MorphoSys Receives Research Grant to Advance Anti-CD38 Cancer Program MOR202 and Explore Relevant Biomarkers

July 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

MARTINSRIED, GERMANY and MUNCHEN, GERMANY, Jul 06
(MARKET WIRE) —
MorphoSys AG / MorphoSys Receives Research Grant to Advance Anti-CD38
Cancer Program MOR202 and Explore Relevant Biomarkers processed and
transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer is solely responsible for the content
of this announcement.

Project is Part of Munich’s Cluster Initiative “m4 – Personalized Medicine
and Targeted Therapies”

MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard
Segment, TecDAX) announced today that it has been awarded a grant by the
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, BMBF. The funding of
approximately EUR 1 million supports MorphoSys in accelerating the
development of its HuCAL-based cancer program MOR202 into clinical
development for the treatment of multiple myeloma. As part of the
program, the Company plans to explore relevant biomarkers for the
anti-CD38 approach in collaboration with Klinikum rechts der Isar, the
university hospital of Munich Technical University. The program is part
of Munich’s biotechnology initiative “m4 – Personalized Medicine and
Targeted Therapies – A New Dimension in Drug Development in the Munich
Region”, which this year received high-tech cluster status in a German
government funding competition.

MOR202 is a fully human, HuCAL antibody directed against CD38, a membrane-
bound glycoprotein that is a promising therapeutic target for the
treatment of multiple myeloma and certain leukemias. In pre-clinical
studies, MOR202 effectively killed cancer cells from primary patient
tumor material and certain hematologic cancer cell lines. Furthermore,
preclinical efficacy was shown by demonstrating inhibition of tumor
growth in SCID-mouse xenograft tumor models. The program is expected to
move into clinical trials in Q1 2011.

“We believe that MOR202 has a very competitive profile and distinct
advantages over similar programs in the industry. As part of the research
program with Klinikum rechts der Isar we plan to explore certain
biomarkers for this new therapeutic approach, thereby further
differentiating our program,” commented Dr. Arndt Schottelius, Chief
Development Officer of MorphoSys AG. “This grant supports the MOR202
program, for which we are on track to file a clinical trial application
in Europe before the end of 2010.”

About MorphoSys:

MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel
antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The
Company’s HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available
for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and
other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the
field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes
in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world’s
leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of
more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline
by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of
fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the
Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation. Its most
advanced program MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against
GM- CSF, is currently tested in a Phase Ib/IIa trial in rheumatoid
arthritis patients. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is
expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research
markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “MOR”. For further information,
visithttp://www.morphosys.com/

HuCAL(R), HuCAL GOLD(R), HuCAL PLATINUM(R), CysDisplay(R) and RapMAT(R)
are registered trademarks of MorphoSys.

This communication contains
certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of
companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the
judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks
and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company’s
assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated.
MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking
statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is
concerned.

For more information, please contact:

MorphoSys AG
Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Loeser
Head of Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122

Mario Brkulj
Senior Manager Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454

Jessica Kulpi
Specialist Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-332

investors@morphosys.com

[HUG#1429636]

Press Release:

http://hugin.info/130295/R/1429636/376667.pdf

This announcement is
distributed by Thomson Reuters on behalf of Thomson Reuters clients.

The owner of this announcement warrants that:

(i) the releases contained herein are protected by copyright and other
applicable laws; and

(ii) they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality
of the information contained therein.

All reproduction for further distribution is prohibited.

Source: MorphoSys AG via Thomson Reuters ONE

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

MorphoSys Receives Research Grant to Advance Anti-CD38 Cancer Program MOR202 and Explore Relevant Biomarkers

July 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

MARTINSRIED, GERMANY and MUNCHEN, GERMANY, Jul 06
(MARKET WIRE) —
MorphoSys AG / MorphoSys Receives Research Grant to Advance Anti-CD38
Cancer Program MOR202 and Explore Relevant Biomarkers processed and
transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer is solely responsible for the content
of this announcement.

Project is Part of Munich’s Cluster Initiative “m4 – Personalized Medicine
and Targeted Therapies”

MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard
Segment, TecDAX) announced today that it has been awarded a grant by the
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, BMBF. The funding of
approximately EUR 1 million supports MorphoSys in accelerating the
development of its HuCAL-based cancer program MOR202 into clinical
development for the treatment of multiple myeloma. As part of the
program, the Company plans to explore relevant biomarkers for the
anti-CD38 approach in collaboration with Klinikum rechts der Isar, the
university hospital of Munich Technical University. The program is part
of Munich’s biotechnology initiative “m4 – Personalized Medicine and
Targeted Therapies – A New Dimension in Drug Development in the Munich
Region”, which this year received high-tech cluster status in a German
government funding competition.

MOR202 is a fully human, HuCAL antibody directed against CD38, a membrane-
bound glycoprotein that is a promising therapeutic target for the
treatment of multiple myeloma and certain leukemias. In pre-clinical
studies, MOR202 effectively killed cancer cells from primary patient
tumor material and certain hematologic cancer cell lines. Furthermore,
preclinical efficacy was shown by demonstrating inhibition of tumor
growth in SCID-mouse xenograft tumor models. The program is expected to
move into clinical trials in Q1 2011.

