Archive for the ‘North America’ Category
UPDATE 1-Pfizer stop-smoking pill raises heart risk-FDA
Last Updated on Friday, 17 June 2011 11:13 Written by admin Friday, 17 June 2011 11:13
WASHINGTON, June 16 (Reuters) – Pfizer Inc’s (PFE.N) stop-smoking drug Chantix can lead to a small increase in cardiovascular problems such as heart attacks for patients who already have cardiovascular disease, U.S. drug regulators said on Thursday.
The Food and Drug Administration is changing the label for Chantix after reviewing the results of a clinical trial.
An independent randomized trial of 700 smokers with cardiovascular disease who were treated with Chantix or a placebo showed that Chantix was effective in helping paients quit smoking for as long as one year.
However, patients who took the pill were also slightly more likely to have a heart attack or other adverse cardiovascular event versus patients on a placebo.
Many smokers who try to quit do so to prevent the risk of heart attacks, which may now be associated with Chantix.
“The known benefits of Chantix should be weighed against its potential risks when deciding to use the drug in smokers with cardiovascular disease,” the FDA said in a statement.
The FDA said it is also requiring Pfizer to evaluate the cardiovascular safety of Chantix by conducting a large, combined analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials.
Pfizer’s non-nicotine pill has already come under fire for psychiatric side effects, which have crimped global sales and prompted the FDA to issue a restrictive “black box” warning label for the drug.
Investors had high hopes for the drug — called Champix in Europe — when Pfizer first launched its smoking-cessation aid in 2006, but reports of serious side effects have prevented strong sales growth.
Annual sales are now about $800 million, making the pill a moderate-sized product for the world’s biggest drug maker.
Chantix has been associated with agitation, depression and suicidal thoughts, and, in clinical trials, linked with nightmares. Psychiatric symptoms have occurred in people without a history of mental illness and have worsened in people who already had mental illness.
Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/16/drugs-fda-chantix-idUSN1618502520110616
Posted under Cancer Research, FDA News, New Products, North America, Oncology Research, USA and Canada | Comments Off
Genome Maps Solve Medical Mystery For Calif. Twins
Last Updated on Thursday, 16 June 2011 10:51 Written by admin Thursday, 16 June 2011 10:51
Ever since scientists began to sequence the entire genomes of individuals —beginning with those of Nobelist James Watson and scientific entrepreneur J. Craig Venter in 2007 — skeptics have wondered just how useful this elegant and expensive trick would become.
A pair of 14-year-old twins, Alexis and Noah Beery, now provide a compelling answer, even if it’s not yet clear how generalizable their case is to others with genetic disorders.
Whole-genome sequencing has enabled doctors to provide the Beery twins with a simple, highly effective treatment for a rare condition called DRD, or dopa-responsive dystonia. The tale of their cure appears in this week’s issue of the journal Science Translational Medicine.
The twins were diagnosed with cerebral palsy at age two. But their mother, Retta Beery, didn’t think that was correct. For one thing, Alexis’s contorted posture and jerky movements always seemed to be better in the morning and increased as the day went on.
Turns out DRD is known for these diurnal variations, as Retta found out through dogged research. That led to a diagnosis of DRD when the twins were five. Since DRD was thought to be a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine, low doses of a drug called L-dopa (also used for Parkinson’s disease) rather miraculously made the twins’ “cerebral palsy” go away within days.
But other symptoms persisted and worsened. At age 14, Noah had hand tremors, awkwardness and attentional problems. More alarmingly, Alexis had breathing problems due to spasms in her larynx. But when doctors probed for an explanation of these symptoms, the twins tested negative for known mutations of two genes known to be involved in DRD.
As it happens, the twins’ father, Joe Beery, works for a California biotech company that makes DNA sequencing machines. So the parents wondered if a deep dive into their twins’ DNA might explain the nature of their particular genetic defect.
Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine, a pioneer in whole-genome sequencing of individuals, thought it was worth a go. They sequenced the genomes of the twins, their older brother, their parents and their grandparents.
Comparing the results, the researchers found that the twins both inherited a gene variant from each parent that, together, led them to have low levels of not just dopamine but two other neurotransmitters, serotonin and noradrenalin.
The twins’ neurologist, Jennifer Friedman of Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, suggested giving the teenagers a supplement called 5-HTP that’s a precursor for serotonin.
Together with the L-dopa, the additional supplement has improved Alexis’s breathing point to the point that she’s now running track again. Noah’s handwriting and athletic performance have improved, and he’s better able to focus in school.
And there’s an intriguing bonus. Scientists think the gene mutation that the Beery twins inherited from their mother may be responsible for a pattern of a neuromuscular disease called fibromyalgia in her family. Fibromyalgia sometimes responds to anti-depressants called SSRIs that raise serotonin levels.
If that hypothesis pans out, it would suggest that rare genetic disorders such as DRD are just the most dramatic manifestation – in people who inherit a double dose of certain gene variants – of much more common disorders such as fibromyalgia among people who have a single copy of the mutation.
Study authors say the Beerys’ case shows how genomics will ultimately revolutionize medicine by making diagnosis more precise and pointing toward life-changing treatments. Other cases are beginning to pop up, such as a Wisconsin boy whose rare disease was diagnosed by whole-genome sequencing and subsequently treated with a bone marrow transplant. (His story appeared in a Pulitzer Prize-winning series by the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.)
Cost is still a big obstacle. At the time the Beery family’s genomes were sequenced, it cost around $100,000 per person. Dr. Richard Gibbs of Baylor says now, less than two years later, it would cost about half as much – less than $10,000 for the actual sequencing, plus the cost of computer processing of the results and validation.
The skeptics also point out that not all genetic insights from sequencing will lead to such cheap, simple and effective treatments as the Beery twins got.
Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/06/16/137204964/genome-maps-solve-medical-mystery-for-calif-twins
Posted under Cell Analysis, Discoveries, Innovations and Patents, DNA Reasearch, Genetics & Pharmacogenetics, Medicinal Chemistry, North America, Research Projects, USA and Canada | Comments Off
State changes immunization schedule
Last Updated on Thursday, 16 June 2011 10:40 Written by admin Thursday, 16 June 2011 10:40
FRANKFORT Kentucky has changed its child immunization schedule to comply with national recommendations, adding a couple of childhood vaccines and recommending second “booster” immunizations for three other diseases.
“In a nutshell, the changes are to require vaccines to protect children from preventable diseases,” said Dr. William Hacker, M.D., commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Public Health. “Those diseases don’t occur as often as they once did, but they’re still serious but preventable diseases.”
Immunization requirements have been updated to better align the state’s immunization schedule with the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatricians.
Hacker said many children are already taking the vaccines because physicians have recommended them.
One of the two new vaccines is pneumococcal vaccine to prevent pneumonia, ear infections and a type of meningitis. It is recommended for children under 5 years of age. The other is meningococcal vaccine to prevent meningitis and blood-borne infections and is recommended for children entering the sixth grade.
The new guidelines also call for three “booster” vaccinations: one for chicken pox for children from kindergarten age to those entering second grade; one for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis for those entering sixth grade; and one for measles, mumps and rubella at 6 years old.
“We’re seeing these diseases in kids who have previously been given vaccinations,” Hacker said.
The new requirements take place July 1. Certificates for school or day care entry which are submitted after that date should meet the new vaccine requirements.
Hacker said the additional cost for the vaccines is insignificant compared to the costs of illnesses they prevent.
“These diseases can cause life-threatening infections,” Hacker said. He said local health departments and some other providers offer vaccines priced on the ability to pay.
Source: http://thetimestribune.com/local/x947029853/State-changes-immunization-schedule
Posted under Medicinal Chemistry, North America, USA and Canada | Comments Off
Government Lists Formaldehyde as a Known Carcinogen
Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 June 2011 03:16 Written by admin Tuesday, 14 June 2011 03:16
After years of delays because of pressure from the chemical industry, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has added eight substances — including formaldehyde, which is common in household products — to its Report on Carcinogens, a science-based document that identifies chemicals and biological agents that may increase people’s risk for cancer.
Formaldehyde and a botanical known as aristolochic acids are listed as known human carcinogens. Six other substances — captafol, cobalt-tungsten carbide (in powder or hard metal form), certain inhalable glass wool fibers, o-nitrotoluene, riddelliine and styrene — are added as substances that are reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens. With these additions, the 12th Report on Carcinogens now includes 240 listings.
“This report underscores the critical connection between our nation’s health and what’s in our environment,” says John Bucher, Ph.D., associate director of the National Toxicology Program (NTP).
The Report on Carcinogens identifies agents, substances, mixtures or exposures in two categories: known to be a human carcinogen and reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. Many factors, including the amount and duration of exposure and an individual’s susceptibility to a substance, affect whether a person will develop cancer.
Formaldehyde — a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that is widely used to make resins for household items such as composite wood products, paper product coatings, plastics, synthetic fibers, and textile finishes — was first listed in the second Report on Carcinogens as a substance that was reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen, after laboratory studies showed it caused nasal cancer in rats. Human studies have now shown that individuals with higher measures of exposure to formaldehyde are at increased risk for certain types of rare cancers, including nasopharyngeal (the nasopharnyx is the upper part of the throat behind the nose), sinonasal, as well as a white blood cell cancer known as myeloid leukemia.
Certain inhalable glass wool fibers made the list based on experimental animal studies. Not all glass wool or man-made fibers were found to be carcinogenic. The report cites only those fibers that can enter the respiratory tract, are highly durable and remain in the lungs for long periods of time. Low-cost, general purpose glass fibers used in home and building insulation appear to be less likely to cause cancer in humans.
Styrene — a synthetic chemical used to make rubber, plastic, insulation, fiberglass, pipes, automobile parts, food containers and carpet backing — is on the list based on human cancer studies, laboratory animal studies and mechanistic scientific information. The limited evidence of cancer from studies in humans shows lymphohematopoietic cancer and genetic damage in the white blood cells, or lymphocytes, of workers exposed to styrene. People may be exposed to styrene by breathing indoor air that has styrene vapors from building materials, tobacco smoke and other products.
Intense lobbying by the chemical industry delayed the release of the Report on Carcinogens for years, Gardiner Harris reports in The New York Times. Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer at the American Cancer Society, told the Times that formaldehyde is worrisome and pervasive. “It’s the smell in new houses, and it’s in cosmetics like nail polish,” he said. “All a reasonable person can do is manage their exposure and decrease it to as little as possible. It’s everywhere.”
President Obama signed a law establishing the first national standards for formaldehyde in composite wood products last year. The Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Act establishes emission standards for hardwood plywood, medium density fiberboard and particleboard sold in the United States. The glue that holds together household composite wood products such as furniture, cabinets and flooring contains formaldehyde. By January 1, 2013, all products sold in the United States will have formaldehyde emissions of 0.09 parts per million or less — the most stringent standard for formaldehyde emissions in the world.
Until then new, be a conscious consumer when it comes to particleboard purchases. Use the PureBond Fabricator network to find formaldehyde-free products, and buy third-party certified furnishings and flooring. Look for the Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified Products seal (and check out its searchable database of low-emitting products) and the Green Seal Certified Products seal. The Pharos Project also rates and selects healthy building materials, and Scientific Certification Systems Certified Products offers Sustainable Choice and Environmentally Preferable Products programs.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robyn-griggs-lawrence/formaldehyde-carcinogen_b_876115.html
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Playing God; Is Genetic Testing The Answer To A More Pure Species?
