Drug Week articles from July 2001

Drug Week archives from July 2001

Virus Found To Carry Antibiotic Against E. coil.(Q Beta virus)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- A report on the antibiotic action of the small virus, which is called Q Beta, was reported in Science. The research was funded by the U.S. National Institute of Health's general medicine institute. The...

Study Suggests Potential Alzheimer Drugs Might Be Dangerous.
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- Scientists have discovered that gamma-secretase inhibitors, the most promising drugs under development for Alzheimer's disease, also prevent certain immune cells from being produced. These drugs are in the...

Combining Treatments With Glycolytic Inhibitors Gets To Core Of Tumors.
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - New research suggests using glycolytic inhibitors with antiangiogenic agents would enable other cancer therapies to better attack slow-growing cancer cells at the center...

Jury Still Out On Effect Of Thiazolidinediones On Eye Disease.
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Researchers in California indicate a class of drugs called thiazolidinediones, used to treat patients with insulin resistant diabetes, inhibit retinal...

Peptide Vaccine Ready For Testing In Humans.(vaccine against myasthenia gravis)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6-(NewsRx Network) -- by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - A new report in Experimental Biology and Medicine describes the potential for a vaccine against myasthenia gravis in humans, following its success against a similar...

Statins May Reduce Risk Of Bone Fractures.
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- A meta-analysis of eight recent observational studies suggests a reduction in hip and non-spine fractures among individuals taking statins, medicines commonly prescribed for the treatment of elevated cholesterol...

Aspirin Targets Key Cell That Triggers Organ Rejection And Other Immune Responses.
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, researchers have identified a new cellular target for aspirin, shedding light on the mechanisms of the most widely used drug in the world and raising a set of intriguing...

Immunotherapy With Strategic Interruptions Evaluated.(HIV infection)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6- (NewsRx Network) -- The Orange County Center for Special Immunology (CSI), California, announced that it will begin a research trial involving a new approach to treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The study...

Previous Short-Term Use Of Fenfluramine Not Associated With Increased Risk Of Drug-Related Heart Disease.
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- No evidence of an increased risk of drug-related heart disease was found almost five years after discontinuation of a three-month course of weight loss therapy with fenfluramine, researchers report. ...

Phase II Clinical Trial Anti-inflammatory Compound Initiated.(LDP-977, an investigational anti-leukotriene drug for treating asthma)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:MLNM) announced that a Phase II clinical trial has been initiated with LDP-977, an orally active investigational drug. LDP-977 is a second-generation compound in the...

Immune Modulation Therapy Inhibits Inflammation.(in the treatment of autoimmune disease)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- Vasogen, Inc. (TSE:VAS; AMEX:MEW) announced that results from clinical and preclinical studies of its immune modulation therapy in the treatment of autoimmune disease were presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting of...

Proof Of Concept Efficacy In Phase lla Clinical Trials Reported.(CPI-1189 from Centaur Pharmaceuticals for treating dementia and Alzheimer's disease)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- Centaur Pharmaceuticals announced that it obtained proof-of-concept efficacy in its dementia trials with its drug CPI-1189. This result is based on the observation of statistically and clinically...

Compound's Anti-Obesity Properties Confirmed In Second Gerbil Study.(FM-VP4 from Forbes Medi-Tech, Inc.)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- Forbes Medi-Tech, Inc. (TSE:FMI and NASDAQ:FMTI) presented further results of pre-clinical studies on its novel cardiovascular pharmaceutical FM-VP4 at the American Heart Association's Second Annual Conference...

Fake And Poor-Quality Drugs Common In Less-Developed Countries.
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- Two studies in the June 16, 2001, issue of the Lancet highlight the widespread availability of poor-quality and counterfeit drugs in less-developed countries. The quality of drugs in less-developed settings...

Antibiotic-Resistant Streptococcus On The Rise.(Statistical Data Included)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- Antibiotic resistance rates for Streptococcus pneumoniae infections have been on the rise over the past five years, increasing as much as 10% to 16% in the case of some commonly prescribed antibiotics, say...

New Drug Helps Reduce Dry Mouth Problem.(pilocarpine for dry mouth caused by radiotherapy)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 -- (NewsRx Network) -- Pilocarpine, a drug that stimulates the salivary glands, improved flow of saliva when used during radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, a Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) study reported. The...

Data Support Efficacy/Safety Of Novel Lymphocyte Homing Agent.(FTY720 from Novartis for preventing organ transplant rejection)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6- (NewsRx Network) -- Preliminary data show promising results regarding the efficacy and safety of FTY720, an investigational therapy for use in transplant patients. At 12 weeks, biopsy-confirmed acute rejection rates among the...

Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium Is Highly Effective Therapy.(for interstitial cystitis, trade name is Elmiron)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- Interstitial cystitis patients taking pentosan polysulfate sodium ([Elmiron.sup.R]) experienced increased symptom relief with continued therapy, according to the results of a study presented at the 96th annual...

Oral Human Gamma Globulin Receives Orphan Drug Status.(for the treatment of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- Protein Therapeutics, Inc., announced that it has received orphan drug designation from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of oral human gamma globulin for the treatment of juvenile...

Study Data Presented Comparing Immunosuppressants.(in adult and pediatric kidney transplantation)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- Results of two major clinical trials comparing the cornerstone immunosuppressants, tacrolimus ([Prograf.sup.R]) and the microemulsion formulation of cyclosporin, in adult and pediatric kidney transplantation...

Data Reported From Comparison Study.(to compare medications for the treatment of urinary incontinence)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- In a trial to compare medications for the treatment of overactive bladder, Ditropan XL (extended-release oxybutynin chloride; Alza Corp.) showed a significant advantage over [Detrol.sup.R] (tolterodine tartrate,...

Topical Antisense Therapy Improves Pathology.(psoriasis )
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- Scientists from the Psoriasis Research Institute (PRI) demonstrated that a topical antisense cream reduced psoriasis disease severity scores in an animal model of psoriasis. In the study, scientists applied...

Certican[TM] Effectively Prevents Acute Rejection.(in kidney transplant recipients)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- Certican[TM] (everolimus, RAD), appears to be effective and safe when administered in combination with [Neoral.sup.R] (cyclosporine USP) and corticosteroids to primary renal allograft patients. New data...

New Compound Shows Promise.(Alkovir for treating hepatitis B)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- A new compound has been shown to be active against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in laboratory experiments, the Hepatitis B Foundation announced. The discovery, reported in the June 2001 issue of Hepatology, may...

Phase I Study Of Adefovir Dipivoxil Initiated In China.(for hepatitis B)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:GILD) announced that it has initiated Phase I trials of adefovir dipivoxil for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in China. Gilead is currently...

Varisolve [R] Trials Prove Efficacy and Safety of New Treatment.(from Provensis for treating varicose veins)
July 6, 2001... 2001 JUL 6 - (NewsRx Network) -- BTG (LSE:BGC) announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Provensis, reported findings from two pilot studies that its new microfoam treatment for varicose veins, Varisolve [R], is both safe and effective. ...

Liver Risk With Acetaminophen - Is The Public Getting The Message?
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network) -- The message that a common pain reliever can have uncommonly bad effects on the liver under certain conditions seems to have reached most physicians, a new survey finds. Now, the challenge lies in getting the...

Placebo Is Safe, Ethical In Short-Term Studies Of Drugs.(for hypertension )
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network) -- The controversial practice of studying new drugs for hypertension by comparing them against an inactive placebo is ethical and safe in short-term studies, even if it means withholding effective treatment for a...

Mechanism Of Drug Resistance Demonstrated.(in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia who take Gleevec)
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network) -- A potent new cancer drug called STI-571 recently approved for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration under the commercial name [Gleevee.sup.TM] has had remarkable success in treating patients with...

Software Could Make Generic Drugs Testing More Thorough.
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network) -- Researchers have developed new software for the pharmaceutical industry that seamlessly and comprehensively graphs the dissolution curves of two drugs in order to plot how quickly the drugs are released into...

Short-Term Use Of Thioridazine May Boost Efficacy Of First-Line Drugs.(for treating tuberculosis)
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network) -- by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - An antipsychotic drug shows in vitro activity against both susceptible and drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and may prove useful as an adjunct to...

Long-Term Immune-Based Therapy Is Safe And Effective.(Remune from Trinity Medical Group USA, Inc. for treating HIV infection)
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network) -- Trinity Medical Group USA, Inc., (OTC Bulletin Board: TMGU) presented clinical data on HIV positive patients who have undergone treatment using its immune-based Remune [TM] product, suggesting that patients...

Case Of Bupropion-Induced Rash Reported.
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network) -- As bupropion is prescribed increasingly for smoking cessation and not just for depression, physicians need to aggressively follow up on complaints of rashes that could be caused by use of the medicine. ...

Drug Effective Against Resistant Hepatitis C Virus.(antisense drug ISIS 14803 from Isis Pharmaceuticals and Elan Corporation)
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network) -- In a Phase I/II clinical trial, the antisense drug ISIS 14803 demonstrated dose-dependent antiviral activity, decreasing viral titers in patients with drug-resistant chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). All...

Efficacy Of Galantamine In Patients With Vascular Damage Shown.(Reminyl for Alzheimer's disease can also benefit stroke patients with dementia)
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network) -- New, 12-month data presented to the World Congress of Neurology support an earlier, short-term finding that Reminy[IR] (galantamine hydrobromide) - the most recent medication approved for mild to moderate...

