Pharma Investments, Ventures and Law Weekly

Akers Biosciences, Inc. - Biotech company announces cancellation of shares

Guava Technologies, Inc. - Biomedical company completes $27 million in private equity financing

Johns Hopkins University - O-GlcNAc plays role in diabetes, cancer, and neurodegeneration

Karolinska Institute -  Enterococcus enriched with surface protein gene show increased adhesion

Kumamoto University - VLDL/chylomicron plays role in amyloid formation

Kuopio University Hospital - IL-1 receptor antagonist polymorphisms are associated with preeclampsia

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center - IIp45 antagonizes IGFBP-2 stimulation of glioma cell invasion

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center - PI3-K pathway may be major pathway for trastuzumab-mediated radiosensitization

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center - p27(KIP1) has a novel role in down-regulation of telomerase activity

Manchester Royal Eye Hospital - HSV keratitis can occur in keratoplasty as host reactivation, donor transmission

Maxygen, Inc. - 5HTIA serotonin receptor agonists suppress P. falciparum growth

Mayo Clinic - A rapid serological assay can identify amyloidogenic transthyretin variants

Immucor, Inc. - Reagent company announces new bank credit facility

Mayo Clinic - MAPK pathway may be a potential therapeutic target in ALL

Medical University of Lodz - A whole genome screen reveals five genes associated with multiple sclerosis

Medicare - HHS secretary promotes program's changes at Wisconsin town hall meeting

Medicis - FDA approves dermal filler Restylane

Mentor Corp. - WARF licenses botulinum toxin

Microbiology & Immunology Inst., Belgrade -  Staphylococcus sciuri group may be an infrequent cause of UTI

NanoBio Corporation - U.S. Department of Defense awards $3.2M contract for antimicrobial nanoemulsions

National Blood Service, Birmingham, UK - HLA-DRB5 allele, DRB5*0112, may be the result of intraexonic recombination

National Cancer Center, Gyeonggi - BRAF mutations do not seem to be involved in gastric cancer development

National Public Health Institute, Turku - BACTEC MGIT 960 effective for TB drug resistance testing

Incara Pharmaceuticals Corp. - Drug discovery company announces 2003 net loss of $3,925,000

Natl. Inst. of Health & Medical Research, Paris - HIV Nef induces accumulation of MHC II complexes and MVBs

Newcastle General Hospital - DJ-1 gene polymorphism not linked to Parkinson disease

Noninvasive Monitoring Systems, Inc. - AT101 maker announces major narrowing of first quarter loss compared to 2002

Norwegian Univ. of Science & Technology - TOP2A aberration testing may help identify targeted breast cancer therapies

OraSure Technologies, Inc. - FDA completes inspection of manufacturing facility for oral diagnostics company

Oregon Health Sciences University -  Ginkgo biloba prevents memory deficits in Alzheimer disease animal models

Paul Scherrer Institute - HIV TAT basic peptide has low affinity for VEGF receptor 2

Qmed - FDA approves Restylane for soft tissue augmentation

Radiancy, Inc. - FDA grants clearance for light unit assembly acne vulgaris treatment

Roche - 48-Week data submitted to FDA for full approval of HIV fusion inhibitor

Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - Company's FY2003 highlighted by preparation for launch of trospium in 2004

Roche - FDA approves labeling for use of Xenical in adolescent patients

Rowett Research Inst. - CSF treatments, laser light therapy may aid restitution and repair of mucositis

Saegis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - CNS-focused biopharmaceutical company announces new vice president

Schering, AG - MS-325 for magnetic resonance angiography submitted for approval in the U.S.

Southern Arizona VA Health Care System Hospital - AT₁ blockade enhances vasorelaxation during heart failure

SpectRx, Inc. - FDA grants second major patent for insulin delivery patch

Stanford University - VEGF is a prerequisite for exercise-induced hippocampal neurogenesis

Suntory Pharmaceutical Research - HMGene enters obesity drug agreement

Syneron Medical, Ltd. - FDA approves Polaris WR wrinkle treatment system

Tiax - U.S. patent issued for multilayered dressing

Legal Issues - Pharmacy benefits company asks for dismissal of federal lawsuit

Tohoku University, Japan - II beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 is expressed in ARDS patient lungs

U.S. Food & Drug Administration - FDA plans to prohibit sales of diet supplements containing ephedra

U.S. National Institutes of Health - NHGRI launches social and behavioral research branch

U.S. National Institutes of Health - NK cell activating receptor NKp46 is similar to other leukocyte receptors

U.S. Natl. Inst. of Child Health & Human Developme - U.S. NIH alerts parents to winter SIDS risk

Ullevaal University Hospital - HAART has limited effect on hypertension risk

United Nations - U.S. labor secretary launches HIV/AIDS initiative in Ghana

Univ. of Texas Medical Branch - DNA base excision repair proteins help fix oxidative DNA damage

Univ. of Texas SW Medical Center - LDL receptor-related protein controls blood-brain barrier permeability

University of Alberta - TRAIL triggers apoptosis in human malignant glioma cells

Legal Issues - Two pharmacists charged with defrauding Medicaid

University of British Columbia - T-plastin shows potential as Sezary cell-specific marker

University of California-Los Angeles - 12-Lipoxygenase plays role in experimental diabetic nephropathy

University of Edinburgh - TNF-alpha may play an early role in the malignant transformation of liver cells

University of Glasgow -  Trypanosoma homologous recombination changes if mismatch repair is impaired

University of Laval - LDL peak particle diameter is highly heritable

University of Maryland - U.S. officials say interviews for HIV study were fabricated

University of Milan - TIPS improves cardiac function in hypovolemic patients

University of Munich - A new B*38 allele, B*3809, was found in a Dutch caucasoid B-cell line

University of New South Wales - DHEA increases macrophage foam-cell formation

University of Paris - 3-D ultrasound assesses lung volume in cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Legal Issues - Woman sentenced to more than 4 years for Medicaid fraud

University of Rochester -  Pseudomonas aeruginosa has two quorum sensing systems that could be targeted

University of So. Denmark - PPARdelta transactivation occurs in psoriasis; may be linked to pathology

University of Southern California - "Paper of the year" recognizes significance of gene variance findings

University of Szeged - A whole genome screen reveals 33 genes associated with multiple sclerosis

University of Tokyo - CO poisoning is due to ROS affecting neurons; hypothermia can reduce the damage

University of Tubingen - CD8 T cells expanded on calibrated MHC/anti-CD28-coated microspheres

VA Medical Center, Kansas City - 2-Methoxyestradiol has a biphasic effect on new vessel growth

Vanderbilt University - p63 Amplification, overexpression occurs early in developing lung cancer

W. Australian Ctr. for Pathology & Medical Researc - PCR assay can aid malaria diagnosis in patients with low parasitemia

Washington University -  Cryptococcus neoformans capsule formation can be blocked by RNA interference

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. - GTC takes equity position in MM-093 developer

West Virginia University - p38 MAPK mediates negative inotropic effect of gp120 on myocytes

World Health Organization - HIV has significant influence on leishmaniasis epidemiology

World Health Organization - U.N.: Spread of polio in West Africa threatens global eradication drive

World Health Organization - WHO: Battle against AIDS will founder without boost to basic healthcare

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals - CDC: Vaccine shortage likely

Nutra Pharma Corp. - Acquisition to advance treatment of viral diseases and neurological disorders

Oxford Innovation - Oxford's global network boosts healthcare in the Third World

ArQule, Inc. - Oncology-focused biotech firm files $50M shelf registration statement