Pharma Business Week articles from May 2009

Pharma Business Week archives from May 2009

Scripps research team invents first technique for producing promising anti-leukemia agent.
May 4, 2009... Kapakahines, marine-derived natural products isolated from a South Pacific sponge in trace quantities, have shown anti-leukemia potential, but studies have been all but stalled by kapakahines' lack of availability. But using only acetylene gas,...

Study points to disruption of copper regulation as key to prion diseases.
May 4, 2009... SANTA CRUZ, CA--An investigation of a rare, inherited form of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease suggests that disrupted regulation of copper ions in the brain may be a key factor in this and other prion diseases (see also University of California -...

A potent and selective anti-tumor agent on human gastric adenocarcinoma.
May 4, 2009... Previous studies on shikonin, a chemical derived from the Chinese medicinal herb had anti-tumor effects although it was found to be toxic. However, an acetyl derivative, acetylshikonin had less toxicity and prevented the growth of sarcomas....

A potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.
May 4, 2009... Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common malignancy and the second most frequent cause of cancer-related death in the world. The carcinogenesis of GC involved numerous genetic and epigenetic alterations, as well as many environmental risk...

Are TACE treatments really well tolerated without any sensible reduction of liver function?
May 4, 2009... Recently, it has been demonstrated that TACE improves survival compared with best supportive care in meta-analyses of randomized trials and in two individual clinical trials. However, although selective TACE is currently widely used, there are...

PerkinElmer Releases Western BLAST[TM] Amplification Technology to Simplify and Enhance Western Blot Protein Detection Techniques.(Company overview)
May 4, 2009... At Experimental Biology 2009, PerkinElmer, Inc., a global leader focused on the health and safety of people and the environment, announced the launch of Western BLAST™, an amplification system used to enhance and simplify Western Blotting...

Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, Headlines Utah Technology Council's Annual Hall of Fame Event.
May 4, 2009... The Utah Technology Council (UTC) is thrilled to announce Eric Schmidt, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Google Inc., as the keynote speaker for its 11th annual Hall of Fame black-tie gala this year. The 2009 Hall of Fame will be held on...

Utah Technology Council Welcomes Three New Trustees: Amy Rees Anderson, Jeremy Hanks & Timothy Hunt.
May 4, 2009... The Utah Technology Council (UTC) announced three new trustees at the Annual Members' Meeting recently. The new trustees are Amy Rees Anderson, Jeremy Hanks and Timothy Hunt (see also Utah Technology Council). "Each year the UTC seeks to...

VWR International, LLC Announces Expansion of Its Sugar Land Location.
May 4, 2009... VWR International, LLC announces its Sugar Land, TX location has been expanded from a local Service Center to a Regional Distribution Center. This change was made in response to the increased demand for products and services from its Texas,...

Regional blocks superior to general anesthesia for cesarean section.
May 11, 2009... General anesthesia (GA) is associated with an increased risk of infant intubation and low Apgar scores, relative to regional anesthesia. An analysis of 50,806 cesarean deliveries, published in the open access journal BMC Medicine, strongly...

First 10-year follow-up shows that treatment with AVONEX leads to long-term benefits in early multiple sclerosis patients.
May 11, 2009... Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) announced data results from the CHAMPIONS (Controlled High-Risk AVONEX® (interferon beta-1a) Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Prevention Study In Ongoing Neurologic Surveillance) study, an open label follow-up to CHAMPS...

Teen drug education also helps curb risky sexual behavior, study finds.
May 11, 2009... School-based drug education programs for adolescents can have a long-term positive impact on sexual behavior in addition to curbing substance abuse, according to a new RAND Corporation study (see also RAND Corporation). Researchers found...

'First aid' for brain cells comes from blood.
May 11, 2009... In acute ischemic stroke, the blood supply to the brain is restricted. Initially, brain cells die from lack of oxygen. In addition, ischemia activates harmful inflammatory processes in the affected area of the brain. For the first time,...

Novel role of protein in generating amyloid-beta peptide.
May 11, 2009... A defining hallmark of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of the amyloid β protein (Aβ), otherwise known as "senile plaques," in the brain's cortex and hippocampus, where memory consolidation occurs. Researchers at the University...