Advances In Novel Tissue-Selective Steroid Receptor Modulator Compounds Discussed.(LGD2226 from Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. for osteoporosis and hormone replacement therapy)
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network) -- Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq: LGND) announced that major scientific advances in three of its key research programs involving the estrogen, androgen, and glucocorticoid receptors were presented at the...

Phase II Trial For Intranasal Apomorphine HCI Initiated.(from Nastech Pharmaceutical Company Inc. for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction)
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network) -- Nastech Pharmaceutical Company Inc., (Nasdaq: NSTK) announced initiation of a Phase II clinical trial using a proprietary intranasal apomorphine HCI formulation for the treatment of female sexual dysfunction...

IntraDose Injectable Gel Demonstrates Rapid Response.(from Matrix Pharmaceutical, Inc. for treating patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck)
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network)' -[InterDose.sup.R] cisplatin/epinephrine) Injectable Gel, a novel targeted therapy for the treatment of solid tumors, has demonstrated the ability to produce rapid responses in two Phase III studies of patients...

VerticalNews Launch Uses NewsRx Artificial Intelligence Technology.
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network) -- NewsRx, the leading provider of life science databases and daily and weekly health news, has leveraged its technology platform to create a new media company, VerticalNews. VerticalNews' two-year goal is...

Doctors Test Memory Drug To Allay Cognitive Symptoms.(in patients with multiple sclerosis)
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network) -- Physicians in the U.S. are launching the first large-scale clinical study ever to address the same kinds of cognitive symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The work builds on a smaller study by...

Study Uncovers Structure Of Key Molecule That Regulates Drug Metabolism.(PXR, regulates cytochrome P450-3A, or CYP3A, which metabolizes many drugs)
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network) -- Chemists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and GlaxoSmithKline have succeeded in determining the structure of a key molecule in the liver that regulates the metabolism of more than 60% of...

Monotherapy Shows Sustained Efficacy, Ongoing Tolerability.(Enbrel from Immunex Corporation for treating rheumatoid arthritis)
July 13, 2001... 2001 JUL 13 - (NewsRx Network) -- In clinical data presented from three long-term studies of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), patients receiving Enbrel [R] (etanercept) demonstrated a sustained therapeutic response with...

Potential Cancer Therapy Is Based On A Natural Antibiotic.(landomycin)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- Texas A&M University scientists are developing a new cancer drug based on landomycin, a natural antibiotic. In 1990, scientists showed that landomycin has anti-tumor properties, but subsequent laboratory...

Moxifloxacin Beats Other Fluoroquinolones Against M. Fortuitum.(Mycobacterium fortuitum)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- by N.R. Saltmarsh, staff medical writer - The fluoroquinolone antibiotic moxifloxacin is more potent than the other fluoroquinolone agents against a model Mycobacterium pathogen, according to a new report in...

Blood Vessels Found To Signal Chain Of Destruction.(signals bone loss in osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, tumor-associated bone loss, artificial implant loosening, and periodontal diseaeses)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27- (NewsRx Network) -- Biologists at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, have discovered a mechanism in blood vessels that opens the door for bone loss in such diseases as rheumatoid arthritis, periodontal disease,...

ACOG Says "Buyer Beware" Of Botanical Treatments For Menopausal Symptoms.(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- In response to the ever-increasing number of women using herbal or other alternatives to conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued...

Chemists Synthesize Biologically Important Carbohydrate Molecules.(oligosaccharides and beta-mannans)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- A team of University of Illinois at Chicago researchers has successfully synthesized two rare forms of carbohydrate molecules that may prove useful in biological and pharmacological research and development....

Researchers Identify Critical Regulatory Gene.(lack of CCR2 gene may cause an uncontrollable tuberculosis infection)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- Controlling a tuberculosis infection requires an interplay of a distinct set of genes and immune system cells. Researchers are showing for the first time that the absence of one of those genes, called CCR2, can...

Side Effect Of Renal Disease Treatment Is Reduced By Drug.(Renagel)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- Genzyme General (GENZ) reported first-year results from its three-year "Treat to Goal" clinical trial of Renagel[R] (sevelamer hydrochloride) to treat end-stage renal disease. The data were presented June...

Combination Therapy Improves Blood Glucose Control.(repaglinide (Prandin) and an insulin sensitizer (currently metformin) for type 2 diabetes therapy)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- Results from two recently completed studies suggest combining the oral antidiabetic drug (OAD) repaglinide (PRANDIN [R], called NovoNorm [R] outside the United States) with an insulin sensitizer improves blood...

