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03 Sep 04
Researchers at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center report that optimizing the use of anticoagulants in cancer patients with deep vein thrombosis could improve outcomes, reduce hospital stay and lower the cost of treatment. The study which gathered data from 529 cancer patients with deep vein thrombosis, and which represents the most comprehensive study of it kind, suggests that bleeding in treated patients and the reoccurrence of thrombosis is higher than previously reported. Fur
LeadDiscovery
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01 Sep 04
Due to more and better screening practices leading to earlier diagnosis, survival rates for breast cancer have risen to as high as 87% in some developed countries. But globally, 380,000 people (mainly women) will still die from breast cancer in 2004. Datamonitor's Fleur Pijpers explains that in the future, new targeted therapies could lead to successful treatment for each individual patient...
Datamonitor
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01 Sep 04
Pharmaceutical companies are increasingly looking to technology to increase sales, according to COLIN WILLIAMS, Head of Marketing at PharmiWeb Solutions...
Colin Williams
31 Aug 04
Dompe researchers report the development of the chemokine receptor CXCR1 antagonist, repertaxin. New data show that Dompe's phase I candidate repertaxin dramatically reduces liver damage in a model of acute transplant rejection. By blocking neutrophil infiltration the therapeutic potential of repertaxin extends past the prevention of transplant rejection to cover a wide range of other indications including chronic ischemic conditions and inflammatory disorders.
LeadDiscovery
27 Aug 04
DailyUpdates 27th August, 2004: The inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) represents an attractive approach to the treatment of cancer. Although this group of agents, led by Aventis' flavopiridol are poor monotherapeutic agents they exhibit sequence-dependent cytotoxic synergy when administered after standard chemotherapeutic drugs. Unfortunately, as demonstrated in a recent trial investigating the efficacy of a Taxotere-flavopiridol combination in metastatic breast cancer patients, toxi
LeadDiscovery
26 Aug 04
ATLANTA--Aug. 25, 2004--Endovascular intervention, employing minimally invasive, catheter-based technologies, is expected to become the dominant therapeutic modality for atherosclerotic diseases in the lower limbs, according to a new report published by THE SAGE GROUP
LeadDiscovery
26 Aug 04
DailyUpdates 26th August, 2004: The stabilization of atherosclerotic plaques has emerged as a strategy for reducing the incidence of stroke as well as other cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies have reported that blocking the activity of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) can limit the progression of atherosclerosis and stabilize plaques in animal models. New data now suggests that increasing TGF-beta1 can also stabilize plaques in humans supporting the development of therapeutic
LeadDiscovery
25 Aug 04
DailyUpdates 25th August, 2004: Despite legal appeals by Pfizer, Ivax's generic equivalent of the blockbuster gabapentin (Neurontin) went on sale earlier this month increasing the need for Pfizer to push the follow-on, pregabalin onto the US market. Pregabalin was approved by European authorities in July of this year for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain and as an adjunctive therapy for partial seizures in patients with epilepsy. Most recently a US study has been published data furthe
LeadDiscovery
24 Aug 04
DailyUpdates 24th August, 2004: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), one of the enzymes responsible for the production of carbon monoxide, is induced under conditions of ischemic stress. Clinical data has previously demonstrated that increased expression of HO-1 may limit post-transplant ischemia reperfusion injury, a major cause of reduced graft survival. Now researchers have reported that maintaining transplant recipients in an atmosphere of elevated carbon monoxide promotes extended graft survival
LeadDiscovery
23 Aug 04
DailyUpdates 23rd August, 2004: The use of insulin forms the cornerstone of diabetes treatment. A body of data also suggests however that this hormone directly modulates both memory and mood suggesting that endogenous insulin may be of benefit to many of the 180 million people around the world with memory disorders, and especially those with co-morbid mood disturbances such as schizophrenic or depressed individuals. A recent study has shown that intra-nasal administration of insulin improves m
LeadDiscovery
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23 Aug 04
Pharmaceutical practices from manufacturing to marketing are coming under increasing scrutiny from watchdogs, regulators and shareholders. As huge fines and record settlements erode profits, Datamonitor's Andrew Jones argues that pharma companies must focus on tightening compliance...
Datamonitor
23 Aug 04
Eventually, methods developed by research laboratories need to be transferable to face the rigours of external validation or the production line. Many researchers, however, are unaware that this procedure must be adequately documented, a crucial issue when it comes to regulation and outsourcing.
Rachel Holdsworth/Geoff Pulham
19 Aug 04
DailyUpdates 18th August, 2004: Recent data suggest that women may be more susceptible to the chronic airway disorders emphysema and bronchitis, together known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The reasons for this are unclear however data published this month demonstrate a key role of the estrogen receptor in maintaining alveolar surface area and airway elasticity. This suggests that menopause may contribute to the acceleration of COPD and prompts investigation into the develop
LeadDiscovery
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18 Aug 04
After my many years of conducting interviews and recruiting for both junior and senior employees, I have come to the conclusion that if there is one single thing that a person can do to secure a second interview or a desired position it is believe in themselves.
Susan Mason
17 Aug 04
DailyUpdates 18th August, 2004: Researchers from at Arizona State University have demonstrated that beta amyloid light chain proteolytic antibody fragments can cleave beta-amyloid, altering the aggregation and neutralizing the cytotoxic effects of this peptide.
