Breaking News on Drug Discovery

Chemical trigger of Parkinson's found

A group of scientists believe they have cracked the riddle of how Parkinson's disease is triggered - a breakthrough that could lead to more effective therapies against the disease.

Nycomed to acquire Bradley

Nycomed is to acquire Bradley Pharmaceuticals for $346m (€240m) in a bid to make a niche for itself in the dermatology market.

Drugs moving into the clinic: 33

The latest 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.

Covance posts healthy 3Q growth

Covance is feeling positive after reporting healthy growth in both business units for the third quarter, with its early phase segment continuing to have the edge over its late stage unit.

Imaging the 'spectroscopic signature of life'

Japanese researchers have used an advanced microspectroscopy technique to study the cell cycle of yeast without the need for fluorescent imaging agents that can potentially alter the cellular environment.

Thermo continues fishing in India

Thermo Fisher Scientific continues to fish for new opportunities in India and has begun setting up a new clinical services base in the country.

Peptide chatter encourages bacteria to commit suicide

Scientists have discovered a peptide that enables bacteria to chat to one another, and can induce them to commit suicide, opening the door to new antibiotics.

Big pharma reaches to Summit for zebrafish safety screening

Summit (formerly VASTox) has signed a $450,000 (€312,000) deal with one of the world's top five pharma firms to enable it to use Summit's zebrafish-platform in its drug safety programme.

Another safety scare for Roche

In another safety concern over a long-approved drug, Roche has been forced to add new warnings to its anti-transplant rejection drug CellCept (mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)) amid the news that it is associated with increased risk of miscarriage and congenital birth defects.

Takeda sleeping drug takes 'Worst Product Award'

Japanese pharma firm Takeda beat off strong competition from the likes of Coca-Cola to take home the dubious honour of Consumer International's 'Worst Product' award thanks to its sleeping pill ad.

Sulphur analysis speeds up protein quantification

Chinese researchers have developed a way to quickly quantify protein abundance using a mass spectrometry technique (MS) commonly used for elemental analysis.

'Legendary' DNA Nobel Prize winner dies

Dr Arthur Kornberg, winner of the 1959 Nobel Prize for his work on how DNA is built, has died from respiratory failure at the age of 89.

Weekly Comment

Big pharma lends a helping hand

Despite often attracting a barrage of negative publicity, particularly in regard to a perception of putting profits before people, big pharma firms are still capable of showing their human side in times of crisis.

Gene therapy offers protection from terrorist attack

A gene therapy has shown it could protect vital organs from the damaging effects of ionising radiation during a terrorist attack.

Let there be dark to see nature's cancer drugs

Scientists are hoping to see the dark amongst the light as they scour nature for its next anticancer drug 'gift'.

The most pioneering drugs at cancer showcase

As the AACR-NCI-EORTC cancer conference comes to an end today in San Francisco, DrugResearcher.com takes a look at some of the most innovative drugs on show.

Wellcome boost for Alzheimer's research

The UK's largest charity, the Wellcome Trust, has awarded £1.3m (€1.9m) to fund the world's largest ever genome-wide association study to identify the genetic origins of Alzheimer's disease.

GSK to strip down through outsourcing and offshoring

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is planning to strip itself down closer to the bare bones of the business through further outsourcing and offshoring, with hopes of making itself into a lean, mean, pharma machine.

Cholesterol-releasing enzyme to reduce heart disease?

US researchers have identified an enzyme that reduces the build up of heart-disease causing plaques by removing the cholesterol that causes them to form.

Sanofi slammed by FDA over failure to act on Ketek fraud

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has slammed Sanofi-Aventis over its failure to act on known instances of fraud during clinical trials of its antibiotic Ketek (telithromycin) - accusations that the firm continues to deny.

Personalised medicine leaves public cold

For some, the promise of personalised medicine means more worry and they'd rather not know if they are genetically susceptible to, or had early signs of, a certain disease, such as cancer, according to a new study.

GSK cut down by Avandia scare

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has emerged as the latest pharma firm to announce closures and job cuts along with its third quarter results, yet another casualty of generic competition and product safety scares.

Drugs moving into the clinic: 32

The latest 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.

Illumina's revenue soars as Affymetrix sues again

Illumina's third quarter revenues soared 82 per cent while Affymetrix looked to bolster its slice of the genetics market by filing more patent infringement claims against the young pretender.

