Ebola, Marburg Virus Treatments Safe in Phase 1 Studies

In continuation of my update on antisense drugs and RNAi

AVI BioPharma Inc. announced positive safety results from the first five cohorts of Phase 1 single ascending dose trials of AVI-6002 and AVI-6003, AVI's lead drug candidates being evaluated for the treatment of the Ebola virus and Marburg virus.

Data were evaluated by an independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), which issued recommendations for both studies to progress as planned to the next highest dosing level after no safety concerns were identified. The Phase 1 single ascending dose trials are designed to characterize the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of each therapeutic candidate in healthy adult volunteers.

"We are very encouraged that these two drugs, which use our advanced PMOplus chemistry, have demonstrated a favorable safety profile through five cohorts in our dose-escalation studies,”says Chris Garabedian, president and chief executive officer of AVI BioPharma...

Ref : http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=64231&p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=1619940

To date, 25 healthy human subjects (five per group) have been enrolled into five sequential dose groups in each of the two studies. Within each group, four subjects received the indicated dose of the therapeutic and one subject received placebo. For each group, safety, clinical laboratory and renal biomarker results through five days after treatment were reviewed by a DSMB. Subjects enrolled in the sixth group for the drug studies will receive 9.0 mg/kg of the therapeutic or placebo. Final, un-blinded safety and pharmacokinetic results for all subjects will be available upon completion of the trial.

Both candidates employ AVI's patented PMOplus technology that selectively introduces positive charges to its phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) backbone to improve interaction between the drug and its target.

Tivozanib Improves RCC (renal cell carinomas) Survival

Tivozanib (see structure, AV-951) is an oral VEGF receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It is undergoing clinical trial investigation for the treatment of renal cell carinomas. An oral quinoline urea derivative, tivozanib suppresses angiogenesis by being selectively inhibitory against vascular endothelial growth factor.

The positive results of this Phase 2 trial informed the design and implementation of TIVO-1, a pivotal Phase 3 clinical study in advanced RCC demonstrating tivozanib superiority over sorafenib in the primary endpoint of PFS in the first-line setting, top-line data from which were reported in January 2012.

“Current RCC therapies are associated with toxicities that can interfere with patients’ treatment regimens and impact treatment efficacy and activities of daily living,” said Dmitry A. Nosov, M.D., Ph.D., senior clinical researcher at the Blokhin Oncology Research Center, Moscow, Russian Federation, lead author of the Phase 2 study and TIVO-1 investigator.

“Despite recent progress in treating patients with RCC, patients and physicians would benefit from a new RCC treatment option that delivers both improved efficacy and a more tolerable safety profile. The combined tivozanib efficacy and safety data demonstrated in this Phase 2 study supports tivozanib as a potential advancement in the RCC treatment landscape.”

Based on the positive Phase 2 data and success of the TIVO-1 trial, AVEO and its collaborator Astellas Pharma Inc. are moving forward with plans for submitting the tivozanib NDA in RCC in the third quarter of 2012, with the MAA submission to follow.

“We believe that the efficacy and safety profile consistently demonstrated by tivozanib and recently validated in our Phase 3 TIVO-1 trial represent an important step forward in the treatment of patients who have advanced RCC,” said William Slichenmyer, M.D., Sc.M., chief medical officer, AVEO. “We are pleased with the opportunity to collaborate with tivozanib study investigators on publishing these positive Phase 2 data in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and look forward to advancing our work with our global partners at Astellas to bring tivozanib to patients who can benefit from this therapy.”....

http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/30/14/1678.abstract?sid=1fe73024-e1cc-481f-acc3-1dc09b596f7f

Dalcetrapib Testing Halted..

A second experimental cholesterol medicine in a once-promising class of drugs meant to replace blockbusters such as Lipitor has failed in testing, casting doubt on whether any of the drugs will ever make it to pharmacies.

Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG said it has halted testing of its dalcetrapib (see structure), which the company had hoped would become a blockbuster, with eventual annual sales of more than $1 billion. The drug was in expensive late-stage patient testing as a treatment to raise HDL, or so-called good cholesterol, in heart disease patients.

