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In today's edition of DailyUpdates we headline with news from CuraGen and TopoTarget on a new trial evaluating the combination of an HDAC inhibitor an cis-retinoid acid. In addition we highlight research from Wyeth suggesting a new approach to depression
Todays Headlines from across the DailyUpdates network (access DailyUpdates 15th June, 2006 here) Breaking News (from DailyUpdates-Oncology): CuraGen and TopoTarget to test the promising combination of HDAC inhibition and retinoic acid receptor activation in patients with solid tumors The histone deacetylase inhibitor class of therapeutics represents a highly exciting approach to cancer. Merck's ZOLINZA (SAHA; vorinostat) and Gloucester Pharmaceuticals' Depsipeptide (FK228) lead this class however . Both candidates are evaluated in our fea…

Data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Atlanta this month suggest that administering the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor Erbitux (cetuximab) fortnightly rather than weekly in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is a feasible option. Another study probing whether scaling up the dose, to the point where patients experience the significant rash linked to long survival, achieves a better response, shows high doses are well tolerated.
Administering treatment in community oncology units achieves results that match those of specialist centres, according to the MABEL study; and phase III trials in the US and Europe are now focusing on investigating Erbitux as a first-line therapy option for mCRC.  Fortnightly regimen could make life eas…

Vertex has launched a major phase II clinical trial to test a new hepatitis C drug candidate, with a second trial scheduled to begin in June. This is a significant advance in the development of much-needed treatments for hepatitis C. By drawing parallels with similar HIV treatments, Datamonitor's Morris Paterson outlines the pitfalls and prospects for this new drug.
Vertex has launched a major phase II clinical trial to test a new hepatitis C drug candidate, with a second trial scheduled to begin in June. This is a significant advance in the development of much-needed treatments for hepatitis C. By drawing parallels with similar HIV treatments, Datamonitor's Morris Paterson outlines the pitfalls and prospects for this new drug. The trial will measure the effectiveness of VX-950 in combin…

Today's edition highlights news from Metabolex announcing the initiation of a Phase 2/3 trial of a novel insulin sensitizer, metaglidasen. In addition we discuss research published by Advanced Life Sciences who are making exciting breakthroughs moving towards the treatment of HIV Tuberculosis co-infection which has become a global catastrophe.
Todays Headlines from across the DailyUpdates network (June 12th, 2006 - access this edition) Breaking News (from DailyUpdates-Metabolic Disorders): Metabolex announce phase II/III trial of novel insulin sensitizer Diabetes affects approximately 170 million people worldwide a figure that is increasing with the WHO predicting 300 million diabetics by 2025 (see The World Diabetes Market, 2005-2011). The alone has 20.8 million people suffering with dia…

Breakthroughs in our understanding of the Ubiquitin system are increasingly being routed towards clinical applications. Targeting Ubiquitin for Drug Discovery and Development conference has assembled leaders from industrial and academic research to discuss the state of the art and prospects for the future. With the FDA approval and commercialization of Velcade, scientists are now beginning to see the potential of this ever expanding science. New therapeutic targets are being explored and implica
Welcome! Breakthroughs in our understanding of the Ubiquitin system are increasingly being routed towards clinical applications. Targeting Ubiquitin for Drug Discovery and Development conference has assembled leaders from industrial and academic research to discuss the state of the art and prospects…

Today we report on the FDA approval of Merck's HPV vaccine, the first such vaccine to be approved in the US; and a candidate treatment for various cardiovascular diseases
Todays Headlines from across the DailyUpdates network (9th June 2006) Breaking News (from DailyUpdates-Infectious Diseases): Merck wins the race for HPV vaccine approval in the US HPV is the most commonly diagnosed viral sexually transmitted disease in the and , with conservative annual incidence estimates of 5.5 million in the alone. Over 100 types of HPV, causing a variety of diseases, have been identified. It is believed that 50-75% of HPV infections involve high-risk HPV types, leading to approximately 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer and 232,000 deaths worldwide each year. Treatment options are limited, with no k…

