Wednesday, December 9, 2015

OphthaliX completes patient enrollment in CF101 Phase II trial for treatment of glaucoma

In continuation of my update on (methyl 1-[N6-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenin-9-yl]-b-D-ribofuronamide), CF101

OphthaliX Inc. (OTCQB:OPLI), a clinical-stage company focused on developing therapeutic products for the treatment of ophthalmic disorders and a subsidiary of Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE MKT:CANF), announced today that it has completed patient enrollment for its Phase II trial of CF101 in the treatment of glaucoma.

GlobalData estimates that the treatment market for glaucoma in the seven major markets was $2.4 billion in 2013 and will grow to approximately $3 billion by 2023. Most glaucoma drugs on the market today are generic eye drops. The key advantages of CF101 are its oral administration and excellent safety profile.

The Phase II trial is being conducted in Europe and Israel and full enrollment of 88 patients has been achieved. Top line results are expected in mid-2016. The study is being conducted with two cohorts. In the first cohort patients were treated with 1 mg CF101 and placebo. Blinded results from this cohort showed that the drug had a favorable safety profile and was well tolerated. In the second cohort, dosage was increased, with patients receiving 2 mg of CF101 and matching placebo, given orally every 12 hours for 16 weeks. The drug's mechanism of action has been validated in an article by a leading researcher from University College London in the UK, Dr. Cordiero, who showed that the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonist has a neuroprotective effect in the eye via inhibition of retinal ganglion cell apoptosis resulting in a significant decrease in intraocular pressure (IOP).

"Glaucoma is a substantial global market in which CF101 is one of only a few oral drugs in development. Oral drugs like CF101 have the potential to increase patient compliance and be more convenient for the patient," stated Dr. Pnina Fishman, Chairman and Interim CEO of OphthaliX. "In prior human clinical studies, we've seen that CF101 reduced IOP, the most important and only modifiable risk factor for glaucoma."

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

OphthaliX completes patient enrollment in CF101 Phase II trial for treatment of glaucoma

In continuation of my update on CF101
OphthaliX Inc. (OTCQB:OPLI), a clinical-stage company focused on developing therapeutic products for the treatment of ophthalmic disorders and a subsidiary of Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd. (NYSE MKT:CANF), announced today that it has completed patient enrollment for its Phase II trial of CF101 in the treatment of glaucoma.

GlobalData estimates that the treatment market for glaucoma in the seven major markets was $2.4 billion in 2013 and will grow to approximately $3 billion by 2023. Most glaucoma drugs on the market today are generic eye drops. The key advantages of CF101 are its oral administration and excellent safety profile.

The Phase II trial is being conducted in Europe and Israel and full enrollment of 88 patients has been achieved. Top line results are expected in mid-2016. The study is being conducted with two cohorts. In the first cohort patients were treated with 1 mg CF101 and placebo. Blinded results from this cohort showed that the drug had a favorable safety profile and was well tolerated. In the second cohort, dosage was increased, with patients receiving 2 mg of CF101 and matching placebo, given orally every 12 hours for 16 weeks. The drug's mechanism of action has been validated in an article by a leading researcher from University College London in the UK, Dr. Cordiero, who showed that the A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonist has a neuroprotective effect in the eye via inhibition of retinal ganglion cell apoptosis resulting in a significant decrease in intraocular pressure (IOP).

"Glaucoma is a substantial global market in which CF101 is one of only a few oral drugs in development. Oral drugs like CF101 have the potential to increase patient compliance and be more convenient for the patient," stated Dr. Pnina Fishman, Chairman and Interim CEO of OphthaliX. "In prior human clinical studies, we've seen that CF101 reduced IOP, the most important and only modifiable risk factor for glaucoma."

OphthaliX completes patient enrollment in CF101 Phase II trial for treatment of glaucoma

TSRI scientists use new drug discovery technique to identify anti-diabetes compound

TSRI scientists use new drug discovery technique to identify anti-diabetes compound

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Imlygic approved for treatment of melanoma lesions in the skin and lymph nodes

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Imlygic (talimogene laherparepvec), the first FDA-approved oncolytic virus therapy, for the treatment of melanoma lesions in the skin and lymph nodes.

"Melanoma is a serious disease that can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes difficult to treat," said Karen Midthun, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "This approval provides patients and health care providers with a novel treatment for melanoma."

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Melanoma, one type of skin cancer, is the leading cause of skin cancer related deaths, and is most often caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. According to the National Cancer Institute approximately 74,000 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma and nearly 10,000 will die from the disease in 2015.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Scientists identify main component of brain repair after stroke

Looking at brain tissue from mice, monkeys and humans, scientists have found that a molecule known as growth and differentiation factor 10 (GDF10) is a key player in repair mechanisms following stroke. The findings suggest that GDF10 may be a potential therapy for recovery after stroke. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health.


