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Agilent Technologies Expands Therapeutic Nucleic Acids Manufacturing Capacity
Agilent Technologies Inc. announced the expansion of its nucleic acid active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facility in Boulder, Colo. Agilent's Nucleic Acids Solutions Division is ...

CRELUX and ProQinase establish joint crystal-grade kinase protein and structures platform
CRELUX and ProQinase announced that they have entered into a joint agreement to supply customers with crystal-grade protein kinases and readily available kinase complex structures. Under the ...

Commission procrastinates on GMOs while millions of farmers worldwide are growing them
The EU Commission held a debate on the biotech crop approval process in Europe and sent out a disappointing signal when it agreed to send back three cultivation dossiers which had been positively ...

Platypus genome reveals evolutionary path that gave mammals reproductive edge
The odd-looking platypus is often cited as proof that God has a sense of humor. Now researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine have turned to the strange animal to understand the ...

Microbix to spin off Urokinase into newly formed Klarogen Biotherapeutics
Microbix Biosystems Inc. announced that it intends to spin off its Urokinase assets into a new private company, Klarogen Biotherapeutics Inc., which would become the sole commercial-scale ...

An award for young scientists in a young discipline
Systems Biology is a young field. It has the potential to fundamentally change the life sciences and generate radically new insights for biomedical research as well as for industry and agriculture. ...

Cornell researchers study bacterium big enough to see
The secret to an unusual bacterium's massive size - it's the size of a grain of salt, or a million times bigger than E. coli bacteria, and big enough to see with the naked eye - may be found in its ...

LC Sciences and DNAVision form Strategic Marketing Alliance
LC Sciences announced that it has entered into a strategic marketing alliance with DNAVision to increase accessibility to its custom microRNA profiling service and enhance both its customer and ...

DIREVO announces validation of bestMab
DIREVO Biotech AG announced that it has validated its "bestMab(TM)" platform through the generation of an optimized version of the anti-inflammatory antibody, Adalimumab (Humira®), with ...

Medgenics appoints Vice President of Clinical Affairs
Medgenics announced that it has appointed Dr. Ehud Shoshani, former CEO of Quintiles, Israel, as its Vice President of Clinical Affairs. Dr. Shoshani will manage the Company's Phase I/II clinical ...

Amylin Initiates Phase 2B Dose-Ranging Clinical Study of Pramlintide/Metreleptin Combination Treatment in Obesity
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the initiation of a Phase 2B clinical study evaluating various dosing combinations of pramlintide, an analog of the natural hormone amylin, and recombinant ...

Galapagos and Allergan enter drug discovery collaboration
Galapagos NV announced today that Galapagos' service division, BioFocus DPI, will provide hit-finding services for multiple Allergan, Inc. targets. Total contract value for Galapagos could reach up ...

Genenews adds two members to its Board of Directors
GeneNews Limited announced its shareholders recently elected two additional members to its Board of Directors, Mr. Harry A. Glorikian and Ms. Fran Tuttle. They join Mr. Rory Riggs, Mr. James ...

Novartis Menveo vaccine shows superior immune response against four types of meningitis disease in pivotal phase III trial
New Phase III data for Menveo® (MenACWY-CRM) show that the vaccine produced a greater immune response against meningococcal serogroups A, C, W-135 and Y in adolescents 11-18 years of age compared to ...

NicOx announces U.S. phase 2a results for PF-03187207 and gives an update on continuing NO-prostaglandin program
NicOx S.A. announced the results of a U.S. phase 2 study, conducted by its partner Pfizer Inc, which compared the safety and efficacy of various doses of PF-03187207 to Xalatan® (latanoprost) 0.005% ...

"Silent" fungus metabolism awakened for new natural products
US scientists have re-awakened 'silent' metabolic pathways in fungi to reveal a new range of natural products. The research could provide not only a source of new drugs, but a way to "listen to what ...

Aesica appoints Michael Staff, Vice President, Sales and Business Development North Amercia
Aesica announced the appointment of Michael Staff as Vice President, Sales and Business Development, North America.Michael joins Aesica from Minakem, a French fine chemical company, where he was ...

Agilent Technologies Secures Exclusive License to Aktiv-Dry CAN-BD Spray-Drying Technology for Nucleic Acid API's
Agilent Technologies Inc. announced that it has secured an exclusive license to Aktiv-Dry's CAN-BD drying technology for nucleic acid active pharmaceutical ingredients (API's). Can-BD is a continuous ...

CollPlant developing Type I Recombinant Human Collagen from Transgenic Tobacco Plants
CollPlant Ltd., a biotechnology company specializing in the development and commercialization of novel medical products based on its plant-derived, Type I collagen and other recombinant proteins, ...

Reconstructing Oetzi's, the Neolithic Man family tree with 454 Sequencing
Since Oetzi's sensational discovery, in 1991 and his extraction from the glacier in Alto Adige in Italy, Europe's most famous mummy has been the subject of intensive scientific study. The initial ...

Model shows how mutation tips biochemistry to cause Alzheimer's
Forms of early-onset Alzheimer's disease are known to be hereditary, caused by single point mutations. Now, using sophisticated computer simulations, a team of physical chemists have shown precisely how the substitution of one amino acid for one that is

Human aging gene found in flies
Scientists funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council have found a fast and effective way to investigate important aspects of human aging. Researchers at the University of Oxford and the Open University have discovered a gene in

Binge drinkers have a disconnect between assessing their driving abilities and reality
While many people believe that alcohol-impaired drivers are usually alcoholics, in fact, 80 percent of AI incidents are caused by binge drinkers. A recent study conducted among college students has found that binge drinkers, even when legally intoxicated,

Naltrexone is effective for Alaska Natives and other Alaskans living in rural areas
Access to treatment for alcohol dependence in rural and remote areas is limited. This study evaluated the effectiveness of two pharmacotherapies for AD -- naltrexone alone, and in combination with sertraline -- among Alaska Natives and other Alaskans livi

Scientists dig deeper into the genetics of schizophrenia by evaluating microRNAs
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have illuminated a window into how abnormalities in microRNAs may contribute to the behavioral and neuronal deficits associated with schizophrenia and possibly other brain disorders. In the May 11 issue of

Fruit fly avoidance mechanism could lead to new ways to control pain in humans
A team of researchers from the University of Georgia has discovered for the first time that the important developmental switch from food attraction to aversion in the fruit fly larva is controlled by a timing mechanism in the brain and its sensory system.

