Drug Week

Huntington Disease - Huntingtin-associated protein 1 influences neuronal calcium signaling

Hypertension - Effects of antihypertensive AT(1)R antisense gene therapy are independent of endothelial function

Hypertension Risk Factor - Angiotensin II maintains blood pressure at the onset of diabetes

Hyperthermia Therapy - New technology could spare many cancer patients from amputation

Imaging - Companies ink distribution agreement for preclinical molecular imager

Immune Complications - Evans syndrome may be associated with ulcerative colitis

Immune Evasion - Measles virus V protein interferes with host interferon production

Immune Modulators - A new isoxazole derivative with immune activity is crystallized

Immunoaffinity Technology - Tool simultaneously removes multiple proteins from blood serum

Immunobeneficial Bacteria - Bifidobacteria attach but don't appear to influence gut immunity directly

Immunology - Adaptor TRIF needed for TLR3- and TLR4-mediated antiviral defense

Immunology - Allergy, respiratory expertise strengthened by partnership

Immunology - Biologist finds HIV gene makes a human gene turn bad

Immunology - IL-3 blocks osteoclast precursor differentiation irreversibly

Immunology - Immunity to Listeria occurs without myeloid differentiation factor 88

Immunotherapy - Regulatory issues in cellular therapies reviewed

Infectious Disease - Company gets rights to test detecting the gastric ulcer-causing bacteria

Infectious Disease - Company increases influenza vaccine availability to 19 million doses

Infectious Disease - IBM to help find genetic links to immune system diseases

Infectious Disease Therapy - Novel triterpenoid active against bacterial and viral pathogens and malignant cells

Infertility - Antibody against motility inhibiting protein may enhance human fertility

Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Regulatory cell dysfunction leads to reactions to normal flora

Influenza - Influenza B virus BM2 protein conducts protons across membranes

Information Technology - Drug development software used by pharmaceutical company

Information Technology - Drug discovery company uses new informatics solution

Information Technology - Lab automation workstations introduced at Drug Discovery Technology 2003

Information Technology - Lab workflow, knowledge management system released

Information Technology - OpusXpress ion-channel screening platform accelerates drug discovery

Insect Sting Allergy - Adults have variable risk of adverse effects, but venom immunotherapy can help

Insulin - Developments in insulin therapy for diabetes reported

Kernicterus - Treatment for severe jaundice urged

Kidney Disease - Acute interstitial nephritis can lead to renal failure, yet little is known

Kidney Failure - Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer controls parathyroid cell function

Kidney Transplant - Renal allografts surviving 20 yrs tend to have some histological damage

Lab Equipment - Workflow system, software certified FDA compliant

Lab Management - medtraX, a net-based lab test ordering and result reporting product, launched

Laryngeal Cancer - Antioxidant status may be useful to determine the tumor resistance to therapy

Latex Allergy - Atopy to specific respiratory allergens increases latex sensitization risk

Legal Issues - Australian patent protection secured for Fc receptor

Legal Issues - SEC, Department of Justice investigations of biotech firm terminated

Leukemia - Cladribine is not worthy of further investigation in adult T-cell leukemia

Leukemia - DDTC-induced cytotoxicity is via oxidative shift in intracellular redox state

License Agreement - Agreement with United Therapeutics Corp. expanded to include Germany

Lipid Disorders - Cholesterol-lowering Crestor granted FDA approval

Lipid Rafts and Synapses - Lipid rafts in resting T cells exist as patches coenriched with F-actin

Lipid Studies - Fish oil affects link between fatty acids and adhesion molecule

Liver Cells - MultiCell Technologies awarded SBIR grant to identify drug candidates

Lung Cancer - Cisplatin and etoposide resulted in insufficient long-term disease control

Lung Cancer - Clinical trials are cost-effective alternatives to current standard treatment

Lung Cancer - Combination of RSR13, thoracic radiation may extend survival

Lung Cancer - Enrollment completed in study of Targretin

Lung Cancer - Forty-three percent of patients respond to topotecan treatment in phase II study