Basel-based Roche said it decided to pull the plug on the recommendation of its independent data and safety monitoring board after an interim analysis, in a study called dal-OUTCOMES, found no "clinically meaningful" benefit.

Ref : http://www.roche.com/media/media_releases/med-cor-2012-05-07.htm

Positive Data from aripiprazole intramuscula for Schizophrenia Trial

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and H. Lundbeck A/S announced results from a Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of once-monthly aripiprazole (see structure) intramuscular (IM) depot formulation for the maintenance treatment of adults with schizophrenia. Trial results were presented in four poster presentations at the 2012 American Psychiatric Association (APA) Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. 

In a 52-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study conducted by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (OPDC), aripiprazole IM depot formulation significantly delayed time-to-impending relapse compared to placebo, the primary endpoint of the study (Hazard ratio = 5.03, p<0.0001). In addition, improvements in the symptoms [as measured by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) total score] were maintained throughout the study in patients treated with aripiprazole IM depot formulation, while patients who received placebo reported significantly worsening scores (mean change from baseline at week 52 was 1.4 for aripiprazole IM depot formulation compared to 11.6 for placebo; LOCF analysis, p<0.0001).

Canagliflozin Provided Substantial and Sustained Glycemic Improvements as Monotherapy and in Add-On Combinations in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes in Five Phase 3 Studies

Canagliflozin is an experimental drug being developed by Johnson & Johnson for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It is an inhibitor of subtype 2 sodium-glucose transport protein (SGLT2), which is responsible for at least 90% of the glucose reabsorption in the kidney. Blocking this transporter causes blood glucose to be eliminated through the urine..

More...

Lilly, Boehringer Ingelheim announce results from linagliptin Phase III trial on T2D

 In continuation of my update on Linagliptin

Results of the one Phase III study presented (Poster No. 999-P) showed that linagliptin was effective as an add-on therapy to basal insulin alone or in combination with metformin and/or pioglitazone in reducing blood glucose levels in adult patients with T2D, when compared to placebo as an add-on to these background therapies. Linagliptin demonstrated a placebo-adjusted reduction in HbA1c of 0.65% (p<0.0001) from a baseline HbA1c of 8.3% at 24 weeks without weight gain or additional risk of hypoglycaemia.  HbA1c is measured in people with diabetes to provide an index of blood glucose control for the previous two to three months. 

A post-hoc analysis from a second Phase III trial (Poster No. 1044-P) found that in hyperglycaemic patients on a background of metformin randomised to add linagliptin or glimepiride, a greater proportion of patients taking linagliptin achieved target HbA1c <7% without weight gain and/or hypoglycaemia than those taking glimepiride after 104 weeks (linagliptin 54% versus glimepiride 23%) while comparably improving blood glucose levels.

Ref : http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.com/news/news_releases/press_releases/2012/09_june_2012_linagliptin1.html

Drug kills cancer cells by restoring faulty tumor suppressor

A new study describes a compound that selectively kills cancer cells by restoring the structure and function of one of the most commonly mutated proteins in human cancer, the "tumor suppressor" p53. The research, published by Cell Press in the May 15th issue of the journal Cancer Cell, uses a novel, computer based strategy to identify potential anti-cancer drugs, including one that targets the third most common p53 mutation in human cancer, p53-R175H. 

Restoring the function of mutant p53 with a drug has long been recognized as an attractive cancer therapeutic strategy," explains senior study author, Dr. Darren R. Carpizo, from The Cancer Institute of New Jersey. "However, it has proven difficult to find compounds that restore the lost function of a defective tumor-suppressor."

Using the National Cancer Institute's anticancer drug screen data researchers identified two compounds from the thiosemicarbazone family that manifest increased growth inhibitory activity in mutant p53 cells, particularly for the p53^R175 mutant. Mechanistic studies reveal that NSC319726 (see structure) restores WT structure and function to the p53^R175 mutant. 

This compound kills p53^R172H knockin mice with extensive apoptosis and inhibits xenograft tumor growth in a 175-allele-specific mutant p53-dependent manner. This activity depends upon the zinc ion chelating properties of the compound as well as redox changes. These data identify NSC319726 as a p53^R175 mutant reactivator and as a lead compound for p53-targeted drug development.

