Cancer Research

Using artificial cell-like particles, Yale biomedical engineers have devised a way to produce a 45-fold enhancement of T cell activation and expansion, an immune response important for a patient’s ability to fight cancer and infectious diseases. The artificial cells, developed by Tarek Fahmy, assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Yale and his graduate student Erin Steenblock, are made of a material commonly used for biodegradable sutures. The authors say that the new method is the first “off-the-shelf” antigen-presenting artificial cell that can be tuned to target a specific…

LAUSANNE, Switzerland and NEWTOWN, Pennsylvania, February 26 /PRNewswire/ -- - Products and Pipeline to Enhance Galderma's Position in Dermatology Galderma Pharma S.A., a global specialty pharmaceutical company focused on dermatology, and CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: CGPI) today announced a definitive agreement pursuant to which Galderma's U.S. holding company, Galderma Laboratories, Inc., will acquire all of the outstanding shares of CollaGenex at a price of US$16.60 per share in cash, representing approximately US$420 million for the equity of CollaGenex. The transaction was…

The case of a 47 year-old woman presenting a wide abdominal zone with vitiligo like hypopigmentation is reported. In 1977 she underwent, in the same site, melanoma (III Clarke's level) extirpation and local immunotherapy by DNCB ( dinitrochlorobenzene ). Moshe Inbar et Al. ( Melanoma Research 1996/6/457-459 ) refers a case of melanoma, treated by DNCB in 1973, showing, the new skin, over the back, characterized by vitiligo like hypopigmentation and lack of hair. The association vitiligo-melanoma has been known for several years.S.Roul et Al. ( Nouv. Dermatol. 1996/15/574-578 ) analysed II…

STAINES, England, February 22 /PRNewswire/ -- - New Treatment Option Contributes to Fight Against Healthcare Associated Infections Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd(i) announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) issued a positive opinion by consensus, recommending a marketing authorisation for Mycamine(R), a treatment for systemic fungal infections, which are very serious, life-threatening conditions. The CHMP's positive recommendation is a critical step in the approval process, and Astellas expects to obtain the European…

INDIANAPOLIS, February 22 /PRNewswire/ -- - If approved, bone formation agent for osteoporosis would be available for new patient population Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) has issued a positive opinion recommending approval of FORSTEO(R) (teriparatide [rDNA origin] injection) for the treatment of osteoporosis associated with sustained, systemic glucocorticoid therapy in women and men at increased risk for fracture. The opinion issued by the CHMP will need to…

Expressive writing --writing about one’s deepest thoughts and feelings—may help change the way cancer patients think and feel about their disease. In one of the first studies published in an oncology journal about the benefits of writing therapy, researchers say those who immediately reported changes in thoughts about their illness also reported a better physical quality of life three weeks later. “Previous research suggests expressive writing may enhance physical and psychological well-being,” said Nancy P. Morgan, M.A., writing clinician and director of the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer…

COPENHAGEN, Denmark and REDWOOD CITY, California, February 21 /PRNewswire/ -- - Summary: Genmab and PDL BioPharma Have Entered into an Agreement Under Which Genmab Will Acquire PDL's Antibody Manufacturing Facility Located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, USA. Genmab A/S (OMX: GEN) and PDL BioPharma, Inc. (Nasdaq: PDLI) announced today that they have entered into an agreement under which Genmab would acquire PDL's antibody manufacturing facility located in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, USA for USD 240 million to be paid in cash. The transaction also includes land, equipment and access to a…

REHOVOT, Israel and NORTH BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, February 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosetta Genomics (Nasdaq: ROSG), today announced it will release fourth quarter financial results on February 29, 2007, before the U.S. markets open. Rosetta Genomics will host a conference call with a simultaneous webcast to discuss these results at 8:30 a.m. ET on February 29. To access the live conference call, U.S. and Canadian participants may dial 1-866-966-5335; international participants may dial +44-20-3023-4460. To access the 24-hour audio replay, U.S. and Canadian participants may dial 1-866-583-1035;…

Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have found a previously unknown molecular pathway in mice that spurs the growth of new blood vessels when body parts are jeopardized by poor circulation. At present, their observation adds to the understanding of blood vessel formation. In the future, though, the researchers suggest it is possible that the pathway could be manipulated as a means of treating heart and blood vessel diseases and cancer. Bruce Spiegelman, PhD, and his colleagues at Dana-Farber discovered that PGC-1alpha – a key metabolic regulatory molecule – senses a dangerously low…

HALIFAX, England, February 20 /PRNewswire/ -- ImmunoVaccine Technologies Inc. (IVT), a vaccine development company, announced today the appointment of former senator, Michael Kirby, as the new Board of Directors Chair. Michael Kirby succeeds the late Dr. Warrick Kimmins, who provided exemplary leadership during his tenure and was instrumental in spinning out IVT's novel technology from Dalhousie University. "I am passionate about advancing health care and am delighted to be part of such a fast-growing biotech company," said former senator Michael Kirby. "IVT has an impressive track record…