LeadDiscovery
17 Aug 04
DailyUpdates 17th August, 2004: Researchers from Protein Design Laboratories report that an antibody-drug conjugate that links the chemotherapeutic agent Auristatin to a prostate cancer specific antibody, anti-TMEFF2 mAb, via a cathepsin B-sensitive linker prevents tumor growth in a murine model of prostate cancer.
LeadDiscovery
13 Aug 04
Rigel's new intranasal inhibitor R112 could offer a useful alternative therapy for patients suffering from allergic rhinitis, as Datamonitor's Shaun Falkingbridge explains. Bolstered by supportive recent trial results, Rigel can now go on to seek partner firms to realize full commercialization of the drug...
Datamonitor
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12 Aug 04
The trade in discounted prescription drugs between Canada and the US has elicited considerable controversy on both sides of the border. Yet recent figures show that sales of drugs via Canadian pharmacies have not been as great as some had predicted. However, as Datamonitor's David Deon explains, pharmaceutical companies could go further by driving the expansion of online prescribing in the US...
Datamonitor
11 Aug 04
The p38-MAPK pathway has long been targeted by the pharmaceutical industry in an attempt to identify new anti-inflammatory agents. The development of p38-MAPK inhibitors has however been impeded by adverse effects. Boston University researchers have now demonstrated that the lipoxin A4 (LXA4) mimic, ATLa inhibits the p38-MAPK cascade explaining in part its anti-inflammatory efficacy and offering a new approach to this promising pharmaceutical target. Although ATLa has a poor pharmacokinetic p
LeadDiscovery
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03 Aug 04
Bacterial skin diseases like gangrene can now expect an onslaught of new specialist medications. However, skin infections make up a relatively small proportion of the $20.4 billion annual global antibacterial market, which, says Datamonitor's Amber Gibson, raises questions about why such conditions are the current focus of so much antibacterial product development...
Datamonitor
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19 Jul 04
New clinical research presented at the 15th International AIDS Conference (IAC) shows that Fuzeon is proving to be remarkably effective in the first long-term trial of its benefits.
Datamonitor
14 Jul 04
What exactly is a Curriculum Vitae? Is it a List of your Skills and Experience? Is it a Mini Biography? Is it a chance to get someone to fully appreciate your Skills and Achievements?
Truth be known, It’s none of these.
Lydia Holder
13 Jul 04
Acute pain resulting from conditions such as headache, muscle spasms, dental problems or following surgery, affects 90 million Americans every year. A recent study has demonstrated the analgesic activity of corticotropin-releasing-hormone (CRH) and has shown that this activity is probably due to activity within the central nervous system.
LeadDiscovery
09 Jul 04
Analysts have recently predicted that the market for airway inflammatory diseases will increase by 35% to over $18 billion by 2011. A recent target evaluation report produced for the drug development sector concluded that the TH2-derived cytokines IL-4, and more so IL-13 represent promising targets. Both cytokines activate IL-4Ralpha to produce multiple functional changes observed in asthma patients. A recent report published in the Journal of Immunology elucidates the divergent mechanisms th
LeadDiscovery
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09 Jul 04
Recently published data from the GENOA study has demonstrated that dyslipidemia is highly prevalent in hypertensive adults and that this condition is insufficiently treated in more than half of the cases. As Datamonitor's Laurent Chanroux explains, the results lend further support to cross risk-factor, single pill combination therapies such as Pfizer's Caduet...
Datamonitor
05 Jul 04
SureScripts, in partnership with the Massachusetts Medical Society, is launching an educational network providing physicians with information from the early adopters of ePrescribing technology. Datamonitor's Kimberly O'Malley argues that educational forums like this allow members to more efficiently evaluate and subsequently adopt electronic prescribing as a solution for their practices...
Datamonitor
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29 Jun 04
This edition of "Emerging Drug Discovery Targets" features new approaches to improving intestinal uptake of poorly absorbed therapeutics; a dual 5-LO inhibitor/H1 receptor antagonist for the treatment of asthma; Sitaxentan as an effective treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension; Kv1.3 potassium channel blockade as an approach to insulin resistance; Drug delivery technology predicted to allow safer and more effective use of steroids in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; VEGF receptor tyr
LeadDiscovery
25 Jun 04
Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the more common autoimmune diseases. LeadDiscovery’s recent state of the art evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis therapeutics evaluates advances in our understanding of the etiology of the disease. One field of research extensively analyzed in this report is angiogenesis. Inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinase with specific activity against the VEGFRs have been developed in an attempt to prevent angiogenesis. One such molecule is PTK787/ZK222584, synthesized and dev
LeadDiscovery
23 Jun 04
An estimated 5 million individuals suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Corticosteroids are the most dramatically effective short-term anti-inflammatory drugs; however, clinical benefit for rheumatoid arthritis often diminishes with time. Because of their long-term systemic side effects, corticosteroids are usually given only after a careful and prolonged trial of less hazardous drugs. Liposomes are artificial vesicles efficiently phagocytosed by macrophages and recent advances such as the developm
LeadDiscovery
22 Jun 04
The R&D activity surrounding novel oral treatments of diabetes is considerable and one particular target that has recently received attention is the Kv1.3 potassium channel. Blocking this channel has been thought to be of value in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and more recently for preventing weight gain. Now researchers from Yale have demonstrated that Kv1.3 channel blockers may also increase insulin sensitivity in genetically obese and diabetic mice
LeadDiscovery