Drug kills cancer cells by restoring faulty tumor suppressor

Combination of vaccine and letrozole effectively improves survival from breast cancer

In continuation of my update on Letrozole

Combination of vaccine and letrozole effectively improves survival from breast cancer: A vaccine that targets cancer cells in combination with the drug letrozole, a standard hormonal therapy against breast cancer, significantly increased survival when tested in mice, a team of UC Davis investigators has found.

Pungent Ingredient, piperine, in Black Pepper Targets Fat Cells

A preliminary new study suggests that the pungent component in black pepper known as piperine fights fat by blocking the formation of new fat cells.

If further studies confirm these effects, researchers say black pepper may offer a natural alternative for the treatment of fat-related disorders like obesity.

"Our findings suggest that piperine (see above structure), a major component of black pepper, inhibits fat cell differentiation ... thus leading to its potential use in the treatment of obesity-related diseases," writes researcher Ui-Hyun Park of Sejong University in Seoul, Korea 

Black Pepper the Fat Fighter....

Researchers say the benefits of black pepper and the black pepper plant have been known for centuries in traditional Eastern medicine, in which it is used to treat cholera, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal issues.

In their study, researchers looked at the effects of piperine on gene expression in fat tissue in the lab and in computer models.

The results showed that piperine interfered with the activity of genes responsible for forming new fat cells.

Researchers say this benefit of black pepper sets up a chain reaction that helps keep the formation of fat in check in other ways as well.

"Overall, our results suggest that piperine could be a lead natural compound for the treatment of fat-related disorders," the researchers write.

Topical Gel (from Euphorbia peplus) Treats Precancerous Skin Condition, Actinic Keratosis

A new prescription gel may quickly treat a common precancerous skin condition called actinic keratosis, a new study shows.

The gel is derived from the sap of the Euphorbia peplus plant. This has long been used as a folk remedy for skin lesions.

The new gel, Picato (ingenol mebutate, see below structure), is applied once daily for two or three days, depending on the area being treated. Other available topical treatments must be used for several weeks, and often irritate the skin. Cryotherapy, or freezing the affected skin area, is also used but can sometimes leave a scar.

Because the new gel is only used for a few days, any irritation is usually short-lived. The short duration also makes people more likely to stay the course, another advantage, according to the study’s authors.

“The shorter application period is what makes ingenol mebutate a breakthrough in the treatment of actinic keratosis,” researcher Mark Lebwohl, MD, says in a news release. He is a professor and chair of the department of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.

Experimental cholesterol drug, REGN727 (PCSK9 inhibitor) results called ‘game changing

In continuation on my update on drug discovery in the class of  Monoclonal antibodies

Researchers have known for some time that when the protein PCSK9, (below structure) which stands for proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9, binds to LDL receptors on the liver, it compromises the organ’s ability to filter the bad cholesterol from the blood.

Too much LDL cholesterol circulating in the blood can lead to the thickening of artery walls, making them less flexible and therefore impairing their function and increasing the risk of heart disease.

In a phase one clinical trial, which is designed to determine if a drug is safe, researchers found that using a monoclonal antibody (lab-produced protein) called REGN727, was not only safe, but effectively blocked PCSK9 and therefore signficantly reduced bad cholesterol in healthy patients as well as those also taking the popular cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor.

“Wars for PCSK9 are far bigger than the statin wars,” said Dr. Evan A Stein, lead author of the study and researcher at the Metabolic and Atherosclerosis Research Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. “This is a hot research area and everybody is so close together.”

The REGN727 study included three trial arms. Two arms used 72 healthy volunteers who were either injected with a single dose of the drug in increasing amounts to test for side effects, which is the purpose of a phase one clinical trial.  A third arm included 21 people with a family history of high cholesterol, and 30 people with nonfamilial high cholesterol. All of those subjects were also receiving treatment with the statin Lipitor.

A control group of subjects with nonfamilial high cholesterol was treated only with a special diet.  None of the subjects who received REGN727 discontinued the study because of adverse effects, and the subjects who received REGN727 had a striking reduction of 60 to 65%  in LDL cholesterol, according to Stein.

A PCSK9 inhibitor, Stein said, differs from statins “because it’s unlike any other drug. With statins you get toxicity – with these drugs we don’t see any side effects with the antibody.”