“We believe that MOR202 has a very competitive profile and distinct
advantages over similar programs in the industry. As part of the research
program with Klinikum rechts der Isar we plan to explore certain
biomarkers for this new therapeutic approach, thereby further
differentiating our program,” commented Dr. Arndt Schottelius, Chief
Development Officer of MorphoSys AG. “This grant supports the MOR202
program, for which we are on track to file a clinical trial application
in Europe before the end of 2010.”

About MorphoSys:

MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel
antibodies for therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The
Company’s HuCAL technology is one of the most powerful methods available
for generating fully human antibodies. By successfully applying this and
other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a leader in the
field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes
in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world’s
leading pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of
more than 60 drug candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline
by adding new partnered programs, and by building a portfolio of
fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary portfolio, the
Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation. Its most
advanced program MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against
GM- CSF, is currently tested in a Phase Ib/IIa trial in rheumatoid
arthritis patients. Via its business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is
expanding the reach of its technologies in the diagnostics and research
markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and listed on the
Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “MOR”. For further information,
visithttp://www.morphosys.com/

HuCAL(R), HuCAL GOLD(R), HuCAL PLATINUM(R), CysDisplay(R) and RapMAT(R)
are registered trademarks of MorphoSys.

This communication contains
certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys group of
companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the
judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks
and uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company’s
assumptions, actual results and actions may differ from those anticipated.
MorphoSys does not intend to update any of these forward-looking
statements as far as the wording of the relevant press release is
concerned.

For more information, please contact:

MorphoSys AG
Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Loeser
Head of Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122

Mario Brkulj
Senior Manager Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454

Jessica Kulpi
Specialist Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-332

investors@morphosys.com

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

MorphoSys AG: MorphoSys Receives Research Grant to Advance Anti-CD38 Cancer Program MOR202 and Explore Relevant Biomarkers

July 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment

MorphoSys AG / MorphoSys Receives Research Grant to Advance Anti-CD38 Cancer Program
MOR202 and Explore Relevant Biomarkers processed and transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer
is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Project is Part of Munich’s Cluster Initiative “m4 – Personalized Medicine and Targeted
Therapies”

MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) announced today that it has been
awarded a grant by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, BMBF. The
funding of approximately EUR 1 million supports MorphoSys in accelerating the
development of its HuCAL-based cancer program MOR202 into clinical development for the
treatment of multiple myeloma. As part of the program, the Company plans to explore
relevant biomarkers for the anti-CD38 approach in collaboration with Klinikum rechts der
Isar, the university hospital of Munich Technical University. The program is part of
Munich’s biotechnology initiative “m4 – Personalized Medicine and Targeted Therapies – A
New Dimension in Drug Development in the Munich Region”, which this year received
high-tech cluster status in a German government funding competition.

MOR202 is a fully human, HuCAL antibody directed against CD38, a membrane-bound
glycoprotein that is a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of multiple
myeloma and certain leukemias. In pre-clinical studies, MOR202 effectively killed cancer
cells from primary patient tumor material and certain hematologic cancer cell lines.
Furthermore, preclinical efficacy was shown by demonstrating inhibition of tumor growth
in SCID-mouse xenograft tumor models. The program is expected to move into clinical
trials in Q1 2011.

“We believe that MOR202 has a very competitive profile and distinct advantages over
similar programs in the industry. As part of the research program with Klinikum rechts
der Isar we plan to explore certain biomarkers for this new therapeutic approach,
thereby further differentiating our program,” commented Dr. Arndt Schottelius, Chief
Development Officer of MorphoSys AG. “This grant supports the MOR202 program, for which
we are on track to file a clinical trial application in Europe before the end of 2010.”

About MorphoSys:

MorphoSys is an independent biotechnology company that develops novel antibodies for
therapeutic, diagnostic and research applications. The Company’s HuCAL technology is one
of the most powerful methods available for generating fully human antibodies. By
successfully applying this and other proprietary technologies, MorphoSys has become a
leader in the field of therapeutic antibodies, one of the fastest-growing drug classes
in human health-care. Through its alliances with some of the world’s leading
pharmaceutical companies, MorphoSys has created a pipeline of more than 60 drug
candidates. The Company is expanding its drug pipeline by adding new partnered programs,
and by building a portfolio of fully-owned therapeutic antibodies. For its proprietary
portfolio, the Company is focused on the areas of oncology and inflammation. Its most
advanced program MOR103, a first-in-class, fully human antibody against GM-CSF, is
currently tested in a Phase Ib/IIa trial in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Via its
business unit AbD Serotec, MorphoSys is expanding the reach of its technologies in the
diagnostics and research markets. MorphoSys is headquartered in Munich, Germany and
listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol “MOR”. For further information,
visit http://www.morphosys.com/ http://www.morphosys.com/

HuCAL®, HuCAL GOLD®, HuCAL PLATINUM®, CysDisplay® and RapMAT® are registered trademarks
of MorphoSys.

This communication contains certain forward-looking statements concerning the MorphoSys
group of companies. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the
judgment of MorphoSys as of the date of this release and involve risks and
uncertainties. Should actual conditions differ from the Company’s assumptions, actual
results and actions may differ from those anticipated. MorphoSys does not intend to
update any of these forward-looking statements as far as the wording of the relevant
press release is concerned.