Microfluidic stimulation of cells in culture

US researchers have developed a fully automated microfluidic cell culture system that can control signalling agents in the extracellular media while maintaining cell viability for weeks.

Merck KGaA pulls out of diabetes research

In a shock announcement at its third quarter financial results, Merck KGaA has said it will stop its diabetes research and partner out any current programmes.

J&J, Galapagos sign deal to search for arthritis 'Holy Grail'

Belgian biotech Galapagos has penned 'by far' its biggest ever deal, with Johnson & Johnson (J&J) committing an estimated €1bn to a joint arthritis research programme.

Pfizer not alone in feeling the heat of California fires

As the fires in California continue to rage, Pfizer and other pharma and biotech companies all over Southern California are bracing themselves for closures and even evacuations of their facilities.

Pfizer's cost-cutting focus no 'Kindler surprise'

As it faces an increasingly uncertain financial future, Pfizer's reaffirmation that it plans to retain its focus on cutting costs, including outsourcing and offshoring, comes as no 'Kindler surprise', unlike the firm's decision to suddenly walk away from its market failure Exubera.

New high-res structure will boost AIDS, cancer drug development

By solving the structure of a mammalian heat shock protein (HSP90) for the first time, a US scientist may have unlocked the door to better drugs to fight a myriad of diseases, such as AIDS, sepsis, certain cancers and Alzheimer's.

Illumina halves the cost of miRNA expression profiling

Illumina has released a new microRNA (miRNA) assay for gene expression profiling at a cost that the company believes is less than half that of other commercially available systems.

Sigma-Aldrich helps siRNA N-TER cells

Sigma-Aldrich has continued its push into siRNA delivery with the release of its N-TER nanoparticle system for hard-to-transfect cell lines.

Preclinical services news in brief

In this week's review of activity within the preclinical research services arena, new deals have emerged involving Cato Research, Genoway, Caliper Life Sciences and Rules-Based Medicine.

Beer goes flat for Kirin, splashes cash on 'ultimate cancer warrior' instead

Japan's Kirin Holdings, best-known in the West as a beer maker, will acquire a controlling stake in Kyowa Hakko, and thus get its hands on what Kyowa claims are 'the ultimate antibody warriors' against cancer.

Promega speeds up DNA-protein interaction analysis

Promega has launched a new method of isolating the DNA sequences that bind to proteins that removes the need to generate specific antibodies used in traditional ChIP experiments.

EU drug regulations not good enough, says report

The European Medicines Agency is prejudiced in favour of big pharma and EU drug regulations need an overhaul, a new report says.

Weekly Comment

Pfizer partners in shock after surprise Exubera exit

We've all cringed at stories of people dumping their partners via text message but in the world of business, Pfizer seems to have taken things to a new level when its Exubera partners were allegedly left to find out the product was being scrapped through a press release.

Viagra could cause hearing loss

The earth may move and the heavens may shake but drug regulators now think Viagra could also make you go deaf.

Keeping sugar-free key to neuron health

Scientists have discovered how neurons keep themselves sugar-free and healthy, a process that must be upheld to prevent the onset of several neurodegenerative diseases, including a fatal form of epilepsy.

Study your rats so the results don't bite

New research has shown that even if laboratory rats are genetically identical they can still develop distinct metabolic profiles that could skew drug toxicity and metabolism studies.

Discarded body parts used to cut animal testing

A team of US scientists have used typically discarded body parts to create a 'joint in a test tube', which can be used to test arthritis drugs instead of using animals.

Drugs that prevent diabetes in obese people on horizon

Although obesity dramatically increases the risk of developing Type II diabetes, nobody knew why until researchers found a protein that links the two diseases, opening up the possibility of developing drugs that prevent diabetes.

Aspirin won't protect women from a broken heart

While aspirin has been found to reduce the risk of heart attack by a quarter, recent research has found that women are less likely to benefit from the drug than men.

Online social networking a treasure trove for pharma

Pfizer's unprecedented move to network with physicians online has been described as a 'watershed moment' for the pharmaceutical industry by the chief executive of the social networking site Pfizer has joined to.

BioXell says 'ciao' to enlarged prostates

As men grow older, the majority of them will suffer from the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. However, help could be on the horizon from BioXell's new drug that treats both the symptoms and, crucially, the cause of this debilitating problem.

