronix has been granted a research award, which is to fund a potentially viable alternative to animal testing, reducing the need for their use during drug development.
IDBS and In Silico Discovery announces bioinformatics partnership
IDBS and In Silico Discovery have announced the formation of a partnership in which the deal aims to integrate drug discovery data and providing flexible access irrespective of where it is stored.
10-Aug-2006
Campbell Brothers targets Scandinavian market
Australian-owned Campbell Brothers has entered the Scandinavian laboratory market by acquiring Swedish-based lab group Analytica.
09-Aug-2006
New findings open up autoimmune disease treatment options
A new finding has the potential to pave the way for better treatment options for autoimmune diseases as researchers discover a signalling molecule can yield a rapid, inexpensive way to make large numbers of immune cells.
DNA hunt uncovers important target gene
In their hunt for DNA that is amplified in cancers, researchers have discovered a new cancer-promoting role for a gene that has been shown to transform mammary epithelial cells into cancerous ones.
Pharma industry to drive activated carbon growth
The global demand for virgin activated carbon is tipped to rise five per cent per year to reach 1.2m metric tons by 2010, fuelled by increased use in the pharmaceutical sector.
Aviva launches service for genome-wide detection
A new service introduced on the back of customer demand has been launched by Aviva Systems Biology which make available a method for genome-wide detection of promoters and enhancers that interact with proteins or carry modifications.
08-Aug-2006
Use of natural antimicrobials grows, analyst says
EU manufacturers are using more and more natural antimicrobials instead of the synthetic versions, according to a new report.
07-Aug-2006
Researchers aim to alleviate Multiple Sclerosis burden
Researchers believe that a genetic discovery involving a cellular signal that aggravates the symptoms of MS may be a viable target in new therapeutic approaches, which could alleviate the burden of this debilitating neurological disease.
Thermo introduces enhanced microcentrifuge models
Thermo has released an enhanced version of its Heraeus Pico & Fresco microcentrifuges that have been designed to cover a broad spectrum of life science research areas including drug discovery.
GSK awards outsourcing contract to Expression Analysis
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has decided to outsource its research in genotyping by awarding a contract to Expression Analysis who will provide the pharma giants with microarray-based genotyping services.
Nanogen and Fisher Scientific expand molecular diagnostics deal
Nanogen and Fisher Scientific have announced an expansion to their relationship to include a research and development collaboration in molecular diagnostics. The collaboration agreement complements Fisher's equity investment in Nanogen announced in March 2006.
04-Aug-2006
Researchers identify gene as DNA guardian and sworn enemy of tumours
Researchers have identified a gene that plays a pivotal role in initiating two DNA damage detection and repair pathways in the human genome, suggesting that it functions as a tumour suppressor.
03-Aug-2006
Mushroom properties give efficacy boost to cancer drugs
Drug researchers have turned to an unusual source to boost the efficacy of a particular anticancer drug by investigating the properties of a mushroom that has been used for centuries in Eastern Asian medicine.
Clinical trial 'finder's fees' must be policed
Researchers have published a new article launching a scathing attack on the growing incidence of healthcare professionals being paid exuberant 'finder's fees' whenever they recruit a patient onto a clinical trial.
Aldevron announces GIA facility expansion
Aldevron has announced the expansion of its Genetic Immunisation and Antibody (GIA) facility to meet the increased demand of vaccine screening contracts.
SuperArray introduces 36 PCR gene panels
SuperArray Bioscience has made available a range of pathway-focused real-time PCR gene panels that allow scientists to use their real-time PCR instrument just like a microarray in the multiple stages involved in drug discovery and development.
02-Aug-2006
Predix and Amgen team up to discover autoimmune drugs
Predix Phamaceuticals has formed a collaboration with Amgen in a deal that aims to develop S1P1 modulators for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The agreement has the potential to become a $300m (€235m) payout for Predix.
CHDI and Edison target therapy for Huntington's
CHDI and Edison Pharmaceuticals have entered into alliance that looks to develop effective therapeutics in targeting Huntingdon's disease - a disorder that currently has no way to stop or reverse the its progression.
FDA moves to quell claims over conflict of interest
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will beef up its process for disclosing the conflicts of interest of its advisory experts in a bid to restore its reputation after a survey suggests its scientists may be too closely tied with the drug industry and scientific evidence is being "suppressed and manipulated."
Attacks by animal extremists down on 2005
UK government legislation designed to curb animal extremism appears to be working as statistics published this week records a reduction in the number of incidents provoked by animal rights extremists during the first half of this year.
New player Chimatica enters drug-screening sector
Chimatica makes available its range of pre-selected, target-specific screening compounds that provide new chemotypes and opportunities for accelerated lead identification and further optimisation.
01-Aug-2006
FDA red-faced over claims it is suppressing evidence
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been left red-faced after a survey recently released by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), found a "disturbing level of interference in the agency's research".
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