For more information, please contact:

MorphoSys AG
Dr. Claudia Gutjahr-Löser
Head of Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-122

Mario Brkulj
Senior Manager Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-454

Jessica Kulpi
Specialist Corporate Communications & IR
Tel: +49 (0) 89 / 899 27-332

investors@morphosys.com mailto:investors@morphosys.com

HUG#1429636

Press Release http://hugin.info/130295/R/1429636/376667.pdf

— End of Message —

MorphoSys AG
Lena-Christ-Str. 48 Martinsried / München Germany

WKN: 663200;ISIN: DE0006632003;Index:TecDAX,Prime All Share,CDAX,TECH All
Share,HDAX,MIDCAP;
Listed: Freiverkehr in Börse Stuttgart,
Freiverkehr in Hanseatische Wertpapierbörse zu Hamburg,
Freiverkehr in Börse Berlin,
Freiverkehr in Börse Düsseldorf,
Freiverkehr in Bayerische Börse München,
Freiverkehr in Niedersächsische Börse zu Hannover,
Prime Standard in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse,
Regulierter Markt in Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse;

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Research and Markets: Bioinformatics and Biomarker Discovery: “Omic” Data Analysis for Personalized Medicine

June 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment

DUBLIN–(Business Wire)–
Research and Markets
(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/64f018/bioinformatics_and) has
announced the addition of John Wiley and Sons Ltd’s new book “Bioinformatics and
Biomarker Discovery: “Omic” Data Analysis for Personalized Medicine” to their
offering.

This book is designed to introduce biologists, clinicians and computational
researchers to fundamental data analysis principles, techniques and tools for
supporting the discovery of biomarkers and the implementation of
diagnostic/prognostic systems. The focus of the book is on how fundamental
statistical and data mining approaches can support biomarker discovery and
evaluation, emphasising applications based on different types of “omic” data.
The book also discusses design factors, requirements and techniques for disease
screening, diagnostic and prognostic applications.

Readers are provided with the knowledge needed to assess the requirements,
computational approaches and outputs in disease biomarker research. Commentaries
from guest experts are also included, containing detailed discussions of
methodologies and applications based on specific types of “omic” data, as well
as their integration. Covers the main range of data sources currently used for
biomarker discovery

* Covers the main range of data sources currently used for biomarker discovery
* Puts emphasis on concepts, design principles and methodologies that can be
extended or tailored to more specific applications
* Offers principles and methods for assessing the bioinformatic/biostatistic
limitations, strengths and challenges in biomarker discovery studies
* Discusses systems biology approaches and applications
* Includes expert chapter commentaries to further discuss relevance of
techniques, summarize biological/clinical implications and provide alternative
interpretations

A research-level book, which will introduce biologists and cardiologists to
fundamental data analysis principles, techniques and tools for supporting the
discovery of biomarkers and diagnostic/prognostic prediction systems. The book
can, however, also be used by computational biologists and bioinformaticians
doing research in cardiovascular research.

The focus will be on how fundamental statistical and data mining approaches can
be used to support biomarker discovery and evaluation. It will emphasize
applications using cardiovascular omic data and discuss design factors,
requirements and techniques for disease screening, diagnostic and prognostic
applications.

The book will consist of foundation chapters, which will provide readers with
the knowledge needed to assess the requirements, design factors and outputs of
disease biomarker research. These will be followed by detailed discussions of
methodologies and applications based on specific types of omic data, as well as
their integration. Such chapters will reflect the how and what aspects of these
research areas. Concluding chapters will focus on the critical assessment of
current knowledge gaps, bioinformatic challenges and emerging research
directions. This will underscore the why and when aspects of problems and
applications.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Biomarkers and bioinformatics

2 Review of fundamental statistical concepts

3 Biomarker-based prediction models: design and interpretation principles

4 An introduction to the discovery and analysis of genotype-phenotype
associations

5 Biomarkers and gene expression data analysis

6 Proteomics and metabolomics for biomarker discovery: an introduction to
spectral data analysis

7 Disease biomarkers and biological interaction networks

8 Integrative data analysis for biomarker discovery

9 Information resources and software tools for biomarker discovery

10 Challenges and research directions in bioinformatics and biomarker discovery

Guest commentary (2) on chapter 10: Accompanying commentary on challenges and
opportunities of bioinformatics in disease biomarker discovery Gary B. Fogel

Author:

Dr. Francisco Azuaje Research Scientist in Computational Biology Laboratory of
Cardiovascular Research Centre for Public Health (CRP-Sant), Luxembourg

For more information visit

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/64f018/bioinformatics_and

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager,
press@researchandmarkets.com
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Copyright Business Wire 2010

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Malaysian Study Further Validates GeneNews’ ColonSentry(TM) Test

June 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

TORONTO, ONTARIO, Jun 03 (MARKET WIRE) —
GeneNews Limited (TSX: GEN), a company focused on developing blood-based
biomarker tests for the early detection of diseases and personalized
health management, announced that an abstract describing a 210-patient
Malaysian study entitled “Blood-based Seven-gene Biomarker Panel for
Colorectal Cancer: Validation in Malaysia” was presented yesterday
at the 2010 National Committee for Clinical Research conference, Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia, June 2 to 4.

The abstract reported on the application of the seven gene biomarker
panel to 99 colorectal cancer patients and 111 controls. The seven gene
biomarker panel forms the basis of the company’s lead product,
ColonSentry(TM), the world’s first blood test for colorectal cancer.