Novartis suffers from generics, cuts jobs

Novartis has turned in its results for the first nine months of the year, with income gnawed at by generic competition and product suspensions, but still claiming record earnings helped along by divestment gains.

Online drug discovery services database to be launched

A US start-up firm is gearing up to launch an online database where researchers can access a variety of drug discovery service providers across the globe.

Agilent and BioTrove push discovery efficiency

Agilent and BioTrove are collaborating to deliver ultra high-throughput sample preparation and mass spectrometry (MS) systems to speed the analysis of in vitro assays used in drug development.

Pfizer abandons ship as Exubera sinks

Pfizer revealed today that it is abandoning its once-touted blockbuster Exubera, ending months of speculation as to whether the fledging world-first inhalable insulin would sink or swim in the fierce waters of pharma.

Epicept screening for cancer 'executioner'

Epicept's ASAP screening platform examines levels of a cell 'executioner' in order to get its cancer drugs into the clinic faster.

Preclinical presence in Asia continues to gain momentum

The activity of local and international firms establishing preclinical testing services to good laboratory practice (GLP) standards in Asia continues to gain momentum.

BMS gets green light for cancer drug

US drug regulators have given Bristol-Myers Squibb the go-ahead for its new breast cancer drug for patients who have become resistant to standard chemotherapy.

Foot-tapping boosts laboratory efficiency

A new foot-controlled PC mouse aims to increase researchers' efficiency by removing the need for repetitive glove removal and hand washing before using laboratory computers.

Tracking HIV evolution from birth to death

A group of US researchers have tracked how HIV evolves over the course of a person's lifetime and the findings could pave the way for new drugs that combat the disease before it can kill.

Boehringer hopes cash injection will turbocharge diabetes and obesity programme

Boehringer Ingelheim has witnessed Vitae Pharmaceuticals attack the same diabetes and obesity target as itself, only faster, and has decided to splash out for a piece of the action.

Wyeth ups the ante with new proteomics method

Researchers from Wyeth Research's Biological Technologies division have described how the use of a titania-affinity enrichment step can aid in the discovery of post-translational protein modifications.

Roche results up on oncology portfolio

Roche announced its third quarter financials today, with its portfolio of oncology products such as Herceptin (trastuzumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab) performing strongly, and helping off-set the massive 60 per cent drop in Tamiflu (oseltamivir) sales.

Orexo buys Biolipox for pain pipeline

Drug formulation and delivery specialist Orexo has decided it has had enough of improving established drugs and wants to develop its own, so has bought speciality pharma firm Biolipox.

Galapagos gains grants of €5.2m

Galapagos and its services division BioFocus DPI have gained three new research grants totalling €5.2m.

Negative credit ratings puts US pharma in glum Moody

Moody's Investors Service believes that things are set to get worse for the US pharma industry and has revised is credit ratings outlook from stable to negative.

GSK's disdain is blatant over new rules for patent

GlaxoSmithkline (GSK) has expressed its disdain for looming changes to drug patent application rules in the US and has launched a lawsuit to try and stop them coming into force next month.

Billionaire 'raider' circles as Biogen put up for sale

Biogen Idec has announced it is seeking a buyer for the company and has already received several expressions of interest - including a reputed $23bn (€16.2bn) bid from billionaire corporate raider Carl Icahn.

Improved infrastructure key to cheaper drugs

Improving the technology infrastructure of drug development could save the industry hundreds of millions of dollars, according to a new US government study, with the ultimate winners being patients.

The death of PCR for sequencing amplification?

Two new techniques have been developed that could signal the end of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification for sequencing applications and dramatically increase the efficiency of sample preparation.

Best biopharma bosses

There have been a few changes in the top ten employers according to leading journal Science's annual survey of the best companies to work for in the biotech, biopharma, pharmaceutical and related industries.

New bull's-eye for obesity fighting drugs

Drug developers have a new target to aim at in the fight against obesity after the discovery that a certain protein in the body stimulates the formation of fat cells.

Drugs moving into the clinic: 31

The latest 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.

Ventana to help develop pathway for companion diagnostics

The Critical Path Institute (C-Path) and diagnostics expert Ventana Medical Systems are collaborating to develop a standard submission route for targeted therapies and companion diagnostics.

