Vismodegib is an effective treatment for patients with basal cell carcinomas

 Vismodegib :


Vismodegib is an effective treatment for patients with basal cell carcinomas

Maple syrup contains a range of antioxidant compounds not found in other sweeteners

In continuation of my update on Maple syrup...

Maple syrup contains a range of antioxidant compounds not found in other sweeteners

Thalidomide provides new hope for patients with difficult to treat liver cancer

Thalidomoide

Thalidomide provides new hope for patients with difficult to treat liver cancer

Researchers identify drug candidate that can treat prostate cancer

Drug candidate, developed from a naturally occurring anti-cancer agent found in cruciferous vegetables such as cabbages and broccoli, for prostate cancer...
Researchers identify drug candidate that can treat prostate cancer

Boceprevir drug can help cure hard-to-treat hepatitis C

In continuation of my update on Boceprevir...
Boceprevir drug can help cure hard-to-treat hepatitis C

Thirty four new beneficial compounds found in pure maple syrup

In continuation of my update on maple syrup....
Thirty four new beneficial compounds found in pure maple syrup

New lung cancer drug starts human trials

New lung cancer drug starts human trials

Scientists devise new strategy to prevent spread of drug-resistant bacteria

Scientists devise new strategy to prevent spread of drug-resistant bacteria

FDA accepts Tris' Extended Release Carbinoxamine Oral Suspension NDA for allergies in kids

 Carbinoxamine.........

FDA accepts Tris' Extended Release Carbinoxamine Oral Suspension NDA for allergies in kids

Experimental drug effectively shuts off MCL1 gene and induces apoptosis

Structure -B (UNBS1450)

Experimental drug effectively shuts off MCL1 gene and induces apoptosis

Chemical compounds in trees can fight deadly staph infections in humans

Chemical compounds in trees can fight deadly staph infections in humans

2-Aminothiazoles as Therapeutic Leads for Prion Diseases............

Adam Renslo, Stanley B. Prusiner (Nobel Laureate) and colleagues,  explain that prion diseases include conditions like mad cow disease in animals and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in humans, result from deposits of abnormal prion protein in brain tissue. Prion diseases are invariably fatal and no treatments are yet available.  Scientists who examined more than 10,000 chemical compounds during the last year in search of potential new drugs for a group of untreatable brain diseases, are reporting that one substance (a 2-Aminothiazole see structure) shows unusual promise. The early positive signs for so-called prion diseases come from research in laboratory mice and cell cultures.

As per the claim by the researchers,  the new compound can reach the brain and reach high concentrations when taken orally and do not appear toxic. Researchers also claims that, tests on prion-infected mouse brain cells showed that the compounds reduced the amount of the abnormal prion protein. The compounds appear to be among the most promising potential treatments for prion diseases yet discovered, the report suggests…..

Ref : 2-Aminothiazoles as Therapeutic Leads for Prion Diseases…

Allegra Approved for Over-the-Counter Sale

Sanofi-Aventis' prescription non-drowsy antihistamine, Allegra (fexofenadine), has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for over-the-counter sale. The drug will be available in its original prescription strengths starting in March for people two years and older, according to a news release from Sanofi and its U.S. consumer division, Chattem Inc. A version that combines Allegra with a decongestant, Allegra-D, will be available at the same time for people 12 and older without a prescription at the pharmacy counter, the companies said. 

Ref : http://www.sanofi-aventis.us/live/us/medias/AF918D6C-8E16-4619-A26C-5DE034D86BA6.pdf

Small Molecule c-jun-N-Terminal Kinase Inhibitors Blocks Brain Cell Destruction in Parkinson's Disease - a new hope !

Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have produced the first known compound to show significant effectiveness in protecting brain cells directly affected by Parkinson's disease, a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder.  Although the findings were in animal models of the disease, the effectiveness of the compound, combined with its potential to be taken orally, offers the tantalizing possibility of a potentially useful future therapy for Parkinson's disease patients.  As per the claim by the lead researcher, Prof. Philip LoGrasso,   the compelling data on the first oral, brain-penetrating inhibitor to show significant efficacy in preventing neurodegeneration in both mouse and rat models of Parkinson's disease.

The new small molecule labeled SR-3306  is aimed at inhibiting a class of enzymes called c-jun-N-terminal kinases (JNK). Pronounced "junk," these enzymes have been shown to play an important role in neuron (nerve cell) survival. As such, they have become a highly viable target for drugs to treat neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

The SR-3306 compound, which has been in development at Scripps Florida for several years, performed well in both cell culture and animal models. In cell culture, the compound showed greater than 90 percent protection against induced cell death of primary dopaminergic neurons, while in mouse models of induced neuron death, the compound showed protective levels of approximately 72 percent.

 "It was a surprise that level of neuroprotection reduced the behavioral impact so strongly," LoGrasso said, "but it's indicative of how it might perform in human patients. While SR-3306 doesn't represent a cure, it does appear to have the potential of stopping the progression of the disease."….

 Ref : http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdfplus/10.1021/cn100109k

Teaming broccoli with sprouts may make vegetable's anti-cancer effect twice as powerful

Teaming broccoli with sprouts may make vegetable's anti-cancer effect twice as powerful