Chemistry riddle solved : The 2-norbornyl cation !

With support from Prof. Paul von Rague Schleyer from the University of Georgia, USA, a team of researchers including Prof. Dr. Ingo Krossing, Dr. Daniel Himmel, and Franziska Scholz from the Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry of the University of Freiburg and Prof. Dr. Karsten Meyer from the University of Erlangen has succeeded in capturing the 2-norbornyl cation as a crystal and determining beyond doubt the structure of this unusual and instable carbon compound. The 2-norbornyl cation is a non-classical carbocation, a molecule with a positively charged carbon atom that enters into five instead of three bonds with other atoms. Their article in the journal Science has ended a 50-year-old controversy among chemists.

Chemistry riddle solved

Smart anticancer 'nanofiber mesh'

A MANA research team has developed a new nanofiber mesh which is capable of simultaneously realizing thermotherapy (hyperthermia) and chemotherapy (treatment with anticancer drugs) of tumors. They succeeded in efficiently inducing natural death (apoptosis) of epithelial cancer cells.

Ref : http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.201300746/abstract;jsessionid=A14E178EC5E6FC5D367A7C71FF0D30BC.d02t01



Smart anticancer 'nanofiber mesh'

Array BioPharma achieves milestone for initiation of MEK162 Phase 3 trial in patients with LGSOC

We know that, MEK162, is an oral, highly selective MEK inhibitor. In preclinical studies, MEK162 showed significant antitumor activities in cell lines and animal models. MEK162 is now being investigated in Phase I trials in advanced solid tumors. Recent research confirms that the MEK pathway acts as a central axis in the proliferation of different tumors including melanoma, non-small cell lung, head/neck and pancreatic cancers.  And MEK inhibition, either alone or in combination with other agents, is an important therapeutic strategy in treating cancer.  ARRY-162 is a novel, orally active, potent, selective, non-ATP-competitive inhibitor of MEK 1 / 2 that has the potential to treat a range of malignant diseases.

Array BioPharma achieves milestone for initiation of MEK162 Phase 3 trial in patients with LGSOC

First clinical study for development of SGX203 to treat pediatric Crohn's disease

A clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing products to treat inflammatory diseases and biodefense countermeasures where there remains an unmet medical need, announced today that it has enrolled and treated all patients in the Phase 1 Study BDP-PCD-01; the first clinical study for development of SGX203 (oral beclomethasone 17,21-dipropionate or oral BDP) for the treatment of pediatric Crohn's disease.  The SGX203 development program has previously received Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for oral BDP as a treatment for pediatric Crohn's disease......

First clinical study for development of SGX203 to treat pediatric Crohn's disease

Research finds fish oil DHA can reduce inflammation

In continuation of my update on fish oil benefits

A new research report appearing in the July 2013 issue of The FASEB Journal, helps explain why DHA is important in reducing inflammation, and provides an important lead to finding new drugs that will help bring people back to optimal health. Specifically, researchers found that macrophages (a type of white blood cell) use DHA to produce "maresins," which serve as the "switch" that turns inflammation off and switches on resolution.

 

"We hope that the results from this study will enable investigators to test the relevance of the maresin pathway in human disease," said Charles N. Serhan, Ph.D., a researcher involved in the work from the Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. "Moreover, we hope to better understand resolution biology and its potential pharmacology so that we can enhance our ability to control unwanted inflammation and improve the quality of life."

Research finds fish oil DHA can reduce inflammation

Aspirin May Fight Cancer by Slowing DNA Damage

Researchers hypothesized that NSAIDs modulate clonal evolution by reducing SGA acquisition rate. Researchers  evaluated thirteen individuals with BE. Eleven had not used NSAIDs for 6.2±3.5 (mean±standard deviation) years and then began using NSAIDs for 5.6±2.7 years, whereas two had used NSAIDs for 3.3±1.4 years and then discontinued use for 7.9±0.7 years. 161 BE biopsies, collected at 5–8 time points over 6.4–19 years, were analyzed using 1Million-SNP arrays to detect SGAs. Even in the earliest biopsies there were many SGAs (284±246 in 10/13 and 1442±560 in 3/13 individuals) and in most individuals the number of SGAs changed little over time, with both increases and decreases in SGAs detected. The estimated SGA rate was 7.8 per genome per year (95% support interval [SI], 7.1–8.6) off-NSAIDs and 0.6 (95% SI 0.3–1.5) on-NSAIDs. Twelve individuals did not progress to EA. In ten we detected 279±86 SGAs affecting 53±30 Mb of the genome per biopsy per time point and in two researchers detected 1,463±375 SGAs affecting 180±100 Mb. In one individual who progressed to EA we detected a clone having 2,291±78 SGAs affecting 588±18 Mb of the genome at three time points in the last three of 11.4 years of follow-up. NSAIDs were associated with reduced rate of acquisition of SGAs in eleven of thirteen individuals. Barrett's cells maintained relative equilibrium level of SGAs over time with occasional punctuations by expansion of clones having massive amount of SGAs. More...