It's a NanoDrop for Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific has acquired micro-volume UV-Vis (ultra violet visible) instrument manufacturer NanoDrop Technologies for an undisclosed amount.

Ablynx decides to go it alone with camel-based mini-antibodies

Ablynx, a biopharma firm that specialises the potentially lucrative sector of miniature antibodies, has announced it plans to launch on the stock market this year.

GSK, Synta join forces in billion dollar cancer deal

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has signed a deal worth around a billion dollars with US biopharma firm Synta, over its first-in-class melanoma drug, a notoriously difficult cancer to treat.

Kinaxo adds new proteomics service

Kinaxo Biotechnologies is now offering a new proteomics service to help drug developers decide which drug candidates to move through the preclinical process.

Lab-on-a-chip enables cell-free protein synthesis

Researchers have developed a new microfluidic device that enables high-throughput (HT), cell-free protein synthesis for genomic and proteomic functional analysis.

Wyeth and Zealand seek to still irregular beating heart

Wyeth has begun first-in-man trials for an oral drug designed to calm an irregular heart beat, triggering a milestone payment to its partner on the project, Denmark-based Zealand Pharma.

Speedel puts its eggs in renin inhibitor basket

As Speedel's fourth renin inhibitor enters clinical trials, this award-winning new class of drugs has generally been well-received. However, some have raised questions about their safety and effectiveness. DrugResearcher.com went to find out more.

RBM buys EDI, simplifies immune response testing

Biomarker testing service provider Rules-Based Medicine (RBM) has bought EDI to gain access to its 3D organ-like and ex vivo cell culture test systems to aid its preclinical and clinical research programmes.

Last throw of the dice for NPS Pharmaceuticals?

NPS Pharmaceuticals has ended its collaboration with pharma giant AstraZeneca, selling the rights to the partnership for $30m (€21.2m) in order to fund development of its late-stage products.

China luring preclinical players

China is one of the best destinations to outsource preclinical work, delegates heard at this year's CPhI trade how in Milan.

Rumours of Pfizer, Sanofi mega-merger emerge

Rumours that Pfizer is looking into buying a large stake in Sanofi-Aventis, which could be seen as a prelude to a full takeover bid, has prompted a flurry of shareholder activity.

US firm unveils new cell culture services

US drug discovery firm BioProcessors has unveiled a new range of cell culture services to assist in biopharmaceutical process development.

A 'virtual immune system' for drug developers

A group of scientists are using real-world experimental data to generate a virtual model of the human immune system, which could then be used in drug design.

GSK hopes boron drugs can tackle pathogen resistance

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) thinks that drugs based on boron, rather than carbon, could side-step the issue of resistance in anti-bacterial and anti-viral therapy - and is willing to bet billions on it.

Proteomics shows 3D cell cultures are better than 2D

German researchers have shown 3D cell structures better resemble tumour phenotypes than traditional cultures, suggesting they will make better models for testing new anticancer agents.

UK innovation to get billion pound boost

The UK government has set-aside £1bn (€1.45bn) to give early-stage companies better support after a review of the UK's science and innovation policies by Lord Sainsbury of Turville.

Weekly Comment

Pharmaceuticals is top R&D spender

As an increasingly desperate pharma industry strives to fill drug pipelines, the sector has, for the first time, topped a poll of which industries spend the most on research and development.

Fathers of 'targeted genetics' scoop Nobel prize

The discoverer of embryonic stem cells (ES cells) and two other scientists have won a Nobel Prize for their work to develop a 'magic wand' to modify the mouse genome.

Novartis osteoporosis drug gets EU nod

Swiss pharma Novartis has got the thumbs up from the EU for its once-yearly treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Clinical staffing a 'tremendous problem'

The European clinical trials industry is experiencing a "tremendous problem" with staff recruitment - salaries are climbing as a result.

Drugs moving into the clinic: 30

The latest 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.

R&D news in brief

DrugResearcher.com brings you a round up of the latest news in pharma research, including more pharma collaborations with charities and academia, and a 'virtual shopping centre' for gene regulation data.

New faces and a biotech baby at Pfizer seeking to reinvigorate ailing giant

Pfizer has launched a new independent biotech centre and announced five new senior appointments - not least a new head of R&D - all geared towards reinvigorating the firm.