In an accompanying editorial, authors Dr. Stephen G. Young, and Loren G. Fong, Ph.D. write: “At this point, the status of PCSK9 therapeutics appears to be full speed ahead. Soon, we can expect more human trials in which investigators will dissect the properties of different PCSK9 antibodies and assess the effect of these agents.”

However, without long-term safety data and evidence that PCSK9 inhibitors truly help prevent heart disease, Young and Fong caution that it will remain unclear how important this class of drugs will be.

The cost of this drug will also play a role in determining which patients might use it, Fong and Young say.  But they also note that “patients who cannot tolerate statins could benefit greatly.”

Researchers also claim that,  the study methodology was thorough because it included people with high cholesterol as well as people with genetic familial high cholesterol, which is proven to be a result of impaired PCSK9 genetic function.

Researchers have known for some time that when the protein PCSK9, which stands for proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9, binds to LDL receptors on the liver, it compromises the organ’s ability to filter the bad cholesterol from the blood.

Researchers conclude that, In three phase 1 trials, a monoclonal antibody to PCSK9 significantly reduced LDL cholesterol levels in healthy volunteers and in subjects with familial or nonfamilial hypercholesterolemia.

Ref : http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1105803

Soy Supplements Can Cool Hot Flashes

In continuation of my update on Soy...

Taking soy to relieve hot flashes has received mixed reviews over the years. Now, researchers who took another look at 19 published studies find that soy supplements may help, at least over time. Soy has been touted as an alternative treatment to hormone replacement therapy after HRT was linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

“For many women with symptoms and especially with concerns about hormone replacement therapy, trying soy for six to 12 weeks to see if it relieves their symptoms could be a first line of treatment,” says Melissa Melby, PhD, a professor of medical anthropology at the University of Delaware.

Researchers conclude that, Soy isoflavone supplements, derived by extraction or chemical synthesis, are significantly more effective than placebo in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes. Additional studies are needed to further address the complex array of factors that may affect efficacy, such as dose, isoflavone form, baseline hot flash frequency, and treatment duration.


Ref : http://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/Abstract/publishahead/Extracted_or_synthesized_soybean_isoflavones.98844.aspx

Lorcaserin Receives Positive Vote From FDA Advisory Committee

In continuation of my update on Lorcaserin

Lorcaserin Receives Positive Vote From FDA Advisory Committee:  

(FDA) Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee voted 18 to 4, with one abstention, that the available data demonstrate that the potential benefits of lorcaserin outweigh the potential risks when used long-term in a population of overweight and obese individuals. Lorcaserin is an investigational drug candidate intended for weight management, including weight loss and maintenance of weight loss, in patients who are obese (BMI greater than or equal to 30) or patients who are overweight (BMI greater than or equal to 27) and have at least one weight-related co-morbid condition.

"The advisory committee's positive vote supports our belief in lorcaserin as a potential new treatment option for the medical management of overweight and obesity," said Jack Lief, Arena's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We will continue to work with the FDA as the agency completes its review of the lorcaserin new drug application."

In continuation of my update on curcumin,,,,

Curcumin, an active component of the Indian curry spice turmeric, may help slow down tumor growth in castration-resistant prostate cancer patients on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), a study from researchers at Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center suggests. More

 Curry spice component may help slow prostate tumor growth

2 Drugs Better Than 1 to Treat Youth With Type 2 Diabetes

2 Drugs Better Than 1 to Treat Youth With Type 2 Diabetes: A combination of two diabetes drugs, metformin and rosiglitazone, was more effective in treating youth with recent-onset type 2 diabetes than metformin alone, a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found. Adding an intensive lifestyle intervention to metformin provided no more benefit than metformin therapy alone.

The study also found that metformin therapy alone was not an effective treatment for many of these youth. In fact, metformin had a much higher failure rate in study participants than has been reported in studies of adults treated with metformin alone.

The study found that treatment with metformin alone was inadequate for maintaining acceptable, long-term, blood glucose control in 51.7 percent of youth over an average follow-up of 46 months. The failure rate was 38.6 percent in the metformin and rosiglitazone group, a 25.3 percent reduction from metformin alone. In the metformin plus lifestyle group the failure rate was 46.6 percent.