Aspirin May Fight Cancer by Slowing DNA Damage | ucsf.edu

FDA Approves Vibativ for Hospitalized Patients with Bacterial Pneumonia

We know that, Telavancin (trade name Vibativ) is a bactericidal lipoglycopeptide for use in MRSA or other Gram-positive infections. Telavancin is a semi-synthetic derivative of vancomycin. The FDA approved the drug in September 2009 for complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI)...

Now U.S. Food and Drug Administration today expanded the approved use of the antibiotic Vibativ (telavancin) to treat patients with hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia (HABP/VABP) caused by Staphylococcus aureus. Vibativ should be used for the treatment of HABP/VABP only when alternative treatments are not suitable...

FDA Approves Vibativ for Hospitalized Patients with Bacterial Pneumonia

Diabetes drug points the way to overcoming drug resistance in melanoma

Despite success with BRAFV600E inhibitors, therapeutic responses in patients with metastatic melanoma are short-lived because of the acquisition of drug resistance. Researchers  identified a mechanism of intrinsic multidrug resistance based on the survival of a tumor cell subpopulation. Treatment with various drugs, including cisplatin and vemurafenib, uniformly leads to enrichment of slow-cycling, long-term tumor-maintaining melanoma cells expressing the H3K4-demethylase JARID1B/KDM5B/PLU-1. Proteome-profiling revealed an upregulation in enzymes of mitochondrial oxidative-ATP-synthesis (oxidative phosphorylation) in this subpopulation. Inhibition of mitochondrial respiration blocked the emergence of the JARID1B^high subpopulation and sensitized melanoma cells to therapy, independent of their genotype. Our findings support a two-tiered approach combining anticancer agents that eliminate rapidly proliferating melanoma cells with inhibitors of the drug-resistant slow-cycling subpopulation.

Ref: http://www.cell.com/cancer-cell/retrieve/pii/S1535610813001967 

Diabetes drug points the way to overcoming drug resistance in melanoma

Diabetes drug shows promise in treatment of neurodegenerative disease

In continuation of my update on Pioglitazone

We know that, Pioglitazone is a prescription drug of the class thiazolidinedione (TZD) with hypoglycemic (antihyperglycemic, antidiabetic) action to treat diabetes. It is used to improve glucose control in adults over the age of 18 with type 2 diabetes. Pioglitazone is marketed as trademarks Actos in the USA, Canada, the UK and Germany, Glustin in Europe, Glizone and Pioz in India by Zydus Cadila and USV Limited, respectively and Zactos in Mexico by Takeda Pharmaceuticals....

Now Researchers in Spain have found that a drug used to control Type II diabetes can help repair the spinal cords of mice suffering from the inherited disease adrenoleukodystrophy which, untreated, leads eventually to a paralysis, a vegetative state and death. They believe that their findings may be relevant to other neurodegenerative diseases. A Phase II trial will be starting shortly. ...

More : http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/136/3/891.abstract?sid=08e53c88-b470-4a40-844f-4a1e57b570d9

Diabetes drug shows promise in treatment of neurodegenerative disease

Flamel Technologies Announces FDA Approval of Bloxiverz

Flamel Technologies today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company's New Drug Application (NDA) for Bloxiverz (neostigmine (see structure below) methylsulfate), a drug used intravenously in the operating room for the reversal of the effects of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents after surgery. Flamel expects to launch Bloxiverz in July 2013 in 0.5 and 1.0 mg/mL strengths.

"We are extremely excited and pleased to receive this FDA approval for Bloxiverz, the first product from the portfolio of Éclat products acquired in March 2012," said Mike Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of Flamel.

Bloxiverz is the first FDA-approved version of neostigmine, even though other versions of neostigmine have been on the market as unapproved, grandfathered products under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938. Today, neostigmine is the most common agent used for the reversal of the effects of other agents used for neuromuscular blocks.

Flamel Technologies Announces FDA Approval of Bloxiverz

Small molecule could have big impact on cancer

Androgen receptors are found inside cells and have complex surfaces with multiple "docking points" where various proteins can bind to the receptor. Each docking point has a unique shape, so only a correctly shaped molecule will fit.

Androgen hormones, such as testosterone, are the primary molecules that bind to androgen receptors. Such binding sets off a chain of events that activates several different processes in the human body, including stimulating the development and maintenance of male characteristics.

Looking for a new approach to battle prostate cancer, Ahn and his colleagues keyed in on blocking a critical docking point on the androgen receptor.

"When a tumor is trying to grow, activation of this location provides what the tumor needs," Ahn said. "There are other surfaces on the androgen receptor that are free to continue working with their respective proteins and to continue functioning. We sought to block only one set of interactions that contribute to prostate cancer growth. That's why we thought our approach might lead to potent efficacy with fewer side effects."