Female concave-eared frogs draw mates with ultrasonic calls
Most female frogs don't call; most lack or have only rudimentary vocal cords. A typical female selects a mate from a chorus of males and then -- silently -- signals her beau. But the female concave-eared torrent frog, Odorrana tormota, has a more direct

Circumcision and partner reduction should be priorities for HIV prevention, say US researchers
Circumcision and partner reduction should be priorities for HIV prevention, say US researchers

HIV, but not HHV-8, found to increase risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension
HIV, but not HHV-8, found to increase risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension

Is divorce bad for the parents?
The elderly are cared for by their adult children regardless of their marital status. In a unique study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, researchers found British adult children help their elderly parents according to current need (i.e.

UV lotion lights the way to cleaner facilities
Hospital cleaners should watch out because the toilet police are patrolling with their new secret weapon: invisible markers

Development of new techniques to understand marble quality and durability
The results allow to establish durability controls in new constructions, preserve the historic heritage and restore it with guarantees. In addition, the research work offers the possibility of determining marbles quality and origin. This is an applied res

FDA Approves New Formulation of Coagulation Therapy
he U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new formulation of the genetically engineered version of Factor VIIa, a plasma protein essential for the clotting of blood. The new formulation allows the product to be stored at room temperature (up to

Researchers uncover mechanism of action of antibiotic able to reduce neuronal cell death in brain
Virginia Commonwealth University researchers have discovered how an antibiotic works to modulate the activity of a neurotransmitter that regulates brain functions, which eventually could lead to therapies to treat Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disea

No Spillage VantageCath Gets FDA Approval
VantageCath is a new peripheral IV catheter designed to not only prevent unexpected needlestick injuries, but also to eliminate the spillage of blood during the IV placement. The device is a product of a firm called Advantage Medical Devices from Solan...

FDA Approves First Generic Ropinirole
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first generic versions of Requip (ropinirole hydrochloride) tablets for the treatment of moderate to severe Restless Legs Syndrome.

New technique determines the number of fat cells remains constant in all body types
The radioactive carbon-14 produced by above-ground nuclear testing in the 1950s and '60s has helped researchers determine that the number of fat cells in a human's body, whether lean or obese, is established during the teenage years. Changes in fat mass

Suspected cause of type 1 diabetes caught 'red-handed' for the first time
Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis working with diabetic mice have examined in unprecedented detail the immune cells long thought to be responsible for type 1 diabetes. They caught the immune cells, known as dendritic cell

Scientists endure Arctic for last campaign prior to CryoSat-2 launch
An international group of scientists has swapped their comfortable offices for one of the most inhospitable environments on the planet to carry out a challenging field campaign that is seen as the key to ensuring the data delivered by ESA's ice mission C

South Korea says soldier not infected with bird flu
SEOUL, May 9 - A South Korean soldier tested for bird flu did not contract the deadly virus and will be released from hospital, according to a statement ...

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. and NuVasive, Inc. Enter into Definitive Agreement for Osteocel(R) for Up to $85 Million in Upfront and Milestone Payments
Transaction Provides Substantial Infusion of Cash as Osiris Prepares for Commercial Launch of Prochymal

COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSIR) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with NuVasive, Inc. (NASDAQ:NUVA) to sell Osiris Osteocel business for up to $85 million in upfront and milestone payments. In a separate agreement worth...

Group Wants FDA To Pull Johnson & Johnson Birth Control Patch Ortho Evra
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. advocacy group is urging the Food and Drug Administration to pull Johnson & Johnson's birth control patch from the market after studies found an increased risk of dangerous blood clots.

FDA Delays Decision on Adolor Corporation, GlaxoSmithKline Bowel Drug
EXTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Adolor Corporation (Nasdaq:ADLR - News) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has communicated to the company that it will not be issuing an action letter on the NDA for Entereg (alvimopan) for postoperative ileus by May 10, 2008, the scheduled PDUFA date. The FDA did not provide a specific date, but informed the company that it expects to issue...

Enzo Biochem Acquires Further Expanding Its Life Sciences Operations
Acquisition Seen as Strategic and Accretive, Adding Management, Manufacturing and Scientific Depth

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Enzo Biochem, Inc. (NYSE:ENZ) announced the acquisition on May 8th of substantially all of the U.S. based assets of BIOMOL International, LP, of Plymouth Meeting, PA, and all of the stock of its two-wholly-owned United Kingdom subsidiaries. BIOMOL is a privately owned...

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Sale of Injectable Generic Drugs to Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (NasdaqGM:SPPI - News): Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (NasdaqGM:SPPI - News) announced today that it has sold its abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) for its injectable generic drugs, ondansetron, carboplatin, fludarabine, and mitoxantrone, to Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The sale of these non-core assets provides...

Applera Corporations Board of Directors Formally Approves Proposed Separation of Its Business
NORWALK, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Applera Corporation today announced that its board of directors has formally approved the proposed separation of the Celera Group (NYSE:CRA - News) from Applera's remaining businesses. The separation will be accomplished by means of a redemption of all of the outstanding shares of Applera Corporation - Celera Group tracking stock. In the redemption, each outstanding...

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Company ABILIFY(R) Receives Expanded Indications for Maintenance Treatment in Both Pediatric Patients (Aged 10-17) With Manic and Mixed Episodes of Bipolar I Disorder and Adolescents (Aged 13-17) With Schizophrenia
TOKYO & PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY - News) announced that ABILIFY (aripiprazole) received expanded indications in Bipolar I Disorder and Schizophrenia. ABILIFY is now indicated for maintenance treatment of manic and mixed episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder with or without psychotic features in pediatric patients...

University of Oklahoma Researchers Identify New Cancer Gene
ScienceDaily (May 9, 2008) Researchers at the OU Cancer Institute have identified a new gene that causes cancer. The ground-breaking research appears April 28 in Natures cancer journal Oncogene. The gene and its protein, both called RBM3, are vital for cell division in normal cells. In cancers, low oxygen levels in the tumors cause the amount of this protein to go up dramatically. This causes cancer...

Fetal Gene May Contribute to Diabetes Risk, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Study
THURSDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- Reduced activity of an important gene during fetal development appears to increase vulnerability to type 2 diabetes later in life, new research suggests.

Gene Variant Boosts Risk of Severe Diabetic Eye, Kidney Diseases, University of Utah Study
THURSDAY, May 8 (HealthDay News) -- A gene called erythropoietin (EPO) is linked to severe diabetic eye and kidney diseases, a new study finds.

Immune System Pathway Identified To Fight Allergens, Asthma, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Study
UPMC -- For the first time, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified genetic components of dendritic cells that are key to asthma and allergy-related immune response malfunction. Targeting these elements could result in more effective drugs to treat allergic disorders and asthma, according to a study reported in the May edition of the journal Nature Medicine...