Quoting directly from the abstract, “Screening is key to colorectal
cancer prevention and mortality reduction, but patient compliance with
faecal testing and endoscopy is low. We have previously reported our
patient-friendly blood-based test for colorectal cancer current risk
stratification (Marshall KW, Mohr S, El Khettabi F, Nossova N, Chao S,
Bao W, et al. Blood-based biomarker panel for stratifying current risk
for colorectal cancer. Internat J Cancer 2010;126:1177-86). The test
utilizes a seven-gene panel of biomarkers, which was validated using
blood samples collected from North American patients at average risk for
colorectal cancer. In this study, we evaluate this seven-gene biomarker
panel in blood samples collected from patients in Malaysia.”

The abstract concluded, “Our results independently confirmed and
validated the study previously conducted in North America and demonstrate
the performance of the seven-gene biomarker panel to discriminate between
colorectal cancer and control blood samples in Malaysia.”

“It is well established that the greatest barrier to reducing
mortality arising from colorectal cancer is patient compliance with
screening. ColonSentry(TM) provides a blood-based testing option that can
be easily incorporated into a routine physical examination. We believe
that widespread adoption of this practice would encourage more patients
to be tested and enhance the effectiveness of colonoscopy, leading to
earlier detection, improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare
costs,” said Gailina J. Liew, President & Chief Operating Officer of
GeneNews.

About GeneNews

GeneNews is an emerging molecular diagnostics company focused on the
application of functional genomics to enable early diagnosis and
personalized health management based on disease-specific biomarkers. The
Company has a patented core platform technology, the Sentinel
Principle(R), which has the power to detect and stage virtually any
disease or medical condition from a simple blood sample. GeneNews is
currently applying the Sentinel Principle(R) in major areas with unmet
clinical needs such as cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular disease and
neurological disorders. GeneNews launched its first commercial product,
ColonSentry(TM), a blood-based test to assess an individual’s risk for
colorectal cancer, in Canada in 2008. The company’s first US marketing
partner, Enzo Clinical Labs, is expected to launch the ColonSentry(TM)
test in New York and New Jersey in the second half of 2010. For more
information on GeneNews and ColonSentry(TM), visit www.genenews.com and
www.ColonSentry.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the
Company’s current expectations regarding future events. The
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events
could differ materially from those projected herein. Investors should
consult the Company’s ongoing quarterly filings and annual reports for
additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to these
forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these
forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any obligation to
update these forward-looking statements.

Contacts:
Company Contact:
GeneNews Limited
Gailina Liew
President & COO
(905) 739-2036
gliew@genenews.com

Investor Contact:
Kilmer Lucas Inc.
Stephen Kilmer
(905) 690-2400 X21
stephen@kilmerlucas.com

Media Contact:
Kilmer Lucas Inc.
Leonard Zehr
(905) 690-2400 X41
len@kilmerlucas.com

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Scientists make major breakthrough in diagnosis of parasitic diseases

April 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, April 28 (ANI): Scientists have developed a new diagnostic approach that will help in the fight against Chagas disease, one of the most deadly parasitic diseases in the world.

Chagas disease is transmitted to humans via the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The disease is usually transmitted through the bite of an infected insect or ”kissing bug”.

The symptoms are variable, but as the disease progresses serious chronic symptoms can appear, such as heart disease and malformation of the intestines.

Most people affected may remain without symptoms for years, making diagnosis difficult.

Chagas disease is also transmitted from mother to unborn child and can be passed on for as many as four generations without symptoms.

There is an urgent need for action on this disease as it is under-diagnosed and there is no effective treatment.

This situation raises some serious public health concerns with respect to blood transfusions and organ transplants, because many people may be silent carriers of the disease.

“The aim of our study was to find new approaches to improve reliability of diagnosis and screening of blood banks,” said Dr. Momar Ndao, from the Research Institute of the MUHC and also a researcher at the Centre for Host Parasite Interactions at McGill University.

The researchers have validated a reliable screening technique using mass spectrometry technology that identifies common biological markers – or biomarkers – between the interaction of host (humans) and the parasite.

They found that in 99 percent of cases, the parasites left very specific markers.

“It”s as if the parasite left his own signature in the infected person, which could help to diagnose Chagas disease,” Dr. Ndao said.

“The use of these biomarkers is a revolution in diagnostic confidence and protection of possible contamination of blood banks.

“Moreover, these biomarkers have potential therapeutic effects of paving the way for the development of vaccines for Chagas, which could be extended to other parasitic diseases,” Dr. Ndao added.

The results were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Diabetes drug could help prevent lung cancer

April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, April 20(ANI): Metformin, a mainstay of treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes, is believed to be useful in preventing lung cancer.

However, researchers are waiting for its confirmation in clinical trials.

Apart from reducing levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and circulating insulin, which is important in patients with type 2 diabetes, metformin may inhibit tumor growth as well.

Phillip A. Dennis, senior investigator in the medical oncology branch of the National Cancer Institute, said: “This well tolerated, FDA-approved diabetes drug was able to prevent tobacco-carcinogen induced lung tumors.”

The experts treated mice with metformin for 13 weeks following exposure to a nicotine-derived nitrosamine (NNK), which is the most prevalent carcinogen in tobacco and a known promoter of lung tumorigenesis.

When given orally, metformin was well tolerated and reduced tumor burden by 40 percent to 50 percent. Dennis said levels of metformin reached in mice are readily achievable in humans.

Dennis and colleagues further evaluated the effects of metformin on a series of biomarkers for lung tumorigenesis and found that it inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which promotes lung tumor growth, by decreasing levels of circulating insulin and IGF-1.

It was observed that this effect was even more profound when metformin was administered to mice by injection, which reduced lung tumor burden by 72 percent.