Chilli hot on easing pain

An ingredient in chillies could form the basis of a new pain management formulation without creating numbness, researchers in the US have found.

Investors jump into PDL stock in hope of imminent buyout

Furious trading in shares of PDL BioPharma has taken place over the past couple of days as investors jumped in with both pockets open in the hope that a partner will soon be in the offing for the ailing firm.

Tamiflu waste could create drug resistant flu viruses

The excessive use of a popular influenza drug, and the associated build up of its waste in the environment, is heightening the risk of creating viruses in nature that are resistance to the therapy.

Bayer, Biocon discuss potential R&D and outsourcing deal

German pharma firm Bayer is currently discussing with Indian company Biocon about a potential deal that would include the co-development of new biologics with an outsourcing element, according to Biocon.

Eli Lilly: drug safety revolution 'within our grasp'

The head of Eli Lilly has called for a reform of the US drug safety system, saying that an information revolution is 'within our grasp'.

'Extreme PMT' gene not all the rage

Researchers have, for the first time, unearthed a genetic variation that makes women more likely to suffer from the most extreme form of premenstrual tension or syndrome (PMT, PMS).

Horiba illuminates protein interactions

Horiba Jobin Yvon's protein interaction analyser, which can analyse up to 400 biomolecular interactions in 10 minutes, made its UK debut at the L.A.B. show on Tuesday.

Big pharma enters stem cell domain to address safety, attrition

Three of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies have signed a landmark deal with the UK government that will see them use stem cell technology to road-test the safety of new compounds.

Recipe unveiled for 'Green Super Rice'

A sustainable harvest of nutrient-rich, pest- and drought-resistant, high-yield rice could be within reach thanks to recent genetic advances, Chinese researchers have reported.

Recordati adopts Orphan Europe

Eighty-year-old Italian pharma company Recordati believes its future lies in rare diseases and has put its money where its mouth is by spending €135m on speciality firm Orphan Europe.

BMS takeover speculation mounts, again

Investors in Bristol-Myers Squibb were in a frisson of excitement earlier this week as speculation mounted - not for the first time - that the firm could soon become the target of a major pharmaceutical acquisition.

Sperm stopped in their tracks by vaginal gel contraceptive

Forget diamonds, a new vaginal gel contraceptive could be the 21st Century girl's new best friend with the ability to be applied up to 18 hours before a naughty rendezvous.

ABI and Olink to push protein detection sensitivity

Applied Biosystems (ABI) has exclusively licensed Olink Bioscience's proximity ligation assay (PLA) technology that enables the correlation of gene and protein expression data.

Weekly Comment

FDA told its safety monitoring of clinical trials not good enough

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been called into question again after the release of a damning report, this time suggesting the agency is inadequate in its safety monitoring of clinical trials.

BMS shows off cancer drug as it waits for regulator decision

With a regulator decision looming ever closer, Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) has set out to woo European oncologists with its first-in-class breast cancer drug.

'In-house' outsourcing firm in line for EU accolade

Synergy has been short-listed in three categories for the upcoming European Outsourcing Awards - an accolade that could give a boost to its innovative "in house" outsourcing model.

Biogen antibody regenerates MS nerves

Biogen Idec is pushing forward with a therapeutic antibody that can turn myelin producing cells back on and so could reverse the damaging effects of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Personalised medicine boosted by new cancer target

A new target for anticancer drugs is over expressed in cancer cells to a much greater extent than other oncogenes, boosting the prospects of personalised therapy in the field.

Pfizer's Nigerian court trial over Trovan scandal to kick off

Pfizer will appear this week in a Nigerian court to face allegations that it caused the death of Nigerian children over a decade ago when it conducted a clinical trial of its meningitis drug Trovan (trovafloxacin) in the country.

Novartis diabetes drug gets thumbs up in EU

Novartis's potential Type II diabetes blockbuster has been given the green light in the EU after receiving approval.

Synta reawakens 40-year-old anticancer mechanism

Although it is over forty years since scientists realised cancer cells don't have the anti-oxidant protective capabilities of normal cells, it seems that only one pharma company has developed a drug to exploit this fact.

Novartis weighs up label-free HTS for drug discovery

Researchers from Novartis have published results using high-throughput screening (HTS) mass spectrometry (MS) techniques for the identification of enzyme inhibitors.