Key Roadblock To Gene Expression Identified: Implications For AIDS, Penn State University and National Institutes of Health (NIH) Study
ScienceDaily (May 9, 2008) A team of scientists has provided, for the first time, a detailed map of how the building blocks of chromosomes, the cellular structures that contain genes, are organized in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. The work identifies a critical stop sign for transcription, the first step in gene expression, and has implications for understanding how the AIDS virus regulates...

How 'Horse Tranquilizer' Stops Depression, University of Manchester Study
Univ Manchester Researchers have shown exactly how the anaesthetic ketamine helps depression with images that show the orbitofrontal cortex the part of the brain that is overactive in depression being switched off. Ketamine, an anaesthetic that is popular with doctors on the battlefield and also with vets because it allows a degree of awareness without pain, is a new hope for the treatment of...

FDA Grants Priority Review of Talecris Biotherapeutics's Gamunex(R) as a Treatment for Neurological Disorder CIDP
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Talecris Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a Priority Review of Gamunex (Immune Globulin Intravenous [Human], 10% Caprylate/Chromatography Purified) for the treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).

The Priority Review designation is intended to expedite...

High Fat Diet Linked To Prostate Cancer, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Study
HOUSTON, May 9 (UPI) -- Men who ate diets low in saturated fat after having the prostate removed to treat cancer had better survival rates, a U.S. study said. A study of 390 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston completed a food frequency questionnaire for the year prior to the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Body mass index was also calculated.

Genetic 'Tag Team' Keeps Cells On Cycle, Duke University Study
ScienceDaily (May 9, 2008) By surveying the activity of thousands of genes at several different time points, researchers at the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy have uncovered new evidence that a network of influential genes act as a kind of genetic tag team to orchestrate one of the most fundamental aspects of all life: the cell cycle.

Previously Unseen Switch Regulates Breast Cancer Response To Estrogen, Emory University Study
EurekAlert -- A tiny modification called methylation on estrogen receptors prolongs the life of these growth-driving molecules in breast cancer cells, according to research by scientists at Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute. The results are published in the May 9, 2008 issue of the journal Molecular Cell.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company CEO Buys 100,000 Shares
NEW YORK, May 8 (Reuters) - The chief executive of drugmaker Bristol-Myers Squibb Co bought 100,000 company shares in his first open-market purchase since taking the top post nearly two years ago, according to a regulatory filing on Thursday.

Celator Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Appointment of as CEO

PRINCETON, N.J., May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Celator Pharmaceuticals today announced that Scott Jackson has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Jackson joined Celator in October 2007 as Head of Commercial Development.

"We are delighted to have Scott as the new CEO. He brings more than 20 years of pharmaceutical experience, including 10 years of specialty pharmaceutical experience...

Ginseng May Help Treat Schizophrenia
May 8, 2008 (Washington) -- A form of Asian ginseng shows promise for relieving schizophrenia symptoms that are difficult to treat. In a small study, patients had fewer negative symptoms -- such as lack of motivation and a severe reduction in emotional expression known as "flat affect" -- when they took Panax ginseng than when they took a placebo.

Mindray MedicalTops Estimates in Q1
May 9, 2008 -- Mindray Medical International Limited (NYSE: MR), the Shenzhen-based medical device and in-vitro diagnostic test company, announced its first quarter financial results, reporting substantial increases in revenues and profits. The results were not only ahead of last year, but they beat the numbers projected by Wall Street analysts. While releasing the details of its Q1 performance, the...

Roche New Study Demonstrates ACTEMRA(R) (tocilizumab) Inhibits Progression of Joint Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients - Fifth International Phase III Study Shows Positive Results with X-ray Data

NUTLEY, N.J., May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Roche today announced one-year results from a new two-year Phase III study showing that ACTEMRA(TM) (tocilizumab) can significantly inhibit progression of structural damage to joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a critical measure of effectiveness of an RA treatment. The study also demonstrated that ACTEMRA reduces disease signs and symptoms...

ZIOPHARM, Inc. Receives FDA Orphan Drug Designation for Palifosfamide (ZIO-201) in the Treatment of Soft Tissue Sarcoma
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZIOP - News), announced today that the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Orphan Drug Designation to palifosfamide in the treatment of Soft Tissue Sarcoma (STS). The United States Orphan Drug Act of 1983 was created to provide incentives for companies to develop and market treatments for diseases or conditions affecting...

Biovail Corporation Announces New Strategic Focus; Close Plants and Take Charges
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Biovail Corporation (NYSE/TSX: BVF) today announced several new initiatives stemming from its strategic review, including a new strategic focus on developing specialty products targeted towards central nervous system (CNS) disorders intended to drive sustainable growth. The Company also announced Board approval for the filing of a Normal Course Issuer Bid for up to 14 million...

FDA Approves Eli Lilly and Company's Strattera(R) for Maintenance of ADHD in Children and Adolescents
INDIANAPOLIS, May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY - News) announced today that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Strattera (atomoxetine HCI) for maintenance treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. Strattera, a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is the first FDA-approved non-stimulant...

Weight-Loss Drugs May Harm Developing Brain, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Study
ScienceDaily (May 8, 2008) A new class of anti-obesity drugs that suppresses appetite by blocking cannabinoid receptors in the brain could also suppress the adaptive rewiring of the brain necessary for neural development in children, studies with mice have indicated. One such drug, rimonabant (trade name Acomplia) has been developed by Sanofi-Aventis and is awaiting approval for use in the U.S....

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. Receives Approval for Use of Prochymal(TM) Under FDA Expanded Access Treatment Program
COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSIR - News) today announced it has been given clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate an expanded access treatment program for Prochymal, making the investigational stem cell product available to children with life-threatening Graft vs. Host Disease (GvHD). Prochymal, a formulation of adult mesenchymal stem...

Gene That Gives Rise To Neuroblastoma, An Aggressive Childhood Cancer, Located
BOSTON (Reuters) - An international team of researchers said they have pinpointed three variants of the genetic code that appear to set the stage for aggressive neuroblastoma, the deadliest solid tumor in early childhood. The finding is not expected to immediately change the way doctors treat the cancer, diagnosed in 700 children in the United States alone each year, they reported in the New England...

Metformin Pill Effective Against Gestational Diabetes, Study
BOSTON (Reuters) - The diabetes pill metformin is just as effective as insulin injections in treating women who develop diabetes during pregnancy, researchers in New Zealand and Australia reported on Wednesday. So-called gestational diabetes surfaces in one out of every 20 pregnant women, and there has been concern that metformin might affect a fetus because the drug can cross the placenta.

