Cancer News and Research

Latest Cancer News and Research

NewLink Genetics announces closing of its $30M Series C financing

NewLink Genetics Corporation announced today that it has closed a $30 million Series C financing to accelerate the clinical development of its therapeutic cancer products. Total cash raised in 2009 under a combination of the previously announced Series D Preferred and the remaining shares in the Series C Preferred totaled just under $20 million.

6 Nov 2009

Tobacco companies attempt to block key provisions of new tobacco regulation law, federal judge rejects motion

In a clear victory for public health, a federal judge in Kentucky today rejected a motion by tobacco companies to block key provisions of the new law giving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the power to regulate tobacco products. Specifically, today's decision strongly supports the government's authority to prevent the industry from making health claims about its products without FDA approval.

6 Nov 2009

Unum enhances the wellness benefit of its critical illness products by adding H1N1 vaccine

Unum has enhanced the wellness benefit of its critical illness products by adding the H1N1 vaccine to the list of qualifying procedures.

6 Nov 2009

Changes in PSA over time aid prostate cancer detection

The November issue of European Urology, the official journal of the European Association of Urology, features an article focussing on prostate specific antigen (PSA) velocity and early cancer detection. It has been suggested that changes in PSA over time aid prostate cancer detection.

6 Nov 2009

Average cost of patient deaths much higher than patients who were discharged alive

One of every three people who died in 2007 in the United States were in the hospital for treatment at the time of their deaths, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The cost of their hospital stays was about $20 billion.

6 Nov 2009

Bodhi Body selects public relations firm and marketing agency Zion & Zion

Bodhi Body is a new way to look at healthcare. Through the incorporation of integrated medical and wellness services ranging from IV therapy to yoga and naturopathic medicine, Bodhi Body improves quality of life. In an effort to launch the brand and facility with maximum impact and to rapidly recruit clients, the company has engaged top Phoenix public relations firm and marketing agency Zion & Zion.

6 Nov 2009

Rice University's new BRC awarded $2M NIH grant to develop an inexpensive test for oral cancer

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded researchers in Rice University's new BioScience Research Collaborative (BRC) a $2 million Grand Opportunity (GO) grant to develop a fast, inexpensive test for oral cancer that a dentist could perform simply by using a brush to collect a small sample of cells from a patient's mouth.

6 Nov 2009

Democrats must clear remaining hurdles on path to health vote

As House Democrats move towards a weekend vote, they must resolve a series of outstanding issues, The Hill reports. Blue Dog Democrats, a fiscally conservative voting bloc, said up to 30 of their members "are considering voting against the bill because of concerns that it will increase healthcare costs in its second 10 years."

6 Nov 2009

Helix BioPharma completes enrollment in its Topical Interferon Alpha-2b ano-genital warts clinical program

Helix BioPharma Corp. announced today that its Phase II trial of Topical Interferon Alpha-2b for the treatment of ano-genital warts (AGW) has completed patient enrollment, with the required 120th patient randomized to enter the trial.

5 Nov 2009

Bortezomib lymphoma drug may be effective against bone cancer in children and teens: Study

A drug already approved for the treatment of lymphoma may also slow the growth of the most deadly bone cancer in children and teens, according to an early-stage study published online today in the International Journal of Cancer.

5 Nov 2009

GenVec and SAIC-Frederick signs contract to develop influenza and HIV vaccines

GenVec, Inc, announced today that SAIC-Frederick, Inc. has signed a contract with GenVec for the development of influenza and HIV vaccines in support of the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

5 Nov 2009

Amgen announces the results for Phase 3 PRIME '203' trial of Vectibix

Amgen today announced that the Phase 3 PRIME "203" trial evaluating Vectibix® (panitumumab) administered in combination with FOLFOX (an oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy) as a first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) failed to meet a secondary endpoint of overall survival.

5 Nov 2009

William D. Carey Award for Boston University School of Medicine professor

Francis A. Farraye, MD, MSc, FACG, FASGE, a professor of medicine at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and clinical director in the Gastroenterology Section at Boston Medical Center (BMC) recently received the William D. Carey Award from the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG). The award is reserved for an exceptional individual who has served the Board and the College with distinction.

5 Nov 2009

Abraxis BioScience reports $96.6 million net revenues for third quarter of 2009

Abraxis BioScience, Inc., a fully integrated biotechnology company, today reported unaudited financial results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2009.

5 Nov 2009

FDA grants Abraxis BioScience orphan drug designation for ABRAXANE

Abraxis BioScience, Inc., a fully integrated biotechnology company, today announced that the Office of Orphan Products Development of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to the chemotherapy agent ABRAXANE® for Injectable Suspension (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension) (albumin-bound) for the treatment of pancreatic cancer as well as stage IIB-IV melanoma.

5 Nov 2009

ARIAD Pharmaceuticals' SUCCEED trial of oral ridaforolimus on track

ARIAD Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and provided an update on corporate developments.

5 Nov 2009

New biosensor device may help in combating cancer

A powerful new biosensor developed by European researchers will help identify cells in the immune system that actively suppress tumour growth, then put them to use. Enlisting the patient's own immune system would be like sending reinforcements for resistance fighters.

5 Nov 2009