News

Neurotoxic effects of pollutants to be studied

Country
United Kingdom

A project aimed at developing tools to monitor the neurotoxic effects of environmental pollutants on developmental disorders in children has been funded by the European Commission under its 7th Framework programme for research.

FDA panel endorses decision on Avastin

Country
United States

An advisory panel to the US Food and Drug Administration has endorsed the agency’s decision in late 2010 to remove the breast cancer indication for Avastin (bevacizumab) despite strenuous objections from the drug’s manufacturer, Roche.

New method for creating iPS cells

Country
United States

A new method for deriving induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from blood samples has been described in the journal, Blood. According to the authors, the approach could provide a new source of patient-specific cells for disease research and drug discovery.

Genome editing reported in mouse model

Country
United States

A team of scientists has reported using a gene therapy technique known as genome editing to restore haemostasis in mice with haemophilia. The findings were reported online in the journal Nature on 26 June 2011.

European regulator refuses another gene therapy

Country
United Kingdom

The European Medicines Agency has issued a negative opinion to an application from Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics BV for a gene therapy to treat patients with an enzyme deficiency that is linked with pancreatitis.

Trajenta receives positive EMA opinion

Country
United Kingdom

Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH’s new Type 2 diabetes drug, Trajenta (linagliptin) has received a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency’s main scientific committee. This follows US Food and Drug Administration approval on 2 May.

EMA recommends new malaria agent

Country
United Kingdom

The European Medicines Agency has recommended that a new artemisinin-based combination therapy be approved to treat malaria in adults, children and infants aged six months or older. The agent combines dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine.

EMA recommends restricting cancer agents

Country
United Kingdom

The European Medicines Agency is recommending restrictions on the use of dexrazoxane, currently indicated for certain cancer patients, because of an increased risk of acute myeloid leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome.