Strategies & Technologies Driving Drug Discovery to Market
Needle-Free Injection: Has its Time Finally Arrived?
June 4, 2013 1:39 pm | by John J. Turanin, Vice President and General Manager; Zogenix Technologies, San Diego, Calif. | Articles | CommentsThere have been significant advancements in needle-free injection technology, which aim to increase adoption of self-injectable therapies and adherence. Patients often lack the confidence to self-inject or are put off by the complexity, impacting their ability to incorporate these therapies into their lifestyle.
J&J Recalls 32M Contraceptive Packages
June 4, 2013 1:28 pm | News | CommentsJohnson & Johnson is conducting a voluntary recall of millions of oral contraceptive packages in 43 countries outside the U.S., but says there's a "very low" risk that the flawed tablets could cause unplanned pregnancies. The recall includes all 179 lots of the contraceptive Cilest.
Endotoxin-Free Protein Production - CleanColi™ Technology
June 4, 2013 11:38 am | White Papers | CommentsThe Gram-negative bacterium E. coli is the workhorse of molecular biology, regularly used as the first choice host for DNA cloning, small-scale protein expression, and large-scale protein production for FDA approved biologics.
Protocol Labacus Eliminates Laboratory Missteps
June 4, 2013 11:02 am | Videos | CommentsAbacalab’s Protocol Labacus App for iPad, Android tablet or laptop that helps technicians, scientists, clinicians, and others working on the move. The Protocol Labacus provides an overview of the steps in a procedure and detailed instructions for each step.
Astrazeneca Returns Treatment Rights To Rigel
June 4, 2013 8:34 am | News | CommentsRigel Pharmaceuticals Inc. said partner AstraZeneca will not seek regulatory approval for the potential rheumatoid arthritis treatment fostamatinib. AstraZeneca is returning the compound's rights to Rigel, which said it will take a couple months to figure out the next step for the potential drug.
Study to Decide Fate of Profibrix
June 4, 2013 7:34 am | News | CommentsThe Medicines Co. plans to buy ProFibrix BV in a deal that hinges on late-stage study results for a topical powder that ProFibrix is developing to stop bleeding during or after surgery. Medicines Co. said it will review the results and if satisfied, will purchase all outstanding shares of the company.
Gene Links Allergies, Autoimmune Disease
June 3, 2013 11:14 am | News | CommentsScientists at the National Institutes of Health have discovered that a gene called BACH2 may play a central role in the development of diverse allergic and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, asthma, Crohn's disease, celiac disease, and type-1 diabetes.
Alimta Study Fails to Meet Primary Endpoint
June 3, 2013 11:05 am | News | CommentsThe PRONOUNCE trial compared an Alimta, carboplatin doublet regimen to a paclitaxel, carboplatin and bevacizumab triplet regimen. The study did not achieve its primary superiority endpoint of improved progression-free survival without grade four adverse events.
Positive Data from Lambrolizumab Trial
June 3, 2013 10:33 am | News | CommentsMerck presented preliminary results from an ongoing Phase 1b expansion study evaluating the safety and efficacy of lambrolizumab, Merck’s investigational antibody therapy targeting PD-1, in patients with advanced (inoperable and metastatic) melanoma.
Researchers Discover Cause of Breast Tumor Metastasis
June 3, 2013 10:21 am | by Lynn Yarris | News | CommentsThe long-standing mystery behind dormant disseminated breast tumor cells and what activates them after years and even decades of latency may have been solved. Researchers have identified the microenvironment surrounding microvasculature as a niche where dormant cancer cells reside.
Panel Reviewing Avandia Restrictions
June 3, 2013 10:01 am | by Matthew Perrone | News | CommentsA former blockbuster diabetes pill which was subjected to major safety restrictions in 2010 may not be as risky as once thought. The Food and Drug Administration is reviewing a new interpretation of the key study of Avandia's heart attack risks, which suggests the drug is as safe as older diabetes drugs.
Combining Drugs Maximizes Effect Against Tumors
June 2, 2013 9:00 am | News | CommentsA subset of colorectal cancers responds to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) therapies, but develops resistance within months. Among cancers that develop resistance to anti-EGFR therapy, some showed overexpression of a gene called MET and susceptibility to the MET inhibitor crizotinib.
Depomed Abandons Sefelsa After FDA Letter
May 31, 2013 6:31 pm | News | CommentsDepomed will not invest further in its drug Sefelsa after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that it cannot approve its application in the current form. The hot flash drug hit a major road block when a panel of advisers to the FDA voted against it, saying the risks outweighed its benefits.
App Helps Improve Cubis Balance
May 31, 2013 4:19 pm | Product Releases | CommentsSartorius has made its premium laboratory balance Cubis even more user-friendly to ensure reliable, error-free results. Sartorius Q-Apps can now be installed on any Cubis balance to guide users quickly and easily in performing any weighing application.
EU Panel Backs Lojuxta
May 31, 2013 12:05 am | News | CommentsAegerion Pharmaceuticals said that a European Union advisory panel recommended its drug Lojuxta be approved as a treatment for a rare inherited disease that causes extremely high levels of bad cholesterol. Lojuxta is intended to treat a condition called homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.
