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DailyUpdates 16th April: RNA interference is emerging as a major tool to help researchers identify new therapeutic targets. Novartis researchers have recently used this technology to underline the role that the ligand activated cation-channel, P2X3 plays in neuropathic pain. This study also demonstrates the therapeutic potential of P2X3 gene silencing in the treatment of this major unmet area of analgesia.
DailyUpdates 16th April: RNA interference is emerging as a major tool to help researchers identify new therapeutic targets.  Novartis researchers have recently used this technology to underline the role that the ligand activated cation-channel, P2X3 plays in neuropathic pain.  This study also demonstrates the therapeutic potential of P2X3 gene silencing in t…

DailyUpdates 14th April: Neuropathic pain affects 26 million patients including a sub-population of cancer patients being treated with cytotoxics. McGill researchers have published the results of a study looking at neuropathic pain in various strains of mice. These data show that neuropathic pain has a genetic component suggested to be equally relevant to paclitaxel and surgically-induced pain. The study also advances the use of paclitaxel-induced hyperalgesia as a model for the development o
DailyUpdates 14th April: Neuropathic pain affects 26 million patients including a sub-population of cancer patients being treated with cytotoxics.  McGill researchers have published the results of a study looking at neuropathic pain in various strains of mice.  These data show that ne…

DailyUpdates 13th April: According to WHO, there are some 130 million diagnosed diabetics in the world, a figure that is predicted to increase to 300 million by 2025. Approximately 10-15% of these patients suffer type 1 diabetes. Novo Nordisk have shown that their Kir6.2/SUR1 channel opener, NN414 is able to preserve beta-cell function and reduction of insulitis presumable through the induction of "beta-cell rest".
DailyUpdates 13th April: According to WHO, there are some 130 million diagnosed diabetics in the world, a figure that is predicted to increase to 300 million by 2025. Approximately 10-15% of these patients suffer type 1 diabetes. Novo Nordisk have shown that their Kir6.2/SUR1 channel opener, NN414 is able to preserve beta-cell function and reduction of insulitis presumable…

DailyUpdates 8th April: An estimated 5 million individuals suffer from rheumatoid arthritis in the Western world. Corticosteroids are the most dramatically effective short-term anti-inflammatory drugs; however, their clinical benefit for rheumatoid arthritis often diminishes with time. This, the severe rebounds observed following the withdrawal of corticosteroids, and long-term systemic side effects associated with corticosteroids limits their use in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Rese
DailyUpdates 8th April: An estimated 5 million individuals suffer from rheumatoid arthritis in the Western world.  Corticosteroids are the most dramatically effective short-term anti-inflammatory drugs; however, their clinical benefit for rheumatoid arthritis often diminishes with time.&nb…

DailyUpdates 7th April: A recent survey of community-dwelling women in France, Germany, Spain and the UK found that 35% women suffer urinary incontinence, the most prevalent form of which was stress urinary incontinence. The findings also revealed that two-thirds of women affected with urinary incontinence never consulted a health care professional for treatment. The perceived and real lack of pharmaceutical options for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence is a major factor contributing
DailyUpdates 7th April: A recent survey of community-dwelling women in France, Germany, Spain and the UK found that 35% women suffer urinary incontinence, the most prevalent form of which was stress urinary incontinence. The findings also revealed that two-thirds of women af…

DailyUpdates 6th April: According to WHO, there are some 130 million diagnosed diabetics in the world and the long term consequences of diabetes such as diabetic nephropathy are becoming increasingly frequent and unmet components of diabetes care. In a recent study Glasgow Royal Infirmary researchers report that intensive treatment slowed progression of renal disease within 2 years in patients with established diabetic nephropathy and predict that this approach may delay the onset of dialysis b
New data shows that intensive treatment of diabetes may lower coexistent hypertension and delay renal dialysis by up to 20 years   DailyUpdates 6th April: According to WHO, there are some 130 million diagnosed diabetics in the world and the long term consequences of diabetes such as diabetic n…

DailyUpdates 5th April: There is growing evidence of a link between type-2 diabetes/obesity and Alzheimer disease. Researchers now report that diet-induced insulin resistance increases beta amyloid generation, amyloid plaque burden in the brain and behavioural impairment in a model of Alzheimer disease.
DailyUpdates 5th April: There is growing evidence of a link between type-2 diabetes/obesity and Alzheimer disease.  Researchers now report that diet-induced insulin resistance increases beta amyloid generation,  amyloid plaque burden in the brain and behavioural impairment in a model of Alzheimer disease.  The aging population will contribute to an expansion of the already $30 billion neurodegenerative market. The market for Alzheimer disease therapy i…