Amerinet Introduces Economic Solutions.
May 11, 2009... With economic stability a continuing challenge, Amerinet, a leading healthcare group purchasing organization, announced Amerinet Economic Solutions, an initiative focused on keeping members proactively engaged with the important issues of the...

GTx, Inc. Appoints Michael K. Brawer, MD as Executive Director, Medical Affairs and Clinical Development.
May 11, 2009... GTx, Inc. (NASDAQ: GTXI) announced the appointment of Michael K. Brawer, MD as Executive Director of Medical Affairs and Clinical Development. Dr. Brawer will assist GTx Chief Medical Officer Ronald A. Morton, Jr. and Vice President of Medical...

Insect gene expression responds to diet.
May 18, 2009... Cabbage looper caterpillars (Trichoplusia ni) are able to alter the expression of genes associated with metabolism, homeostasis and immunity in response to feeding on plants carrying bacteria. Research published in BioMed Central's open access...

New noninvasive liver fibrosis index reduces need for biopsies in children.
May 18, 2009... A new non-invasive diagnostic index has been developed that may be used in tertiary care to rule in liver fibrosis in children with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The 'Pediatric NAFLD Fibrosis Index' (PNFI), described in the open...

Elevated level of certain protein in urine linked to increased risk for blood clots.
May 18, 2009... Preliminary research suggests that higher than normal levels of the protein albumin in urine is associated with an increased risk for blood clots in the deep veins of the legs or lungs (venous thromboembolism; VTE), according to a study in the...

MIT-led team IDs gene key to Alzheimer's-like reversal.
May 18, 2009... A team led by researchers at MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory has now pinpointed the exact gene responsible for a 2007 breakthrough in which mice with symptoms of Alzheimer's disease regained long-term memories and the ability to...

Type of connection procedure after pancreatic surgery influenced rate of pancreatic fistula.
May 18, 2009... After surgery to remove the head of the pancreas, invagination of the pancreas into the small intestine resulted in a lower rate of pancreatic fistula, according to researchers at the Jefferson Pancreas, Biliary and Related Cancer Center. The...

CVS Caremark to Host Webcast of Annual Analyst/Investor Conference.(Conference news)
May 18, 2009... CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE:CVS) will hold its annual investor conference in New York City on Friday, May 15, 2009, at 8:15 a.m. (EDT) (see also CVS Caremark Corporation). CVS Caremark will also be hosting a simultaneous audio webcast of...

Guard Dog Brand Development Wins Top Honors in the 2009 Hermes Creative Awards for Corporate Brand Development.(Awards list)
May 18, 2009... Guard Dog Brand Development® (GDBD) (www.GuardDogBD.com) has been named Platinum and Gold winners of The 2009 Hermes Creative Awards, as announced by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. Hermes Creative Awards...

Illumina Introduces Breakthrough Software Advancements with Genome AnalyzerIIx Sequencing System.
May 18, 2009... Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ:ILMN) announced breakthrough software advancements for its sequencing platform that enable real time analysis and provide a significant reduction in computing infrastructure requirements. These software improvements, in...

POZEN Reports First Quarter 2009 Results.(Financial report)
May 18, 2009... POZEN Inc. (NASDAQ:POZN), announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2009. First Quarter Results POZEN reported a net loss of ($3.5) million, or ($0.12) per share on a diluted basis, for the first quarter of 2009, compared to a net...

New Executive Team Members Announced as RESTAT Builds Growth Strategy.
May 18, 2009... RESTAT has announced changes in its leadership team that support an aggressive plan for growth at the prescription benefits management company (PBM) (see also RESTAT). In his new role as Chief Operating Officer, John P. Bergan will report...

Technology Needs a Successful Business Model to Succeed, Says Greg Butterfield.
May 18, 2009... Fifty percent of new companies fail within their first four years of business, according to Greg Butterfield, managing partner of mentor capital firm SageCreek Partners. Butterfield addressed a sell-out crowd of more than 300 Utah executives at...