Irbesartan Protects Against Disease Progression.(angiotensin II blocker protects against the progression of type 2 diabetes-related kidney disease)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- Study results from a landmark program demonstrate that the angiotensin II receptor blocker irbesartan, a high blood pressure medication, protects against the progression of kidney disease in people with...

Company Says It Has Determined How Carrier Red Blood Cells Can Release Their Payload.(Gendel)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- Drugs might soon be dispatched with pinpoint accuracy to diseased organs by using a patient's own red blood cells as drug-carrying torpedoes, reported the June 30, 2001, issue of New Scientist. The drug is...

Technology Expanded To Include Biologic Cancer Therapeutics.
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (CTIC) researchers have developed a proprietary way to allow bacteria to make polyglutamate (PG) polymer, expanding the application of PG to include a wide variety of biologic therapies...

Oral Vardenafil Effective For Men With Diabetes.
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- Phase III results for oral vardenafil hydrochloride, Bayer's investigational treatment to improve erectile function, showed statistically significant improvement in erectile function for men with diabetes, one...

Immunosuppressive Agent Pentostatin Shows Promise.(Nipent show promise for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, graft-versus-host disease, bone marrow transplantation, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- SuperGen, Inc. (SUPG & SUPGZ) announced that its drug Nipent [R] (pentostatin), which is currently marketed for the treatment of hairy cell leukemia, has generated interest among researchers for the treatment...

Interferon Alfa-n3 Reduces Brain Lesions.(multiple sclerosis treatment)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- Interferon alfa-n3 (Alferon N) reduces brain lesions in multiple sclerosis patients, a new retrospective study shows. Interferon Sciences, Inc. (IFS C) announced the presentation of a poster at the XVII...

Patients Benefit From High-Dose Interferon Therapy.(for multiple sclerosis therapy)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- High-dose interferon beta-lb is more effective than interferon beta-1a for treating multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, according to data presented by Schering AG (SCH). The Schering data were presented at a...

Risedronate Provides Five-Year Fracture-Reduction Benefit.(Actonel for osteoporosis therapy)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- Results of the first and only five-year, continuous, placebo-controlled study with a bisphosphonate show that Actonel[R] 5 mg (risedronate sodium tablets) taken daily reduced the incidence of vertebral...

Siplizumab Safe And Well Tolerated In Clinical Trials.(for psoriasis therapy)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- MedImmune, Inc. (MEDI) and BioTransplant Incorporated (BTRN) announced results from three clinical trials with siplizumab, showing that the humanized monoclonal antibody is safe and well tolerated as therapy in...

Topical Antisense Drug Penetrates And Reduces Plaque Thickness.(ISIS 2302 for psoriasis therapy)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27- (NewsRx Network) -- In a Phase II study, the drug ISIS 2302 was found in high levels in patients' psoriatic plaques, demonstrating for the first time in humans that topical antisense drugs can penetrate psoriatic lesions. ISIS...

Trials Show Positive Results for/Sustained Relief After New Treatment.(Amevive is effective for the treatment of plaque psoriasis)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- Researchers announced that once-weekly injection for three to six months with the drug alefacept is effective in reducing symptom severity in patients suffering from plaque psoriasis, and that improvements can...

Collagen Inhibitor Significantly Reduces Fibrotic Process.(Halofuginone)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27- (NewsRx Network) -- Collgard Biopharmaceuticals, Ltd., announced that, in a recently concluded preclinical study, its compound Halofuginone "significantly reduced the severity of fibrosis in both renal glomeruli and stroma." ...

Catalytic Antioxidant Protects Brain Tissue.(from damage by ischemic stroke)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- Incara Pharmaceuticals Corporation (INCR) announced that its catalytic antioxidant significantly reduced brain tissue damage and specific markers of free radical damage, and improved neurological function when...

Glimepiride Tablets Show Reduced Risk of Early Hypoglycemia.(in type 2 diabetes therapy)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- Amaryl [R] (glimepiride tablets) showed a reduced risk of early hypoglycemia after initial dose compared to glyburide, making it preferable as initial therapy for type 2 diabetes patients. These findings...

Orlistat Helps Reduce Risk Factors.(Xenical (orlistat) helps reduce cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- Results from a new study show that Xenical [R] (orlistat) and a mildly reduced-calorie diet help patients with type 2 diabetes who take insulin to control their diabetes by lowering blood sugar levels,...

Repaglinide Has Unique Mechanism Of Action.(Prandin stimulates insulin secretion)
July 27, 2001... 2001 JUL 27 - (NewsRx Network) -- A new in vitro study suggests the oral anti-diabetic drug (OAD) repaglinide (PRANDIN[R], called NovoNorm[R] outside the United States), stimulates insulin secretion by the pancreas through a different mechanism...