DailyUpdates 2nd April: There is growing evidence that type-2 diabetes is a risk factor for Alzheimer disease. In their April American Journal of Pathology article Brigham and Women's Hospital researchers add further evidence to support defects in insulin-degrading enzyme activity as a potential cause of this phenomenon. This and similar data argues for the development of cross-indication treatments of type-2 diabetes and Alzheimer disease and GSK-3 inhibitors may fit the bill.
DailyUpdates 2nd April: There is growing evidence that type-2 diabetes is a risk factor for Alzheimer disease.  In their April American Journal of Pathology article Brigham and Women's Hospital researchers add further evidence to support defects in insulin-degrading enzyme activity as a potential cause…

DailyUpdates 1st April: Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is estimated to affect over 73 million people in the seven major pharmaceutical markets. Disease modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) currently represent the ‘holy grail’ in the treatment of osteoarthritis. The Group for the Respect of Ethics and Excellence in Science (GREES) have now published recommendations on the clinical development of DMOADs.
GREES publish new recommendations on the clinical development of disease modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) DailyUpdates 1st April: Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and is estimated to affect over 73 million people in the seven major pharmaceutical markets. Disease modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs) currently represent the ‘ho…

DailyUpdates 31st March: Bipolar disorder affects over 2 million people in the US alone. Lithium, which inhibits inositol monophosphatase, has long been a first line mood stabilizer used in the treatment of this condition. Merck & Co have now developed a new cell-based HTS assay to identify novel inositol monophosphatase inhibitors which will hopefully lead to improved treatments of bipolar disorder.
DailyUpdates 31st March: Bipolar disorder affects over 2 million people in the US alone.  Lithium, which inhibits inositol monophosphatase, has long been a first line mood stabilizer used in the treatment of this condition.  Merck & Co have now developed a new cell-based HTS assay to identify novel inositol monophosphatase inhibitors which will hopefully lead to i…

DailyUpdates 30th March: According to WHO, there are some 130 million diagnosed diabetics in the world and the long term consequences of diabetes such as diabetic nephropathy are becoming increasingly frequent and unmet components of diabetes care. Intensive glycemic control prevents or retards microalbuminuria, an early sign of nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes and in a recent study Japanese researchers compare two different classes of oral antidiabetic drugs with respect to their e
DailyUpdates 30th March: According to WHO, there are some 130 million diagnosed diabetics in the world and the long term consequences of diabetes such as diabetic nephropathy are becoming increasingly frequent and unmet components of diabetes care.  Intensive glycemic control p…

Overactive bladder, a condition associated with a variety of other pathologies affects over 17 million Americans and costs the US over $12 billion per year. Current treatments focus on the muscarinic receptor antagonists such as tolterodine and oxybutanin with further examples from this class expected on the market. Therapeutics from novel pharmacological classes are expected to offer further improvements and in an upcoming edition of the Journal of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics Uni
New data published on KW-7158, a novel treatment of overactive bladder   DailyUpdates 29th March: Overactive bladder, a condition associated with a variety of other pathologies affects over 17 million Americans and costs the US over $12 billion per year.  Current treatments focus…

The presence of Arthur Dent's in pyjamas throughout the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, in a series of increasingly surreal encounters, acts as a constant reminder to the reader that no matter what
In Douglas Adam's HitchHikers Guide to the Galaxy our hero Arthur Dent escapes the explosion that destroys Mother Earth by the skin of his teeth. Unfortunately though, Arthur doesn't have time to change out of his pyjamas and dressing gown before being whisked away on a galactic adventure that ran a couple of books too long. The presence of Dent's ill advised bed wear in a series of increasingly surreal encounters acts as a constant reminder to the reader that no matter what people say, and how much we evolve, there are times when your clothing just has to be appropriate. This is more than usu…