Using computer-assisted molecular modeling, Ahn designed a helix-mimicking small molecule (see structure)

that fits precisely into a pocket on the androgen receptor that is associated with prostate cancer. Collaborating with senior study author Dr. Ganesh Raj, associate professor of urology at UT Southwestern and a specialist in treating urologic cancers, the researchers tested the compound in animal and isolated human tissue. Without exhibiting noticeable toxicity, the compound prevented the androgen receptor from recruiting its protein partners and it blocked the growth of prostate cancer cells.

According to the researchers, D2 (Methyl 4-(3-isobutoxy-4-nitrobenzamido)-3-isobutoxybenzoate, above structure)  is stable, non-toxic and efficiently taken up by prostate cancer cells. Importantly, D2 blocks androgen-induced nuclear uptake and genomic activity of the androgen receptor. Furthermore, D2 abrogates androgen-induced proliferation of prostate cancer cells in vitro with an IC₅₀ of 40 nM, and inhibits tumour growth in a mouse xenograft model. D2 also disrupts androgen receptor–coregulator interactions in ex vivo cultures of primary human prostate tumours. These findings provide evidence that targeting androgen receptor–coregulator interactions using peptidomimetics may be a viable therapeutic approach for patients with advanced prostate cancer.

"We have shown that our molecule binds very tightly, targeting the androgen receptor with very high affinity," Ahn said. "We also have confirmed that it inhibits androgen function in these cells, which is a promising finding for drug development. We showed that it does work through these mechanisms, and it is as effective in inhibiting the proliferation of prostate cancer cells as other compounds currently in clinical trials."

Read more

Ref : http://www.nature.com/ncomms/journal/v4/n5/full/ncomms2912.html

Small molecule could have big impact on cancer

FDA Approves Revlimid (lenalidomide) for the Treatment of Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma

In continuation of my update on Lenalidomide

We know that, Lenalidomide (Revlimid) is a derivative of thalidomide introduced in 2004. It was initially intended as a treatment for multiple myeloma, for which thalidomide is an accepted therapeutic treatment. Lenalidomide has also shown efficacy in the class of hematological disorders known as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Lenalidomide has significantly improved overall survival in myeloma (which generally carries a poor prognosis), although toxicity remains an issue for users.

FDA Approves Revlimid (lenalidomide) for the Treatment of Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma

FDA Approves TOBI Podhaler

We know that, Tobramycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic derived from Streptomyces tenebrarius and used to treat various types of bacteria infections, particularly Gram-negative infections. It is especially effective against species of Pseudomonas.

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved TOBI Podhaler (tobramycin inhalation powder) for the management of cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium that causes lung infections.

Press Releases: FDA approves Novarti...

Bristol-Myers Squibb Receives US FDA sNDA Approval for Use of SUSTIVA® (efavirenz) in HIV-1 Infected Pediatric Patients | BMS Newsroom

We know that, Efavirenz (EFV, brand names Sustiva, Stocrin, Efavir etc.) is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) and is used as part of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the treatment of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1.

For HIV infection that has not previously been treated, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Panel on Antiretroviral Guidelines currently recommends the use of efavirenz in combination with tenofovir/emtricitabine (Truvada) as one of the preferred NNRTI-based regimens in adults and adolescents .

Efavirenz is also used in combination with other antiretroviral agents as part of an expanded postexposure prophylaxis regimen to reduce the risk of HIV infection in people exposed to a significant risk (e.g. needlestick injuries, certain types of unprotected sex etc.).

The usual adult dose is 600 mg once a day. It is usually taken on an empty stomach at bedtime to reduce neurological and psychiatric adverse effects.

Efavirenz was combined with the popular HIV medication Truvada, which consists of tenofovir and emtricitabine, all of which are reverse transcriptase inhibitors. This combination of three medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2006 under the brand name Atripla, provides HAART in a single tablet taken once a day. It results in a simplified drug regimen for many patients.

 

Bristol-Myers Squibb Receives US FDA sNDA Approval for Use of SUSTIVA® (efavirenz) in HIV-1 Infected Pediatric Patients | BMS Newsroom

FDA Approves Tafinlar (dabrafenib) for Advanced Melanoma

In conyinaution of my update on Dabrafenib

 

GlaxoSmithKline plc announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Tafinlar (dabrafenib). Tafinlar is indicated as a single-agent oral treatment for unresectable melanoma (melanoma that cannot be removed by surgery) or metastatic melanoma (melanoma which has spread to other parts of the body) in adult patients with BRAF V600E mutation. Tafinlar is not indicated for the treatment of patients with wild-type BRAF melanoma. The mutation must be detected by an FDA-approved test, such as the companion diagnostic assay from bioMérieux S.A., THxID™-BRAF.

FDA Approves Tafinlar (dabrafenib) for Advanced Melanoma