Last Updated on Monday, 13 June 2011 04:09 Written by admin Monday, 13 June 2011 04:09
Some parents don’t want to know the sex of their upcoming child. Others do. DNA profiling has been a hot topic amongst scientists for years and this week the topic heats up even more as a few reports published last December are now appearing on the scientific grid months later. Included in the studies is news that doctors could essentially reconstruct a baby’s genetic makeup by recovering fragments of fetal DNA from the mother’s bloodstream and determine medical conditions like Down syndrome, but also things like eye color and height and even the risk for developing depression or Alzheimer’s disease and other ailments, leaving less to fate than ever before.
Marcy Darnovsky of the Center for Genetics and Society in Berkeley, California explains:
“This really changes the experience of what it will be like to be pregnant and have a child. I keep coming up with the word, game-changer.”
Jaime King, an associate professor at the University at California Hastings College of Law in San Francisco made the following comments:
“That’s a very big burden to place on would-be parents. At the moment these things happen, it’s just you there by yourself. Some people might like that level of control, but others would be happier to leave things up to chance a little more.”
The DNA of a fetus has long been recoverable through medical procedures, with a small risk of miscarriage. But a blood test would be free of that risk, which should make many more women interested in it and doctors willing to test for a wider range of conditions, some experts say. And the results could come early enough to allow for an abortion before the pregnancy is even obvious. There lies the controversy and a barrage of moral and political fire.
Dr. Brian Skotko, a board member of the National Down Syndrome Society comments:
“If no limitations are put on, you can have a couple get a prenatal genetic test in the future saying their fetus has … a 60% chance of having breast cancer at the age of 60 and a 30% chance of being gay. The ultimate question for society is what forms of human variation are valuable?”
Should a woman be allowed to get an abortion for any reason, even a trivial one like test results about height or eye color? Some state governments have passed laws outlawing abortions on the basis of sex, she said. But it’s not clear whether those are constitutional, and a woman might simply not reveal her true reasons for wanting the abortion, King said.
Skotko points out that people use their own personal perspective in deciding what they want for their children. Some couples who are deaf from a genetic condition already use current technology to avoid having children with normal hearing.
“It’s their lens by which they view the world, and they want a child who views the world through that same lens.”
A human embryo contains 46 chromosomes organized into 23 pairs: 22 pairs of non-sex chromosomes, called autosomes, and one pair of sex chromosomes (XX in a female and XY in a male). One chromosome in each pair is inherited from the mother and one from the father.
Located along these chromosomes are approximately 25,000 genes that carry instructions for making proteins. Through the proteins they encode, your genes determine how your body develops and functions.
Source:http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/228350.php
Posted under DNA Reasearch, Genetics & Pharmacogenetics, North America, Research Projects, USA and Canada | Comments Off
Safety Dooms Novel Staph Vaccine
Last Updated on Wednesday, 8 June 2011 11:23 Written by admin Wednesday, 8 June 2011 11:23
A phase II/III trial of V710, an investigational vaccine for the prevention of Staphylococcus aureus infection, has been stopped for good following a risk-benefit analysis, according to Merck and Intercell AG.
In April, the Data Monitoring Committee recommended suspending enrollment even though a pre-specified interim analysis showed that the trial did not meet futility criteria. No explanation was given. But a decision about whether to continue the trial was put off until an analysis of the risks and benefits could be completed.
After further analysis, the Data Monitoring Committee unanimously recommended termination of the study, according to a statement from the vaccine makers.
The analysis revealed that the vaccine was unlikely to have a significant clinical benefit and may increase the risk of death and multiorgan dysfunction.
“In the additional analyses that were performed, this safety difference was not found to be statistically significant and was also determined not to warrant any action beyond routine safety follow?up,” the statement read.
The trial was designed to evaluate a single injection of V710 for preventing serious S. aureus infections in adult patients who were scheduled to undergo cardiothoracic surgery.
Merck will present the final results of the trial at an upcoming medical meeting.
Source: http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/Vaccines/26921
Posted under Discoveries, Innovations and Patents, Drug Development, Medicinal Chemistry, New Drugs, North America, Press Releases, USA and Canada | Comments Off
Large Amounts of Coffee Cause Hallucinations, Study Finds
Last Updated on Wednesday, 8 June 2011 11:20 Written by admin Wednesday, 8 June 2011 11:20
Big coffee drinkers are taking a latte break from reality, with half of them likely to hallucinate or hear things, the Herald Sun reported Wednesday.
If the break is supposed to be a stress-buster — as it often is — that makes things worse. And if a cigarette is involved, you’re playing with fire.
Research at Victorian university La Trobe found that stressed coffee lovers are three times more likely to see or hear imaginary things than everyone else.
In tests, they heard Bing Crosby singing “White Christmas” — or at least thought they did.
Professor Simon Crowe tested 92 people with varied caffeine-intake and stress levels. Subjects thought they were doing hearing tests and were initially subjected to Bing.
Then they were played three minutes of static hiss and asked to press a buzzer if they heard snippets of White Christmas in there — which there weren’t.
On average, low-caffeine subjects heard it once. But stressed coffee guzzlers buzzed three times.
“If you are stressed and have a high level of caffeine, you are more likely to notice things that aren’t there, see things that aren’t there,” Crowe said.
Posted under Discoveries, Innovations and Patents, North America, Reports, Research Projects, USA and Canada | Comments Off
Salmonella infections rise in US: study
Last Updated on Tuesday, 7 June 2011 01:39 Written by admin Tuesday, 7 June 2011 01:39
WASHINGTON — US cases of salmonella have risen 10 percent in recent years, while other food-borne illnesses caused by E. coli and related bacteria have declined dramatically, the US government said on Tuesday.
Even as Germany grapples with a mysterious E. coli outbreak that has killed two dozen people, the United States has cut similar infections from serious Shiga toxin-producing E.coli O157 by nearly half in the past 15 years.
And overall rates of food-borne infection have declined by 23 percent in that time period, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But Salmonella, which can infect eggs, poultry, meat, vegetables or processed foods, remained the most common cause of food-borne illness and a stubborn foe.