DailyUpdates 31st May: Today's edition of DailyUpdates focuses on a controversial area of neurotransmission: opioids, cannabinoids and their overlap. Our featured press release is from Allon Therapeutics and announces further progress on their novel approach to neurodegenerative disorders. Read on for an overview or visit today's edition of DailyUpdates here
DailyUpdates 31st May: Today's edition of DailyUpdates focuses on a controversial area of neurotransmission: opioids, cannabinoids and their overlap. Our featured press release is from Allon Therapeutics and announces further progress on their novel approach to neurodegenerative disorders. Read on for an overview or visit today's edition of DailyUpdates hereCannabinoids and opioids - their intereaction in the modulation of pain: Canna…

Stimuvax (L-BLP 25), a therapeutic vaccine in development for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), should enter Phase III testing this autumn. The START (Stimulating Targeted Antigenic Response to NSCLC Trial ) plans to recruit over 1300 patients with stage III unresectable disease from more than 140 centres in North America and Europe. Patients will receive an initial round of chemo/radiation therapy and if they show a response, or exhibit stable disease, they will be randomised in a ratio of 2:
ASCO 2006 Stimuvax, first therapeutic vaccine for lung cancer, to start Phase III trial Stimuvax (L-BLP 25), a therapeutic vaccine in development for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), should enter Phase III testing this autumn. The START (Stimulating Targeted Antigenic Response to NSCLC Trial ) p…

DailyUpdates 2nd June: In today’s edition of DailyUpdates we highlight exciting new data on the potential use of the antihypertensive, losartan as a modulator of insulin release and production and hence a directly acting therapeutic for the treatment of diabetes. This supplements additional beneficial activity resulting from blood pressure control. In addition we report on European approval of Thelin, Encysive’s candidate for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension
DailyUpdates 2nd June: In today’s edition of DailyUpdates we highlight exciting new data on the potential use of the antihypertensive, losartan as a modulator of insulin release and production and hence a directly acting therapeutic for the treatment of diabetes. This supplements additional beneficial activity resulting from bloo…

Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability in the US, and is estimated to be the eighth most common cause of disability worldwide, with around 89 million adults in the seven major markets having a form of symptomatic osteoarthritis. OA therefore offers an attractive commercial target. However, relatively low disease awareness and Cox-2s controversy have curbed the market's potential so far.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degeneration of the joints characterized by progressive destruction of articular cartilage and articular structures. It is a complex process that involves multiple changes in joint structure and, according to Datamonitor estimates, affects 89 million adults in the seven major pharmaceutical markets. Due to the current widespread nature of the condition, the World Health…

DailyUpdates 6th June: As ASCO continues in full swing, we again focus on oncology. Today's edition of DailyUpdates includes 10 new papers on oncology research plus a further 20 or so press releases from companies presenting at ASCO. This is of course in addition to the rest of our content from across the drug development sector (see it all here). Today's headline paper unerpins the intriguing idea that the premedication required prior to Taxotere administration may significantly limit its effic
DailyUpdates 6th June: As ASCO continues in full swing, we again focus on oncology. Today's edition of DailyUpdates includes 10 new papers on oncology research plus a further 20 or so press releases from companies presenting at ASCO. This is of course in addition to the rest of our content from acro…

(The American Society of Clinical Oncology) now in full swing, cancer is not surprisingly the focus of today's news section and out of the 20 or so press releases featured we highlight and announcement by Cell Genesys describing the development of their GVAX vaccine for the treatment of CML. In their phase 2 trial the company reports that a complete molecular response is seen in 25% of patients whose treatment included GVAX - this compares to historical data of about 10% in patients not receivin
DailyUpdates 5th June, 2006: With ASCO (The American Society of Clinical Oncology) now in full swing, cancer is not surprisingly the focus of today's news section and out of the 20 or so press releases featured we highlight and announcement by Cell Genesys describing the development of their GVAX v…

Go to any of Euroscicon meeting in June and July and receive 50% off the delegate registration
Go to any of Euroscicon meeting in June and July and receive 50% off the delegate registration Just use  the discount code – PharmiWeb – during online registration to  receive 50% off the registration fee for the following events Assigning Gene Function - novel technologies & high throughput This will be an exciting meeting which will cover novel genomic technologies and the use of bioinformatics in high throughput data analysis. It will feature academic and industry seminars. Meetings Chair: Dr. Irina Udalova, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Date: 16th June Venue: , Web: www.regonline.co.uk/genefunction Developing Technologies in Cytokine Detection Detection of cytokines is…