Pfizer Inc. Chantix Recommended To Quit Smoking Despite Safety Concerns
CHICAGO (AP) The federal government's new advice to doctors for helping smokers quit recommends the drug Chantix, which has recently been linked with depression and suicidal behavior. The new guidelines mention the psychiatric risks but also say the popular Pfizer Inc. drug is the most effective at helping people get off cigarettes.

FDA Advisory Committee Votes in Favor of Approval for Eisai Company, Ltd.'s Fospropofol Disodium Injection
WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., May 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Eisai Corporation of North America and its U.S. subsidiary, MGI PHARMA, INC., today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory Committee on Anesthetic and Life Support Drugs (ALSDAC) has voted 6 to 3 in favor (with one abstention) of approval of fospropofol disodium injection for use as an intravenous sedative-hypnotic agent for sedation...

New Target For Alzheimer's Disease Identified, Gladstone Institute Study
ScienceDaily (May 8, 2008) Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an incurable disease that is increasing in prevalence and will increase even more rapidly as the Baby Boom generation enters the age of highest risk. The available AD drugs are only partially effective in some patients. New strategies are urgently needed. In a new study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience May 7, researchers in the laboratory...

New Abbott Laboratories Study of Investigational Vicodin CR(TM) Meets Primary Efficacy Endpoints in Phase III Trial
TAMPA, May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- New Phase III study data showed that Abbott's investigational hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen (HC/APAP) extended release medicine reduced pain in patients with moderate to severe chronic low back pain, one of the most common causes of chronic pain. Taken twice daily in the clinical trial, Vicodin CR(TM) (HC/APAP extended release) significantly lowered...

Superbug Genome Sequenced by Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and Scientists
The genome of a newly-emerging superbug, commonly known as Steno, has just been sequenced. The results reveal an organism with a remarkable capacity for drug resistance. The research was carried out by scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute near Cambridge and the University of Bristol. Understanding the genome of this bacterium will help researchers discover how to deal with this particularly...

Array BioPharma, Inc. Presents Additional Positive Phase 2 Results in Inflammatory Pain Clinical Trial; ARRY-797 Achieved its Primary and Secondary Endpoints
BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Array BioPharma Inc. (Nasdaq: ARRY - News) today announced that its Chief Medical Officer, John Yates, M.D., presented additional positive results from a Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of ARRY-797, a novel small molecule pan-cytokine inhibitor, in patients with post-surgical dental pain at the American Pain Societys 27th Annual Scientific Meeting in...

FDA Sets Panel Review of GlaxoSmithKline Clotting Drug According to Amgen
LOS ANGELES, May 7 (Reuters) - A panel of expert advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will meet at the end of this month to review GlaxoSmithKline Plc's experimental drug for treating a disorder in which the blood does not clot properly, according to Amgen Inc.

Cardinal Health, Inc. Recalling Mouthwash Distributed To Hospitals
St. Louis Business Journal -- Cardinal Health Inc., the parent company of St. Louis-based pharmacy franchisor Medicine Shoppe International Inc., is recalling an alcohol-free mouthwash it marketed to hospitals and medical centers after the product tested positive for an infection-causing bacteria.

The Dublin, Ohio-based company said the recall applies to 60,000 bottles of mouthwash made...

Novartis Corporation Buys More Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Stock for $5.4 Million
CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY - News), a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that Novartis has elected to fully exercise its current right to purchase 213,888 unregistered shares of Alnylams common stock in accordance with the terms of the Investor Rights Agreement between Alnylam and Novartis, dated September 6, 2005.

In connection...

Depressed Dads Affect Kids' Speech Development
NewScientist -- Enlarge imageFathers get the baby blues too and, if they do, it can be bad news for their children's language development. Two-year-olds have a smaller vocabulary if their fathers have depression than if their mothers do.

BMP Sunstone Given Go-Ahead for Trials of Enablex(R)
May 8, 2008 -- BMP Sunstone Corporation (NSDQ: BJGP) said its Clinical Trial Application for Enablex (Darifenacin) was accepted by the SFDA, allowing the company to begin clinical trials of the treatment for overactive bladder (OAB). BMP will start human trials in the first half of 2009 and expects that approval will follow sometime in 2011. Novartis (NYSE: NVS), which owns Enablex, signed an agreement...

AstraZeneca PLC Submits sNDA for SEROQUEL XR(TM) for the Treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder - a First for the Atypical Antipsychotic Class of Medicines
WILMINGTON, Del., May 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN - News) today announced the submission of a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for SEROQUEL XR(TM) (quetiapine fumarate) Extended-Release Tablets to seek approval for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), including maintenance of antianxiety effect. It is the...

BioDelivery Sciences International BEMA(TM) Fentanyl Phase III Data Demonstrating Efficacy and Tolerability to be Presented at American Pain Society Annual Meeting
RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (Nasdaq: BDSI - News) and commercial partner Meda Pharmaceuticals will present today and tomorrow, data from Phase III clinical pivotal trials for BEMA Fentanyl, a potential treatment for breakthrough pain (BTP) in opioid tolerant patients with cancer. The presentations will be made at the 27th Annual Scientific Meeting of the...

BiPar Sciences, Inc. Expands Phase 2 Clinical Trials of BSI-201, a Novel DNA Repair Inhibitor, in Ovarian Cancer
BRISBANE, Calif., May 8 /PRNewswire/ -- BiPar Sciences, Inc. today announced the expansion of Phase 2 clinical trial programs for its lead product, BSI-201, in ovarian cancer. This is the third major clinical trial of BSI-201 that BiPar has launched in the past 6 months, expanding on on-going trials in breast and brain cancer.

The company is evaluating BSI-201, the first poly ADP-ribose polymerase...

Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. To Pay Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. $20M For Its Stake In Generic Injection
WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. (NYSE: PRX) today announced that it amended its agreement with Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPPI) for $20 million in cash to increase its share of profits from the generic versions of GlaxoSmithKline's Imitrex(R) Injection, which will be immediately accretive to 2008 earnings and provide a strong return...

Gene Linked To Severe Diabetic Eye And Kidney Diseases Identified, University of Utah Study
Salt Lake City, Utah. Researchers at the John A. Moran Eye Center at the University of Utah and collaborative institutions have identified a gene called erythropoietin (EPO) that contributes to increased risk of severe diabetic eye and kidney diseases, called retinopathy and nephropathy.