“Although food-borne infections have decreased by nearly one-fourth in the past 15 years, more than one million people in this country become ill from Salmonella each year,” said CDC director Thomas Frieden.
“Continued investments are essential to detect, investigate, and stop outbreaks promptly in order to protect our food supply.”
Last year, Salmonella caused 54 percent of total hospitalizations (2,300 of the total 4,200 hospitalizations) for food illness and 43 percent of all such deaths (29 of the total 68 deaths), the CDC data said.
“The incidence of Salmonella infection in 2010 was not significantly different than during 1996-1998 but was significantly higher than during 2006-2008,” a 10 percent increase, it noted.
Salmonella incurs $365 million in direct medical costs each year in the United States, the CDC said.
Pathogens included in the overall reduced level of infections compared to 1996-1998 included campylobacter, E. coli STEC O157, listeria, and yersinia.
However, vibrio infection rates, most often seen in raw seafood and shellfish, were 115 percent higher than in 1996-1998, and 39 percent higher than in 2006-2008.
“People who want to reduce their risk of food-borne illness should assume raw chicken and other meat carry bacteria that can cause illness and should not allow them to contaminate surfaces and other foods, such as produce,” the CDC said.
Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g0MQC8xasEjpzHNuoAvpiXaPOLPg?docId=CNG.e1b00e99c52eeaad1951ccf575852c55.251
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Blood pressure drugs not linked to cancer risk, says FDA
Last Updated on Friday, 3 June 2011 03:05 Written by admin Friday, 3 June 2011 03:05
A type of blood pressure-lowering medication known as angiotensin receptor blockers won’t increase a patient’s risk for cancer, the Food and Drug Administration said this week. So those taking the drugs for high blood pressure can just…relax.
Concern about the drugs’ possible link to cancer risk arose last year after an analysis of several studies suggested that angiotensin receptor blockers, or ARBs, might be associated with a slightly increased risk of cancer.
But the FDA’s own research found no such connection, the agency said in an announcement Thursday:
“This analysis included 31 trials and approximately 156,000 patients, far more than the approximately 62,000 in the published analysis. FDA’s more comprehensive meta-analysis did not show an increased risk of cancer in the patients taking an ARB medication.”
Such medications include: losartan (Cozaar), olmesartan (Benicar) and valsartan (Diovan). The drugs lower blood pressure by blocking the effects of angiotensin II, a chemical that narrows vessels.
There are other ways to lower blood pressure. Beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and renin inhibitors all lower pressure through different mechanisms, according to a blood pressure guide from the Mayo Clinic.
Of course, lifestyle changes can sometimes obviate the need for blood pressure-lowering drugs. Not smoking, eating a low-sodium diet, exercising regularly and limiting alcohol can all help control blood pressure — and there was never any concern about their cancer risk.
Source: http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-fda-arb-cancer-20110603,0,4559969.story?track=rss
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Cholesterol study shows niacin no good at cutting heart risk
Last Updated on Thursday, 26 May 2011 04:36 Written by admin Thursday, 26 May 2011 04:36
(CBS/AP) Niacin seems to be no good, at least when it comes to helping prevent heart attacks. On Thursday the NIH stopped a study because people taking high doses of niacin saw no benefit.
LDL cholesterol is the main cause of clogged arteries. Statin drugs, including brand names like Zocor and Lipitor as well as generic forms – are mainstays in lowering LDL. But many statin users have heart attacks, because LDL isn’t the whole story. Low levels of HDL, as well as high levels of fatty substances known as triglycerides, also increase heart risk.
So scientists are testing whether adding various drugs to statins would increase HDL enough to protect the heart.
The study tested Niaspan, an extended-release form of the B-vitamin niacin that is a far higher dose than is found in dietary supplements. The drug has been sold for years, and previous studies showed that it boosts HDL levels.
More than 3,400 statin users in the U.S. and Canada – people still at risk for heart attack because of low HDL levels – were given Niaspan or a dummy pill in addition to their usual medication. As expected, HDL levels rose and triglyceride levels dropped in the Niaspan users – more than in people who took a statin alone. But the combination treatment didn’t reduce heart attacks, strokes or the need for artery-clearing procedures such as angioplasty, the NIH said.
The University of Washington’s Dr. Jeffrey Probstfield, who helped lead the study, said the finding “is unexpected and a striking contrast to the results of previous trials.”
There was a small rise in stroke risk in the Niaspan users – 28 among 1,718 people compared with 12 among the 1,696 placebo users. The NIH said it was unclear whether that small difference was a coincidence, as previous studies have shown no stroke risk from niacin. In fact, some of the strokes occurred after the Niaspan users quit taking that drug.
Researchers said patients shouldn’t stop taking their Niaspan without talking to a doctor first.
The Mayo Clinic has more on niacin and cholesterol.
Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20066487-10391704.html
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Researchers Find Cousin of Hepatitis C Virus in Dogs
Last Updated on Tuesday, 24 May 2011 02:45 Written by admin Tuesday, 24 May 2011 02:45
MONDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) — Researchers report that they’ve discovered a virus similar to the human hepatitis C virus in dogs, a finding that might provide insight into how the germ evolved in people and perhaps lead to better treatments.
About 200 million people around the world are thought to suffer from hepatitis C, including an estimated 3.2 million chronically infected people in the United States. Many don’t know they’re infected with the liver-damaging virus that causes the disease, which means they can spread it to others without realizing it.
The new findings suggest that hepatitis C may have “jumped” from dogs to humans more than five centuries ago, the researchers said.
“Considering the origin of HIV, we expected to find the closest homologs, or genetic relatives, of [hepatitis C virus] in non-human primates,” study author Dr. Amit Kapoor, an investigator with Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health’s Center for Infection and Immunity, said in a news release.
