multiple sclerosis

Foundation invests millions to find MS drug leads

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:59:59 -0400

The Myelin Repair Foundation has spent $10 million so far to identify 18 new drug leads for multiple sclerosis. The non-profit foundation says it plans to roll out the two best leads to pharma companies this summer, hoping for a licensing deal that will swiftly advance a new drug for MS.

The Foundation is helping blaze a path in new drug research, taking millions of dollars in donations and advancing experimental new therapies to the point that a drug company would want to in-license them for commercial development. And the Foundation is prepared to take a smaller payback in exchange for a faster development path.

- check out the report in the San Francisco Chronicle

Related Articles:
Natural protein used to combat multiple sclerosis. Report
Mass spectrometry helps ID two MS drugs. Report
Antibody stimulates natural repair of MS damage. Report

Immune systems created with stem cells

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 06:59:59 -0500

Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine have transplanted stem cells that create new blood into the bone marrow of mice, advancing a new process that could eventually cure autoimmune and genetic blood disorders. By transplanting the stem cells into mice, the researchers were able to essentially create new immune systems. The use of stem cells to create replacement immune systems has a long way to go before it can be demonstrated in humans, but it has enormous potential in fighting some of the world's most difficult diseases. In multiple sclerosis, for example, a person's immune system cells attack the victim's body. A replacement immune system could prevent that from happening. Irving Weissman, MD, and co-first author Deepta Bhattacharya, PhD, say they developed a technique that eliminated the original blood-forming cells without damaging other cells in the bone marrow.

"It is essentially a surgical strike against the blood-forming stem cells," said Weissman, the Virginia & D.K. Ludwig Professor for Clinical Investigation in Cancer Research.

- see this release for more

Antibody stimulates natural repair of MS damage

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 06:59:59 -0400

Low doses of a human antibody in mice were effective in repairing damaged myelin, a protective shield for nerves that is destroyed by multiple sclerosis. Scientists at the Mayo Clinic engineered an antibody--rHIgM22--so that it would bind to myelin and brain and spinal cord cells. That antibody triggered remyelination, restoring the protective sheath. This is the first known therapy that acts within the central nervous system. In addition, the scientists said that even at a very high dose, there were no recorded side effects from the treatment.

- here's the report from the Washington Post

Related Article:
Natural protein used to combat multiple sclerosis. Report

ALSO NOTED: New research institute proposed; First DCA trial in brain cancer; Research consortium announced for adverse side ef

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 06:59:58 -0400

Stem Cell Research

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers University have proposed a new organization called the Stem Cell Institute of New Jersey. If funding passes for the institute, the statewide initiative would build a research building dedicated to the study of stem cells, with more than $400 million from the state. Release

A study underway in the UK is testing the therapeutic effects of bone marrow stem cells on multiple sclerosis. Report

Researchers from the Diabetes Research Institute have developed an oxygen "sandwich" that helps pancreatic stem cells become beta stem cells. Release

In a paper published Sept. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center have shown how stem-cell therapy might someday be used to treat Huntington's disease. Release

The new chief of British medical research is calling for public funds to support stem cell research. He adds that restrictions on ESC research in the U.S. has helped make the UK a leader in the field. Report

Tools: Invitrogen has started selling a new device that simplifies the process of dividing embryonic stem cell colonies. Release

Cancer Research

Regulators have approved the first human trial of dichloroacetate (DCA) to treat brain tumors. In an animal study, the chemical disabled the energy-producing mechanism in cancer cells, offering a potential new approach to treating cancer. Report

Analyzing the different expressions of genes in the entire genome of tumor tissues from 121 patients with stage II colon cancer who had not received adjuvant chemotherapy, researchers in The Netherlands have developed a method of accurately predicting which patients with colon cancer are most likely to have their disease recur after surgery and who would, therefore, be likely to benefit from additional chemotherapy. Release

Sweden's Affibody has been given a green light to begin a clinical trial of its molecular imaging agent designed to improve the diagnosis of HER2-positive breast cancer. Report

Fetal cells that persist in a woman's body long after pregnancy--a common occurrence known in scientific circles as fetal microchimerism--in some cases may reduce the woman's risk of breast cancer, according to researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Release

Genetics

Big Pharma companies are lining up with academic research groups to use new advances in genetics to flag serious side effects in drugs. Report

Scientists have sequenced the genome of a common intestinal parasite, pointing to new drug targets that could treat tens of thousands of infections each year. Report

New research links two genetic variations with suicidal thoughts by patients taking a common antidepressant. Report

Previous research has extensively studied the association of the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) with alcoholism. Findings, however, have been inconsistent. A new study suggests that a neighboring gene called ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 (ANKK1) may also be involved in addictive behaviors. Release

More Research

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have identified a new molecular target in blood clot formation, which seems to reduce clotting without excessive bleeding, the common side-effect of anti-clotting agents. Release

