Pharmacology News and Research

Latest Pharmacology News and Research

Researchers take major step forward in finding safe and non-addictive pain killer

With the support of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, scientists at Wake Forest School of Medicine have been working to find a safe, non-addictive pain killer to help fight the current opioid crisis in this country.

30 Aug 2018

Peptilogics held pre-IND meeting with FDA to develop PLG0206 for treating prosthetic joint infections

Peptilogics, a development stage company utilizing its innovative peptide platform to treat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, today announced it recently held a pre-Investigational New Drug (pre-IND) meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to discuss the regulatory pathway for the development of PLG0206 for the treatment of prosthetic joint infections.

25 Aug 2018

Scientists develop new way to see brain cells talk, shedding light on neurological diseases

Scientists have developed a way to see brain cells talk – to actually see neurons communicate in bright, vivid color. The new lab technique is set to provide long-needed answers about the brain and neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and depression.

24 Aug 2018

'Plastic antibodies' effectively target and eliminate tumor cells

A joint research team from Russia and the U.K. has demonstrated the possibility of developing a new type of anti-neoplastic drugs based on nanoMIPs, or "plastic antibodies." NanoMIPs are synthetic polymers that can function as antibodies, selectively binding to target proteins on the surface of cancer cells.

23 Aug 2018

Study identifies strong link between sleep disorder and abnormal lipid level

In the Respirology study, investigators identified strong associations between several measures of OSA severity and higher total cholesterol, higher LDL-cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, and lower HDL-cholesterol.

22 Aug 2018

Researchers receive multi-million-dollar grant to expand kidney research

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine have received renewed grant funding from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases to expand research into the areas of acute kidney failure and acute kidney injuries.

21 Aug 2018

Research provides drug developers with much needed insight into serotonin receptor

Serotonin, known as the "happiness" neurotransmitter, is a chemical found in the body responsible for feelings of well-being. But serotonin isn't the only chemical that binds to the 13 serotonin receptors found on the surface of cells. Far from it. Many approved drugs also bind to serotonin receptors.

21 Aug 2018

New proposal aims to improve drug harm assessment process

A drug policy researcher is proposing a suite of changes to overhaul the Multi-Criteria Drug Harm Scale, which informs drug policies across Europe.

20 Aug 2018

Researchers develop new approach to study how tuberculosis infects people

Tuberculosis is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Nearly 2 million people die every year from this infectious disease, and an estimated 2 billion people are chronically infected.

17 Aug 2018

Study provides new insight into how 'trash bag of the cell' traps and seals off waste

The mechanics behind how an important process within the cell traps material before recycling it has puzzled scientists for years. But Penn State researchers have gained new insight into how this process seals off waste, much like a trash bag.

16 Aug 2018

A class of proteins shown to be effective in reducing drug-seeking behaviors

A class of proteins that has generated significant interest for its potential to treat diseases, has for the first time, been shown to be effective in reducing relapse, or drug-seeking behaviors, in a preclinical study.

14 Aug 2018

Adding energy drinks to alcohol may exacerbate negative effects of binge drinking

A key ingredient of energy drinks could be exacerbating some of the negative effects of binge drinking according to a new study.

14 Aug 2018

Researchers discover new approach to alleviate chronic itch

Two receptors in the spinal cord and the right experimental drug: Researchers at the University of Zurich have discovered a new approach that suppresses itch.

14 Aug 2018

New strategy accelerates, automates process of prototype molecule optimization

The search for new medicinal molecules with predetermined properties is a rather complex, expensive and time-consuming process, especially in oncology.

14 Aug 2018

Brown University researchers reveal key physical properties of 'giant' cancer cells

Polyploidal cancer cells--cells that have more than two copies of each chromosome--are much larger than most other cancer cells, are resistant to chemotherapy and radiation treatments and are associated with disease relapse.

14 Aug 2018

Oxidative Stress Hampers Blood Vessel Dilation in Men

Higher levels of oxidative stress in males results in lower levels of cofactor BH needed to make the powerful blood vessel dilator nitric oxide.

13 Aug 2018

New findings pave way for novel, improved drugs to treat psychiatric disorders

Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have found new evidence of how certain transport proteins are working at the molecular level, paving the way for new, improved drugs to treat psychiatric disorders.

9 Aug 2018

Study: Exercise can help prevent relapses into cocaine addiction

Exercise can help prevent relapses into cocaine addiction, according to new research led by the University at Buffalo's Panayotis (Peter) Thanos, PhD.

9 Aug 2018

Scientists identify drug that could reverse pulmonary arterial hypertension

Scientists at Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago took a major step toward developing a new treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension, a severe lung disease with a five-year survival rate of 50 percent.

9 Aug 2018

New review examines potential of medicinal cannabis to help treat intractable epilepsy

A new British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology review examines the potential of medicinal cannabis--or medical marijuana--for helping patients with intractable epilepsy, in which seizures fail to come under control with standard anticonvulsant treatment.

8 Aug 2018