Blocking Brain Enzyme Helped Mice Stay Slim, Duke University Medical Center Study
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Blocking a single brain enzyme helped short-circuit a key hunger signal in mice and made them eat less, lose weight and have better blood sugar control, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday. While much more research lies ahead, they said the finding may lead to new treatments for obesity and diabetes in humans.

Astellas Pharma Inc. Says U.S. Not Ready to Approve Transplant Drug
TOKYO, May 7 (Reuters) - Japan's Astellas Pharma said on Wednesday it would suffer further delays in approval for a new version of its key transplant drug after U.S. authorities said they were not ready to approve it for liver transplants.

Cephalon, Inc. Announces FDA Advisory Committee Recommendation Against Approval of an Expanded Label for FENTORA
FRAZER, Pa., May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cephalon, Inc. (Nasdaq: CEPH - News) announced today that a Joint Advisory Committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted not to recommend approval of an expanded label for FENTORA (fentanyl buccal tablet) [C-II] for the management of breakthrough pain in opioid-tolerant patients with chronic pain conditions. The panel expressed concerns...

iCo Therapeutics Inc. Acquires Worldwide Rights to iCo-009 (Oral Amphotericin B)
VANCOUVER, May 7 /CNW/ - iCo Therapeutics Inc. (TSX-V: ICO - News) is pleased to announce that the company has acquired the exclusive worldwide rights to iCo-009, an oral reformulation of Amphotericin B ("Amp B") for the treatment of systemic fungal infections and Leishmaniasis.

AmpB is a generic drug that has been in use for approximately 50 years and is considered one of the most effective...

Microbix Biosystems Inc. to Spin off Into Newly Formed
TORONTO, May 7 /CNW/ - Microbix Biosystems Inc. (TSX:MBX - News) announced today that it intends to spin off its Urokinase assets into a new private company, Klarogen Biotherapeutics Inc., which would become the sole commercial-scale manufacturer and supplier of the clot-busting drug after a proposed acquisition.

Microbix intends to transfer to Klarogen Biotherapeutics Inc., its Urokinase...

Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Plan to Spin-off Biotechnology Business
BRIDGEWATER, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ENZN - News) today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a plan to spin-off its novel biotechnology business from Enzon in a transaction that will result in two independent and highly focused public companies.

By separating these unique businesses into two focused companies, the opportunities for both...

B Vitamins Fail To Cut Heart Risk In Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Study
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Giving B vitamins and folic acid supplements to reduce high levels of a blood protein that is a marker for heart disease did nothing to protect women from heart trouble, according to a study released on Tuesday. The findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association raised further doubts about whether addressing an indicator for heart disease -- in this case...

Naturally-occuring Protein May Be Effective In Limiting Heart Attack Injury And Restoring Function, Medical College of Wisconsin Study
ScienceDaily (May 7, 2008) Medical College of Wisconsin researchers in Milwaukee have shown for the first time that thrombopoietin (TPO), a naturally occurring protein being developed as a pharmaceutical to increase platelet count in cancer patients during chemotherapy, can also protect the heart against injury during a heart attack.

Not All Fat Created Equal: Certain Body Fat Reduces Insulin Resistance, Joslin Diabetes Center Study
ScienceDaily (May 7, 2008) It has long been known that type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity, particularly fat inside the belly. Now, researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center have found that fat from other areas of the body can actually reduce insulin resistance and improve insulin sensitivity.

Mistral Pharma Inc. Announces It will Not Combine with a Private U.S. Pharmaceutical Company
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(MARKET WIRE)--May 6, 2008 -- Mistral Pharma Inc. (CDNX:MIP.V - News) ("Mistral") today announced that it will not pursue the proposed combination with a private US-based specialty pharmaceutical company ("US Pharma Co.") announced on February 27, 2008 and has terminated the non-binding letter of intent to that effect. This decision is based on the Mistral's inability to meet different...

Champions Biotechnology, Inc. and ImClone Systems Incorporated Establish Agreement for Preclinical Evaluation of Oncology Drugs
ARLINGTON, Va., May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Champions Biotechnology, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: CSBR - News), a company engaged in the development of advanced preclinical platforms and tumor specific data to enhance the value of oncology drugs, today announced that it has established an agreement with ImClone Systems Incorporated for the preclinical evaluation of certain therapeutic antibodies in...

Unexpected Role: EGFR Protects Cancer Cells From Starving, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Study
A growth factor receptor found abundantly on the surface of cancer cells and long known to fuel cancer growth also protects tumor cells from starvation by a newly identified mechanism, researchers at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center report in the May 5 issue of Cancer Cell.

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis Researchers Find Way To Make Tumor Cells Easier To Destroy
ScienceDaily (May 7, 2008) Tumors have a unique vulnerability that can be exploited to make them more sensitive to heat and radiation, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report.

LAB Research Inc. Closes $21.1 Million Financing to Expand its Canadian Facilities
LAVAL, QC, May 6 /CNW Telbec/ - LAB Research Inc. ("LAB Research" or the"Company"), a Canadian-based global non-clinical contract researchorganization, announces the execution of the financing agreement entered intoon January 31, 2008 with National Bank of Canada Health Group ("NBC"),pursuant to which NBC granted the Company a $21.1 million financing to expandits Canadian facilities. Estimated...

ACT Biotech Acquires Clinical and Early Stage Oncology Portfolio Licenses From Bayer HealthCare

SAN FRANCISCO and NEW YORK, May 7 /PRNewswire/ -- NGN Capital announced today the formation of ACT Biotech Inc., a new company dedicated to developing and commercializing targeted oral cancer drugs. ACT Biotech has entered into a license agreement with Bayer HealthCare LLC for a portfolio of clinical and early stage oncology assets. In conjunction with the agreement, ACT has raised $12 million...

Doctors Discover Marker for Meconium Passage During Delivery, Study
TUESDAY, May 6 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers report they have identified a marker that might predict which pregnant women will pass meconium during delivery.

Gut Hormone Makes Food Look Even Yummier, McGill University, Unilever, and Study
ScienceDaily (May 7, 2008) A gut hormone that causes people to eat more does so by making food appear more desirable, suggests a new report in the May issue of Cell Metabolism, a publication of Cell Press. In a brain imaging study of individuals, the researchers found that reward centers respond more strongly to pictures of food in subjects who had received an infusion of the hormone known as ghrelin...

Elucidating Iron Transport Mechanisms In Tuberculosis Bug Identifies New TB Drug Targets
ScienceDaily (May 7, 2008) It is pathetically true that Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of TB is still thriving the test of scientific interventions despite affecting almost one -third of the worlds' population. The fact that it takes approximately one human life every 15 second somewhere in the world is an unfortunate death statistics unmatched by any other microbe.

