Research & University News

Agennix AG of Germany has stopped further enrollment and treatment in a Phase 2/3 trial of talactoferrin, a genetically-engineered form of the human protein, lactoferrin, on safety grounds. The drug was being studied in sepsis.

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A research consortium, led by investigators at St George’s, University of London, has reported discovering a new gene, the fourth in a series, to be associated with lymphoedema, a swelling that arises from an impaired lymphatic system.

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A novel immune mechanism that could play a role in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases has been described in the journal Science. The finding was made by a team led by Eric Vivier, scientific co-founder of Innate Pharma SA of France.

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Two papers in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry have highlighted technology developed by scientists at Heptares Therapeutics Ltd aimed at generating new leads for drugs that target the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family of proteins.

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A new life science facility is set to open in Scotland providing small companies with shared resources for their drug discovery and development. Called BioCity Scotland Ltd, the facility is being housed at a former Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) research site.

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Immatics Biotechnologies GmbH has reported that a Phase 2 study of its experimental vaccine for colorectal cancer, IMA910, was able to stimulate immune responses from a majority of patients and that this was associated with a better clinical outcome.

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4SC AG has reported new data showing that its lead oncology compound, resminostat, an HDAC inhibitor, met its primary endpoint in a Phase 2 study of patients with advanced liver cancer. The results were reported on 19 January.

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Pfizer Inc and its partner, Medivation Inc are stopping a Phase 3 trial of the Alzheimer’s disease compound, Dimebon (latrepirdine), because it didn’t achieve statistical significance for either of its two co-primary endpoints.

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Wilex AG has reported the successful completion of a Phase 1 study in volunteers of a small molecule inhibitor of the MEK signalling pathway. MEK inhibition is being studied by a number of companies and institutions as a potential anti-cancer agent.

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Scientists from Cambridge and Harvard Universities have reported that the deterioration of CNS tissue in aged mice can be reversed by exposing them to cells from younger animals. Their findings appear in the 6 January issue of Cell Stem Cell.

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