Sprouting connections in the brain: Adding GDF10 to neurons in a dish results in the formation of new connections between brain cells. This process may lead to recovery after stroke. Image courtesy of S. Thomas Carmichael, M.D., Ph.D., David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles.
“These findings help to elucidate the mechanisms of repair following stroke. Identifying this key protein further advances our knowledge of how the brain heals itself from the devastating effects of stroke, and may help to develop new therapeutic strategies to promote recovery,” said Francesca Bosetti, Ph.D., stroke program director at NINDS.

Scientists identify main component of brain repair after stroke

Looking at brain tissue from mice, monkeys and humans, scientists have found that a molecule known as growth and differentiation factor 10 (GDF10) is a key player in repair mechanisms following stroke. The findings suggest that GDF10 may be a potential therapy for recovery after stroke. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), part of the National Institutes of Health.


Sprouting connections in the brain: Adding GDF10 to neurons in a dish results in the formation of new connections between brain cells. This process may lead to recovery after stroke. Image courtesy of S. Thomas Carmichael, M.D., Ph.D., David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles.
“These findings help to elucidate the mechanisms of repair following stroke. Identifying this key protein further advances our knowledge of how the brain heals itself from the devastating effects of stroke, and may help to develop new therapeutic strategies to promote recovery,” said Francesca Bosetti, Ph.D., stroke program director at NINDS.

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Leptin gene therapy aids weight loss without significant side effect of bone loss

Delivering the hormone leptin directly to the brain through gene therapy aids weight loss without the significant side effect of bone loss, according to new collaborative research from Oregon State University and University of Florida.

Rapid or significant weight loss through dieting can trigger bone loss. Loss of bone density, in turn, can lead to increased susceptibility to bone fractures in older adults, which can have a debilitating effect on quality of life.

The bone loss is most concerning in people whose weight fluctuates due to "yo-yo" dieting, or repeated cycles of weight gain and loss, because bone lost during weight loss is not typically regained when the person gains weight again, said Urszula Iwaniec, an associate professor in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at OSU.

"Weight loss is generally good for you if you are seriously overweight, but bone loss can cause significant problems later in life," said Iwaniec, whose research focuses on metabolic bone disease and bone health. "What we are trying to determine is whether there is a way to lose excessive weight while preserving bone density."

In the study, rats who received leptin had a weight reduction of about 20 percent, but they did not have any bone loss. The rats that lost weight were able to maintain that weight loss. They also had large reductions of abdominal fat, also known as "bad" fat, which is known to contribute to weight-related health problems.

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Yoga exercise as effective as traditional pulmonary rehab in improving pulmonary function in COPD patients

Researchers from the Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Disorders and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India, studied the effects of yoga as a form of pulmonary rehabilitation on markers of inflammation in the body. Results from this study showed yoga exercises provide improvements that are just as effective as traditional pulmonary rehabilitation methods in improving pulmonary function, exercise capacity, and indices of systemic inflammation.

Sixty patients with COPD were randomly divided into two groups, one of which was taught yoga exercises while the other underwent a structured pulmonary rehabilitation program. These groups were tested on shortness of breath, serum inflammation, and lung function tests. Each group participated in 1 hour of training twice a week for the first 4 weeks, then training every 2 weeks for 8 weeks, and the remaining weeks were at home. Results showed that yoga and pulmonary rehabilitation exercises resulted in similar improvements in pulmonary function, 6-minute walk distance, Borg scale, severity of dyspnea, quality of life, and levels of C-reactive protein after 12 weeks of training.

"This study suggests yoga may be a cost-effective form of rehabilitation that is more convenient for patients," said Mark J. Rosen, MD, Master FCCP, CHEST Medical Director. "The authors recommended adoption of yoga programs as an option as part of long-term management of COPD. These findings should be confirmed in new studies and the potential mechanisms explored."

Monday, April 6, 2015

New treatment for dementia discovered: Deep brain stimulation

New treatment for dementia discovered: Deep brain stimulation

A new amyloid-targeting treatment for Alzheimer's disease

New in vitro study examines benefits of pear-enriched diet on chronic diseases

A new in vitro (test tube) study, "Dietary functional benefits of Bartlett and Starkrimson pears for potential management of hyperglycemia, hypertension and ulcer bacteria Helicobacter pylori while supporting beneficial probiotic bacterial response," was published in the March issue of Food Research International.

In a laboratory in vitro setting, Kalidas Shetty, PhD, currently a professor of plant science at North Dakota State University, and the research's lead author, Dr. Dipayan Sarkar, studied the compounds found in two pear varieties, Bartlett and Starkrimson, in order to better understand the impact of those compounds on chronic diseases. The results suggest fermentation of these pear cultivars further enhances their ability to control stomach related diseases involving H. pylori, the most common chronic bacterial infection in humans, without affecting beneficial bacteria with probiotic potential. 