Lung Cancer - Melatonin improves the efficacy of chemotherapy and quality of life

Lung Cancer - Nedaplatin and irinotecan were highly effective and well tolerated in NSCLC

Lung Cancer - New Iressa data presented at conference

Lung Cancer - Positive follow-up results reported from trial of Telcyta

Lung Cancer - Tumor necrosis therapy receives marketing approval in China

Lung Inflammation Control - Surfactant protein A downregulates TLR2-zymosan inflammatory effects

Lymphoblastic Leukemia - Patients who didn't have radiation survive as long as general population

Lymphoma - Deregulated expression of BCL6 may allow lymphoma cells to resist chemotherapy

Malaria - Heme-interacting proteins identified in malaria parasite

Malaria - Plasmodial digestive food vacuole acts as dynamic Ca2+ store

Malaria Therapy - Adjunctive pentoxifylline treatment improves outcome for cerebral malaria patients

Malaria Therapy - Burkina Faso medicinal plant extracts active against drug-resistant malaria parasites

Malaria Therapy - Combinatorial drug optimization protocol identifies improved plasmepsin inhibitors

Malaria Therapy - High-dose artemether treatment not neurotoxic in humans

Malaria Therapy - Novel antimalarial alkaloids potent but cytotoxic

Malaria Vaccine - Binding of malaria peptide allows fit of glycine residue into pocket 6

Male Infertility - Current sperm retrieval methodologies leave room for improvement

Market Analysis - Certain genomics firms expected to outperform through 2004

Market Analysis - Late-stage pharmaceutical marketing budgets on the rise

Market Analysis - Reimbursement restricts physician use of serotonin receptor antagonists

Market Analysis - Thirty-eight percent of new drugs developed through alliances

Marketing - Proper diagnosis of Parkinson disease to drive growth of therapies market

Medical Marijuana - Study finds no harm to HIV patients with short-term medical cannabis

Medication Safety - New technology helps reduce medication errors

Medication Safety - NovoLog 10-mL vials missing

Melanoma - Betulinic acid can induce programmed cell death in human melanoma cells

Melanoma - National Cancer Institute awards grant for targeted radiotherapy development

Men's Health - Sexual dysfunction and andropause lead strong growth in men's segment

Meningitis - Cerebral Spinal Fluid ferritin diagnostic in children with meningitis

Menopause - Rhetoric predominates in physicians' discussions of hormone replacement therapy

Mergers and Acquisitions - Epimmune announces termination of merger agreement

Mergers and Acquisitions - GenSci and a biosurgery company make preparations for merger

Mergers and Acquisitions - Generex Biotechnology completes acquisition

Mergers and Acquisitions - Genzyme commences tender offer for acquisition

Mergers and Acquisitions - Neurology companies merge to develop neurological disorder therapies

Mergers and Acquisitions - Physiome Sciences announces merger

Mergers and Acquisitions - Q-One Biotech signs definitive agreement to be acquired

Mergers and Acquisitions - Reverse merger with Healthcare Network Solutions completed

Mergers and Acquisitions - U.S. contract research organization to acquire Mexican CRO

Microbiology - A new method monitors horizontal gene transfer in microbes

Minority Health - African-American women say provider communication is important in prenatal care

Molecular Biology - Scientists develop novel way to screen molecules using conventional CD players

Molecular Biology - Scientists map signaling molecule crucial to survival, disease

Multiple Myeloma - New drugs appear to overcome drug resistance, bone marrow persistence

Multiple Myeloma - Thalidomide back on the market in Australia by year-end

Multiple Sclerosis - DNA therapeutics reported to be powerful approach to autoimmune disease

Multiple Sclerosis - Metallothionein expression in MS patients is higher in inactive lesions

Mutagenesis - Immunity requires DNA deamination, but the enzyme can act on other DNA

Myasthenia Gravis - Video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy is effective therapy for MG

Mycobacterium -  Mycobacterium vanbaalenii PYR-1 metabolizes dimethylbenz[a]anthracene

