Cancer Research

Scientists are beginning to develop a clearer picture of what makes some people stand head and shoulders above the rest. A team of researchers who last year identified the first common version of a gene influencing height has now identified a further twenty regions of the genome which together can make a height difference of up to 6cm. The results, published together with two independent studies online today in the journal Nature Genetics, mean that scientists now know of dozens of genes and genetic regions that influence our height. This provides scientists with a fascinating insight into…

A biological process taught to every pupil studying science at high school has just become a little more complicated, thanks to a new discovery published today. Scientists from the University of Bath have found that a protein called RASSF7 is essential for mitosis, the process by which a cell divides in two. In research published in the journal Molecular Biology of the Cell, they show that the protein is essential for building the microtubules that allow the two halves of the cell to slide apart. “What makes mitosis so interesting is that it is one of the biological processes that everyone…

WASHINGTON DC, April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Bavarian Nordic, the Danish-based biopharmaceutical company, recently published its 2007 Annual Report. Below is an extract of the most significant matters in the report as well as events after the balance sheet date. Bavarian Nordic's revenue for the year 2007 was DKK 332.1 million with a loss before tax of DKK 50.5 million, which was in line with the Company's latest guidance. For 2008, Bavarian Nordic expects revenue in the region of DKK 180 million, and a pre-tax loss in the region of DKK 225 million as the first deliveries of vaccines for the US…

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics (Euronext: AMT), a leader in the field of human gene therapy, today announced that AMT's Supervisory Board has decided to propose Dr. George Morstyn to be appointed to the Supervisory Board at its Annual General Meeting of shareholders on April 16, 2008. Dr. Morstyn (MB BS PhD FRACP), who retired as Senior Vice President of Development at Amgen, was a member of Amgen's executive committee and responsible for global preclinical and clinical development as well as regulatory affairs. Dr. Morstyn also…

Researchers in a large, multi-institutional study have found one gene variant that is linked to an increased risk of lung cancer. The research team collected DNA from 1,154 smokers who have lung cancer and 1,137 smokers without lung cancer. Each DNA sample was analyzed at more than 300,000 points, looking for variations—known as single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs for short—between those with cancer and those without. They then analyzed the top 10 SNPs in an additional 5,075 DNA samples from smokers with and without lung cancer. Two of the 10 SNPs were consistently associated with lung…

EINDHOVEN, the Netherlands, April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The Center for Translational Molecular Medicine (CTMM) - a Dutch public-private partnership committed to the research and development of new techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of major diseases - announced today that nine projects will receive research funding amounting to a total of 150 million Euro. Dutch university medical centers, a broad spectrum of small and medium-sized enterprises, major industry leaders including Philips and Organon (a part of Schering-Plough), and the Dutch Government are involved. A total of 150 million…

LONDON, April 1 /PRNewswire/ -- An expert report released today recommends that patients taking antibiotics, especially those being treated in hospital, should take a daily probiotic drink with clinically proven effectiveness. The report summarises a meeting which took place at the Royal Society of Medicine, London and was attended by a multidisciplinary panel of eight leading health experts. The meeting discussed current data surrounding the health benefits of dairy probiotic drinks, including latest studies focusing on the benefits of probiotics on antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and…

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- - Genmab Reports Financial Results for the 12 Months Ended December 31, 2007. Genmab A/S (OMX: GEN) announced today results for the financial year ended December 31, 2007. Revenues of DKK 530 million (approximately USD 104 million) compared to DKK 136 million (approximately USD 27 million) in 2006. An Operating Loss of DKK 437 million (approximately USD 86 million). This compares to an Operating Loss of DKK 472 million (approximately USD 93 million) reported in 2006. Net Financial Income totaled DKK 54 million (approximately USD 11 million)…

CHICAGO, March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- - Reductions seen as soon as three days and out to 450 days in patients who received either bare metal or drug-eluting stents The investigational antiplatelet drug prasugrel plus aspirin produced a marked and highly statistically significant reduction in the risk of coronary stent thrombosis (ST) - a major concern for physicians and patients with potentially fatal consequences - in patients who received a stent as compared to standard therapy with clopidogrel (Plavix(R)) plus aspirin (1.13 percent vs. 2.35 percent, p0.0001), according to a stent analysis…

Northwestern University researchers have discovered a new and unexpected mode of self-assembly involving a polymer (hyaluronic acid) and a small molecule (peptide amphiphiles). When brought together, the two instantly assemble into a flexible but strong sac in which the researchers can grow human stem cells, creating a sort of miniature laboratory. The sacs can survive for weeks in culture, and their membranes are permeable to proteins. The method also can produce thin films whose size and shape can be tailored. The method holds promise for use in cell therapy and other biological…