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Researchers find new purpose for existing drugs to suppress colon cancer metastasis, secure post-radiation brain function, and trick tumors

Drugs approved for treatment of specific maladies sometimes show unexpected benefits. Researchers at the 95th annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research demonstrated highlighted how some drugs may one day offer previously unforeseen benefits for patients.

30 Mar 2004

Genencor Sells Its Therapeutic Vaccine Program to Innogenetics

Genencor International, Inc. today announced that it has agreed to sell its therapeutic vaccine program to Belgian biotechnology company Innogenetics N.V. Innogenetics will develop and commercialize current product candidates in Genencor’s vaccine product portfolio as well as future products based on intellectual property and technology held by Genencor.

30 Mar 2004

Trial of new drug that may halt progression of Type I Diabetes

The results of a long-term clinical trial on a new drug designed to inhibit the progression of type I diabetes was announced at the International Diabetes Society meeting in Cambridge, England, March 29. The findings of the 18-month long clinical trial confirm the drug's efficacy in improving a diabetic's ability to produce insulin.

30 Mar 2004

World’s largest biotechnology company acquires Tularik

Amgen Inc., the world’s largest biotechnology company, and Tularik Inc., a pioneer in drug discovery related to cell signaling and the control of gene expression, today jointly announced that they have signed a definitive merger agreement whereby Tularik will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Amgen in a stock for stock transaction.

30 Mar 2004

New Australian collaboration to discover new drugs targeting epilepsy and anxiety

Bionomics Limited and Southern Cross University announced today that they had established a collaboration to discover new drugs targeting epilepsy and anxiety. Under the arrangement, Southern Cross University will provide Bionomics with extracts from its collection of Australian-based natural products, together with expertise in natural products chemistry.

30 Mar 2004

Almost half of all medicines globally are used irrationally according to WHO

Almost half of all medicines globally are used irrationally. This, say medicines experts at the World Health Organization (WHO), can have severe consequences: adverse drug reactions, drug resistance, protracted illness and even death. In addition, the financial cost incurred by individuals and governments due to irrational use is unnecessary and often extremely high, particularly in developing countries where patients often pay for medicines out of pocket.

29 Mar 2004

Data on pre-clinical activity of satraplatin in prostate cancer to be released

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc has announced that new data on pre-clinical activity of satraplatin in prostate cancer cell lines are being presented at the 95th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) in Orlando, Florida.

29 Mar 2004

IPM takes over Microbicide development to protect against sexual transmission of HIV

International Partnership for Microbicides (IPM) today announced that it has reached a farsighted agreement with Tibotec Pharmaceuticals Ltd, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. The aim is to develop the promising compound TMC120 as a safe and effective microbicide to help protect women from infection with HIV. This agreement marks the first collaboration in the microbicide field between a major healthcare company and a public-private partnership such as IPM.

29 Mar 2004

Novel vaccine technology to suppress the growth of certain tumors

MedImmune, Inc. and Cerus Corporation have announced preclinical results demonstrating the effectiveness of a novel therapeutic vaccine technology in suppressing the growth of certain tumors.

From Baxter International Inc. 29 Mar 2004

Anti-ageing formula recalled due to excessive vitamin D3

Aloe Commodities International, Inc., Carrollton, Texas, is recalling 1600 bottles of Solutions IE Ageless Formula II, Lot numbers P2207 and P2221 because they contain a significantly higher-than-labeled level of vitamin D3. (Approximately 188,640 International Units (IU) are present in each serving size of 6 capsules instead of the intended level of 400 IU). The product is distributed by Solutions International, Inc., Orem, UT.

27 Mar 2004

St. John’s wort may interfere with cancer-fighting drug’s ability to prevent relapse in leukemia patients

St. John’s wort, an herb thought to be a safe, natural remedy for mild depression, may interfere with a powerful cancer-fighting drug’s ability to prevent relapse in leukemia patients, a University of Florida pharmacy researcher will report March 27 at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

26 Mar 2004

Oral chemotherapy agent Orathecin™ (rubitecan) capsules accepted by FDA for filing

SuperGen Inc. announced today that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially accepted the Orathecin™ (rubitecan) capsules’ New Drug Application (NDA) for filing. Orathecin, an investigational anticancer compound, is an oral chemotherapy agent that has been investigated as a treatment for pancreatic cancer patients who have failed at least one prior chemotherapy.

26 Mar 2004

Alfuzosin, new treatment for Acute Urinary Retention

The results of the ALFAUR (ALFuzosin in Acute Urinary Retention) study, announced today at the XIXth European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress in Vienna, Austria, indicate that the uroselective alpha1-blocker alfuzosin 10 mg once daily (OD) may have a beneficial effect in the management of male patients suffering from acute urinary retention (AUR), a sudden inability to pass urine that results in a painful distension of the bladder, requires immediate management with urethral catheterization and could necessitate surgical intervention.

25 Mar 2004

Partnership to improve TB vaccine, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)

Crucell N.V.and the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation of Bethesda, Maryland, announced today a new collaboration on the pre-clinical and clinical development of candidate tuberculosis (TB) vaccines. Aeras has agreed to provide Crucell up to USD$2.9 million contingent upon meeting certain development milestones, for development of TB vaccine candidates.

25 Mar 2004

Approval for FOSRENOL (lanthanum carbonate), which controls phosphate levels in renal dialysis patients

Sweden's MPA has today granted the first regulatory approval in the world for FOSRENOL (lanthanum carbonate), a non-calcium, non-aluminium phosphate binding medicine developed to control phosphate levels in renal dialysis patients. Sweden will now become the Reference Member State in the EU Mutual Recognition Procedure for FOSRENOL, and this is the first step in securing marketing approval throughout Europe. A submission has also been made by Shire to gain marketing approval for FOSRENOL in the United States.

25 Mar 2004

Indiplon may help insomniacs improve their quality of sleep

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. has announced a second long term Phase III trial with highly positive efficacy results from its three month pivotal study, referred to as "SLEEP," the Study of Long-term Efficacy and Safety of indiplon modified release in Primary (Chronic) Insomnia patients.

24 Mar 2004

FDA Approves Pre-Filled Pre-Mixed Fertility Medication

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced approval of Follistim®-AQ TM cartridge (follitropin beta injection) in the United States. Follistim-AQ cartridge is the first follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) treatment available in a pre-filled, pre-mixed solution, eliminating the need for patients to mix one or more vials of medication.

24 Mar 2004

First US Tests of Bird-Flu Vaccine in Humans

Doctors are beginning the first test in the United States of a vaccine designed to protect people against one form of bird flu should an outbreak of the virus occur in humans. While the vaccine under study is not designed to protect against the precise bird-flu virus causing the current outbreak in poultry and in people, scientists will learn whether it protects against another strain of the virus that infects birds and people.

24 Mar 2004

LAM Pharmaceutical receives approval to sell it's wound gel in China

LAM Pharmaceutical, a biomedical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel wound healing and transdermal drug delivery systems, announced today that the Chinese State Food and Drug Administration ("SFDA") has granted approval for the importation and sale of its patented LAM IPM Wound Gel(TM) in China

24 Mar 2004

Cladribine Targeted to Become First Oral Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis

Serono and IVAX Corporation has announced positive results from two clinical trials with a new proprietary oral formulation of cladribine, a potential new treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS). The study results showed that the formulation of oral cladribine which has been developed by Serono and IVAX has met the targets for an orally administered product, with blood levels of cladribine in the expected therapeutic range. Efficacy studies of oral cladribine in MS patients are planned to start late 2004.

23 Mar 2004