“However,” Kapoor added, “while we were analyzing samples from dogs involved in outbreaks of respiratory disease, we came upon a virus that was more similar to HCV than other viruses of the same family. So far, we have only detected [the virus] in sick animals, a few of which had died of unknown causes. Because of its close genetic similarity to HCV, we suggested the name of canine hepacivirus.”
Study co-author Dr. Charles Rice, scientific and executive director of the Center for the Study of Hepatitis C at The Rockefeller University, said in the news release that the beginnings of hepatitis C “remain a mystery. These findings underscore the need to look beyond primates for clues to the origins.”
Scientists say there’s no risk of modern-day dogs infecting people with either human hepatitis C or the canine form.
Hepatitis C is a liver disease that’s typically spread through contact with infected blood. It can also spread through sex with an infected person and from mother to baby during childbirth, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
The study appears in this week’s issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Source: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/digestive-disorders/articles/2011/05/23/researchers-find-cousin-of-hepatitis-c-virus-in-dogs
Posted under Discoveries, Innovations and Patents, Medicinal Chemistry, North America, Research Projects, USA and Canada, Veterinary Research | Comments Off
International Stem Cell Corporation Enrolls First Donor in Program to Create New Parthenogenetic Stem Cell Lines in the United States
Last Updated on Friday, 20 May 2011 02:04 Written by admin Friday, 20 May 2011 01:59
CARLSBAD, Calif.–(EON: Enhanced Online News)–International Stem Cell Corporation (OTCBB:ISCO), www.internationalstemcell.com, has now enrolled the first U.S.-based donor in its program to establish a bank of clinical-grade human parthenogenetic stem cells (hpSCs) capable of being immune-matched to millions of patients.
Dr. Simon Craw, Vice President of ISCO with primary responsibility for building its UniStemCell Bank, said, “Enrolling our first donor is a key milestone towards our goal of creating a bank of clinical-grade pluripotent human stem cells with the ability to immune-match millions of patients. It is extremely exciting to start this new phase of development, and I look forward to making new clinical-grade hpSC lines available to medical researchers around the world.”
ISCO maintains the world’s largest collection of research-grade human parthenogenetic stem cell (hpSC) lines which it uses along with its partners and collaborators to investigate cellular therapies for a number of incurable human diseases.
ISCO previously announced it had successfully obtained the necessary regulatory approvals for obtaining human oocytes, including Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval and Stem Cell Research Oversight (SCRO) committee approval. Today’s announcement marks the next phase of development as the Company is now positioned to begin producing new clinical-grade hpSC lines.
These new cell lines will be ISCO’s first hpSCs to be produced in the United States in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) specifications. The new cGMP hpSC lines will be uniquely valuable in therapeutic research and clinical development as cells or tissue derived from such cells can be used in human clinical trials.
ISCO’s scientific discoveries have resulted in the development of a unique new type of pluripotent stem cells that possess a number of distinct advantages over other types of human pluripotent stem cells. ISCO uses unfertilized oocytes to create human “parthenogenetic” stem cells. Like human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), hpSCs are pluripotent, i.e. they have the capacity to become almost any cell type in the body, yet avoid ethical issues associated with use or destruction of viable human embryos. Unlike hESCs, hpSCs can be created in a form such that they can be immunologically matched to millions of individuals.
Source: http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20110519005390/en
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Horse herpes: The virus behind the outbreak
Last Updated on Friday, 20 May 2011 11:57 Written by admin Friday, 20 May 2011 11:57
As an outbreak of highly contagious horse herpes infects horses across Western states, leaving some horses dead and prompting event organizers to cancel competitions, a closer look at the virus causing all the trouble would seem in order.
But first, as Reuters reports: “Horses cannot infect humans but for the animals the symptoms of the virus include respiratory problems and hind-leg weakness, decreased coordination, nasal discharge and fever.”
Nine strains of equine herpes virus have been identified; the strain in the news, EHV-1, is very common. By age 2, almost all horses have contracted the virus, usually from their mothers (dams), but the virus generally lies inactive, according to an information sheet from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
As can happen with human herpes, the virus kicks back into gear when the animals are stressed — such as during long-distance transportation (often required for competitions) or vigorous exercise. After the virus is reactivated, the viral infection can spread to other horses, through a sneeze, for example, or through contact with rags, buckets or people.
The disease can cause respiratory illness or abortion; EHV-1 can sometimes become a neurological infection, called equine herpes myeloencephalopathy, which destroys blood vessels and leads to damage of the brain and spinal cord. Horses with the neurological form may have to lean against a wall for balance or be unable to stand up.
Vaccines exist for the respiratory form of EHV-1, but there isn’t enough evidence of how well they work, nor is there a vaccine labeled for the neurological form, according to USDA assessment of what’s known about the virus. Dr. Barry Meade, a researcher in equine infectious diseases at the University of Kentucky, wrote this recommendation in the report:
“Development of a vaccine that could prevent latency and the neurological form of EHV should be a top priority for research related to this disease.”
For now, veterinarians recommend owners quarantine their horses—see this veterinarian’s down-to-earth advice on protecting horses from EHV-1.
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Aviir opens new cardiac clinical lab in Irvine
Last Updated on Wednesday, 6 April 2011 09:56 Written by admin Wednesday, 6 April 2011 09:56
Aviir has launched a new clinical laboratory in Irvine in an effort to improve cardiovascular disease prevention and management of related conditions, including diabetes.
The 16,700-square-foot facility currently houses 22 employees, and the medical firm plans to grow that number to 115 over the next year. More than half of those staffers will be proficient in laboratory sciences and information technology. They will support Aviir’s work to provide physicians with the tools and information to reduce the chance of heart disease and lower medical costs, among other goals, according to the company.
“There is currently a significant yet unmet clinical need in the medical community for more effective ways to identify individuals at high risk of a heart attack who are missed by current evaluation methods,” said Douglas Harrington, M.D., CEO of Aviir. “Providing an accurate assessment of the patient’s overall heart health is the first step in prevention of cardiovascular disease.”
