People who take oral bisphosphonates for bone disease over five years may be doubling their risk of developing oesophageal cancer (cancer of the gullet), according to a new study published on bmj.com.
Link:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-09/bmj-ltu090210.php
Source:EurekAlert

Cigarette smoke shuts off a key enzyme in airways that regulates the body's response to inflammation, according to findings from the University of Alabama at Birmingham published online today at Science Express.
The researchers say smoke inhibits the enzyme, called Leukotriene A4 Hydrolase (LTA4H), causing it to fail in its job of shutting down white blood cells following a successful response to inflammation.
The team says the research study identified a previously unknown substrate of LTA4H called proline-glycine-proline (PGP). In a normal response to inflammation, PGP's role is to recruit neutrophils – white blood cells – that rush to the scene and attack the cause of the inflammation. When the job is over, LTA4H steps in to shut off PGP, in turn halting the recruitment of neutrophils and ending the body's defensive stand.
Blalock said PGP is a biomarker for several lung diseases that feature chronic inflammation, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis.
Link:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-09/uoaa-csm090210.php
Source:EurekAlert

A study funded by Abbott Laboratories offered more detailed evidence that its weight-loss drug Meridia increases heart risks, prompting renewed calls by consumer advocates and others to pull the drug from the market.
It is published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Link:http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6815BL20100902
Source:Reuters

The start of the first patient enrolled clinical study with BAN2401, a novel monoclonal antibody that is being developed as a potential next-generation therapeutic treatment for Alzheimer’s disease was announced. BAN2401 is the first monoclonal antibody to selectively bind, neutralize and eliminate soluble protofibrils, the toxic amyloid-beta aggregates thought to cause Alzheimer’s disease.
Link:http://www.eisai.co.jp/enews/enews201044.html
Source:Eisai

An article that appears online today entitled: "Iron-export ferroxidase activity of beta-amyloid precursor protein is inhibited by zinc in Alzheimer's Disease" scheduled for the September 17 edition of Cell, the prestigious peer-reviewed, international biological research journal is published.
Link:http://www.pranabio.com/downloads/Media%20Releases/Media%20Release%202010/Prana%20in%20Cell%203%20Sept%202010.pdf
Source:Prana

The initiation of two Phase 2 Ultrafast Insulin treatment studies that utilize its rHuPH20 hyaluronidase enzyme (PH20) in combination with the two leading commercially available mealtime analogs: insulin aspart, the active ingredient in NovoLog(R), and insulin lispro, the active ingredient in Humalog(R) was announced.
Link:http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=175436&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1466263&highlight=
Source:Halozyme

The European Commission has granted marketing authorisation for its lead product, PecFent, an innovative fentanyl nasal spray for the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain (BTCP) in adults who are already receiving maintenance opioid therapy for chronic cancer pain.
Link:http://www.archimedespharma.com/newseventsNews.html
Source:Archimedes

Aggressively lowering blood pressure did little to prevent kidney damage in blacks, unless protein in their urine showed evidence of damage in the first place, researchers reported on Wednesday.
It is reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Link:http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68070W20100901
Source:Reuters

A Phase1a, first-in-man, single ascending dose trial of INX-189, its nucleotide polymerase inhibitor in development for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infections has been completed.
Link:http://www.ir-site.com/images/library/master/edgar/story.aspx?symbol=INHX&story=33659185
Inhibitex

An antibiotic, A3-APO that gets its microbe-fighting power from insect proteins was effective at attacking a common infection that afflicts blast victims in war zones, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.
It is published in Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, online September 1.
Link:http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6805C420100901
Source:Reuters