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New topical drug may help treat diabetic eye disease

Early-stage human clinical trials showed that a new topical drug was safe and had biological effects in a type of diabetic eye disease, and may offer researchers a new approach to prevent and treat diabetic macular edema.

26 Mar 2010

SMA Foundation completes biomarker study for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

The Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the development of a treatment for SMA, is pleased to announce the completion of a pilot study to identify Biomarkers for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (BforSMA) and the discovery of over 400 candidate biomarkers.

26 Mar 2010

Interim results from ZALBIN Phase 2B trial in chronic hepatitis C patients announced

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today announced interim results through Week 12 following the end of treatment in a Phase 2b clinical trial conducted by Novartis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ZALBIN™ (albinterferon alfa-2b), an investigational agent, administered monthly in combination with ribavirin in 391 treatment-naive patients with genotypes 2 and 3 chronic hepatitis C virus. The primary efficacy endpoint is sustained virologic response (SVR) at Week 48 (24 weeks following the end of treatment).

26 Mar 2010

FDA approves Mirapex ER tablets for signs and symptoms of idiopathic PD

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved once-daily Mirapex ER® (pramipexole dihydrochloride) extended-release tablets for the signs and symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease, which includes early and advanced PD. PD is the second most common chronic neurological disorder in older adults after Alzheimer's. Parkinson's disease has no cure.

26 Mar 2010

Santarus enrolls 510 patients in Phase III clinical program for budesonide MMX

Santarus, Inc., a specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced the completion of enrollment of 510 patients in a U.S. Phase III clinical study to evaluate budesonide MMX® administered over eight weeks for the induction of remission of mild or moderate active ulcerative colitis. This is the second Phase III clinical study being conducted in collaboration with Cosmo Technologies Ltd., a subsidiary of Cosmo Pharmaceuticals SpA, as part of the budesonide MMX Phase III clinical program for U.S. registration.

26 Mar 2010

Standard HCV therapy less effective in urban minority patients: Study

A recent study confirms that the standard hepatitis C therapy, pegylated interferon and ribavirin, is significantly less effective in urban minority patients treated in an ordinary clinical practice setting compared with results produced during clinical trials.

26 Mar 2010

Independent DMC recommends continuance of enrollment in Eisai's Phase III ACCESS trial

Eisai Inc. announced today that the Phase III ACCESS (A Controlled Comparison of Eritoran and Placebo in Patients with Severe Sepsis) trial of the investigational compound eritoran (E5564) will continue enrolling to the preset goal of 2,000 patients. As part of a planned interim analysis, an independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) has evaluated efficacy and safety data on the first 1,500 subjects to complete the 28-day follow-up in the Phase III ACCESS trial.

26 Mar 2010

Aastrom Biosciences' RESTORE-CLI trial: Final patient treated

Aastrom Biosciences, Inc., a leading developer of autologous cellular therapies for the treatment of severe cardiovascular diseases, today reported that the final patient has been treated in the company's ongoing multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled U.S. Phase 2b clinical trial designated RESTORE-CLI. This patient received intramuscular injections of either Aastrom's tissue repair cells (TRCs) or electrolyte solution (placebo) for the treatment of critical limb ischemia (CLI), the end-stage of peripheral arterial disease.

26 Mar 2010

Hepatitis C treatment less effective in urban minority patients

A recent study confirms that the standard hepatitis C (HCV) therapy, pegylated interferon and ribavirin, is significantly less effective in urban minority patients treated in an ordinary clinical practice setting compared with results produced during clinical trials. Results of this study appear in the April issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

25 Mar 2010

Techulon, UC sign worldwide exclusive license agreements to market Glycofect-Transfection Reagent

Techulon Inc., a life sciences company, has signed worldwide exclusive license agreements with the University of Cincinnati to manufacture and sell novel transfection reagents used for research and therapeutic delivery of nucleic acids.

25 Mar 2010

BeaconEquity.com announces investment report on AEterna Zentaris

BeaconEquity.com announces an investment report featuring AEterna Zentaris Inc. (Nasdaq:AEZS). The report includes financial, comparative and investment analyses, and pertinent industry information you need to know to make an educated investment decision.

25 Mar 2010

Scott & White seeks breast cancer patients for Phase II clinical trial

Scott & White Healthcare researchers are studying an investigational agent that targets metastatic breast cancer to find if it can stop cancer cells from continuing to grow.

25 Mar 2010

Isotechnika Pharma releases fourth quarter financial results; reviews operational and scientific highlights for 2009

Isotechnika Pharma Inc. has released its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009 and provided a review of the Company's operational and scientific highlights for 2009

25 Mar 2010

MediciNova reports net loss of $5.9 million for 2009 fourth quarter

MediciNova, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Global Market and the Hercules Market of the Osaka Securities Exchange (Code Number: 4875), today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009.

25 Mar 2010

Hepatic encephalopathy drug XIFAXAN 550 mg tablets receives FDA marketing approval

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted marketing approval for XIFAXAN 550 mg tablets for reduction in risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy recurrence in patients 18 years of age or older. HE is a serious disorder caused by chronic liver failure, resulting in cognitive, psychiatric and motor impairments. This approval was supported by findings from the largest randomized trial of maintenance therapy in HE conducted to date, which assessed the efficacy and safety of XIFAXAN 550 mg tablets and demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the risk of overt HE recurrence.

25 Mar 2010

AGA Medical gets IDE approval to evaluate AMPLATZER Cardiac Plug

AGA Medical Holdings, Inc. today announced it has received conditional Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its AMPLATZER® Cardiac Plug, or ACP, to close the left atrial appendage.

25 Mar 2010

Changing drug therapy can help breast cancer patients get full benefit of Tamoxifen

Recently published research has shown that some breast cancer patients taking tamoxifen may not be getting the full benefit of their treatment because they have also been taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), prescribed drugs that inhibit the effect of an important enzyme. Now researchers have developed a strategy for overcoming this problem, the seventh European Breast Cancer Conference (EBCC7) in Barcelona will hear today (Wednesday).

25 Mar 2010