The seventh in a series of periodic roundups of drugs that have
moved from preclinical research into clinical testing via the
announcement of a Phase I trial or an application for a trial to
industry regulators.
AstraZeneca has continued to rapidly refocus and bolster its
biologics pipeline through collaboration deals, this time with a
deal for antibody producing technology.
After having to abandon a promising experimental hepatitis C
vaccine and shedding over a fifth of its workforce, Coley
Pharmaceutical has announced it will look to outsource future drug
discovery.
Scientists have revealed a possible reason why the Northwick Park
clinical trial of a drug designed to stimulate the immune system
instead led to multiple organ failure in the human volunteers.
Coley Pharmaceutical has decided to suspend development of its
Hepatitis C drug and will instead concentrate on other innovative
drugs designed to activate the immune system.
US-based researchers have proven that 'large' nanoparticles can
pass through human mucus, which means that they could serve as
sustained-release carriers for drugs treating diseases affecting
the mucous membranes, such as...
Researchers at the University of Leeds have genetically modified a
common gut bacterium to respond to a sugar and produce a treatment
for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
More effective and easier to administer 'Trojan horse' vaccines
could provide protection for the millions of people at risk from
malaria, TB and AIDS, thanks to a breakthrough from a global
research team.
Pfizer has entered into a collaborative research and licensing
agreement with Elusys worth up to $200m (€152m) for new antibody
therapies, including an MRSA candidate
German biotech company MediGene and Sanofi Pasteur have signed a
deal to develop new monoclonal T cell receptors that the vaccine
maker will use to develop and validate vaccines more efficiently.
The UK subsidiary of ProMetic Life Sciences has signed a deal with
Novartis to develop a new purification technology for recombinant
protein vaccines that is claimed to be more efficient and cheaper
than currently used methods.
Integra Biosciences is hailing its novel cell culture system as
being responsible for dramatically transforming the effectiveness
of small-scale antibody production.
Dor BioPharma has announced it has made progress with the
formulation of RiVax, a new drug that could be the world's first
vaccine for the deadly ricin toxin.
Scientists have discovered an unusual distribution of two proteins
in the lungs and airways of people with cystic fibrosis could form
the basis of a therapy that could better define the immune system's
role in cystic fibrosis.
Qiagen, today announced that it has acquired all outstanding shares
of Genaco Biomedical Products in a deal that adds PCR-based,
multiplexed molecular diagnostics technologies and panels to
Qiagen's portfolio.
BioWa has announced it is to commence Phase 1 clinical trials
anti-IL-5 receptor monoclonal antibody (Mab), which is being
developed for the treatment of asthma, a respiratory disorder that
is on the rise, particularly in children.
Lexicon Genetics has revealed details of the preclinical
development of a novel, orally available small molecule compound
with potential application in the treatment of autoimmune diseases
such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid...
Researchers think they have found an explanation as to why
"flesh-eating" bacteria are so resistant to antibiotic treatment,
which could contribute to new strategies for treating necrotizing
fasciitis, halting its rapid...
Avidia has initiated a clinical trial for the novel inhibitor of a
protein for Crohn's disease as a potential treatment that belongs
to a new class of therapeutic proteins known as Avimer proteins.
Wyeth has entered into a global agreement that allows it to use
Intracell's synthetic adjuvant IC31 in the formulation of five of
its investigational vaccines, aiming to simply mix it with antigens
without the need for conjugation.
Chemokine Therapeutics has announced it has received a patent
relating to chemokine analogs for the treatment of human disease,
which includes autoimmune diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disease,
and inflammatory disorders such as...
Researchers believe they have discovered how the HIV virus avoids
the human body's natural defences paving the way for a HIV-specific
cell drug treatment that vastly improves on the drugs that are
currently available.
AM Pharma has been awarded a US and EU patent for its antimicrobial
peptide to be used in the development of a novel class of drugs
with high efficacy against a broad spectrum of bacterial, fungal
and viral infections.
Researchers have theorised that a peptide found in primates could
halt the HIV-1 virus from infecting blood cells. The discovery
could form the crux of an effective drug therapy, which may
overcome resistance exhibited by current...
A new finding has the potential to pave the way for better
treatment options for autoimmune diseases as researchers discover a
signalling molecule can yield a rapid, inexpensive way to make
large numbers of immune cells.
Aldevron has announced the expansion of its Genetic Immunisation
and Antibody (GIA) facility to meet the increased demand of vaccine
screening contracts.
Predix Phamaceuticals has formed a collaboration with Amgen in a
deal that aims to develop S1P1 modulators for the treatment of
autoimmune diseases. The agreement has the potential to become a
$300m (€235m) payout for Predix.
A team of scientists believe that a worm can help to discover new
drugs by genetically modification allowing the worm to distinguish
harmful chemicals to those with therapeutic benefit.
Momentum is growing at the UK's new National Biomanufacturing
Centre (NBC) as its operator Eden Biodesign inked a second contract
at the centre - set up to establish England's Northwest as one of
the top biomanufacturing...
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has asked vaccine developing firm Antigenics
to supply it with more of its QS-21 adjuvant as its vaccines
progress in the pipeline, while at the same the British drug giant
is pushing ahead with its own adjuvant,...
Archemix has announced the formation of a strategic alliance with
Elan to discover and develop first-in-class aptamer therapeutics to
treat autoimmune disease.
A new computational program has been developed by US researchers
that uses computational systems biology to better understand the
biochemical networks that regulate the interactions between
infectious organisms and the human or animal...
UK firm PowderMed has contracted US firm Althea Technologies to
manufacture clinical supplies of its flu vaccine that can
significantly speed up production.
Isotechnika has received an additional US patent for its lead
immunosuppressive drug, which is the first patent to be issued in
this patent family in the US. The lead compound has demonstrated
encouraging results in recent Phase II...
UK biopharma firm Adjuvantix has developed a new technology that it
claims can increase the effectiveness of vaccines as well as drugs
for cancer, inflammatory diseases and infectious diseases such as
tuberculosis and AIDS.
Dynal has announced today the release of a new research tool in its
immunotherapy range that allow researchers to isolate and collect T
cells from immunocompromised patients for ex vivo stimulation and
expansion in a sterile environment.
BioPartners has failed to bring its second biosimilar product into
Europe after the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal
Products (EMEA) issued a negative opinion on its hepatitis C drug,
citing characterisation, manufacturing...
BioPharmaceutical company Protherics, were on hand at the
PiperJaffray conference providing pipeline and company updates to a
audience of investors and analysts. The company are coming off the
back of a successful deal with Astrazeneca...
Biopharmaceutical firm Protherics has acquired a new adjuvant from
Dutch company CoVaccine that it will use for its hypertension
vaccine, hoping to boost antibody production by tenfold.