Bone Marrow Treatments Restore Nerves
BETHESDA, Maryland (Reuters) - An experiment that went wrong may provide a new way to treat multiple sclerosis, a Canadian researcher said on Tuesday. Patients who got bone marrow stem-cell transplants -- similar to those given to leukemia patients -- have enjoyed a mysterious remission of their disease.

Details Added to Venturepharm Asia JV Plan
May 7, 2008 -- Venturepharm Asia, a joint venture between Commonwealth Biotechnologies (NSDQ: CBTE) and Venturepharm (HK: 8225), will build two state-of-the-art chemistry facilities in Jiangsu province, China, with capital provided by Venturepharm and grants awarded by the federal government of China. The labs will employ 200 chemists by the end of 2008, and the JV expects to have 1000 scientists on...

WuXi PharmaTech Co., Ltd. Postpones Secondary Offering
May 6, 2008 -- WuXi PharmaTech (NYSE: WX), the Shanghai-located CRO, has postponed its secondary stock offering, which was proposed one month ago, citing market conditions and the trading price of its ADSs. At the time of the SEC filing, WuXi was selling for $22.15. It has since declined only a small amount to $19.15. More details...

Greystone Associates Developers Finding Success of Injectable Drugs Dependent on Numerous Factors
(Amherst, NH) Technology has a way of providing benefits that create complexities, a lesson that drug developers and their supply chain partners are learning to deal with. Historically, the success of new drugs has focused on tolerability, safety, and pharmacokinetics. The challenges of biologically-derived drugs have added new requirements to successful drug development. Because of their far-reaching...

Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. Announces Completion of Patient Enrollment in Phase III Clinical Program for Contrave(R)
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: OREX - News), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of central nervous system disorders, including obesity, today announced completion of enrollment in NB-303 and NB-304, the final two Phase III clinical trials for Contrave, its lead obesity product candidate. Todays announcement marks the completion of patient enrollment...

Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Two Year Study Confirms SUPPRELIN(R) LA Implant Maintains Profound Suppression of Hormones in Children With Premature Onset Puberty

LEXINGTON, Mass., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Indevus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced positive results of the ongoing Phase III extension study of SUPPRELIN(R) LA (histrelin acetate), the only once-yearly subcutaneous implant for the treatment of central precocious puberty or early onset puberty, at the Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society (LWPES) Annual Meeting. This study evaluated...

Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Data Presented at the Annual Meeting Demonstrate Iloperidone's Efficacy and Safety, With Low Rates of Movement and Metabolic Adverse Events

WASHINGTON, MAY 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Data presented today on Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s investigational drug candidate, iloperidone, included its 4-week, short-term Phase III trial, as well as a pooled analysis of three long-term, 52-week trials, studying the efficacy and safety of iloperidone. Iloperidone is a 5HT2/D2 antagonist ("atypical") antipsychotic currently under review by...

Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, LLC (CA) Seven Clinical Presentations on Tapentadol Immediate Release for Acute Pain to Be Featured at 2008 American Pain Society Annual Meeting

Phase 3 Safety and Efficacy Studies Will Be Highlighted

TAMPA, Fla., May 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Acute pain is a significant medical issue in the United States. More than 25 million Americans are said to experience acute pain each year as a result of injuries or surgeries, and a recent study estimated that 42 percent of U.S. hospital emergency department visits were due to pain...

LifeCycle Pharma Announces Positive Data from LCP-AtorFen Phase II Clinical Program
H0RSHOLM, Denmark--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Summary: LifeCycle Pharma successfully completes Phase II LCP-AtorFen clinical program and expects to initiate Phase III clinical program in 2H 2008 while simultaneously seeking a partner for completion of the Phase III clinical trial program and subsequent commercialization.

LifeCycle Pharma A/S (OMX:LCP) announced today positive results from the company...

Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Completes Enrollment of Phase 2 Picoplatin Trial in Colorectal Cancer
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PARD - News), a biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology, today announced that it has completed patient enrollment in its Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating picoplatin combination chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Early data from this trial are expected...

Mylan Laboratories Inc. Announces Final FDA Approval for Ropinirole Hydrochloride Tablets
PITTSBURGH, May 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Mylan Inc. (NYSE: MYL - News) today announced that Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Ropinirole Hydrochloride Tablets, 0.25 mg (base), 0.5 mg (base), 1 mg (base), 2 mg (base), 3 mg (base), 4 mg (base) and 5 mg (base).

Ropinirole...

Pfizer Inc. Drops NicOx SA's Glaucoma Drug
NicOx S.A. (Euronext Paris: COX) today announced the results of a U.S. phase 2 study, conducted by its partner Pfizer Inc, which compared the safety and efficacy of various doses of PF-03187207 to Xalatan (latanoprost) 0.005% in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. The higher doses of PF-03187207 demonstrated a clinically significant reduction in diurnal intraocular pressure...

Merck & Co., Inc. to Reduce U.S. Sales Force by 1,200 Positions
WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck & Co., Inc. today announced plans to reduce the size of its U.S. sales force by 1,200 positions.

"Merck is taking this step as part of our previously disclosed, continuing efforts to optimize our cost base and improve Merck's effectiveness and efficiency across all aspects of our business as part of our Plan to Win strategy," said Kenneth Frazier...

Array BioPharma, Inc. Receives $80 Million Funding Commitment
BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Array BioPharma Inc. (NASDAQ:ARRY), today announced that it has received an $80 million funding commitment from Deerfield Management, a leading healthcare investment organization and one of Arrays largest shareholders. Together with existing capital, these funds are expected to enable Array to advance six wholly owned small molecule drug programs through clinical proof...

East Bay Oakland: 10,000 New Jobs In Five Years; Life Sciences Sector Included; Expanding Biotech Program At
Bizjournals -- Mayor Ron Dellums at his second economic summit on May 2 will present the economic development strategy for Oakland that was forged over the last year by the Oakland Partnership. Dellums' goals are to bring 10,000 new jobs to Oakland in the next five years, increase investment in the city and give Oakland residents better access to needed jobs. The priorities, the strategies and the...

Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc. to Establish New Drug Discovery Service Facilities in China and Appoint an Additional 200 Chemists by December 2008
RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc. (CBI) (NASDAQ Capital Market: CBTE) is pleased to announce further details regarding Venturepharm (Asia), CBIs joint venture with Venturepharm Laboratories Ltd (VPL) (HKEX: 8225.HK). The joint venture was established to leverage CBIs and VPLs respective strengths in drug discovery and clinical research and development. The initial...