By better understanding how antimicrobials bind and thereby get inactivated in the mucus of air passages, researchers at the University of Illinois may have found a way to help cystic fibrosis patients fight off deadly infections. Release

Researchers say that the drug CDPPB appears to "treat" an abnormality in brain function that may resemble aspects of schizophrenia. Release

Researchers at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia have shown that when an individual infected with HIV receives a powerful cocktail of antiviral agents called HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy), the virus calls on miRNAs to help it remain quiet and practically undetectable, temporarily shutting down its ability to replicate and infect. Release

In Chemical & Engineering News, senior correspondent Ann Thayer and assistant editor Carmen Drahl describe far-ranging efforts underway to develop new TB diagnostic tests and treatments. Release

In collaboration with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, a U.S. scientist hopes to use his recently developed neural cell kits to detect chemical threats. Release

ALSO NOTED: Stem cell initiative goes to voters; Two genes linked to MS;

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:59:58 -0400

Stem Cell Research

Advanced Cell Technology has advanced a new method to create embryonic stem cells without destroying the embryo, but federal officials say that the Bush Administration's policy on ESCs prevents them from funding work in the field. Report

New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine has signed legislation that will allow voters to decide on a $450 million package to support stem cell research. Report

Researchers at the University of Nottingham are studying techniques that use stem cells to repair the damage caused by heart attacks. Report

The NIH is exploring the possibility of sponsoring a variety of research projects on the International Space Station, including stem cell science. Report

Genomics

Scientists have found two genes that may help cause multiple sclerosis. A variation in the interleukin 7 receptor gene was linked to a 20 percent to 30 percent increased risk of MS. Report

Washington University researchers say they believe they have found a gene responsible for itching. Report

Researchers at the University of Michigan say that the gene Sox17 may regulate the development of blood-forming stem cells. Report

A common variant of the ADRA2B gene creates more vivid memories of emotionally charged incidents. Report

Research on the DNA of 15 mouse strains commonly used in biomedical studies is expected to help scientists determine the genes related to susceptibility to environmental disease. Release

Cancer Research

Killing cancerous tumors isn't easy, as anyone who has suffered through chemotherapy can attest. But a new study in mice shows that switching off a single malfunctioning gene can halt the limitless division of tumor cells and turn them back to the path of their own planned obsolescence. Release

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists have identified a protein that prevents the body's immune system from recognizing and attacking Hodgkin lymphoma cells. Based on this finding, the researchers are now investigating targeted therapies to disable this molecular "bodyguard" and boost a patient's ability to fight the blood cancer. Report

A combination of two drugs works better than either drug alone for patients with renal cell carcinoma, the most common form of kidney cancer, according to a pilot study led by Duke University Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers. Release

More Research

Researchers developed a molecular switch that can be used to control gene expression, a process that could play a big role in controlling disease. Report

A task force has concluded that the FDA needs to increase its knowledge of nanotechnology but shouldn't have to flag all nanotech products for consumers. Report

Two recent articles report findings that demonstrate that neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1) protects against damage to retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and identifies an important trigger for its production and novel molecular mechanisms that support vision. Release

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have found that after HIV docks onto a host cell, it dramatically lowers the energy required for a cell membrane to bend, making it easier for the virus to infect immune cells. Report

Natural protein used to combat multiple sclerosis

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 20:01:39 -0400

Stanford University scientists have discovered a naturally occurring protein that could be used to treat multiple sclerosis. Injecting alphaB-crystallin into mice with MS, the researchers say they were able to reduce symptoms and cell death while reversing paralysis. Dr. Lawrence Steinman, a professor of neurology and neurological sciences, says that the immune system automatically attacks the protein when it finds it in the brain, even though it's a natural healing agent. "Like a runaway truck careening down a mountain and then having the brakes fall off, the immune attack against alphaB-crystallin worsens the (MS) situation," Steinman wrote.

- check out the report on the project from the CBC

ALSO NOTED: Female stem cells twice as effective as male; HIV researchers seeking new vaccine;

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Stem Cell Research

A study at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC concludes that female stem cells derived from muscle are twice as effective as male stem cells when it comes to regenerating skeletal muscle tissue. The scientists said that they believed that the difference was due to the female mice's improved ability to handle stress. Report

Wisconsin officials hurried to maintain their commitment to embryonic stem cell research--and the patents in the field that have been threatened by a preliminary ruling by the U.S. Patent Office. Critics have been attempting to break the state's hold on three key patents, saying that they prevent research in the field. Report

CNNMoney reviews the stem cell therapies being developed by Cytori Therapeutics and Osiris, which researchers believe could be approved and on the market in '08. Report

U.S. researchers have isolated cochlear stem cells located in the inner ear, primed for development into ear-related tissue to treat hearing loss. Report

The Commons science committee has joined a group of 223 medical research charities who claim that a ban on animal-human embryos would interfere with important research. Report

