Pharmacology News and Research

Latest Pharmacology News and Research

Too little or too much of SRPK1 enzyme promotes cancer, shows research

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have found that too little or too much of an enzyme called SRPK1 promotes cancer by disrupting a regulatory event critical for many fundamental cellular processes, including proliferation.

4 Apr 2014

DFG German Research Foundation to establish 16 new Priority Programs

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) will establish 16 new Priority Programmes, in which researchers will investigate fundamental scientific questions in particularly topical or emerging areas of research over the next few years.

4 Apr 2014

NCCN ORP awarded grant to study effectiveness of enzalutamide in solid tumors

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network Oncology Research Program has been awarded a $2.2-million grant from Astellas Pharma, Inc. and Medivation, Inc. to develop a program to scientifically evaluate and define the clinical effectiveness of enzalutamide in solid tumors, including bladder, breast, endometrial, hepatocellular, ovarian, and prostate cancers.

1 Apr 2014

Western University researchers study causes of childhood concussions in rural and urban areas

Researchers at Western University (London, Canada) have found youth living in rural areas are more likely to sustain concussions from injuries involving motorized vehicles such as all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes, whereas youth living in urban areas suffer concussions mostly as a result of sports.

1 Apr 2014

e-Therapeutics announces interim results from ETS2101 phase Ia trial for advanced solid tumours

e-Therapeutics plc announced today interim results from its phase Ia UK study evaluating the safety, dosing and anti-tumour activity of ETS2101 (dexanabinol) in patients with advanced solid tumours.

31 Mar 2014

Researchers identify plant compounds that may support delivery of chemotherapy treatments

Researchers at Plant & Food Research have identified plant compounds present in carrots and parsley that may one day support more effective delivery of chemotherapy treatments.

28 Mar 2014

'Mini heart' invented to aid blood flow through venous segments

George Washington University researcher Narine Sarvazyan, Ph.D., has invented a new organ to help return blood flow from veins lacking functional valves. A rhythmically contracting cuff made of cardiac muscle cells surrounds the vein acting as a 'mini heart' to aid blood flow through venous segments. The cuff can be made of a patient's own adult stem cells, eliminating the chance of implant rejection.

28 Mar 2014

Guidelines for treating paracetamol overdoses cost millions of pounds per year, say researchers

Strict guidelines for treating paracetamol overdoses - introduced 18 months ago - are costing the NHS millions of pounds a year, researchers claim.

27 Mar 2014

New drug multiplies analgesic effect of opioids without increasing constipation

Scientists from the University of Granada have taken part, alongside the Esteve laboratory, in the development of a new drug that multiplies the analgesic effect of opioids (drugs for treating intense pain), without increasing constipation, one of the most common side-effects of these drugs, among which is morphine.

27 Mar 2014

Vancouver-led research initiative awarded $1.5M grant to prevent deaths of moms and babies

A Vancouver-led research initiative to prevent deaths of moms and babies got a boost recently with a new $1.5-million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The grant will expand efforts to improve diagnosis and care for pregnant women with pre-eclampsia.

27 Mar 2014

Mephedrone drug causes acute withdrawal symptoms, shows study

Contrary to popular belief among recreational drug users, mephedrone has several important differences when compared with MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy.

27 Mar 2014

Study explores dangers of switching from MDMA to mephedrone

Contrary to popular belief among recreational drug users, mephedrone has several important differences when compared with MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy. These differences mean that mephedrone could leave a user with acute withdrawal symptoms and indicate that it may have a higher potential for developing dependence than MDMA according to a study published in British Journal of Pharmacology.

26 Mar 2014

e-Therapeutics obtains MHRA approval to recommence recruitment for ETS2101 phase Ia trial

e-Therapeutics plc announces today that it has received approval from MHRA to recommence recruitment of new patients into its ETS2101 phase Ia solid tumours trial being conducted at three centres in the UK.

26 Mar 2014

Peach extract prevents breast cancer metastasis in mice

Lab tests at Texas A&M AgriLife Research have shown that treatments with peach extract inhibit breast cancer metastasis in mice.

26 Mar 2014

Radiation therapy fights cancer in more ways than one

Radiation therapy fights cancer in more ways than one. Not only does it force cancer cells to self-destruct, but several studies demonstrate that it also activates the immune system to attack tumor cells.

25 Mar 2014

Protein known to promote cancer appears to give blood vessels strength and shape, researchers report

A protein known to promote cancer appears to give the blood vessels strength and shape, researchers report. When yes-associated protein, or YAP, is deleted from vascular smooth muscle cells during development, the protein makes thin-walled blood vessels that over-dilate in response to the usual pressure of blood flow, said Dr. Jiliang Zhou, vascular biologist at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University.

25 Mar 2014

Researchers use retro approach to produce new drugs

This alternative approach to creating artificial organic molecules, called bioretrosynthesis, was first proposed four years ago by Brian Bachmann, associate professor of chemistry at Vanderbilt University. Now Bachmann and a team of collaborators report that they have succeeded in using the method to produce the HIV drug didanosine.

25 Mar 2014

Diabetes drug reduces amyloid-beta peptides, improves memory in experimental AD models

Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine have found that the diabetic drug, pramlintide, reduces amyloid-beta peptides, a major component of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the brain and improves learning and memory in two experimental AD models.

25 Mar 2014

Professional midwives can now prescribe medications to pregnant women

For midwife Daniel Evans, receiving a prescriber number and a script pad with which to prescribe medication, is recognition of the important role the midwife plays in society.

21 Mar 2014

Drug and alcohol abuse could be linked with poor development of "love hormone"

Addictive behavior such as drug and alcohol abuse could be associated with poor development of the so-called "love hormone" system in our bodies during early childhood, according to researchers at the University of Adelaide.

21 Mar 2014