GBP Health / Biotech News Digest 07-13-2010

GBP Health / Biotech News 07-13-2010:

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/ . 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.


EurekAlert - Biology:

Public Release: 13-Jul-2010
Human Gene Therapy
Innovation and current status of prostate cancer gene therapy featured in Human Gene Therapy
Improved delivery methods and better testing systems are needed to advance promising gene therapy strategies for treating prostate cancer, according to a series of review articles in Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert Inc. The articles and an accompanying editorial are available free online.
Contact: Vicki Cohn
vcohn@liebertpub.com
914-740-2156
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

Public Release: 13-Jul-2010
UK National Stem Cell Network annual science conference
Improving clinical use of stem cells to repair heart damage
Presenting at the UK National Stem Cell Network annual science conference July 13, Professor Michael Schneider describes a new approach to treating heart attack and cardiomyopathy using stem cells.
British Heart Foundation, European Research Council, European Union, Leducq Foundation, Medical Research Council
Contact: Nancy Mendoza
ukpo@uknscn.org
01-793-413-355
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Public Release: 12-Jul-2010
Archives of Neurology
Vitamin D levels associated with Parkinson's disease risk
Individuals with higher levels of vitamin D appear to have a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Contact: Paul Knekt, D.P.H.
paul.knekt@thl.fi
JAMA and Archives Journals

Public Release: 12-Jul-2010
Archives of Neurology
Eating foods rich in vitamin E associated with lower dementia risk
Consuming more vitamin E through the diet appears to be associated with a lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease, according to a report in the July issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Contact: Monique M. B. Breteler, M.D., Ph.D.
m.breteler@erasmusmc.nl
JAMA and Archives Journals

Public Release: 11-Jul-2010
UK National Stem Cell Network Annual Conference
Top professor will report new way to discover drugs that aid regenerative medicine
Professor Fiona Watt will today give the Anne McLaren Memorial Lecture at the UK National Stem Cell Network annual science meeting and will detail a new approach to screening for drugs that target stem cells. To begin with, this is being developed for adult skin stem cells, giving hope for new drugs to promote wound healing and aid the use of stem cells to, for example, treat severe burns.
Contact: Nancy Mendoza
ukpo@uknscn.org
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

Public Release: 7-Jul-2010
Gene Therapy
Genetically reprogrammed HSV given systemically shrinks distant sarcomas
Scientists have used a genetically reprogrammed herpes virus and an anti-vascular drug to shrink spreading distant sarcomas designed to model metastatic disease in mice -- still an elusive goal when treating humans with cancer, according to a study in the July 8 Gene Therapy. The study results are even more significant because the oncolytic herpes virus was given to the mice systemically to attack tumors via the blood stream instead of being injected directly into tumors
Cincinnati Children's Division of Hematology/Oncology, teeoffagainstcancer.org, Katie Linz Foundation, Limb Preservation Foundation, American Cancer Society, National Institutes of Health
Contact: Nick Miller
nicholas.miller@cchmc.org
513-803-6035
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center


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.
New 3-D Imaging Techniques for Improved Lung Cancer Drug Development
July 13, 2010 — Advanced imaging technologies that promise to improve effective drug development to treat lung cancer are the focus of the current issue of Optics Express. Research outlines standardized approaches ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100707122038.htm


Mechanism That Determines Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness Uncovered
July 13, 2010 — A team of investigators has identified a series of proteins that might make it easier for doctors to better diagnose the more metastatic forms of prostate ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100712121836.htm


Scientists Create Army of Tumor-Fighting Immune Cells and Watch as They Attack Cancer
July 13, 2010 — Researchers created a large, well-armed battalion of tumor-seeking immune system cells and watched, in real time using positron emission tomography (PET), as the special forces traveled throughout ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100712154430.htm


Radiation Device Allows for Targeted Breast Radiation to Control Cancer, Study Finds
July 13, 2010 — A new study of breast cancer patients at the Moores UCSD Cancer Center and the Arizona Oncology Services shows that after almost two years, the radiation given with the Strut-Adjusted Volume Implant ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100712162634.htm


Universal HIV Testing and Immediate Treatment Could Reduce but Not Eliminate HIV/AIDS Epidemic
July 12, 2010 — Implementing a program of universal HIV testing and immediate antiretroviral treatment for infected individuals could have a major impact on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Washington, D.C., but a new study ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100709155514.htm


Stem Cell Transplantation Successfully Treats Therapy-Resistant Chronic Leukemia, German Study Finds
July 12, 2010 — The transplantation of stem cells from a healthy donor (allogeneic) offers the chance of cure for patients with an aggressive form of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), irrespective of genetic ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100712103337.htm


Breakthrough in Terahertz Remote Sensing: Unique THz 'Fingerprints' Will Identify Hidden Explosives from a Distance
July 12, 2010 — A major breakthrough in remote wave sensing by a team of researchers opens the way for detecting hidden explosives, chemical, biological agents and illegal drugs from a distance of 20 ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100711155911.htm