Monday, March 23, 2015

New diet may significantly lower risk of Alzheimer's disease



A new diet, appropriately known by the acronym MIND, could significantly lower a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, even if the diet is not meticulously followed, according to a paper published online for subscribers in March in the journalAlzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

Rush nutritional epidemiologist Martha Clare Morris, PhD, and colleagues developed the "Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay" (MIND) diet. The study shows that the MIND diet lowered the risk of AD by as much as 53 percent in participants who adhered to the diet rigorously, and by about 35 percent in those who followed it moderately well.

"One of the more exciting things about this is that people who adhered even moderately to the MIND diet had a reduction in their risk for AD," said Morris, a Rush professor, assistant provost for Community Research, and director of Nutrition and Nutritional Epidemiology. "I think that will motivate people."

Morris and her colleagues developed the MIND diet based on information that has accrued from years' worth of past research about what foods and nutrients have good, and bad, effects on the functioning of the brain over time. This is the first study to relate the MIND diet to Alzheimer's disease.

Ref : http://www.alzheimersanddementia.com/article/S1552-5260(15)00017-5/fulltext

Monday, February 16, 2015

Diplomat to dispense FDA-approved IBRANCE (palbociclib) to treat metastatic breast cancer



Palbociclib.svg


In continuation of my update on letrozole

The approval for IBRANCE® -(Palbociclib) came more than two months ahead of schedule, through the FDA's Breakthrough Therapy designation and Priority Review programs. According to Pfizer, the registration trial showed that, compared to letrozole alone, IBRANCE® in combination with letrozole nearly doubled the time before tumors progressed. The drug is the first in a new class of anti-cancer agents, CDK 4/6 inhibitors, to be FDA-approved.

"IBRANCE® offers hope for the breast cancer community, and we're excited to be able to offer it at Diplomat," said Gary Kadlec, president of the company. "Patients facing metastatic breast cancer need the support of advancements like these, and we are honored to complement this treatment with focused care."

IBRANCE® is indicated for use in combination with letrozole for the treatment of postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced breast cancer as initial endocrine-based therapy for their metastatic disease.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Newly found peptide may reduce desire for food



We know that, Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide also known as PACAP is a protein that in humans is encoded by theADCYAP1 gene. PACAP is similar to vasoactive intestinal peptide. One of its effects is to stimulate enterochromaffin-like cells. It binds to vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor and to the PACAP receptor.

Newly found protein in naked mole rat helps ward off cancer

Newly found protein in naked mole rat helps ward off cancer

Friday, January 23, 2015

Penn State researchers explore benefits of beet juice

Athletes who down beet juice before exercising to increase blood flow and improve performance may be surprised at the results of a recent study conducted at Penn State's Noll Laboratory. While beetroot juice rich in nitrates did not enhance muscle blood flow or vascular dilation during exercise, researchers found that it did "de-stiffen" blood vessels under resting conditions, potentially easing the workload of the heart.

Endurance athletes have been known to consume the crimson supplement based on the belief that it may improve blood and oxygen flow in their muscles during training and competition. Some strength and power athletes consume it in hopes that it can improve their ability to withstand muscle fatigue during repeated bouts of high intensity exercise. Now, some patients are asking their doctors if they should drink the juice to lower their high blood pressure.

Those potential benefits are what prompted David Proctor, professor of kinesiology and physiology at Penn State, to test the ability of the juice to enhance blood flow to exercising muscles.

Proctor, with other researchers, found that the widely held belief regarding improved muscle blood flow did not hold up to their test. They report their results in the journalApplied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism.

Proctor and his colleagues gave subjects either a placebo drink containing beetroot juice minus the nitrate or a relatively high dose of nitrate-rich beetroot juice. They found that the latter did not enhance the natural rise in blood flow to the forearm muscles during graded handgrip exercise.

"Beetroot juice also had no effect on the dilation (widening) of the brachial artery in these volunteers," said lead author and Penn State physiology graduate student Jin-Kwang Kim.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Study: Stem cells derived from human female amnion have anti-inflammatory effects

Study: Stem cells derived from human female amnion have anti-inflammatory effects

New colloidal gold test strip demonstrates great potential for early detection of heart attack

NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering professors have been collaborating with researchers from Peking University on a new test strip that is demonstrating great potential for the early detection of certain heart attacks.

Kurt H. Becker, a professor in the Department of Applied Physics and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, and WeiDong Zhu, a research associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, are helping develop a new colloidal gold test strip for cardiac troponin I (cTn-I) detection. The new strip uses microplasma-generated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and shows much higher detection sensitivity than conventional test strips. The new cTn-I test is based on the specific immune-chemical reactions between antigen and antibody on immunochromatographic test strips using AuNPs.

Compared to AuNPs produced by traditional chemical methods, the surfaces of the gold nanoparticles generated by the microplasma-induced liquid chemical process attract more antibodies, which results in significantly higher detection sensitivity.

cTn-I is a specific marker for myocardial infarction. The cTn-I level in patients experiencing myocardial infarction is several thousand times higher than in healthy people. The early detection of cTn-I is therefore a key factor of heart attack diagnosis and therapy.