Discovery Of A Novel Mechanism For The Development Of Colon Cancer, University of Helsinki Study
ScienceDaily (May 5, 2008) Recent work from the Finnish Academy Center of Excellence on Cancer Biology at the University of Helsinki, Finland, has shed light on the mechanisms of colon tumor development and may help to design better treatment for this disease.

Specific Gene Increases Susceptibility To Breast Cancer, Cancer Research UK Study
ScienceDaily (May 6, 2008) Much work has been done to identify genetic variations that predispose women to breast cancer. Previous work showed that variants in the gene called fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) were associated with increased risk of the disease, but how these variants translated into increased risk was unknown. A new paper by Kerstin Meyer and colleagues, published this...

Ibuprofen Linked To Reduced Alzheimer's Risk, Boston University School of Medicine Study
Medica News Today -- Researchers in the US studying a large patient population have shown that use of the anti-inflammatory and painkiller ibuprofen is linked to lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Patients who used the drug for more than 5 years were 40 per cent less likely to develop the disease compared with patients who did not use that type of drug at all. The study is the work of researchers...

Short Arms And Legs May Raise A Risk Of Developing Memory Problems, Tufts University Study
ScienceDaily (May 6, 2008) People with shorter arms and legs may be at a higher risk for developing dementia later in life compared to people with longer arms and legs, according to a study published in the May 6, 2008, bonus issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Researchers say the association between short limbs and dementia risk may be due to poor nutrition...

Novartis Corporation Menveo(R) Vaccine Shows Superior Immune Response Against Four Types of Meningitis Disease in Pivotal Phase III Trial
CAMBRIDGE, MA--(MARKET WIRE)--May 6, 2008 -- New Phase III data for Menveo (MenACWY-CRM) show that the vaccine produced a greater immune response against meningococcal serogroups A, C, W-135 and Y in adolescents 11-18 years of age compared to Menactra. Infection with any of these four vaccine-preventable serogroups can lead to bacterial meningitis, an infection of the membrane around the brain and...

Genomic 'Fingerprint' Identified For Alcohol-induced Heart Failure, Boston University School of Medicine Study
ScienceDaily (May 6, 2008) A person with dilated cardiomyopathy has an enlarged and stretched heart cavity, usually too weak to pump normally; most people will go on to develop heart failure. While clinicians know that up to 36 percent of all cases of dilated cardiomyopathy may be due to excessive drinking, it has been difficult to differentiate between alcohol-induced heart failure and heart failure...

Penn State University Scientists Identify Interacting Proteins Key To Melanoma Development, Treatment
EurekAlert -- Researchers have discovered how a mole develops into melanoma by showing the interaction of two key proteins involved in 60-70 percent of tumors. The Penn State scientists also demonstrate that therapeutic targeting of these proteins is necessary for drugs to effectively treat this deadly form of cancer.

Cells Lining Milk Ducts Hold Key To Spread Of Common Form Of Breast Cancer, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Study
EurekAlert -- When a form of cancer that begins in the milk ducts of the breast invades neighboring tissue to spread to other parts of the body, the cause lies not in the tumor cells themselves but in a group of abnormal surrounding cells that cause the walls of the duct to deteriorate like a rusty pipe, according to a new study led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers.

Apoptos, Inc. Raises $28 Million in Series A Financing
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apoptos Inc., an oncology research and development company, today announced that it has secured $28 million in funding. Major investors in the milestone-driven, two-tranche Series A financing include Venrock, ARCH Venture Partners, OrbiMed Advisors, and Advanced Technology Ventures. The financing will fund the company through 2010. It will be used to advance Apoptos portfolio...

China Says Baxter International, Inc. Holding Up Heparin Investigation
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese officials said on Tuesday a Chinese-made blood thinner was not to blame for fatalities linked to the product, and accused U.S. drugmaker Baxter International Inc of obstructing the investigation into the cause of the problem. Baxter has recalled batches of the drug heparin that were found to be tainted with a similar but cheaper chemical that U.S. Food and Drug Administration...

AstraZeneca PLC Says European Patent for Symbicort to Treat Smokers Cough Revoked
LONDON: AstraZeneca PLC said Tuesday that a European patent covering the use of its Symbicort medicine as a treatment for a condition commonly known as "smoker's cough" has been revoked.

TB Strain May Be Linked To Unpasteurized Dairy, Study Suggests
ScienceDaily (May 6, 2008) The incidence of a strain of tuberculosis (TB) called Mycobacterium bovis, or M. bovis, associated more often with cattle than humans, is increasing in San Diego and is concentrated mostly in Hispanics of Mexican origin, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine in collaboration with San Diego County public...

GlaxoSmithKline Pans to Sell $6 Billion 3-tranche Bond
LONDON, May 6 (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline, the world's second-biggest drugmaker, plans to sell a $6 billion three-tranche bond, one of the banks managing the sale said on Tuesday.

Galapagos NV and Allergan Inc. Enter Drug Discovery Collaboration
Mechelen, Belgium; 6 May 2008 - Galapagos NV (Euronext: GLPG) announced today that Galapagos' service division, BioFocus DPI, will provide hit-finding services for multiple Allergan, Inc. targets. Total contract value for Galapagos could reach up to EUR 1.3 million over the next 12 months, contingent on the number of BioFocus DPI compounds screened.

BioFocus DPI's Basel (Allschwil, Switzerland...

REGiMMUNE Raises $8,000,000 in Series B Financing
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA and TOKYO--(MARKET WIRE)--May 6, 2008 -- REGiMMUNE Corporation, a privately held biopharmaceutical company, announced today that it has closed its Series B financing for a total of $8 million U.S. Proceeds from the financing will be used to advance the company's lead program, RGI-2001, to human clinical trials for graft versus host disease (GvHD). Preclinical development for GvHD...

Auspex Pharmaceuticals Announces Series B Financing; Appointment of as President and Chief Executive Officer
VISTA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Auspex Pharmaceuticals, a developer of next-generation medicines with improved safety and performance through the targeted deuteration of clinically validated drugs, today announced a $13.875 million Series B financing led by Thomas, McNerney & Partners with participation from co-investors CMEA Ventures and Costa Verde Capital. The company also announced that pharmaceutical...

'Seven Genetic Types Of ME' Found, Study
BBC -- Geneticists have identified a biological basis for seven different subtypes of chronic fatigue syndrome. The researchers from St George's Hospital, University of London, hope the work could lead to a blood test to distinguish between the forms.