Myocardial Infarction - Deadly gas can protect the heart

Narcolepsy - Hypocretin/orexin system involved in narcolepsy

Nasal/Paranasal Lymphoma - Local-regional radiation and systemic chemotherapy is recommended

Natural Antibacterial - The peptidoglycan recognition protein M.mPGRP-L has good antibacterial activity

Nausea - Researcher working on medical patch to deliver marijuana-like drug

Neurocysticercosis - Glial fibrillary acidic protein found in CSF of neurocysticercosis patients

Neuroinflammatory Research - Different leukocyte types use different migratory mechanisms in the CNS

Neuropeptides - Carboxypeptidase CPA-5 may be involved in cleavage of proopiomelanocortin

Neuroscience - Perinatal exposure to lead or cadmium can be unmasked with enzyme markers

Neutropenia - Oral antibiotics, early hospital discharge manage low-risk febrile neutropenia

Nuclear Receptor - PPAR gamma controls cell cycle, apoptosis with retinoblastoma protein

Obesity Genomics and Genetics - Allele-specific expression of adiponectin gene related to obesity

Obesity Pathogenesis - Polyunsaturated fatty acids, inflammation, and obesity reviewed

Obesity Therapy - Orlistat effective in the treatment of obesity

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Neurotrophic factor gene linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obstetrics - Intrapartum management of women on anticoagulation therapy requires planning

Obstetrics - Misoprostol is safe for induction of labor if used appropriately

Occupational Health - Occupational skin exposure regulated by three agencies in the United States

Occupational Risk - Irritant contact dermatitis has many forms; hands are most often affected

Olfactory Bulb Function - AMPA receptors react at different rates with different neuron subtypes

Oncology - Interleukin-1 cytokines and receptors mediate breast cancer progression

Oncology - Lymphangiogenic markers are predictive of colorectal cancer survival

Ophthalmology - University of Washington signs licensing agreement for study of eye disease

Organ Simulation - Cell culture in human endometrial arrangement may help study metastasis

Osteoporosis - Once weekly alendronate matches the efficacy of daily alendronate regimens

Osteoporosis - Recombinant human PTH 1-34 appears to reduce bone fractures

Osteoporosis - Vitamin K1 supplements retard bone loss in postmenopausal women

Ovarian Cancer - Experimental immunotherapy in clinical trials

Ovarian Cancer - Flavopiridol enhances radiosensitivity of ovarian carcinoma cells

Pain Medication - New compound acts on peripheral receptors

Pain Medicine - Cannabis trial planned for surgery patients

Pain Medicine - Nociceptin/orphanin FQ and its receptor are potential pain therapy targets

Pancreatic Cancer - Farnesyltransferase inhibitors are well tolerated

Pancreatic and Colon Cancer - Researchers discuss the role of Smad4 (DPC4) inactivation in human cancer

Pancreaticoduodenectomy - Somatostatin reduces pancreatic stump-related complications

Parkinson Disease - Cytoplasmic inclusions in some neurodegenerative disorders may induce death

Parkinson Disease - Gene therapy study begins

Parkinson Disease - Ubiquitination pathways may be central to Parkinson's disease

Patent Agreements - PDL reports on status of humanization patent license arrangement

Pathology - Clinical reference lab to provide services for Ascension Health

Patient Safety - Endosafe-PTS launched to detect microbial contaminants in drugs, devices

Pediatric Infection - Guidelines for screening infants born to HCV-infected mothers are announced

Pediatrics - Socioeconomics and family planning influence childhood malnutrition in India

Peripheral Edema - Gemcitabine may be associated with potentially serious peripheral edema

Personnel - Anido named to board of directors at pain management drug firm

Personnel - Baltimore appointed to board of directors at biotech company

Personnel - Biopharmaceutical company announces regulatory affairs staff changes

Personnel - Claire J. Lockey named VP, regulatory affairs

Personnel - Clarke joins board of directors at pharmaceutical firm

Personnel - Del Tito joins executive team at protein drug company

Personnel - Genomics company appoints new members to scientific advisory board

Personnel - Genomics company names Hector J. Gomez MD, PhD, as chief medical officer

