Researchers at Children’s Hospital Boston have reported that a pathway that is activated in cancer appears to play a role in metabolic diseases like Type 2 diabetes. The findings are reported in the 30 September 2011 issue of the journal, Cell.
A Paris-based life science company, Nanobiotix SA, has received clearance to start a Phase 1 safety study of a new nanoproduct in patients with soft-tissue sarcoma. The product has been classified as a device in Europe, but as a drug in the US.
Roche and its partner, ImmunoGen Inc, said Phase 2 data for their antibody-drug conjugate, T-DM1, in patients with metastatic breast cancer showed better progression-free survival than those on trastuzumab and chemotherapy.
Scientists from the Roche group have reported generating the first draft genome sequence of the cynomolgus monkey, Macaca fascicularis, the most frequently used nonhuman primate in drug safety studies.
Privately-held NovImmune SA of Geneva, Switzerland has announced the start of a proof-of-concept study of a monoclonal antibody intended to neutralise the activity of the chemokine, IP-10, in order to treat patients with primary biliary cirrhosis.
Anticipating the start of Phase 3 trials of a stem-cell therapy for heart failure, Cardio3 BioSciences SA has set up a US subsidiary in Rochester, Minnesota, the home of its minority shareholder – the Mayo Clinic. The trials are set to begin in 2012.
Sanofi Pasteur is to investigate an immunological approach to acne prevention and treatment by targeting Propionibacterium acnes factors in inflammation. This will be done in collaboration with the University of California, San Diego.
Apogenix GmbH said it has finished recruiting patients for its ongoing Phase 2 study of a new agent for glioblastoma. The experimental treatment is an inhibitor of the CD95 ligand, which is thought to play a growth-promoting role in tumours.
Privately-held Humabs BioMed SA of Switzerland has been launched as an independent company in order to commercialise antibody technology that includes a prospective broadly neutralising antibody against Groups 1 and 2 influenza A viruses.
Silence Therapeutics Plc has announced plans to collaborate with a privately-owned company in the Netherlands, InteRNA Technologies BV, to develop microRNA therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Financial details were not disclosed.