The new facility is Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified, and will provide a proprietary test that identifies high-risk patients by measuring rare blood markers of vascular inflammation later this year, as well as other cardiac lab and heart disease gene analyses. The space also offers risk assessment and therapeutic monitoring of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, peripheral arterial disease and stroke.
Founded in 2005, Aviir is a privately held company that develops and markets diagnostic and predictive cardiovascular tests.
“At Aviir, our ultimate goal is to help physicians identify those patients who are at serious risk of experiencing a heart attack but are completely unaware of their precarious condition,” said Harrington. “Armed with better information, physicians will be able to tailor more individualized treatment plans with the goals of improving patient therapeutic compliance, reducing their risk of heart attacks, and decreasing the overall cost of care.”
Source: http://www.ocmetro.com/t-aviir_cardiac_clinical_lab_irvine_04052011.aspx
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Five New Alzheimer’s Genes Double Total as Doctors Unravel Disease Cause
Last Updated on Monday, 4 April 2011 10:01 Written by admin Monday, 4 April 2011 10:01
Five new genes have been definitively linked to Alzheimer’s disease, doubling the total confirmed by scientists and opening new areas for research into an illness that affects 35 million people globally.
The genetic pathways were reported in two studies involving more than 50,000 people worldwide. Some of the connections found involve systems that control inflammation and cholesterol in the brain, while others affect how brain cells remove toxic proteins, the researchers wrote in reports published yesterday in the journal Nature Genetics.
The newest confirmed genes raise risks for Alzheimer’s by 15 percent or less, not strong enough to be used as a marker for the disease, researchers said. Their worth is in suggesting new areas of study that may one day help speed creation of therapies for a malady that progressively destroys brain cells and makes it difficult for people to think, remember and function.
“We are beginning to piece together the jigsaw and gain new understanding,” said lead researcher Julie Williams, a professor from Cardiff University’s Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics in Wales. “We still have a long way to go, but the jigsaw is beginning to come together.”
Inflammation, cholesterol and the build-up of beta amyloid protein have long been thought to play a critical role in the degradation of nerve cells in the brain, the researchers said. If treatments can prevent the detrimental effects of the genes, doctors may be able to one day reduce the number of people with Alzheimer’s disease, Williams said.
Important Combinations
Researchers are trying to determine which gene variations, and which combinations, are most important. Identifying how genes work together may speed studies of experimental drugs, said David Bennett, director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, in a statement.
“These findings add key information needed to understand the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and should help in discovering approaches to its treatment and prevention,” Bennett said.
The U.S. National Institute on Aging helped fund the studies, which used information gleaned from five different groups, including the Rush Religious Orders Study, to analyze the genetic makeup of more than 54,000 people.
Alzheimer’s is characterized by the formation of plaque in the brain from amyloid and tau proteins. Scientists don’t know why the proteins accumulate or become twisted, whether they cause the illness or if they are an end-product resulting from a different process altogether.
“We know from our studies there are going to be dozens of these genes that will be significant when the collective data is analyzed,” said Rudolph Tanzi, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, and an author of one paper.
Most Exciting
While the combined genes point at several pathways that may play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, Tanzi says he is most excited about CD33, a gene he discovered that is tied to the brain’s primitive innate immune system. In some cases, it might not be eliminating as much beta amyloid as it should. In others, it may be too active and trigger inflammation, he said in a telephone interview.
“Once we figure out what’s going on, CD33 will be a good target because it sits on the cell surface,” he said. “But it will be at least 10 years before we could turn these targets into drugs,” said Tanzi, who is also director of the genetics and aging research unit at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Institute for Neurodegenerative disease.
The number of Alzheimer’s sufferers is predicted to reach 115.4 million by 2050, according to a 2009 report from Alzheimer’s Disease International.
Inevitable Deterioration
No treatment is yet available to slow or stop deterioration of the brain in patients with Alzheimer’s. Drugs aiming to slow the symptoms include Namenda from New York-based Forest Laboratories Inc. (FRX), and Aricept from New York-based Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and Tokyo-based Eisai Co.
As much as 80 percent of a person’s chance of developing Alzheimer’s is inherited, doctors say. About 400 genes have been identified that scientists believe may play a role in the condition, named for the German doctor Alois Alzheimer who described it in 1906.
The greatest inherited risk comes from the APOE gene, discovered in 1993 by a team led by Allen Roses, now director of the Deane Drug Discovery Institute at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. A person who inherits that gene from one parent has a 400 percent increased risk of getting the disease.
Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-04/five-new-alzheimer-s-genes-double-total-in-new-push-for-cure.html
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Iona Chemistry Professor Researches Cure For ALZ
Last Updated on Monday, 20 December 2010 03:17 Written by Editor Monday, 20 December 2010 03:17
New Rochelle, NY – Do curry spice, wine and apple skins hold the answer for finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders?
The results of a laboratory research project, recently published in the Journal of Neurochemistry, show that a chemical compound derived from these natural products may be used in neutralizing the toxic effects of chemicals associated with some debilitating and life-threatening neurological diseases.
The findings are the result of a four-year study undertaken by Terrence Gavin, Ph.D., a chemistry professor at Iona College and Richard M. LoPachin, Ph.D, a neurochemist and director of research in the Department of Anesthesiology at Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
In lab experiments it was found that the compound, called 2-ACP, completely protects nerve cells from the harmful effects of type-2 alkenes. There is growing evidence that exposure to type 2-alkenes, which are found in the smoke inhaled from cigarettes, the exhaust of automobiles and even in French fried potatoes, can increase the chances of developing Alzheimer’s and otherneurological conditions. In addition, studies
have shown type-2 alkenes are being produced within the nerve endings during the disease process that presumably initiates Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Gavin said: “The research Dr. LoPachin and I undertook is promising because chemical compounds extracted from curry spice, red wine and apple skins, which are widely used natural products, have already been clinically demonstrated to have neuroprotective properties. This suggests it would be safe and effective to treat humans with the 2-ACP compound.”
