An altered version of the cancer drug Gleevec, imatinib could form the basis of a new class of drugs that block the development of brain-damaging plaques in Alzheimer's disease, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.
It is published in the journal Nature.
Link:http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6805J520100901
Source:Reuters

Scientists studying the autoimmmune disease lupus have found that blood platelets are key in its development and say their findings in the lab suggest blood-thinning drug, Plavix known generically as clopidogrel may offer a new way to treat patients.
It is published in the Science Translational Medicine Journal on Wednesday.
Link:http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6805T320100901
Source:Reuters

The common diabetes drug metformin may hold promise as a way to keep smokers from developing lung cancer, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday.
The findings were published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.
Link:http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68070P20100901
Source:Reuters

A study in the Sept. 1 issue of the journal SLEEP found an elevated risk of death in men with a complaint of chronic insomnia and an objectively measured short sleep duration. The results suggest that public health policy should emphasize the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of chronic insomnia.
Link:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-09/aaos-sfa082610.php
Source:EurekAlert

The intravenous (IV) formulation of BRINAVESS (vernakalant) has been granted marketing approval in the European Union (EU), Iceland and Norway for the rapid conversion of recent onset atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm in adults: for non-surgery patients with AF of seven days or less and for post-cardiac surgery patients with AF of three days or less.
Link:http://cardiome.com/wordpress/?p=557
Source:Cardiome

Data from the phase 3 study of mipomersen in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (heFH) were presented today at the European Society of Cardiology’s Congress 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Mipomersen is a first-in-class apo-B synthesis inhibitor currently in late-stage development.
Link:http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/genzyme/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&ndmConfigId=1019673&newsId=20100901005551&newsLang=en
Source:Genzyme

Recent research has now demonstrated that iron deficiency must be viewed in a much broader clinical context, as it also affects at least one-third of non-anaemic chronic heart failure (CHF) patients, according to a presentation at the European Society of Cardiology's Congress 2010 in Stockholm.
Link:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100831122057.htm
Source:ScienceDaily

According to results of a study published in the September issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, selenium intake is associated with decreased risk of bladder cancer.
Link:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/aafc-isi082410.php
Source:EurekAlert

The data monitoring committee of the AVERROES study, seeing overwhelming evidence of the success of apixaban in the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation who are unsuitable for the conventional treatment of warfarin, has recommended early termination of this study. The decision came after repeated review and careful consideration of all efficacy and safety data.
Results of the study were presented by Connolly at the annual European Society of Cardiology Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, on August 31.
Apixaban is a new type of anticoagulant known as a Factor Xa inhibitor, which is being jointly developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer.
Link:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/mu-ssd082710.php
Source:EurekAlert

Positive results from the Phase IIa proof-of-concept study of MP4OX (oxygenated pegylated hemoglobin) in severely injured trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock causing lactic acidosiswere announced. MP4OX is a novel oxygen therapeutic agent that is designed to provide rapid oxygen delivery to ischemic tissues.
Link:http://www.sangart.com/newsroom/press_083110.htm
Source:Sangart