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Researchers say exclusive licensing on genes could hurt patients

The Wall Street Journal reports that Duke University researchers have found in a study published Wednesday that granting "exclusive licenses on individual genes" could hurt patients' chances of pinpointing their risks to develop disease.

16 Apr 2010

Cequent Pharmaceuticals commences toxicology study of CEQ508 tkRNAi-based therapeutic candidate

Cequent Pharmaceuticals, a pioneer in the development of novel products to deliver RNAi-based treatments to prevent and treat human disease, has initiated a long-term (26-week) toxicology study of CEQ508 – the company's lead drug candidate based on its proprietary tkRNAi technology. This study is designed to enable a Phase II clinical trial slated for 2011. CEQ508 targets beta-catenin, a key oncogene implicated in the formation of colonic polyps and in the progression of polyps to colorectal cancer.

16 Apr 2010

New research identifies cellular channel that regulates skin and hair growth

Skin and hair follicles are constantly renewed in the body, maintained by specialized stem cells. New research from Children's Hospital Boston identifies a small cellular channel that regulates skin and hair growth and that could be targeted with small-molecule drugs, potentially treating variety of skin conditions, as well as thinning hair or unwanted hair growth. Findings appear in the April 16, 2010 issue of Cell.

16 Apr 2010

Certain genetic variations linked to tooth decay, periodontitis

Certain genetic variations may be linked to higher rates of tooth decay and aggressive periodontitis, according to two recently published papers by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and their collaborators.

16 Apr 2010

Findings shed light on pathogenesis behind human mitochondrial encephalomyopathies

A typical human cell contains hundreds of mitochondria-energy-producing organelles-that continually fuse and divide. Relatively little is known, however, about why mitochondria undergo this behavior.

16 Apr 2010

Four-protein complex provides new target for thwarting cancer migration, invasion

The molecular machinery that switches on a gene known to cause breast cancer to spread and invade other organs has been identified by an international team led by scientists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The paper was published Sunday in Nature Cell Biology's advanced online publication.

16 Apr 2010

Regulus Therapeutics' metabolic disease program data presented at Diabetes Keystone Symposium

Regulus Therapeutics Inc. today announced that new data from its metabolic disease program were presented at the "Diabetes" Keystone Symposium held April 12-17 in Whistler, British Columbia. The new pre-clinical research findings showed that therapeutic oligonucleotides targeting microRNA are able to improve insulin resistance and normalize plasma glucose in mouse models of diabetes while having no significant effect on glucose or insulin levels in normal mice.

16 Apr 2010

Study on primary cilia formation may lead to new therapies for ciliopathies

A team of scientists at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a network of genes that initiate and manage cilia formation. Although scientists have known about cilia for decades, only recently have they discovered their role in disease. This new discovery, which may lead to new therapies for ciliopathies, will appear in the April 15 edition of Nature.

16 Apr 2010

Low levels of vitamin D associated with lower lung function in children with asthma

Low levels of vitamin D are associated with lower lung function and greater medication use in children with asthma, according to researchers at National Jewish Health. In a paper published online this week in the Journal of Allergy & Clinical Immunology, Daniel Searing, MD, and his colleagues also reported that vitamin D enhances the activity of corticosteroids, the most effective controller medication for asthma.

16 Apr 2010

Research may help develop simplified test for early detection of breast cancer

Researchers at the University of Arkansas are building a library of synthetically produced antibodies that can detect and rapidly validate proteins secreted by breast cancer cells. Their work will accelerate the process of developing a simple blood test for early detection of breast cancer.

16 Apr 2010

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University receives funds to expand stem cell research capabilities

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University has been awarded $10 million from the National Institutes of Health to expand its stem cell research capabilities. The funds will be used to create new laboratories in order to increase its already substantial base of stem cell investigators.

16 Apr 2010

Research may provide better clinical outcomes for patients with aggressive type of brain cancer

A study conducted by a collaborative team led by researchers from the University of Southern California (USC) may lead to better insight into the clinical outcome for some patients with a particularly aggressive type of brain cancer. The research may also provide a framework for development of targeted drug treatments.

16 Apr 2010

Sorrento Therapeutics completes construction of fully human mAbs library

Sorrento Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has completed the construction of an extensive library of full-length, fully human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Initial analysis indicates a potential diversity of more than one trillion unique mAbs. The company believes this makes its library the largest full-length, fully human antibody library available for drug discovery and development partnerships.

15 Apr 2010

Lauric-acid-filled nano-scale bombs for treating acne

A natural product found in both coconut oil and human breast milk - lauric acid -- shines as a possible new acne treatment thanks to a bioengineering graduate student from the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. The student developed a "smart delivery system" - published in the journal ACS Nano in March - capable of delivering lauric-acid-filled nano-scale bombs directly to skin-dwelling bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) that cause common acne.

15 Apr 2010

Foundation Medicine completes $25M Series A financing led by Third Rock Ventures

Foundation Medicine, a personalized cancer medicine company that aims to bring comprehensive cancer genome analysis into routine clinical care, today announced it has completed a $25 million Series A financing led by Third Rock Ventures.

15 Apr 2010

Decoding genomes from 25,000 cancer samples

The International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) today set out its bold plan to decode the genomes from 25,000 cancer samples and create a resource of freely available data that will help cancer researchers around the world. The publication outlines research design and projects as well as the important ethical framework for this science.

15 Apr 2010

Tumor suppressor, Retinoblastoma, represses DNA replication genes during cellular senescence

A frequently mutated gene in human cancers is the reitnoblastoma (RB) gene, which controls a potent tumor suppression pathway.

15 Apr 2010

Working memory maintenance linked with synchronisation of neurons

A research project of the Neuroscience Center of the University of Helsinki sheds light on the neuronal mechanisms sustaining memory traces of visual stimuli in the human brain. The results show that the maintenance of working memory is associated with synchronisation of neurons, which facilitates communication between different parts of the brain. On the basis of interaction between the brain areas, it was even possible to predict the subject's individual working memory capacity.

15 Apr 2010

Novel drug helps discover mechanisms underlying female sexual arousal

By using a novel prototype drug, researchers have discovered more about the mechanisms underlying female sexual arousal. These findings are published today in the British Journal of Pharmacology.

15 Apr 2010

Gene causing progressive form of hair loss identified

A team of investigators from Columbia, Rockefeller and Stanford Universities has identified a new gene involved in hair growth, as reported in a paper in the April 15 issue of Nature. This discovery may affect future research and treatments for male pattern baldness and other forms of hair loss.

15 Apr 2010

Medical Science News

Researchers say exclusive licensing on genes could hurt patients

Cequent Pharmaceuticals commences toxicology study of CEQ508 tkRNAi-based therapeutic candidate

New research identifies cellular channel that regulates skin and hair growth

Certain genetic variations linked to tooth decay, periodontitis

Findings shed light on pathogenesis behind human mitochondrial encephalomyopathies

Four-protein complex provides new target for thwarting cancer migration, invasion

Regulus Therapeutics' metabolic disease program data presented at Diabetes Keystone Symposium

Study on primary cilia formation may lead to new therapies for ciliopathies

Low levels of vitamin D associated with lower lung function in children with asthma

Research may help develop simplified test for early detection of breast cancer

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University receives funds to expand stem cell research capabilities

Research may provide better clinical outcomes for patients with aggressive type of brain cancer

Sorrento Therapeutics completes construction of fully human mAbs library

Lauric-acid-filled nano-scale bombs for treating acne

Foundation Medicine completes $25M Series A financing led by Third Rock Ventures

Decoding genomes from 25,000 cancer samples

Tumor suppressor, Retinoblastoma, represses DNA replication genes during cellular senescence

Working memory maintenance linked with synchronisation of neurons

Novel drug helps discover mechanisms underlying female sexual arousal

Gene causing progressive form of hair loss identified

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

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