Since August, 2005, this news digest has been a complimentary service of GBP Capital, a private equity firm investing in early to mid-stage life science companies. See www.gbpcap.com. The digest is published two to four days a week. If you have colleagues who would be interested in receiving this digest by email, they can be added to the list at: http://www.gbpcap.com/ <http://www.gbpcap.com/> . Also, the complete history of the entire content of all news articles in our digests since August, 2005 is searchable with Google's enterprise search engine at the same site.
Source - EurekAlert - Biology:
Public Release: 23-Dec-2009
New insights into mushroom-derived drug promising for cancer treatment <http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/media/releases/2009/091223-new-insights-mushroom-derived-drug-for-cancer.html>
A promising cancer drug, first discovered in a mushroom commonly used in Chinese medicine, could be made more effective thanks to researchers who have discovered how the drug works. The research is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and was carried out at The University of Nottingham.
Contact: Nancy Mendoza
press.office@bbsrc.ac.uk <mailto:press.office@bbsrc.ac.uk>
44-179-341-3355
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council <http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/>
Public Release: 23-Dec-2009
Synergistic interaction enhances pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease <http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-12/cp-sie121809.php>
Scientists have identified a synergistic interaction that disrupts normal intracellular transport mechanisms and leads to the accumulation of neuron-damaging clumps of protein associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by a specific loss of neurons in the midbrain and brainstem. The research, published by Cell Press in the Dec. 24 issue of the journal Neuron, identifies a new potential therapeutic option for preventing PD-associated neuropathology.
Contact: Cathleen Genova
cgenova@cell.com <mailto:cgenova@cell.com>
617-397-2802
Cell Press <http://www.cellpress.com/>
Public Release: 22-Dec-2009
Nanoscale changes in collagen are a tipoff to bone health <http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=7468>
Using a technique that provides detailed images of nanoscale structures, researchers at the University of Michigan and Detroit's Henry Ford Hospital have discovered changes in the collagen component of bone that directly relate to bone health.
Contact: Nancy Ross-Flanigan
rossflan@umich.edu <mailto:rossflan@umich.edu>
734-647-1853
University of Michigan <http://www.umich.edu/>
Public Release: 20-Dec-2009
Boston University reseachers develop faster, cheaper DNA sequencing method <http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-12/buco-bur121809.php>
Boston University biomedical engineers have devised a method for making future genome sequencing faster and cheaper by dramatically reducing the amount of DNA required, thus eliminating the expensive, time-consuming and error-prone step of DNA amplification.
Contact: Mike Seele
mseele@bu.edu <mailto:mseele@bu.edu>
617-353-9766
Boston University College of Engineering <http://www.bu.edu/eng/>
Public Release: 21-Dec-2009
Gene therapy makes mice breath easier <http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-12/joci-gtm121509.php>
Individuals with single-gene mutations that decrease levels of the protein alpha-1 antitrypsin are highly susceptible to emphysema, a progressive lung disease that causes severe shortness of breath. Previous attempts to correct these mutations by gene transfer failed to achieve sustained gene expression in the mouse lung. However, researchers have now developed an approach that enabled them to attain sustained in vivo expression of normal human alpha-1 antitrypsin at levels able to improve emphysema in mice.
Contact: Karen Honey
press_releases@the-jci.org <mailto:press_releases@the-jci.org>
215-573-1850
Journal of Clinical Investigation <http://www.jci.org/>
Source - Science Daily:
Please note: Due to the format restrictions of Science Daily articles, you must click on the URL (web address) below the article summary, rather than the article title.