Cancer Research

Researchers at the University of Illinois-Chicago's College of Pharmacy has found an RNA-binding protein that overexpresses in ovarian cancer, offering a new target in cancer treatments. Report

Immunology researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson studying a multiple sclerosis-like disease in mice have shown that the amount of "damage" to the central nervous system's protective blood-brain barrier almost always correlates to the severity of the disease. Release

Mayo Clinic Cancer Center announced recently that a multiple myeloma clinical trial has shown a significant improvement in survival with lenalidomide plus low-dose dexamethasone therapy compared to lenalidomide plus high-dose dexamethasone. Release

A research team at the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern University have synthesized 10 different types of flavanones, a type of flavonoid, using a new general method they developed that takes advantage of one simple catalyst. The basic research gives chemists--for the first time--a method for making new molecules based on flavonoids, setting the stage for the development of new cancer therapeutics. Report

Scientists from the Indiana University-Bloomington, the University of Washington School of Medicine, and the University of Cambridge have discovered how the plant hormone auxin interacts with its hormone receptor, called TIR1. Because TIR1 is similar to enzymes that are involved in cancer, the researchers say their work can help advance cancer research. Release

In advanced cancer, anti-tumor therapies often work only partially or not at all, and tumors progress following treatment. Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center scientists have now linked a treatment-induced growth factor to the cancer's future spread. Release

More Research

A group of French researchers are focusing on CD8 immune cells for additional insight into why a tiny percentage of HIV patients do not see any spread of the virus. They believe CD8 could hold the key to a new vaccine. Report

Researchers have discovered important details of how nicotine adjusts the signaling properties of neuronal wiring to enhance memory. These signaling properties include the strength of the connections by which one neuron triggers another. While nicotine is highly addictive, researchers have also shown the drug to enhance learning and memory--a property that has launched efforts to develop nicotine-like drugs to treat cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, schizophrenia, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Report

A new study has found a promising drug for the treatment of epilepsy patients, whose symptoms remain uncontrolled with existing medications. The new drug called Eslicarbazepine (ESL), offers the patients added convenience, as it is a once-daily dose, while current treatments can involve several doses per day. The research was conducted by the Department of Research and Development at BIAL in Portugal. Release

Scientists at MIT and Stanford have learned how to turn parts of the brain off and on using a simple flash of light. Report

U.S. scientists who earlier found an enzyme that's a natural tumor suppressor have identified two variants that could treat diabetes and other diseases. Release

Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that by combining two antibiotics-- doxycycline and ciprofloxacin--they halted the growth of doxycycline-resistant E. coli. The resistant strain of E. coli ignored the doxycycline, which left the ciprofloxacin to attack the bacteria unimpeded. Report

Researchers say a newly discovered molecule could be a key factor in developing new ways to curb high blood fats, such as triglycerides and cholesterol. Found on the lining of blood vessels, the molecule GPIHBP1 captures molecular particles that deliver fats to cells to use as fuel. Targeting the molecule could be a method of treating high levels of cholesterol and other fats. Report

Researchers at Cornell have found 23 biomarkers for Alzheimer's that could lead to an early diagnosis. Report

In a new study published in the journal Cell, Dr. James Dennis, senior investigator at the Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital, has discovered a new role for sugars on proteins. His research focuses on the effects of changing the sugars associated with the key proteins that act as receptors for hormones and growth factors. These are the same types of proteins that are targeted by a new generation of anti-cancer drugs such as Herceptin (trastuzumab). "These findings may lead to a new class of drug treatments as well as strategies to improve the effectiveness of existing anti-receptor drugs," states Dr. Jim Woodgett. Release

Researchers at McGill University have found a genetic mutation linked to spina bifida, a discovery that could hasten research for a cure as well as improve diagnosis and identify parents most likely to have a child with the disease. Report

Two new studies show that the antiretroviral drugs used to prevent HIV transmission from a pregnant mother-to-child may cause genetic damage. Report

After an acute viral infection, some T cells generated to kill virus-infected cells remain on guard to establish long-term immunity. These so-called memory T cells, which derive from CD8 T cells, engage in a self-renewal process essential to their persistence. Now, a new study shows that the CD8 T cells produced to fight a chronic infection operate under an entirely different maintenance scheme than do the CD8 T cells that become memory T cells. Report

Pediatricians in growing numbers say that the antibiotics used to treat ear infections are increasingly unlikely to work. Report

In an effort to avoid dangerous adverse drug reactions, scientists at the Child and Family Research Institute at B.C. Children's Hospital in Canada will begin collecting DNA samples from children in an effort to discover new biomarkers that will help determine if children are allergic to certain medications. Report

Scientists find new white blood cell for immunology

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 20:01:39 -0400

Two white blood cells known as Th1 and Th2 have long been recognized for their powerful role in directing immune cells to fight infections and some cancers. Now, though, scientists have identified a third white blood cell that works in tandem with Th1 and Th2, and the discovery is promising to shake up research projects for rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease.

- here's the article from AL.com