The study was presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How life might evolve with “exotic” biochemistry and solvents

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, September 18 (ANI): Scientists at a new interdisciplinary research group in Austria are working to uncover how life might evolve with “exotic” biochemistry and solvents, such as sulfuric acid instead of water.

The research group for Alternative Solvents as a Basis for Life Supporting Zones in (Exo-) Planetary Systems was established by the University of Vienna.

Traditionally, planets that might sustain life are looked for in the ‘habitable zone’, the region around a star in which Earth-like planets with carbon dioxide, water vapor and nitrogen atmospheres could maintain liquid water on their surfaces.

Consequently, scientists have been looking for biomarkers produced by extraterrestrial life with metabolisms resembling the terrestrial ones, where water is used as a solvent and the building blocks of life, amino acids, are based on carbon and oxygen.

However, these may not be the only conditions under which life could evolve.

“It is time to make a radical change in our present geocentric mindset for life as we know it on Earth,” said scientist Johannes Leitner.

“Even though this is the only kind of life we know, it cannot be ruled out that life forms have evolved somewhere that neither rely on water nor on a carbon and oxygen based metabolism,” he added.

One requirement for a life-supporting solvent is that it remains liquid over a large temperature range.

Water is liquid between 0 degree Celsius and 100 degrees C, but other solvents exist which are liquid over more than 200 degrees C.

Such a solvent would allow an ocean on a planet closer to the central star.

The reverse scenario is also possible. A liquid ocean of ammonia could exist much further from a star.

Furthermore, sulfuric acid can be found within the cloud layers of Venus and it is now known that lakes of methane/ethane cover parts of the surface of the Saturnian satellite Titan.

Consequently, the discussion on potential life and the best strategies for its detection is ongoing and not only limited to exoplanets and habitable zones.

The newly established research group at the University of Vienna, together with international collaborators, will investigate the properties of a range of solvents other than water, including their abundance in space, thermal and biochemical characteristics as well as their ability to support the origin and evolution of life supporting metabolisms. (ANI)

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Weight gain in adulthood linked to prostate cancer risk

September 12, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Sep 12 (ANI): Body size and weight gain in younger and older adulthood may help weigh a man’s proneness to prostate cancer, according to a study by researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Cancer Research Center of Hawaii.

Led by Dr. Brenda Hernandez, the researchers said that the risk varies among different ethnic groups

For the study, the researchers studied the relationship in a multiethnic population consisting of blacks, Japanese, Hispanics, Native Hawaiians and whites, and compared differences among age groups using the Multiethnic Cohort, a longitudinal study of men 45-75 years of age established in Hawaii and California from 1993-1996.

Of the 83,879 men who participated in the study, 5,554 developed prostate cancer.

Overall, men who were overweight or obese by age 21 had a decreased risk of localized and low-grade prostate cancer, according to Hernandez.

Their results suggested that being overweight in older adulthood was associated with increased prostate cancer risk among white and Native Hawaiian men, but a decreased risk among Japanese men.

While excessive weight gain between younger and older adulthood was observed to increase the risk of advanced and high-grade prostate cancers in white men and increase the risk of localized and low-grade disease in black men, it appeared to decrease the risk of localized prostate cancer in Japanese men.

“The relationship of certain characteristics, such as body size, with cancer risk may vary across ethnic groups due to the combined influence of both genes and lifestyle,” said Hernandez.

However, the relationship between body size and prostate cancer risk is not entirely understood.

Excess fat is associated with a number of conditions that contribute to cancer development including low-grade chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, metabolic abnormalities, and hormone imbalances.

These conditions may in turn contribute to more aggressive prostate malignancies.

Ethnic differences in cancer risk may be explained by differences in the distribution of stored body fat that could have a differential effect on the development of prostate cancer.

And the distribution of body fat may influence the specific way that excess fat influences cancer risk.

The study has been published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. (ANI)

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Need to prevent periodontitis to cut head and neck cancer risk

September 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Sep 8 (ANI): Researchers at the University of Buffalo have stressed on the need for increased efforts to prevent and treat chronic periodontitis, a form of gum disease, to reduce the risk for head and neck cancer.

Led by Dr. Mine Tezal at Buffalo, periodontitis is an independent risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

“Prevent periodontitis; if you have it already, get treatment and maintain good oral hygiene,” said Tezal.

Chronic periodontitis is characterized by progressive loss of the bone and soft tissue attachment that surround the teeth.

The researchers assessed the role of chronic periodontitis on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, as well as the individual roles on three subsites: oral cavity, oropharyngeal and laryngeal.

They used radiographic measurement of bone loss to measure periodontitis among 463 patients, 207 of whom were controls.

The results of the study revealed that chronic periodontitis might represent a clinical high-risk profile for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

The strength of the association was greatest in the oral cavity, followed by the oropharynx and larynx, according to Tezal.

When they stratified the relationship by tobacco use, they found that the association persisted in those patients who never used tobacco.

The researchers did not expect the periodontitis-head and neck squamous cell carcinoma association to be weaker in current smokers compared to former and never smokers, according to Tezal.

However, this interaction, although statistically significant, was not very strong.

“Confirmatory studies with more comprehensive assessment of smoking, such as duration, quantity and patterns of use, as well as smokeless tobacco history are needed,” said Tezal.

