SCIENCE NEWS
Neuronal Migration Errors: Right Cells, Wrong Place Using a specialized technique that involves staining cells, the researchers were able to determine the distribution of nerve cells in brain tissue from people who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in comparison to tissue from people who did not carry this diagnosis prior to their death. [Press release from PhysOrg discussing online prepublication in Biological Psychiatry] Most Common Adult Brain Cancer Linked to Gene Deletion, Doctors Say A study has identified an important gene deletion in up to one of every four cases of glioblastoma. This deletion contributes to tumor development, promotes resistance to therapy and considerably worsens a patient’s survival prospects. [Press release from the Stanford University School of Medicine discussing online prepublication in the New England Journal of Medicine] UT Southwestern Researchers Identify Site in Brain Where Leptin may Trigger Puberty Researchers have pinpointed a tiny site in the brain where the hormone leptin may help trigger the onset of puberty. The findings in mice indicate that a site within the hypothalamus called the ventral premammillary nucleus, or PMV, is the target where the hormone leptin effectively kick starts puberty in females. [Press release from the UT Southwestern Medical Center discussing online prepublication in the Journal of Clinical Investigation] Brain Gene a Trigger for Determining Gender University of Adelaide researchers are a step closer to unravelling the mysteries of human sexual development, following genetic studies that show male mice can be created without a Y chromosome – through the activation of an ancient brain gene. [Press release from the University of Adelaide discussing online prepublication in the Journal of Clinical Investigation] Researchers Find Gene That Protects Against Dementia in High-risk Individuals Neuroscientists had assumed that a mutation in the progranulin gene, which makes the progranulin protein and supports brain neurons, was sufficient to produce a kind of dementia known as frontotemporal lobar degeneration. But now an international team of scientists have found another genetic factor they say appears to protect against the disorder in progranulin mutation carriers. [Press release from the Mayo Clinic discussing online prepublication in Neurology]
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Biogen Idec and Neurimmune Announce Agreement on Three Neurodegenerative Disease Programs Biogen Idec and Neurimmune Holding AG announced that Biogen Idec has acquired a subsidiary of Neurimmune, which includes the world-wide rights to three pre-clinical immunotherapy programs. [Biogen Idec Press Release] FDA and Allon Agree on Special Protocol Assessment for Pivotal Trial in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Allon Therapeutics Inc. announced that it has reached agreement with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on a Special Protocol Assessment for a pivotal Phase 2/3 clinical trial to evaluate the Company’s lead neuroprotective drug candidate, davunetide, as a potential treatment for progressive supranuclear palsy, a rapidly-progressing and fatal degenerative brain disease. [Allon Therapeutics Inc. Press Release] Aldagen Announces FDA Clearance of IND to Begin Phase 2 Study in Ischemic Stroke With Regenerative Cell Therapy Aldagen, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared an Investigational New Drug (IND) application to conduct a clinical trial using Aldagen’s ALD-401, a unique stem cell population, for the treatment of stroke patients. [EarthTimes] Suven Life Sciences Secures 2 Product Patents For Their NCEs Suven Life Sciences Ltd. announced that the grant of two product patents 241484 & 241819 from Indian Patent office corresponding to the New Chemical Entities (NCEs) for the treatment of disorders associated with Neurodegenerative diseases and these Patents are valid until 2027. [Suven Life Sciences Ltd. Press Release] Oxford BioMedica Announces Update on ProSavin® Phase I/II Study in Parkinson’s Disease Oxford BioMedica plc, a leading gene therapy company, announces new data from the on-going Phase I/II trial of ProSavin® for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. [Oxford Biomedica Press Release] Researchers: Pay More Attention to Epilepsy Epilepsy, a common and serious neurologic disorder that affects millions of people, is not getting the public attention and funding for research it deserves, according to an editorial on a study published in the January 4, 2011, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. [PhysOrg]
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