Andrew Curl from the ABPI explains more about the industry's ability to innovate and provide world-beating medicines.
A Moderator said: Spencer wants to know: "Is money allocated for research solely on how many people the particular disease kills or is it more to do with how much money the drug can be sold for?" Andrew Curl said: Money is allocated to research based on whether there is a un met medical need. If there is then this is an attractive area for medical research. A Moderator said: Adam wants to know: "Why is only 12% of the NHS budget spent on medicine when it is so vital to a patients care?" Andrew Curl said: It is up to the NHS how it spends its money but the amount spent in the UK is only approximately a half what is spent in Europe on medicines per hea…

According to WHO, there are some 130 million diagnosed diabetics in the world. The market for diabetes therapeutics is rising. Oral antidiabetic drugs, the leading class of drugs used to treat the disease, accounted for almost 63% of sales during this period, while sales of insulin stand at around 30%. Further increases are inevitable and the market for diabetes medications could exceed $20 billion by 2006. The largest unmet need in the diabetes market is improved delivery of insulin. Currently,
According to WHO, there are some 130 million diagnosed diabetics in the worlds, a figure that is predicted to increase to 300 million by 2025.  The majority of patients suffer from type 2 diabetes however type 1 diabetes (also known as insulin-dependent diabetes (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabete…

Pharma NewsBytes selects out what we consider as being some of the most interesting press releases to have appeared on our DailyUpdates tracking service over the past few weeks. Currently featured new items focus on a number of novel approaches to the treatment of cancer including the development of caspase inhibitors; gene therapy approaches to the expression of TNF-alpha; an advanced monoclonal antibody; and a strategy to block XIAP. In addition new therapeutics for the treatment of rheumatoid
Pharma NewsBytes features selected press releases recently featured on DailyUpdates and offers the reader a leisurely stroll through the past few weeks of activity from within the pharmaceutical industry. Selected press releases - January 19th-February 2nd Advances in novel approaches towards the…

This edition of "Emerging Drug Discovery Targets" features a potential approach to the treatment of COPD; Ligands' retinoic acid receptor agonist with appetite suppressive and insulin sensitizing properties; the use of HDAC inhibitors for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis; Tamoxifen as a dual chemopreventative and anti-atherosclerosis treatment; and broad based inhibition of multidrug resistance proteins for improved cancer treatment. As usual we also provide updates on industrial advances a
  Emerging Drug Discovery Targets from LeadDiscovery 6th February 2004 to view this alert on line please go to http://www.leaddiscovery.co.uk/TherapeuticAdvances%20Archive/Feb%206th%20emerging%20targets.htm ************************************** "Emerging Drug Discovery Targets" provides a twic…

Pharmaceutical Education Associates’ presents a one-of-a-kind forum exploring the most recent and clinically relevant research pertaining to brain targets for the enhancement of cognitive function. Of particular interest will be the effectiveness of new cognition-enhancing drugs in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, as well as their potential for the treatment of the cognitive decline associated with normal aging or as a prelude to disease.
Emerging Molecular Targets to Treat Disorders Affecting Cognitive Function The Westin Princeton at About this Conference Pharmaceutical Education Associates’ presents a one-of-a-kind forum exploring the most recent and clinically relevant research pertaining to brain targets for the enhancement of cognitive fun…

a Bristol based Biochemical Company, says it has invented a new sprayable antibacterial disinfectant agent, to be launched under the name of D-Stroy, that can kill the hospital superbug MRSA and TB.
Greenbridge, a based Biochemical Company, says it has invented a new sprayable antibacterial disinfectant agent, to be launched under the name of D-Stroy, that can kill the hospital superbug MRSA and TB. Greenbridge claims their product will revolutionise hospital hygiene. The news comes after a study commissioned by the company revealed that the is at risk of a severe epidemic of MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureas. Lethal traces of the superbug were found in many public places, the authors of the study claimed. It is feared that the bug could kill up to 150,000 hospital pat…

This edition of features new generation oncolytic viruses from Cell Genesys active against colorectal cancer cells; a p38 MAPK inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis from Fujisawa; data describing the anti-angiogenic activity of bisphosphonates in cancer models; a new JAK3 inhibitor from Pfizer for transplant rejection; and an integrin antagonist from Merck for the treatment of osteoporosis. As usual updates on industrial advances and licensing opportunities are provided.
  Emerging Drug Discovery Targets from LeadDiscovery 18th December 2003 to view this alert on line please go to http://www.leaddiscovery.co.uk/TherapeuticAdvances%20Archive/Dec%2018th%20emerging%20targets.htm ************************************** "Emerging Drug Discovery Targets" provides a twice monthl…