Altering Malignant Cells' Structure Said to Possibly Slow Spread of Cancer <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222105509.htm>
December 23, 2009 — Cancer may spread throughout the human body when malignant cells travel in the blood stream. But it may be possible to slow or even stop those cells from spreading by altering their structure, ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222105509.htm <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222105509.htm>
Bacteria Make the Artificial Blood Vessels of the Future <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222104907.htm>
December 23, 2009 — The cellulose produced by bacteria could be used for artificial blood vessels in the future as it carries a lower risk of blood clots than the synthetic materials currently used for bypass ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222104907.htm <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222104907.htm>
Bioengineered Materials Promote the Growth of Functional Vasculature <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091221212628.htm>
December 23, 2009 — Scientists have induced significant functional vasculature growth in areas of damaged tissue through the use of synthetic polymers called ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091221212628.htm <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091221212628.htm>
New Insights Into Mushroom-Derived Drug Promising for Cancer Treatment <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091223094729.htm>
December 23, 2009 — A promising cancer drug, first discovered in a mushroom commonly used in Chinese medicine, could be made more effective thanks to researchers who have discovered how the drug ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091223094729.htm <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091223094729.htm>
Researchers Prove Key Cancer Theory: Animal Study Demonstrates How Whole Chromosome Changes Cause Cancer <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091207123107.htm>
December 21, 2009 — Researchers have proven the longstanding theory that changes in the number of whole chromosomes -- called aneuploidy -- can cause cancer by eliminating tumor suppressor ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091207123107.htm <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091207123107.htm>
Metastasis Formation Revealed in Detail in Real Time <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091220143919.htm>
December 21, 2009 — If metastases develop in the brain a patient's prognosis is poor. Researchers are now able to follow, in real time, the steps that lead some tumor cells to establish metastasis. These results could ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091220143919.htm <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091220143919.htm>
Use of 3-D Imaging on Patients With Pancreatic Carcinoma <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222105453.htm>
December 21, 2009 — The only procedure resulting in significantly longer survival for patients with a pancreatic carcinoma is R0 resection with adjuvant chemotherapy. With the aid of a freely rotatable, ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222105453.htm <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222105453.htm>
Chicago Cancer Genome Project Studies Genetics of 1,000 Tumors <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222105443.htm>
December 21, 2009 — A Chicago research team is one year into a three-year project to collect and analyze the genetic sequence and variations of every gene expressed by 1,000 tumors with a long-term goal of translating ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222105443.htm <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222105443.htm>
Trends in Melanoma Incidence and Stage at Diagnosis Vary by Racial and Ethnic Group <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091221212748.htm>
December 21, 2009 — White and Hispanic individuals are being diagnosed with melanoma more frequently in recent years, whereas Hispanic and black patients continue to have advanced skin cancer at diagnosis, according to ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091221212748.htm <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091221212748.htm>
What Is the Function of the Protein CD20? <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091221212614.htm>
December 21, 2009 — Antibodies directed against the protein CD20, which is expressed by immune cells known as B cells, are used to treat B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and rheumatoid arthritis. Despite this, the function ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091221212614.htm <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091221212614.htm>
Intensive Therapy for Narrowed Arteries Linked to Fewer Heart Events <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091214162326.htm>
December 20, 2009 — Intensive medical therapy, including aggressive control of blood pressure and cholesterol levels, for patients with asymptomatic plaque buildup in their carotid arteries (which supply blood to the ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091214162326.htm <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091214162326.htm>
How Cancer Cells Protect Themselves from Low Levels of Oxygen <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091214220146.htm>
December 20, 2009 — Not all regions of a tumor are equal in terms of their oxygen levels. One clinically important implication of this is that tumors with large areas with low levels of oxygen (areas known as hypoxic ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091214220146.htm <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091214220146.htm>
Source - Health Day:
Health Highlights: Dec. 23, 2009 <http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=634400>
- Teresa Heinz, Battling Cancer, Supports Regular Mammograms
- Texas Must Destroy 5 Million Blood Specimens From Babies
- No Proof of Vytorin Cancer Link: FDA
- Disfigured Vets Could Receive Face Transplants in Boston
Skin cancer diagnosis occurs later in nonwhites, study finds
Clinical Trials Update: Dec. 23, 2009 <http://www.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=634399>
- High Blood Pressure
- Ragweed Allergy
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Influenza
- Chronic Low Back Pain
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Shingles Vaccine
- High Cholesterol
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation (IBS-C)
Source - Yahoo Biotech News:
Amgen says court blocks rival Roche anemia drug <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/finance/industry/news/mostpop/*http:/biz.yahoo.com/ap/091222/us_amgen_patent_dispute.html?.v=4> - AP - Tue 6:39 pm ET
Swiss drugmaker Roche will not be allowed to sell its anemia drug Mircera in the U.S. until July 2014 under terms of a settlement with Amgen Inc., the companies said Tuesday.
