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Life Sciences News Brief
Vol. 4 no. 46 –February 9, 2005
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Pharmaceuticals Update |
Tailored Drug Protects Heart Attack Patients
Giving a special version of the blood thinner heparin in the hours
after a heart attack can reduce the death rate and the incidence of
a later heart attack, new Canadian research shows. The study of more
than 15,500 patients treated at hospitals in India and China found
the 30-day death rate for heart attack patients given the drug
reviparin was 13 percent lower than for patients who did not get the
drug. The incidence of second heart attacks was 23 percent lower in
the patients who got reviparin, the study found. Equally significant
was the finding that the incidence of stroke was not increased by
use of the drug. The research, carried out by scientists at McMaster
University in Hamilton, is published in the Jan. 26 issue of the
Journal of the American Medical Association.
MUHC researchers find COX-2 inhibitor increases the risk of heart attack
New research published in the on-line version of the Annals of
Internal Medicine today, documents an increased risk of heart attack
with one of the COX-2 inhibitors used in elderly adults with no
previous history of heart attack-a group previously considered
low-risk. The study, sponsored by the Canadian Institutes of Health
Research (CIHR) and conducted by researchers at the McGill
University Health Centre (MUHC) in Montreal, examined the
relationship between the use of all nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) and the risk of heart attack in 113,927 Quebec senior
citizens. Only one of these agents, a COX-2 inhibitor called Vioxx-a
new class of NSAIDs-carried a greater risk of heart attack. "Many
believe that COX-2 inhibitors increase the chance of a heart attack
in high risk groups, for example people who have already suffered a
heart attack," explains primary author Linda Lévesque, a pharmacist
and McGill University PhD candidate in the Department of
Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Lévesque worked with co-author Dr.
James Brophy, a cardiologist and Director of the Technology
Assessment Unit (TAU) at the MUHC and Associate Professor of
Medicine at McGill University. "This study demonstrates the overall
risk of heart attack is increased 24% for users of Vioxx who have
not previously suffered a heart attack," Lévesque says.
Forbes Medi-Tech Initiates Toxicity Study On FM-VP4
Forbes Medi-Tech Inc. (Vancouver) announced that it has commenced a
90-day toxicity study for its cholesterol-lowering drug, FM-VP4.
This study is required to support an extended US Phase II human
trial planned for later this year. Results from an earlier 28 day
European trial of FM-VP4 suggest that LDL cholesterol levels may
continue to decrease when FM-VP4 is given to patients for longer
than 4 weeks and that optimal efficacy may not have been achieved. |
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Diagnostics and Therapeutics Update |
Researchers Develop New Treatment For Iron Deficiency
A new powder form of iron supplement that claims to have no side
effects may prove a boon to millions of children in developing
countries suffering from iron-deficiency anemia, a research report
said. Sprinkles, containing microencapsulated iron and other
micronutrients in powder form, can be sprinkled into food materials
and it produces no side effects unlike ferrous sulphate, used in
developing countries, researchers at the Hospital for Sick Children
in Toronto said in an article published in the Open Access Global
Health Journal.
Stem Cell Therapeutics comments on recent articles
Two recently published articles in Nature Medicine (Martin et al.
2005 Nat Med 11:282-232) and the Journal of Biological Chemistry (Bardor
et al. 2004 J Biol Chem, 10.1074/jbc.M412040200) have raised
concerns associated with a non-human cell surface sialic acid,
called glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), contaminating stem cell
lines used for research. These articles highlight one of the
potential technical hurdles inherent in therapeutic approaches to
treat neurological disorders that require the culture,
transplantation, survival and acceptance of donor cells by a
patient's body. Stem Cell Therapeutics Corp.'s (Calgary) therapeutic
approach does not involve the culture of neural stem cells but
instead intends to enhance the rate at which adult neural stem
cells, naturally present in the brain of the patient, proliferate
and then differentiate to form various types of neural tissue.
Medicure Acquires Novel Cholesterol-Lowering Technology Platform
Medicure Inc. (Winnipeg), a cardiovascular drug discovery and
development company, is pleased to announce that it has acquired the
exclusive worldwide licensing rights from the University of Manitoba
and University of Ottawa Heart Institute for a technology platform
focused on the development of novel lipid lowering therapeutics for
the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The treatment approach,
discovered by Dr. Jim Jamieson and Dr. Gro Thorne-Tjomsland,
Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba and Dr. Zemin Yao,
University of Ottawa Heart Institute, reduces cholesterol and
triglycerides by acting on newly discovered targets in the liver's
mechanism for the production and removal of very low density
lipoproteins (VLDL), the main triglyceride carrier in the blood. The
discovery involves the identification of a specific mechanism by
which VLDL is degraded or broken down, a process referred to as
autophagocytosis. Medicure and the discoverers will advance the
development of this technology platform under a collaboration
agreement.
Norgen Biotek Corp. Launches ProteoSpin(TM) Product Line
Norgen Biotek Corp, (St. Catherines) an innovative Canadian
biotechnology company focusing principally on advancing powerful
innovations for nucleic acid and protein purification, today
announced the launch and commercialization of ProteoSpin(TM) protein
purification kits based on its proprietary silicon carbide (SiC)
resin technology. This is the first in a series of proteomics sample
preparation kits that Norgen Biotek Corp is introducing to the
market directly and through channel partners globally.