“Our study also suggests that chronic periodontitis may be associated with poorly differentiated tumor status in the oral cavity. Continuous stimulation of cellular proliferation by chronic inflammation may be responsible for this histological type. However, grading is subjective and we only observed this association in the oral cavity. Therefore, this association may be due to chance and needs further exploration,” she added.

Andrew Olshan, Ph.D., said these results lend further support to the potential importance of poor oral health in this form of cancer.

Olshan said, “Although the study is comparatively small, the researchers were able to also see an association between bone loss and the risk of head and neck cancer.”

The results of the study have been published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. (ANI)

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Quitting smoking provides immediate benefit to heart

July 8, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, July 8 (ANI): Smokers can immediately improve their cardiovascular health by kicking the butt, according to a study.

Researchers at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset, NY, say that smoking cessation provides immediate benefits to patients.

They examined specific inflammatory biomarkers associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in “at risk” women during the smoking cessation process.

It was found that smoking cessation resulted in significant reductions in circulating tumour necrosis factor (TNF), soluble TNF receptors I and II, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1).

Thus, the researchers concluded that there are rapid consequences of smoking cessation on inflammatory biomarkers in women at risk for CVD.

The article has been published in Chest, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians. (ANI)

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Biomarkers’ ability to improve prediction of heart risk minimal, say experts

July 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, July 1 (ANI): Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital have revealed that measuring the known biomarkers modestly improves the prediction of future heart attack, but not enough to change preventive therapies.

Although conventional risk factors – like as smoking, hypertension, cholesterol levels and age – can identify individuals at the highest risk for heart attack or stroke, many people without these factors still experience these potentially devastating events.

“While there currently does not appear to be a role for routine use of biomarkers in screening for cardiovascular risk, our data do not exclude a role for biomarkers in selected patients,” said Dr. Thomas Wang, of the MGH Heart Centre, the study’s senior and co-corresponding author.

“We’re still optimistic that new technologies will lead to the discovery of biomarkers that could help us move toward offering truly personalized cardiovascular risk prediction,” he added.

The current study was focused on two biomarkers that have been extensively studied in cardiovascular disease – C-reactive protein (CRP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (N-BNP) – and four that recently have been identified as relating to cardiovascular risk – Cystatin C, Lp-PLA2, MR-proADM and MR-proANP.

The researchers found that two of the studied biomarkers – N-BNP and MR-proADM – did significantly improve the prediction of coronary events, defined as a heart attack or death from ischemic heart disease.

N-BNP and C-reactive protein improved the prediction of cardiovascular events, which are coronary events plus strokes.

But when the ability of biomarkers to move individual patients into higher- or lower-risk categories was analysed, the potential impact on treatment decisions was minimal.

“Since choice of therapies may depend on the risk category a patient falls into, moving patients between risk categories could lead to a change in therapy,” said co-author Dr. Christopher Newton-Cheh, of MGH Heart Centre.

“While there was more category movement among participants initially classified as intermediate-risk, that resulted primarily from movement to lower risk levels, so we still need to find biomarkers that can make a clinically significant difference in predicting cardiovascular risk” he added.

The study appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association. (ANI)

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New biomarkers of melanoma identified

June 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, June 30 (ANI): Scientists from Yale University have identified new biomarkers that will help develop more effective treatment strategies to fight melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.

The research team has mapped chemical modifications of DNA in the melanoma genome that will open new avenues for developing improved therapies.

In addition to mutations to the DNA code that can cause malignancies, epigenetic changes – alterations to the chemical modifications of DNA that regulate genes – are frequent in a number of diseases, including cancer.

If the normal epigenetic patterns that regulate gene expression are disrupted, cellular functions can go awry and lead to disease.

Lead researchers Dr Ruth Halaban and Dr Sherman Weissman of Yale University investigated genome-wide epigenetic changes, termed DNA methylation, in melanoma cells.

“This is of particular importance in melanomas, because a major etiological factor is sun exposure,” Halaban said, explaining that inflammation and reactive oxygen species caused by the sun can produce epigenetic changes and mutations.

Halaban added that because DNA methylation can be reversed, it is an attractive target for cancer therapy.

The team then focused on five genes in particular, three of which had not been implicated in melanoma until now.

In clinical specimens, methylation of these promoters was predominantly detected in advanced-stage tumors, suggesting that these markers will be useful for monitoring tumour progression.

Furthermore, they found that by treating melanoma cells with a drug called decitabine, an inhibitor of DNA methylation, these genes could be reactivated.

Halaban suggests that by combining their method for finding methylation markers with the latest DNA sequencing technologies, researchers will be able to uncover genes where an interaction between genetic mutations and epigenetic changes play a role in the development of melanoma, and perhaps other cancers.

With this information, researchers can devise even more effective strategies to combat the disease.

The study is published in Genome Research. (ANI)

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Biomarkers to predict brain tumour’s response to therapy identified

June 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, June 24 (ANI): A research team including an Indian origin scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital has found new biomarkers that may help in identifying patients with recurrent glioblastoma, or brain tumours.

It will help in predicting which patients would respond better to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, specifically cediranib, which is an investigational, oral agent that is administered once daily.

“We found that results from an advanced MRI scan taken just a day after starting treatment correlated with survival,” said lead researcher A. Gregory Sorensen, M.D., associate professor of radiology and health sciences and technology at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital.

“Combining MRI with blood biomarkers did an even better job of identifying patients who best responded to treatment.