New Prevnar Gains Acceptance <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/finance/industry/news/mostpop/*http:/biz.yahoo.com/zacks/091223/28644.html?.v=1> - Zacks.com - 1 hour, 10 minutes ago
Pfizer's vaccine segment should strengthen further with the recent approvals in Europe and Canada of Prevnar 13.
Source - Google Health News:
Injecting Cells Into Brains Means Test for ReNeuron Investors <http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2009-12-23/injecting-cells-into-brains-means-test-for-reneuron-investors.html&ct=ga&cd=1B_QHwdpLDo&usg=AFQjCNHspEgioCSSbaoNt58-qZEgYbUGFA>
BusinessWeek
The company has been negotiating safety aspects of the trial with the UK government's Gene Therapy Advisory Committee since February. ...
Support for USF Health reaches work with clinical trials, MRI <http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2009/12/21/daily10.html&ct=ga&cd=xk1oIJRkVyY&usg=AFQjCNFEKg68J2BW44sWqles8NpsDT9T1w>
Bizjournals.com
Also, Mohapatra is investigating a new treatment for lung cancer that uses nanoparticle-mediated gene therapy delivered by a cell-based delivery system to ...
The upside of a pandemic: Experts say lots learned from H1N1 experience <http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5glbXVq8vpTxozy7Lf9u2Ut5_Y57w&ct=ga&cd=7eOW9s-dN-w&usg=AFQjCNGDcpYaQKyb0gSLJwTgY--aQxIeMQ>
The Canadian Press
TORONTO — Thanks to the threat of H5N1 avian influenza, tons of work was done in the past five years or so to prepare for a flu pandemic. ...
Major breakthrough for gene therapy <http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.examiner.com/x-32881-Kitsap-County-Liberal-Examiner~y2009m12d20-Major-breakthrough-for-gene-therapy&ct=ga&cd=IA00JzihnT8&usg=AFQjCNGy7QVyVVTqAJMOA8TSMb6MCoQf6w>
Examiner.com
Recent advances in molecular biology and gene therapy have demonstrated that this daunting limitation can be effectively breached. ...
Recovery from diabetes and cancer may be easier with gene therapy <http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=http://www.bolohealth.com/news/2229-recovery-from-diabetes-and-cancer-may-be-easier-gene-therapy&ct=ga&cd=rerR5y9xBYM&usg=AFQjCNEhdjWWIsHQhX3sTyHHL6aufro5og>
bolohealth.com
Mumbai, December 18: The science behind inherited genes is as mysterious as it is interesting. We are used to attributing not only our behavioral tendencies ...
Source - Medical News Today:
Good Cholesterol Not As Protective In People With Type 2 Diabetes <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/174689.php>
High-density lipoprotein (HDL), known as "good" cholesterol <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/9152.php> , isn't as protective for people with type 2 diabetes <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/diabetes/whatisdiabetes.php> , according to research reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association. HDL carries cholesterol out of the arteries, and high levels are associated with a lower risk of heart disease. HDL also helps protect blood vessels by reducing the production of damaging chemicals, increasing the vessels' ability to expand, and repairing damage to the vessel lining.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/174689.php <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/174689.php>
Bioheart Makes Breakthrough In Critical Limb Ischemia Therapy With Stem Cells Obtained From Fat Tissue <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/174629.php>
Bioheart, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: BHRT) offers yet another medical breakthrough with the next-level stem cell <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/stem_cell/whatarestemcells.php> treatment for critical limb ischemia patients. The stem cells aid in promoting angiogenesis or the formation of new blood vessels and providing support for the healing of damaged blood vessels. Bioheart, in collaboration with University Hospital Ostrava in the Czech Republic, has already begun treating patients with critical limb ischemia utilizing ASCs. Bioheart is working to place the TGI systems throughout the Czech Republic for a variety of other indications including acute myocardial infarction and chronic heart ischemia, developing new and special treatment plans for patients with these heart issues.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/174629.php <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/174629.php>
S ource - MIT 's Technology Review:
The Year in Biomedicine <http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/24228/>
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/24228/?a=f <http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/24228/?a=f>
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