He added: “But, these molecular findings worked in laboratory cultures. We now need to confirm the effects of 2-ACP in animal studies. That will be the focus of our efforts in the coming months.”
In addition, Dr. Gavin and some of his students
at Iona will be looking for new compounds that will be as good or better than 2-ACP in combating the effects of type 2-alkenes. “Our goal is to have new compounds ready for testing in six months. This is a very exciting scientific exploration,” Dr. Gavin stated.
Dr. Gavin has been a chemistry professor at Iona since 1982. He holds a doctoral degree in chemistry from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and attended the State University of New York at New Paltz where he earned a B.A. degree. He and his family live in New Paltz.
Source: westchester.com
Posted under Alzheimer's disease, Clinical Trials, Discoveries, Innovations and Patents, Drug Development, Medicinal Chemistry, Natural Products, North America, Reports, Research Projects, USA and Canada | Comments Off
Fragment Library
Last Updated on Monday, 20 December 2010 02:59 Written by Editor Monday, 20 December 2010 02:59
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. announced that its Maybridge Ro3 Diversity Fragment Library has helped researchers validate an emerging technique for drug discovery that targets key protein receptors involved in a wide range of biological functions.
David Myszka, founder of Biosensor Tools LLC and director of the Center for Biomolecular Interaction Analysis at the University of Utah, used surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to screen small molecules (fragments) in the Maybridge Ro3 collection against stabilised G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) provided by Heptares Therapeutics1. Several new classes of compounds were identified from the Ro3 library, which is accelerating drug discovery efforts around these receptors
Dr. Myszka’s study demonstrated for the first time that fragment screening by SPR is an effective approach. It utilises the sensor surface to purify and concentrate solubilised tagged GPCRs and then characterise their binding activities with the fragments. Dr. Myszka and Rebecca Rich, a research scientist in Dr. Myszka’s group, recently presented their work, “Fragment Screening against Membrane Receptors using SPR,” at the Fragment-Based Lead Discovery Conference in Philadelphia and at the Developments in Protein Interaction Analysis symposium in Barcelona, Spain.
“While fragment screening by SPR has become standard practice, this is the first example of a successful SPR-based fragment screen against GPCRs,” said Dr. Myszka. “One major factor contributing to our success was the integrity of the Maybridge Ro3 Fragments. The library was well-behaved in terms of high solubility and displayed minimal nonspecific binding or so-called promiscuous binders. In addition, the structural diversity within this library allowed us to span a lot of chemical space, helping us to identify subsets of novel compounds that targeted two GPCRs. From the primary screen we identified thematic structural elements in the hits and then selected analogs from within the full Maybridge collection to investigate as confirmatory hits. With these follow-up studies in hand, we are now poised to pursue the next stage in elaborating compounds for drug development.”
“The guaranteed aqueous solubility of Maybridge Ro3 Fragments is not only key from a practical perspective, but it also provides an insight into likely ADME problems as the hits are evolved into drug-like molecules,” said Simon Pearce, product manager for Maybridge products at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Furthermore, pharmacophoric enrichment and quality assurance of at least 95 percent, with full Rule of Three (Ro3) compliance, meant that all fragments used for the study possessed physicochemical properties that also increased the probability of successful hits.”
Thermo Fisher Scientific and Dr. Myszka are continuing their collaboration as the study now expands to drug development using additional Maybridge Ro3 Fragments.
Source: Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc and DDDMag.com
Posted under Compound Libraries, Compound Screening, Diversity Libraries, Drug Development, Europe, Europe, North America, Press Releases, USA and Canada | Comments Off
New Metal-Eating Bacteria Found on Titanic
Last Updated on Monday, 13 December 2010 05:12 Written by Editor Monday, 13 December 2010 05:12
Bacteria scooped from the wreckage of the Titanic almost 20 years ago have been confirmed as a new species in the December issue of a microbiology journal.
While new scientific discoveries are usually heralded as joyous news, this discovery is bittersweet.
The bacteria, found on the ship’s “rusticles” (rust formations that look like icicles), are eating the Titanic.
The strain, dubbed Halomonas titanicae, was initially designated BH1T in honor of the researchers who discovered it, then-graduate student Bhavleen Kaur and Dr. Henrietta Mann at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada.
The researchers tested the bacteria to see whether it was “good bacteria” or “bad bacteria,” according to the school’s website.
Let’s just say the bug has an appetite for destruction.
“The BH1 cells stuck to the surface of these [small metal tags] and eventually destroyed the metal. So we knew we had a bad bacteria,” Mann is quoted as saying on the Dalhousie University website.
“In 1995, I was predicting that Titanic had another 30 years,” said Mann, who still works at the university, according to CBS News. “But I think it’s deteriorating much faster than that now … Eventually there will be nothing left but a rust stain,” she is quoted as saying.
The metal-eating bug presents a dilemma for scientists.
“Letting it proceed with its deterioration is also a learning process,” said Kaur, who now works with the Ontario Science Centre, according to National Geographic. “If we stop and preserve it, then we stop the process of degradation,” Kaur is quoted as saying.
The findings were published in the December 8 issue of the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.
The Titanic, heralded in its day as the largest passenger ship in the world, sank on its maiden voyage in 1912, killing more than 1,500 people. The wreckage was found in 1985 by an expedition team more than 2 miles deep in the Atlantic Ocean.
Source: CNN.com
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Caliper Continues Participation in EPA’s Expanded ToxCast Program; Receives Remaining Phase II Compounds for Screening in Fourth Quarter
Last Updated on Friday, 10 December 2010 01:39 Written by Editor Friday, 10 December 2010 01:39
HOPKINTON, Mass., Dec. 7, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: CALP), a leading provider of tools and services for drug discovery and life sciences research, today announced that the company has received the remaining balance of the compound library for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Phase II ToxCast? screening program.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the next phase of toxicity screening, in which a total of 1,000 chemicals (300 compounds in Phase 1 and 700 additional compounds in Phase II) will be screened as part of EPA’s ToxCast initiative. Caliper’s participation in this program, first announced in 2007, involves the application of extensive and diverse proprietary assay and screening technologies.