“If this approach is validated in larger studies, we could use these tools to keep patients on therapies that their tumours respond to, and shift non-responders to other therapies much earlier,” Sorensen added.

Using a form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that looked at the mechanism of action of the agent, the researchers were able to determine, even as early as after a single dose of cediranib, those patients who benefited from the agent and those who did not.

“Vascular normalization is an important mechanism of how these drugs work in cancer patients,” said Dr Rakesh K. Jain, Andrew Werk Cook professor of tumor biology at Harvard Medical School and director of the Edwin L. Steele Laboratory for Tumor Biology in the department of radiation oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Centre, Boston.

“This is really a severe disease and being able to determine response at such an early point is helpful to tailor treatment,” he said.

“If we can predict those responding to antiangiogenic therapy early on, we may be able to define where the benefit would be,” he added.

The study appears in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. (ANI)

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‘Chemical nose’ can sniff out cancer

June 23, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington. June 23 (ANI): Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed a ‘chemical nose’ that can sniff out cancer.

The revolutionary tool contains an array of nanoparticles and polymers that differentiate not only between healthy and cancerous cells but also between metastatic and non-metastatic cancer cells.

Currently, detecting cancer via cell surface biomarkers has taken what’s known as the “lock and key” approach.

However, this method includes foreknowledge of the biomarker.

“Our new method uses an array of sensors to recognize not only known cancer types, but it signals that abnormal cells are present,” said chemist Vincent Rotello, who conducted the research with cancer specialist Joseph Jerry.

“That is, the chemical nose can simply tell us something isn’t right, like a ‘check engine light,’ though it may never have encountered that type before,” he added.

Further, the chemical nose can be designed to alert doctors of the most invasive cancer types, those for which early treatment is crucial.

The study conducted using four human cancer cell lines (cervical, liver, testis and breast), as well as in three metastatic breast cell lines, and in normal cells showed that the new detection technique correctly indicated not only the presence of cancer cells in a sample but also identified primary cancer vs. metastatic disease.

Rotello’s research team, with colleagues at the Georgia Institute of Technology, designed the new detection system by combining three gold nanoparticles that have special affinity for the surface of chemically abnormal cells, plus a polymer known as PPE, or para-phenyleneethynylene.

As the ‘check engine light,’ PPE fluoresces or glows when displaced from the nanoparticle surface.

The study appears in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences online. (ANI)

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Older men more likely to die after pneumonia than women

May 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, April 30 (ANI): Old men are more likely do die after being hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) than women, according to a new study, which suggests that the reason may be differing biological response to infection between males and females.

The findings may have important implications for understanding sex differences in life expectancy.

“Our study found that men with CAP were less likely to survive after an infection compared to women and this was not explained by differences in demographics, health behaviour, chronic health conditions or quality of care,” said Sachin Yende, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Critical Care Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and corresponding author of the study.

The researchers measured blood levels of inflammatory indicators, including tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukins 6 and 10, coagulation indicators including Factor IX, and fibrinolysis indicators including D-dimer concentrations.

They found patterns in these biomarkers that suggest men generate a stronger inflammatory and coagulation response and, perhaps, break up blood clots more quickly than women in response to infection.

“These differences in inflammatory, coagulation and fibrinolysis biomarkers among men may explain the reduced short-term and long-term survival,” said Dr. Yende.

Data were gathered from the multicenter Genetic and Inflammatory Markers of Sepsis (GenIMS) study. Participants were enrolled upon emergency department admission at 28 academic and community hospitals in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Michigan and Tennessee from 2001 to 2003.

The study included 2,320 subjects, with a mean age of 64.9 years, 1,136 of whom were men. The men were sicker on admission, more likely to be smokers, and had at least one chronic health condition, such as cardiac disease or cancer. Severe sepsis occurred in 588 (31 percent) subjects. Of these, about half had severe sepsis on their first day of hospitalization.

The researchers found that men had a higher risk than women of death at 30 days (7 percent vs. 4.5 percent), 90 days (11.4 percent vs. 8.6 percent) and one year (21 percent vs. 16 percent).

“Even compared to women with an equivalent illness severity, men were more likely to die. Survival differences persist up to one year after the initial hospitalization, when most patients had recovered from the pneumonia and left the hospital,” Dr. Yende said.

The study is published online in the Critical Care Medicine journal. (ANI)

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Now, a spit test to detect diabetes

May 2, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, April 29 (ANI): A research team, including an Indian-origin boffin, has developed a painless new method for detecting diabetes, utilizing saliva.

While searching for biomarkers that may indicate diabetes, doctors examined the saliva of 40 different patients.

Through salivary analysis, they managed to devise a new ‘non-invasive’ method for detecting diabetes that foregoes the uncomfortable prick of a needle- patients need only to spit into a cup.

The spit test could be performed for little cost in a doctor’s office or at a patient’s home.

“Our goal was to characterize proteins in human saliva that may indicate prediabetes and type-2. Analysis of these proteins allowed us to develop a new method for screening, detecting and monitoring the diabetic state,” said Srinivasa R. Nagalla, MD a member of the research team.

The method will be revealed Friday, May 15, at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 18th Annual Meeting and Clinical Congress in Houston, Texas. (ANI)

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New test can help assess efficacy of Alzheimer’s drugs

April 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Apr 10 (ANI): Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have developed a new test that can assess whether an Alzheimer’s drug could really reduce the production of amyloid beta (A-beta)- one of the possible underlying causes of Alzheimer’s disease in humans.