Psychiatrists attending this year’s Annual Psychiatric Association meeting heard new findings from the controversial CATIE (Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness) programme. New data suggest an older typical antipsychotic drug is more cost effective and has the same cognitive benefits as newer atypical drugs. Previous results suggested the older first generation drug is equally effective and well-tolerated clinically, compared to newer atypicals but the study design was m
In December 2005, the New England Journal of Medicine published the first results of the CATIE (Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness) (1).  The 18-month, double-blind study, funded by the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), compared an older and much cheaper ty…

DailyUpdates 26th May, 2006: As our daily trip around the drug discovery world continues we hit Friday with some revealing information on sepsis and new phase 3 data on Wyeth's antidepressant desvenlafaxine. Read on for more about these highlight on visit today's edition of DailyUpdates for more on these advances or any of the other 50+ items featured today
DailyUpdates 26th May, 2006: As our daily trip around the drug discovery world continues we hit Friday with some revealing information on sepsis and new phase 3 data on Wyeth's antidepressant desvenlafaxine.  Read on for more about these highlight on visit today's edition of DailyUpdates for more on these advances or any of the other 50+ items featured todayDefining the problem of sepsis: Sepsis, a complex and rapidly progressing d…

EntreMed has initiated a phase II trial of Panzem in combination with Genentech's Avastin in carcinoid cancer. The trial will examine how the therapy fares against potential rivals and its possible use in other tumor types. With the blockbuster Avastin possessing the potential to significantly raise the profile of Panzem, the study will prove crucial for EntreMed's lead pipeline drug candidate.
Carcinoid cancer is a rare neuroendocrine tumor that is on the increase. In the , 6,000 to 7,000 new cases are confirmed each year, with 2,500 tumors at the malignant stage. The majority (85%) of carcinoid cancers develop within the gastrointestinal tract between the stomach and the rectum. Several tumors may develop in the small intestine, which often increases the risk of developing other tumors wi…

DailyUpdates 30th May: As the drug discovery sector returns after various public holidays around the world, we too return with another edition of DailyUpdates. Amongst the 60 or so features today, we highlight work at Kane Biotech conducted in an attempt to reduce the major problem of catheter infection, plus news on the development of a liposomal candidate designed to deliver the active metabolite of Camptosar to colorectal cancer tumors. Summaries of this work are provided below - today's edit
DailyUpdates 30th May: As the drug discovery sector returns after various public holidays around the world, we too return with another edition of DailyUpdates. Amongst the 60 or so features today, we highlight work at Kane Biotech conducted in an attempt to reduce the major problem of catheter infec…

Today, pharmacologic therapies are often the first line of treatment for many diseases, including most chronic conditions...
By Doniel Jackson, M.D., Managing Director, Pharmacovigilance and Medical Affairs, ICON Clinical Research Today, pharmacologic therapies are often the first line of treatment for many diseases, including most chronic conditions. Drugs that control diabetes, relieve pain, ease respiration, control blood pressure and alleviate depression have become integral to the good health of millions.  “Lifestyle” pharmaceuticals such as drugs that treat sexual dysfunction and aid in weight loss, have become wildly popular among consumers.  People are taking more medications than ever before. According to the FDA, in the last 10 years the number of prescriptions filled in…

DailyUpdates 25th May, 2006: Today both featured items from DailyUpdates focus on autoimmune disease and remarkably neither are biologics. The first, a press release from Synta announces the advancement of an IL-12/IL-23 inhibitor in development for rheumatoid arthritis and IBD; the second is a review of potassium channels as targets for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
DailyUpdates 25th May, 2006: Today both featured items from DailyUpdates focus on autoimmune disease and remarkably neither are biologics. The first, a press release from Synta announces the advancement of an IL-12/IL-23 inhibitor in development for rheumatoid arthritis and IBD; the second is a review of potassium channels as targets for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. Information on this content as well as all othe…

Although ventricular and atrial fibrillation represent the most common cardiac arrhymias and are associated with amongst the highest rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, treatment options are suboptimal. New opportunities are however approaching the market, notably Cardiome’s RSD1235, paving the way for development by others.
Ventricular Fibrillation and Atrial FibrillationEmerging Antiarrhythmics in the Context of Current Devices, Interventions and Pharmacological Agents Although ventricular and atrial fibrillation represent the most common cardiac arrhymias and are associated with amongst the highest rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, treatment options are suboptimal.  New opportunities are however approaching the market, notably Cardiome’s RSD1235, paving…