December 2016- Volume 12, Issue 12
December 2016
In this Issue
Diagnostics
NSCLC stratification
NSCLC stratification
Biodesix’s VeriStrat proves capable of identifying patients who will respond to EGFR-TKI therapy
Making a case for Vectra
Making a case for Vectra
Crescendo highlights poster data at rheumatology meeting for its multi-biomarker blood test
Epic uncovers prostate cancer biomarker
Epic uncovers prostate cancer biomarker
Liquid biopsy test matches patients to metastatic prostate cancer treatment
Clinical Trials
Aduro reports on mesothelioma trial
Aduro reports on mesothelioma trial
Research shows promising results on the use of CRS- 207
New disease findings and old clinical trials
New disease findings and old clinical trials
Study supports using amyloid inhibitors to treat Alzheimer’s disease
PS promise in cancer
PS promise in cancer
Peregrine preclinical studies support a combo approach being studied in clinical trials
Novel antiepileptic for Dravet syndrome
Novel antiepileptic for Dravet syndrome
New extended release formulation and preclinical data set stage for Phase 1b Trial to start in mid-2017
A deluge of data
A deluge of data
Past quarter saw Boehringer Ingelheim release results for multiple trials in pulmonary, oncology areas
Contract Services
Strengthening clinical research sites
Strengthening clinical research sites
INC Research unveils Catalyst Community and Catalyst Site Network at Global Site Solutions Summit
Massing in Massachusetts
Massing in Massachusetts
Neopharm joins Boston-area research cluster with the acquisition of Averica
Envigo’s new program to aid drug R&D
Envigo’s new program to aid drug R&D
Focus shifts to new and developing tech not involving the direct use of animals
Preclinical
Onxeo announces promising potential for Beleodaq
Onxeo announces promising potential for Beleodaq
Combining agent with checkpoint inhibitors expands therapeutic possibilities for tumor treatment
Cutting the fat to treat cancer
Cutting the fat to treat cancer
Salk Institute researchers and collaborators develop novel cancer treatment that halts fat synthesis in cells, stunting tumor growth
Healing ahead with Hsp60?
Healing ahead with Hsp60?
A topical treatment of the protein heals wounds in diabetic mice in just three weeks
Discovery
Growing interest in IP6K1
Growing interest in IP6K1
TSRI studies show the protein is a promising target for treating obesity, diabetes
New findings about cytomegalovirus
New findings about cytomegalovirus
Research into CPEB1 protein may offer hope for new therapies to fight CMV infection
As simple as ADC
As simple as ADC
Swiss-based NBE and Czech Republic’s SOTIO sign license deal for next-gen ADCs in oncology
Ubiquigent launches novel compound library designed to target deubiquitylase enzymes
Ubiquigent launches novel compound library designed to target deubiquitylase enzymes
Ubiquigent launches first commercially available compound library, named DUBtarget-001
Amyris achieves key milestone in major drug discovery collaboration
Amyris achieves key milestone in major drug discovery collaboration
Company’s µPharm technology platform delivers initial development work in just four months for new oncology drug development
Chemical tags on RNA silence female X chromosome
Chemical tags on RNA silence female X chromosome
Findings could lead to new treatments of Rett syndrome and other X-linked chromosomal female diseases
Business & Government Policy
Partnering for production
Partnering for production
Horizon announces bioproduction outlicense deal with unnamed partner
Commenting on Cures
Commenting on Cures
What are some of the life-sciences players saying about 21st Century Cures?
On the cutting edge
On the cutting edge
A roundup of instrumentation, software and other tools and technology news
Improving FDA metrics and ‘quality culture’
Improving FDA metrics and ‘quality culture’
CPhI Worldwide experts propose new FDA quality metrics system and recommend critical formulation attributes
Research & Development
New research into NR
New research into NR
ChromaDex says nicotinamide riboside is essential to cellular energy production
Two-pronged response
Two-pronged response
MIT advancement in immunotherapy fights cancer in mice
Lipid profiling steps up a notch
Lipid profiling steps up a notch
Multi-lipid profiling highlighted as potential new pathway for COPD biomarker development
ADI-PEG 20 can boost antitumor immune surveillance
ADI-PEG 20 can boost antitumor immune surveillance
Findings suggest that ADI-PEG 20 could potentially enhance the activity of antitumor immune therapies, including checkpoint inhibitors
PrOCTOR prediction
PrOCTOR prediction
‘Moneyball’ approach may help predict new drug toxicity in humans
Editor's Focus
‘21st Century Curse’ in the making?
‘21st Century Curse’ in the making?
The U.S. Congress actually passed the 21st Century Cures Act in both houses, but while there are very bright spots in the legislation, it remains uncertain if it will be a mostly good move in the end
Commentary
The next big thing
The next big thing
We have increasing noise out there as we make more advances, and picking up the actual signals is becoming harder and harder; maybe it's time to consider slowing down a little and increasing ambiguity
Guest Commentary: The Science of cell culture--Maintaining phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity
Guest Commentary: The Science of cell culture--Maintaining phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity
Through periodic testing and proper cell culture management, misidentified and contaminated cell lines can be identified before publication of results or release into the scientific community, thus protecting the validity of research results and the credibility of the biomedical community as a whole
Special Reports
Special Report on Biotherapeutics: Is antibody listening?
Special Report on Biotherapeutics: Is antibody listening?
Lessons from first-generation biologics inform the evolution of the next
Q&A
Q&A: Solosec’s trajectory among antibiotics
Q&A: Solosec’s trajectory among antibiotics
Robert Jacks, president and chief financial officer of Symbiomix, discusses briefly the company’s product Solosec (secnidazole), a next-generation 5-nitroimidazole antibiotic