Grapefruit Compound Inhibits Hepatitis C Virus, Harvard Medical School Study
TUESDAY, May 6 (HealthDay News) -- The grapefruit flavonoid naringenin inhibits the secretion of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in infected cells and could offer a new approach for treating the disease, according to a Harvard Medical School study.

Botulinum Toxin Effective In Many Neurological Disorders, Not Headache, Study Shows
ScienceDaily (May 6, 2008) New guidelines developed by the American Academy of Neurology confirm that the drug botulinum toxin is safe and effective for treating cervical dystonia, a condition of involuntary head tilt or neck movement, spasticity and other forms of muscle overactivity that interfere with movement in adults and children with an upper motor neuron syndrome, and excessive sweating of...

Simcere Pharmaceutical Group's Q1: Revenue Increases 26%; Net Up 68%
May 6, 2008 -- Simcere Pharmaceutical Group (NYSE: SCR) released its first quarter financial report showing modestly higher revenues and a large increase in net profit. In Q1, Simcere booked revenues of 394 million RMB ($56.3 million), a solid increase of 26% from the year earlier period, and net income of 112 million RMB ($16 million), a much larger jump of 68%. The increases came from the company...

Lev Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announces Cinryze(TM) Complete Response Submission Accepted for Review by FDA
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lev Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTCBB: LEVP.OB - News) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review Levs complete response submission for Cinryze (C1 inhibitor), the Companys lead product candidate. Lev is seeking marketing approval for Cinryze for both the acute and prophylactic treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE), also known...

Roxane Laboratories Announces the Launch of Ropinirole Hydrochloride Tablets

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Roxane Laboratories, Inc. announced today the approval of its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Ropinirole Hydrochloride Tablets, 0.25mg, 0.5mg, 1mg, 2mg, 3mg, 4mg, 5mg by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The product is available in Bottles of 100 and is available for immediate shipment to wholesalers and pharmacies nationwide.

...

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company to Sell ConvaTec Unit for $4.1 Billion
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) announced today it has signed a definitive agreement to sell its ConvaTec business unit to Nordic Capital Fund VII (Nordic Capital) and Avista Capital Partners (Avista) for $4.1 billion subject to adjustments based on ConvaTecs audited 2007 financial statements and closing working capital. ConvaTec is a world leader in the development...

Gene That Can Make Half Of Us Fatter Found
ScienceDaily (May 5, 2008) A study of 90,000 people has uncovered new genetic variants that influence fat mass, weight and risk of obesity. The variants act in addition to the recently described variants of the FTO gene: adults carrying variants in both genes are, on average, 3.8 kg (or 8.5 lb) heavier. The study, published in Nature Genetics, is led by investigators from the Cambridge GEM consortium...

VaxGen, Inc. Sells Anthrax Vaccine Program and Related Assets and Technology to Emergent BioSolutions
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- VaxGen, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: VXGN.OB - News), a biopharmaceutical company, announced today it has completed the sale of all assets and rights related to its recombinant protective antigen (rPA) anthrax vaccine product candidate and related technology to Emergent BioSolutions, Inc. Under the terms of the transaction, Emergent BioSolutions...

Anti-Clotting Drug Cilostazol Found May Be Safer Than Aspirin Post-Stroke, Study
KABUL (Reuters) - The anti-platelet drug cilostazol is as effective as aspirin at preventing recurrent stroke and appears to be linked to fewer bleeding events, a study in China has shown. Published in the online version of The Lancet Neurology, the study suggests that cilostazol could be a safer alternative to aspirin for post-stroke Chinese patients, who seem to be at higher risk of cerebral hemorrhage...

Two Groundbreaking Scientists Share America's Largest Medicine Prize; Women Scientists at Yale University and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Win $500K Albany Med Award
Medical News Today -- America's largest prize for work in medicine, amounting to half a million dollars, is shared this year by two scientists, Elizabeth Blackburn of the University of California, San Francisco and Joan Streitz of Yale University, for their groundbreaking work in molecular research that opens up development of new and effective treatments for a range of diseases.

Common Drugs Hasten Decline In Elderly, Wake Forest University School of Medicine Study
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Elderly people who took commonly prescribed drugs for incontinence, allergy or high blood pressure walked more slowly and were less able to take care of themselves than others not taking the drugs, U.S. researchers said on Saturday.

Discovery Laboratories Provides Guidance on FDA Approvable Letter for Surfaxin for RDS
WARRINGTON, Pa., May 5, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Discovery Laboratories, Inc. (NasdaqGM:DSCO - News) on May 1, 2008 received an Approvable Letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Surfaxin(r) (lucinactant) for the prevention of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) in premature infants. Discovery Labs' Manufacturing, Quality and Regulatory management have performed an assessment of...

Eisai Company, Ltd. Sedative Drug Appears Effective, Safe
WASHINGTON, May 5 - An experimental sedative from Japan's Eisai Co Ltd appears effective based on a preliminary evaluation of data, U.S. drug reviewers said in an analysis released on Monday.

EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Initiates Phase 2b Program in Alzheimer's Disease; Company Earns $7.5 Million Milestone From GlaxoSmithKline
LEXINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EPIX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:EPIX - News), a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapeutics through the use of its proprietary and highly efficient in silico drug discovery platform, today announced that it has begun its Phase 2b program in Alzheimers disease through the initiation of a clinical trial of PRX-03140, its novel...

FDA Says Wider Use Of Cephalon, Inc. Drug Carries Risks Of Misuse
AP - Government regulators on Friday said encouraging wider use of a powerful painkiller made by Cephalon Inc. raises the risk of potentially fatal misuse of the drug. Shares of the Frazer, Pa. drugmaker fell $2.7, or 4.2 percent, to $60.72 in morning trading. Cephalon's drug Fentora is already approved to treat severe pain flare-ups in cancer patients. On Tuesday FDA will ask a panel of outside experts...

New Immune Treatment May Control AIDS Virus, University of Melbourne Study
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new type of treatment that trains immune system cells to better recognize the AIDS virus may help control the deadly and incurable infection, Australian researchers reported on Friday. Tests on monkeys infected with a similar virus shows the treatment controlled the infection, although it does not cure it, and tests are already planned in people.

Boston University School of Medicine Scientists Identify Genomic 'Fingerprint' For Alcohol-Induced Heart Failure
EurekAlert -- A person with dilated cardiomyopathy has an enlarged and stretched heart cavity, usually too weak to pump normally; most people will go on to develop heart failure. While clinicians know that up to 36 percent of all cases of dilated cardiomyopathy may be due to excessive drinking, it has been difficult to differentiate between alcohol-induced heart failure and heart failure due to idiopathic...