Personnel - Insulin pump maker appoints new VP of sales

Personnel - Jacob Rowe to chair stem cell company's scientific advisory board

Personnel - John A. Delyani becomes U.S.-based vice president, business development

Personnel - New CEO named at genomics company

Personnel - Robert K. Schultz named president of REVA Medical

Personnel - Scheller named CEO of proteomics company

Personnel - Senior management team expanded at stem cell therapy company

Personnel - Valentino named president, CEO of respiratory drug development company

Personnel - Vicuna joins pharmaceutical firm as director, international business development

Pharmaceutical Sales - Sales force increased to expand presence of Doak products

Pharmacology - Collaborative effort focuses on AIDS in Africa

Phytotherapy - Green tea extract blocks angiogenesis by halting VEGF receptor expression

Pneumococcal Vaccine - Serological criteria proposed for licensing pneumococcal vaccine in infants

Pneumonia - Human trials begin on DB289 to treat PCP in AIDS patients

Postoperative Pain - Patient-controlled regional anesthesia offers advantages for home use

Predictive Cardiology Test - Test predicts outcome during percutaneous coronary intervention

Prescription Drug Access - Demonstration project makes medications accessible in remote areas of Alaska

Prescription Drug Coverage - CMS proposes new rules to pay appropriately for Medicare-covered drugs

Prions - Prion protein trafficking studies providing insight into neurodegeneration

Prostate Cancer - Green tea inhibits angiogenesis and other cancer progression mechanisms

Proteomics -  Jumonji downregulates cardiac cell proliferation by repressing cyclin D1

Proteomics -  Rickettsiae characterized by groEL gene analysis

Proteomics - Accumulated prion proteins appear to be neurotoxic

Proteomics - Actin filament-stabilizing protein regulates size of dendritic fields

Proteomics - Clinical applications of proteomics outlined

Proteomics - Cyclic peptide coupling improves activity and stability of peptides

Proteomics - Cyclin-dependent kinases phosphorylate p73 at threonine 86

Proteomics - Function and regulation of Ena/VASP proteins reviewed

Proteomics - Genome-wide studies of protein-protein interaction shed light on functions

Proteomics - KT5823 inhibits downregulation of the histamine hi receptor

Proteomics - Models for assessing the role of selenoproteins in health designed

Proteomics - Outer membrane translocase transfers precursor proteins

Proteomics - Protein informatics aids function identification

Proteomics - Screening for nitric oxide-dependent protein-protein interactions reported

Proteomics - Serotonin transporter mutation causes activation of transport activity

Proteomics - Smurf1 controls bone morphogenetic protein signaling

Proteomics - Subgenome analysis aids elucidation of protein structure

Proteomics - TGF-beta activated kinase 1 inhibits fibrotic responses induced by TGF-beta

Proteomics - Transmembrane 9 proteins exert synergistic control of cellular adhesion

Proteomics - Troponin I inhibitory peptide suppresses force generation in smooth muscle

Pseudomonas Vaccine - Combined systemic and mucosal OprF-I vaccination enhances immunogenicity

Psoriasis - Study: Novasome A cream is safe and effective

Psychiatric Drugs - Understanding hospital operations can increase marketing effectiveness

Psychology - Mild prenatal stress associates with enhanced conditioned fear in adult rats

Pulmonary Complications - Lymphomatoid granulomatosis is a risk following renal transplant

Pulmonary Complications - Usual interstitial pneumonitis has an unusual but fatal subset

Receptor Studies - Oligomerization of cargo receptor directs protein into transport vesicles

Receptor Studies - p250GAP involved in N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor signaling

Regulatory Issues - FDA unveils strategic action plan to protect and advance America's health

Rejection Control - Tolerance is the ultimate hope for transplant improvement

Renal Cell Carcinoma - PROTEOMEX may identify markers to select patients for immunotherapy

Reproductive Medicine - Factors associated with ovarian stimulation may impact fertilization outcomes

Research and Development - Contract research organization buys information management system