“The Caliper team is very pleased with our contributions to ToxCast to date, and we’re excited to receive the remaining compounds (350 Phase IIb compounds) for the EPA’s Phase II ToxCast screening program,” said Kevin Hrusovsky, President and CEO of Caliper Life Sciences. “Receiving this most recent compound set will allow our scientists to complete Phase IIb compound screening over the next several months, and will likely push Caliper’s revenue to the top end of our corporate revenue guidance range for the fourth quarter and full year.”
The ToxCast program was initiated to speed up the identification of potentially toxic compounds and the impact of chemical exposure on the human body. The program relies on innovative research approaches that predict toxicity while minimizing reliance on animal models. Caliper Discovery Alliances and Services’ (CDAS) predictive toxicity panel has been used in the EPA ToxCast screening program, and increasingly by pharmaceutical, agricultural and cosmetic companies, to assess potential chemical toxicity of their compounds in commercial development. The EPA recently announced the screening of 1,000 chemicals under the ToxCast program.
The CDAS assays use human and animal proteins which mediate key biological functions in the body to screen for possible adverse or toxic effects of chemicals. Caliper recently initiated testing of the second half of the 700 chemicals that comprise Phase II of the ToxCast screening program through the CDAS in vitro panel, which includes over 230 such assays.
Many of the chemicals being tested in the ToxCast program are components of industrial and consumer products, as well as agrichemicals and pharmaceuticals, which were previously tested for in vivo toxicity using live animals. By comparing the in vitro data being generated by CDAS under the ToxCast program with the known in vivo effects of these ToxCast library compounds, the predictive potential of the in vitro assays can be determined. The EPA is tasked with testing thousands of compounds and chemicals each year, which has led to a significant backlog in the regulatory approval process. The goal of the ToxCast program is to reduce the EPA’s dependence on expensive and lengthy animal testing and implement solutions that enable faster identification of harmful chemicals at a lower cost and with higher accuracy.
For additional details about the current status of EPA ToxCast program, please visit the EPA news announcement “EPA Screens 1,000 Chemicals Using ToxCast” at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/d0cf6618525a9efb85257359003fb69d/73ec2518e34bc93d852577eb0060dd7c!OpenDocument.
About Caliper Life Sciences
Caliper Life Sciences is a premier provider of cutting-edge technologies enabling researchers in the life sciences industry to create life-saving and enhancing medicines and diagnostic tests more quickly and efficiently. Caliper is aggressively innovating new technology to bridge the gap between in vitro assays and in vivo results, enabling the translation of those results into cures for human disease. Caliper’s portfolio of offerings includes state-of-the-art microfluidics, lab automation and liquid handling, optical imaging technologies, and discovery and development outsourcing solutions. For more information please visit www.caliperLS.com.
The statements in this press release regarding future events, including statements regarding Caliper’s expectation that its revenue for the fourth quarter and full year 2010 will be at the top end of its previously announced guidance, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including that unanticipated difficulties may be encountered in Caliper’s fulfillment of its obligations under the EPA ToxCast program. Further information on risks faced by Caliper are detailed under the caption “Risks Related To Our Business” in Caliper’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. Our filings are available on a web site maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov. Caliper does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking or other statements in this release or the conference call.
Caliper is a trademark of Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. ToxCast is a trademark of the Environmental Protection Agency.
SOURCE Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.
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Molecular Target for Screening: G-Protein-Coupled Receptors
Last Updated on Friday, 20 August 2010 06:48 Written by Editor Thursday, 19 August 2010 03:10
Newark, DE. August, 2010 – Press Release – TimTec, LLC. – Molecular Target for Screening: G-Protein-Coupled Receptors, ActiTarg-G
G-Protein-Coupled Receptors are the largest gene families in the human genome and, rightfully so, have become the leading molecular target in 2008. In 2009 SBS April meeting in Lille, France, followed-up with screening trends report stating that “GPCRs are expected to replace protein kinases as the most common molecular target used by HTS laboratories.”
GPCRs are the largest family of cell surface receptors being integral to the number of cellular and physiological functions, including light sensing, smell, appetite control, insulin secretion, and blood pressure modulation. These receptors generally have a seven-membrane spanning alpha-helical topography, and while these receptors are similar in overall structure and function, they differ in key amino acid residues. The potential for this super family of receptors to reveal small molecule modulators of a significant biological function has been responsible for the focus of intense drug discovery efforts.
TimTec GPCR Ligands library is called ActiTarg-G. It currently counts 2,300 molecules available in various formatting options, and can be delivered in vials or in 96 or 384-well plates. ActiTarg-G is the set of diverse molecules that contain chemical lattices present in compounds reported in the technical or patent literature to possess GPCR-ligand properties.
Contact Information to schedule free consultation:
TimTec LLC
Harmony Business Park A-301
Newark DE 19711
Tel 302 292 8500
Fax 302 292 8520
Web: http://www.timtec.net/news/timtec-news/actitarg-g-gpcr-ligandshtml.html
About TimTec
TimTec LLC is a privately held company located in Newark Delaware, USA. It was founded in 1995 and began its work in the areas of acquisition and distribution of synthetic organic and natural compounds and collections, custom synthesis, and laboratory equipment to become a full service partner for drug discovery. TimTec has established a global network of thousands of scientists from research centers around the world. International customers include major pharmaceutical, biotech, agricultural, and educational companies and institutions, which use TimTec products for research and development programs.
Posted under Compound Libraries, Compound Screening, Genomics & Pharmacogenomics, North America, Press Releases, Targeted Libraries | Comments Off