With the test, called stable isotope-linked kinetics (SILK), the researchers showed that an Alzheimer’s drug given to healthy volunteers reduced A-beta production

The test could speed up the development of new treatments for the disease.

In the clinical trials by Eli Lilly and Company, the scientists are studying the drug candidate, LY450139, which is also known as semagacestat.

Ongoing clinical trials are studying the effect that semagacestat may have on cognitive function and biochemical and brain imaging biomarkers in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers said that they wanted to see if SILK could detect the drug’s impact on A-beta synthesis in healthy volunteers.

“Bringing an Alzheimer’s disease drug into clinical trials from tests in animal models has always been challenging. We haven’t had a way to quickly and accurately assess a drug’s effects, and that meant there always had to be some degree of educated guesswork when it came to setting the optimal dosage for humans. SILK may help to eliminate much of that guesswork,” said study director Randall Bateman.

The researchers are currently using SILK to know if increased A-beta production, reduced clearance or a combination of the two lead to the A-beta buildup in the brain- a process believed to trigger Alzheimer’s disease.

Until SILK, there has not been a way to directly measure the production or clearance of A-beta.

Scientists have assessed the efficacy of potential new Alzheimer’s drug candidates by monitoring the cognitive functions of patients with the disease for extended periods of time, which require large, lengthy and expensive studies.

In the new study, the scientists reported a dose-dependent drop in A-beta production, and measured an 84 percent reduction in A-beta production with the highest study drug dose.

The SILK procedure takes 36 hours, but provides scientists a more detailed assessment of amyloid beta production and clearance levels than they can obtain through conventional methods.

“You could use a spinal tap to look directly at the amount of A-beta present in the cerebrospinal fluid, but we’ve shown that natural processes cause A-beta levels to change dynamically. Such changes make it more difficult to assess the effects of a drug in that fashion,” said Bateman.

The results have been published in Annals of Neurology. (ANI)

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‘Bionic nose’ to sniff out cancer, bombs and impure water

April 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, March 31 (ANI): Researchers at Tel Aviv University (TAU) in Israel have developed a device, dubbed a ‘bionic nose’, which can be used to detect microscopic signs of cancer, bombs and impure water.

Both cancer cells and the chemicals used to make bombs can foil detection because they appear in trace amounts too small for conventional detection techniques.

But now, scientists at Tel Aviv University have engineered a molecule that can magnify weak traces of “hidden” molecules into something we can detect and see.

Using molecular techniques in nanotechnology, Professor Doron Shabat of TAU’s Raymond and Beverly Sackler School of Chemistry has engineered new molecules that have the power to identify targets – such as biomarkers in cancer, materials in explosives, or pollutants in water – even when present in miniscule amounts.

Professor Shabat’s invention, like a bionic nose, can “sniff out” these trace molecules and amplify them tenfold, making them noticeable for doctors and crimefighters.

Shabat, a bioorganic chemist, plans to develop the technology so that it amplifies signals millions and billions times stronger than they are.

“We are developing a molecular system that amplifies certain events,” said Shabat. “That way, we’ll be able to respond faster to medical, security and environmental threats. In effect, our device can amplify just about any chemical system that has a certain kind of reactivity,” he added.

According to Shabat, “It has the potential to help doctors diagnose diseases – those with biomarkers, and enzymatic activities that are compatible with our molecular probe.”

“The long list includes a few kinds of cancer, as well, including prostate cancer. But, it also has applications for testing for impurities in water. It has both biological and non-biological applications,” he added.

Professor Shabat’s invention is a molecular sensor that acts in a solution.

A chemist would add trace amounts of the test material from the field – a spoonful of contaminated drinking water, for example – into the solution and would simply see if the color of the solution changes.

If so, the targeted material – the cancer, or explosive, or pollutant – is present.

The prototype is ready, and Shabat plans to use it to “amplify” problems around the world to improve healthcare, safety, and security. (ANI)

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Cumulative lead exposure may impair women’s cognition in later years

March 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Washington, March 29 (ANI): Cumulative exposure to lead at levels likely to be experienced in community settings may have adverse consequences for women’s cognition in their later years, according to a study.

The study, supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, was conducted with a view to examine biomarkers of lead exposure in relation to performance on cognitive tests given to older women.

Lead exposure is measured in two ways-blood lead level, which is a reading of recent lead dosage; and bone lead level, which is a cumulative measure of lead exposure over many years.

The current study involved the assessment of bone lead levels in the tibia and the patella.

The researchers said that the analysis of all cognitive tests combined showed that levels of all three lead biomarkers were associated with worse cognitive performance, with the association between bone lead and letter fluency scoring dramatically different from the other bone lead/cognitive score associations.

They said that even though the levels of patella and blood lead were linked with worse cognitive function, their findings were statistically significant only for tibia lead, which typically reflects longer-ago exposures than patella lead.

Based on their observations, the researchers came to the conclusion that lead exposures in the distant past might be more important than relatively recent exposures in influencing cognitive function in older women.

“The identification of modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline may provide important clues for delaying or even preventing dementia,” wrote first author Jennifer Weuve and colleagues.

The study has been published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP).

The journal’s editor-in-chief, Dr. Hugh A. Tilson, said: “Findings in this study are important because of their long-range consequences on the public health of an aging generation. Impaired cognition and cognitive decline in older women are associated with heightened risks of dementia, physical disability, hospitalisation and reduced quality of life in later years.” (ANI)

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