Affinium reports first large scale analysis of bacterial protein
complexes
Affinium Pharmaceuticals (Toronto), a structure guided drug
discovery company focused on the development and commercialization
of anti-infective medicines, announced that a team of scientists,
led by Affinium cofounder Dr. Jack Greenblatt, have successfully
tagged a total of 847 proteins, including 198 of the most highly
conserved, soluble non-ribosomal proteins essential for life in at
least one bacterial species. Importantly, the interaction network
containing conserved and essential protein complexes in Escherichia
coli was uncovered and validated by sequential rounds of tagging and
purification. The protein network includes many new and insightful
interactions in pathways attacked by current antibiotics.
Generex Reports Preliminary Results Of A Phase 2b Clinical Study
Generex Biotechnology Corporation (Toronto) reported results of a
preliminary Phase 2b clinical study of Oral-lyn(TM), the Company's
proprietary oral insulin spray formulation. The study showed, in a
comparison of the postprandial glycemic control between the Oral-lyn(TM)
regimen and injected regular human insulin, that Oral-lyn(TM)
administered in a divided dose produces pharmacokinetic and
glucodynamic profiles comparable to that produced by injected
regular human insulin (administered in a divided dose for
methodological consistency). |
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Medical Devices |
WorldHeart to Acquire MedQuest
World Heart Corporation (Ottawa) announced that it has signed a
definitive agreement to acquire all of the assets of MedQuest
Products, Inc., subject to certain approvals, consents and
conditions. MedQuest, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, is in the final
development stages of its HeartQuest(TM) ventricular assist device (VAD),
a magnetically levitated centrifugal rotary blood pump. WorldHeart
currently offers the leading long-term pulsatile Novacor(R) LVAS.
The acquisition of MedQuest will add an advanced rotary pump to
WorldHeart's VAD platform and will also result in the Company
raising up to US$23 million in a corresponding private placement and
warrant exercise. In addition, all existing debentures will be
converted to common shares of the Company.
Angiotech partner says physician feedback is extremely positive
Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Vancouver) corporate partner,
Boston Scientific announced that it has completed the initial launch
of its TAXUS(R) Liberte(TM) paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent
system. On January 17, BSC announced that it had launched the
next-generation stent system in 18 countries. The new product is now
fully launched in those countries. According to BSC, early physician
feedback has been extremely positive, including reaction from
physicians doing live cases at the 14th Annual Singapore LIVE
course. |
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Genomic Update |
Genomics One Acquires Patents in the Field of Biodefense
Genomics One Corporation (Laval) announced that the Corporation has
signed a letter of intent to purchase patents from
Valorisation-Recherche, a limited partnership, for the development
of Mass Spectrometry equipment using the Metastable Atoms
Bombardment (MAB) Technology. The Corporation will pay a sum of
$350,000 CAN and 40,000 common shares of its capital stock for the
patents, which will be used in the development and the manufacture
of high-end Mass Spectrometry equipment. |
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Industry Briefs |
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NIR Diagnostics Inc
(Campbellville),
a leading-edge developer of near-infrared diagnostic
instruments, announced the issuance of United States patent No.
6,841,132, entitled "Sample Tab", a patent under license by the
company. The "Sample Tab" patent provides protection for the
patient sample interface of the HemoNIR(TM) device. HemoNIR(TM)
is a portable, reagentless co-oximetry device that uses a
droplet of whole blood to monitor non functional hemoglobin……
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Transition Therapeutics
Inc. (Toronto) announced that patient enrolment
has commenced for a Phase II clinical trial of its Interferon
Enhancing Therapy ("MS-I.E.T.") in patients with multiple
sclerosis ("MS"). MS-I.E.T. combines interferon-(B)with
Transition's enhancing agent, EMZ701, with the goal of improving
outcomes in MS patients without adding toxicity……
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YM BioSciences Inc.
(Mississauga), the cancer drug development company, announced
that it has partnered with the Shin Poong Pharmaceutical Company
of Seoul, Korea to expand the development program for its lead
drug, tesmilifene, into gastric cancer…..
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Vasogen Inc.
(Mississauga), focused on the research and commercial
development of technologies targeting chronic inflammation
underlying cardiovascular and neurological disease, announced
that it has entered into definitive agreements to sell
approximately 9.0 million common shares, at a price of US$4.70
per share, to institutional investors, for gross proceeds of
approximately US$42.3 million…….
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Angiotech
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Vancouver) announced that
they along with corporate partner Boston Scientific have
initiated legal proceedings in the Netherlands against Conor
Medsystems. On January 24th, 2005, the European Patent Office
maintained the validity of Angiotech's patent (No. EP 0 706 376)
with various claims, including claims to stents coated with
paclitaxel and a polymeric carrier……
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Tm Bioscience
Corporation (Toronto), an emerging leader in the
commercial genetic testing market, announced that the Company
has secured all genetic content licenses required for its Tag-It(TM)
Ashkenazi Jewish Panel (AJP), a novel genetic test that combines
eight commonly used genetic assays into one…..
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Magistral Biotech Inc.
(Montreal) announced that Mr. Ciro Cucciniello, a lawyer
specialized in business law, an associate with the firm
Cucciniello Calandriello of Montreal, formerly director of a
number of private and public corporations, has been appointed as
a Director with Magistral…..
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Vasogen Inc.
(Mississauga), a leader in the research and commercial
development of technologies targeting chronic inflammation
underlying cardiovascular and neurological disease, announced
that it has initiated a phase I clinical trial of VP025, the
lead drug candidate from its new class of drugs designed to
target inflammation. VP025 is being developed to target the
chronic inflammation within the central nervous system that is
associated with a number of neurological diseases, including
Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease).
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(Life Sciences News Briefs © 2004 is prepared by Armar International for
the Life Sciences Branch of Industry Canada (contact: Sandy Vien; Tel:
613-941-6479; E-mail: vien.sandy@ic.gc.ca).
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