H. Lundbeck A/S and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co Ltd have decided to advance an anti-amyloid beta vaccine, currently in preclinical development, for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The focus is on early inhibition of amyloid beta.
A new £3 million research project aimed at identifying targets for the development of drugs against dementia has been launched by the charity, Alzheimer’s Research UK; the technology transfer company, MRC Technology; and Eisai Co, Ltd and Eli Lilly and Company.
A more than decade-long Swedish project aimed at mapping the human proteome has reached an important milestone with the release of data for more than 80% of the protein-coding genes in the human body, and RNA expression data for more than 90% of the genes.
A candidate proteasome inhibitor developed by scientists at the Karolinska Institutet (KI) and Vivolux AB is set to enter the clinic next year following promising preclinical data in animal models of multiple myeloma. The data are described in an article in Blood.
Oxford BioTherapeutics Ltd and its Italian partner the Menarini Group, have announced the start of preparations for a human trial of the first of their five prospective antibody-based therapies for cancer. The target indication is acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
Novartis has released new data on its experimental T-cell immunotherapy which shows that 14 out of 22 paediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) achieved complete and sustained remissions of their disease.
Scancell Holdngs Plc said that its lead cancer vaccine that targets dendritic cells has generated a disease-specific immune response in a Phase 1/2 study of patients with late-stage melanoma. There were no reports of serious drug-related side effects.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a second new drug in two weeks to treat chronic hepatitis C virus infection – Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) from Gilead Sciences Inc. Sovaldi is the first drug for certain HCV genotypes that won’t need co-treatment with interferon.
GlaxoSmithKline Plc and its partner, Theravance Inc, have announced positive Phase 3 results in asthma for their combination corticosteroid and long-acting beta2 agonist, Breo Ellipta. The companies plan to discuss an asthma filing with the FDA.
The European Medicines Agency has announced the start of an in-depth safety review of Iclusig (ponatinib) in light of reports of cases of blood clots and blockages in the arteries or veins associated with the medicine’s use. ARIAD Pharmaceuticals is the manufacturer.