Arsenic Shows Promise as Cancer Treatment, Study Finds
July 12, 2010 — Miss Marple notwithstanding, arsenic might not be many people's favorite chemical. But the notorious poison does have some medical applications. Specifically, a form called arsenic trioxide has been ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100712154428.htm


Sirtuin1 May Boost Memory and Learning Ability; Discovery Could Lead to New Drugs to Fight Alzheimer's, Other Neurological Diseases
July 11, 2010 — The same molecular mechanism that increases life span through calorie restriction may help boost memory and brainpower, researchers ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100711155908.htm


Neural Stem Cells Attack Glioblastoma Cells
July 9, 2010 — Scientists in Germany have demonstrated how the brain's own stem cells and precursor cells control the growth of glioblastomas. Of all brain tumors, glioblastomas are among the most common and most ...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100706103410.htm


Source - Health Day:


Health Highlights: July 13, 2010
· Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner Dies Of Heart Attack
· Do More to Cut Blood Infections In Hospital Patients: Survey
· New Type Of Smallpox Vaccine Added To U.S. Stockpile
· Obesity At Age 20 Takes 8 years Off Men's Lives: Study
· FDA Has Concerns About New Weight Loss Drug's Side Effects
· Fewer Young Africans Being Infected With HIV: U.N.
Alzheimer's Research Spotlights Protein 'Tangles' in Brain
Studies in animals suggest buildup of 'tau' can be repressed, but will it help curb the disease?

Could Having a Bigger Head Help Slow Alzheimer's?
Larger brains may have more cells in reserve when the disease strikes, research suggests

Clinical Trials Update: July 12, 2010
· Ulcerative Proctitis
· Osteoarthritis/Rheumatoid Arthritis
· Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

Clinical Trials Update: July 9, 2010
· Diabetes
· Healthy Volunteers (Females 12-18 Years of Age)
· Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)



Source - Yahoo Biotech News:

Life's Leukemia Test in Europe - Zacks.com - Tue 11:22 am ET
Life Technologies and Asuragen Inc. have achieved the CE Mark for BCR/ABL1 Quant Test to determine the most effective treatment option for chronic myeloid leukemia. The test has been launched in Europe.

Bristol-Myers Squibb starts recall of Coumadin - AP - Mon 4:00 pm ET
Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. said Monday it is recalling eight production lots of its anti-clotting drug Coumadin because the amount of the active ingredient in the drug could change.


Source - Google Health News:

Electroporation's Efficiency Improved, May Help DNA Delivery For Gene Therapy
North County Times (blog)
Gene therapy depends on getting the DNA of interest past the cell membrane, a difficult task. New research from Virginia Tech and Purdue shows how to ...

Parkinson's gene therapy step closer
New Zealand Herald
By Martin Johnston Surgical gene therapy for Parkinson's disease - one of a series of breakthroughs in Professor Matthew During's research career - has ...

Researchers Report Discovery of Powerful HIV-Zapping Antibodies
Wall Street Journal (blog)
But, as the WSJ reports, while converting the discovery into an actual vaccine, preventative therapy or even gene therapy will require some technical doings ...



Source - Medical News Today :

Possible New Approach For Diabetes Therapy
Nutrition experts at Oregon State University have essentially "cured" laboratory mice of mild, diet-induced diabetes by stimulating the production of a particular enzyme. The findings could offer a new approach to diabetes therapy, experts say, especially if a drug could be identified that would do the same thing, which in this case was accomplished with genetic manipulation.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/194560.php

Use Of Nanoparticles To Shrink Tumors In Mice Holds Important Implications For Cancer Therapy
The application of nanotechnology in the field of drug delivery has attracted much attention in recent years. In cancer research, nanotechnology holds great promise for the development of targeted, localized delivery of anticancer drugs, in which only cancer cells are affected. Such targeted-therapy methods would represent a major advance over current chemotherapy, in which anticancer drugs are distributed throughout the body, attacking healthy cells along with cancer cells and causing a number of adverse side effects.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/194382.php

Researcher Developing Novel Therapy For Alzheimer's Disease
A University of Oklahoma researcher is developing a novel therapy for Alzheimer's disease using "biopharmaceutical proteases" to attack the toxic plaque that builds up in the brain of an Alzheimer's patient - an approach that he predicts will be lower in cost and higher in effectiveness than current therapies. Peter J. Heinzelman, an associate professor in the Department of Chemical, Biological and Mechanical Engineering, recently received a $75,000 grant from the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology to pursue this research, which includes the development of a library of biopharmaceutical proteases for public use.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/194301.php


Source - MIT's Technology Review :

A Turning Point for Genetic Testing
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/25793/

A Simpler Way to Spy on Rogue Molecules
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/25778/