Reservoir Surveillance - West Nile Virus is found in horses from Coahuila State in Northern Mexico

Reservoir Surveillance - West Nile virus is found in horses from Yucatan State in Mexico

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Collaboration results in filing of IND for p38 kinase inhibitor

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Complement regulators FHL-1 and factor H protect joints from damage

Rheumatology - Local anti-TNF single-chain antibody expression prevents arthritis

SARS - Epitope of SARS-coronavirus nucleocapsid protein identified

Schizophrenia - Tau protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid increased in schizophrenia

Schmidt Syndrome - Autoimmune thyroiditis patients have risk of developing Addison disease

Sepsis/Septic Shock - Antiendotoxin IgM antibody increases correlate with survival from septicemia

Small Molecule Discovery - Patent granted to biologically active molecules from the environment

Smallpox - New generation of vaccines to be tested

Smallpox - Researchers publish final results of groundbreaking vaccination study

Snake Venom Research - Crotoxin is the active Crotalus inhibitor of macrophage phagocytosis

Soft Tissue Sarcoma - Oncology firm appeals E.U. denial of approval for cancer drug

Staphylococcus Aureus - MgrA is transcriptional regulator in S. aureus, like MarR in E. coli

Stem Cell Transplantation - Pentostatin shows promise for treatment of refractory chronic GVHD in children

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - Positive results reported from phase II trial for clazosentan

Substance Abuse - Deadly "drug corner" moves to home computers

Substance Abuse - Neurons involved in drug addiction relapse identified

Sulfur Mustard Vesicant - Low-dose sulfur mustard initiates oxidative burst and apoptosis of leukocytes

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Infection with parvovirus B-19 is extremely similar; perhaps B-19 initiates SLE

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Osteonecrosis is a risk for patients with SLE and other autoimmune diseases

T-Cell Activation - Dendritic-produced thromboxane A₂ negatively regulates T-cell response

T-Cell Activation - The transition from naive T cells to effectors involves two receptor switches

T-Cell Function - Dopamine inhibits cytokine, tyrosine kinase expression in activated cells

Technology - Instrument to fashion custom-made proteomics chips

Therapeutic Target - The IL4 gene in T cells is involved in allergies, TH2 differentiation

Therapeutic Vaccines - Collaboration targets development of RC-529 adjuvant

Thrombocytopenia - Argatroban reduces thrombosis, death due to thrombosis

Tick-borne Disease - Outer surface protein C primed mice not protected against Borrelia burgdorferi

Tissue Management - Premier signs new agreement for tissue management products

Topical Pain Relief - Flexogan shipped to Canadian wholesaler

Toxicology - Alcohol-related metabolizing enzymes affect genes that raise liver cancer risk

Toxicology - Ethinyloestradiol propanolsulphonate alters healthy women's bile profiles

Transplant Rejection - If antibodies are the true problem in transplant rejection, removal should work

Trypanosoma Brucei - RNA polymerase I transcribes not just rDNA; but also procyclin, VSG genes

Tuberculosis - Mice deficient in MHC class II transactivator susceptible to tuberculosis

Type 1 Diabetes Pathogenesis - Seasonal differences in diabetes onset found for males but not females

Ulcerative Colitis - Tryptase, protease-activated receptor 2, and TNF-alpha may be involved in UC

Urology Device Reimbursement - Medical device company comments on proposed Medicare rate codes

Vaccine Development - Genome-based screening approach to vaccine development designed

Vaccine Development - High-throughput antibody screening processes reviewed

Varicella-Zoster Virus - Non-radiometric flow-cytometry assay detects VZV cell-mediated immunity

Vector Development - Artificial viruses offer a novel way to do gene transfer

Viral Hepatitis - Chronic hepatitis B therapy flare fails due to hepatitis D coinfection

Viral Proteomics - New models explain the topology of hepatitis C virus envelope glycoproteins

Virology - The marmoset can be incorporated into preclinical gene therapy trials

West Nile Virus - Agreement signed to continue development of methylene blue

West Nile Virus - Thirty-five sites will test new drug