Vectura and Sosei, Phase II Studies of QVA149 for the Treatment of COPD

15 November 2007 - Vectura Group plc (“Vectura”; LSE: VEC) and Sosei Group Corporation (“Sosei”; TSE Mothers Index: 4565) announce the start, by Novartis, of a Phase II safety study of QVA149 for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). QVA149 is a combination of NVA237, a once-daily long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) and indacaterol, a once-daily long-acting beta-2 agonist (LABA)... Vectura's Press Release - Sosei's Press Release [PDF] -

Aeolus Pharmaceuticals, Pipeline, COPD

November 5, 2007 - ...Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease :
Previously screening of the pipeline compounds indicated that several compounds had potent lung antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. These compounds are now scheduled to be examined for in vivo efficacy in a mouse model of lung emphysema induced by chronic cigarette smoke exposure. Studies are expected to start in January 2008 with results due in late summer 2008... [PDF] Aeolus ' Press Release -

Amira Pharmaceuticals, Initiates Clinical Studies for the 2nd Entry Molecule for the Treatment of Respiratory and Cardiovascular Disease

November 1, 2007 - ...AM103 and AM803 are novel inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase-activiting protein (FLAP) that have demonstrated potential to treat asthma and cardiovascular disease (CVD) by preventing the synthesis of leukotrienes (LT), which trigger inflammation. The recently completed AM103 trial was designed to assess the safety and tolerability of an escalating single dose of the compound and escalating multiple doses in healthy volunteers who received AM103 or placebo for up to 11 days. The trial also assessed the pharmacodynamic properties of AM103, specifically its ability to inhibit LT production... Amira 's Press Release -

NicOx, TOPIGEN initiates phase 2 proof of concept study in COPD for TPI 1020

November 20, 2007 - ...This new clinical study follows the recent announcement of promising top-line results from a phase 2a study in asthmatic smokers, where TPI 1020 showed a good safety and tolerability profile, in addition to certain anti-inflammatory effects which could be potentially beneficial in COPD (see press release of September 11, 2007). COPD is a respiratory disease caused by chronic inflammation of the lungs and bronchi and represents the third-leading cause of death in the United States... [PDF] NicOx' Press Release - PDF en Français - [PDF] Topigen's Press Release -

SPO Medical, New Oximetry Devices for European Markets

November 14, 2007 - ...The PulseOx 6000™ (finger device) and PulseOx 6100™ (hand-held device) are both designed for medical professionals, hospitals and managed care facilities. Based on SPO Medical’s proprietary patented algorithms, both the PulseOx 6000™ and PulseOx 6100™ use Reflective Pulse Oximetry (RPO) technology for accurate and reliable measurements of blood oxygen saturation and heart rate, utilizing new AutoSpot™ technology to read in low profusion measurements. The products have been granted CE Mark of approval by the European Union and will be commercially available early in the first quarter of 2008... [PDF] SPO Medical's Press Release -

Advanced Life Sciences, Cethromycin, Second Pivotal Phase III Trial for Treatment of Pneumonia

Nov. 15, 2007 - Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: ADLS), today announced positive results from Trial CL-05, the second of two pivotal phase III clinical trials designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of cethromycin, a novel once-a-day oral antibiotic for the treatment of mild-to-moderate community acquired pneumonia (CAP), the sixth leading cause of death in the United States... Advanced Life Sciences's Press Release -

Pharmion's Amrubicin, Results Compared to Standard of Care in Second Line Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer

Nov. 9, 2007 - Pharmion Corporation (Nasdaq: PHRM) today released interim findings from its Phase 2 trial of Amrubicin in second-line chemo-sensitive small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Amrubicin, the company's third-generation synthetic anthracycline, is a potent topoisomerase II inhibitor currently in development for the treatment of SCLC.... Pharmion's Press Release -

MAP Pharmaceuticals, Phase 2a Clinical Trial of Combination Therapy in Adult Patients with Asthma

Oct 31, 2007 - ...MAP0005 is a combination of a corticosteroid and a long-acting beta2-agonist delivered to the respiratory tract using MAP Pharmaceuticals' Tempo(TM) inhaler. MAP0005 uses the Company's proprietary particle technology to combine the corticosteroid and beta-agonist components into a single drug particle in a fixed, pre-specified ratio. In addition, MAP Pharmaceuticals' technology allows for the particle structure to be specifically designed to target relevant areas in the lung and to release drug at a desired rate. MAP Pharmaceuticals believes that this approach may enable the reproducible and consistent administration of the two drugs in an optimal ratio simultaneously, and may provide improved safety and efficacy over currently available combination therapies for asthma and COPD... MAP Pharmaceuticals' Press Release -

Gilead and LG Life Sciences, Global License Agreement to Advance Novel Drug Candidates for Treatment of Fibrotic Diseases

Nov. 6, 2007- ...Caspases are cellular proteases involved in processes such as apoptosis (cell death) and inflammation. By inhibiting various caspases, it may be possible to slow or stop the progression of fibrosis in the liver for patients with chronic viral hepatitis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), as well as potentially in other fibrotic diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)... Gilead's Press Release - LG Life Sciences' Press Release -

Æterna Zentaris, Multi-Center Phase 2 Trial with Perifosine in Combination with Radiotherapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

November 14, 2007 - Æterna Zentaris Inc. (Nasdaq: AEZS TSX: AEZ;), a global biopharmaceutical company focused on endocrine therapy and oncology, announced the completion of patient recruitment for the Company’s European multi-center Phase 2 trial in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with its novel, first-in-class, oral signal transduction inhibitor, perifosine. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will assess the efficacy and safety of a 150 mg daily dose of perifosine when combined with radiotherapy in 160 patients with inoperable Stage III NSCLC... Æterna Zentaris' Press Release -

Alfacell's ONCONASE, Radiation Sensitizer for Lung Cancer Treatment

Oct. 30 , 2007 -... "ONCONASE significantly reduced the tumor hypertension that is the major physiological barrier of therapeutic delivery to solid tumors," said Dr. Lee. "As a result, ONCONASE increased tumor penetration and selectively increased tumor blood flow. This investigation suggests that ONCONASE may be a new and promising drug in the treatment of non-small cell lung carcinoma patients as a radiation therapy enhancer."... Alfacell's Press Release -

Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, NicVAX(R) , Significant Rates of Smoking Cessation and Continuous Long-Term Smoking Abstinence at 12 Months

Nov. 7, 2007 - ... NicVAX(R) is an innovative and proprietary investigational vaccine being developed by Nabi to treat nicotine addiction and prevent smoking relapse. NicVAX(R) is designed to stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies that bind to nicotine. A nicotine molecule attached to an antibody is too large to cross the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, NicVAX(R) blocks nicotine from reaching its receptors in the brain and prevents the highly-addictive pleasure sensation experienced by smokers and users of nicotine products... Nabi's Press Release -

Forbes Medi-Tech, Final Steps in Compound Selection for Asthma

Tue Oct 30, 2007 - Forbes Medi-Tech Inc. (TSX:FMI and NASDAQ:FMTI) announced that it has entered the final stages of compound selection for two of the most rapidly growing therapeutic indications, asthma and type 2 diabetes... Forbes Medi-Tech's Press Release -

Theravance, Initiation of Phase 2 Clinical Program with its MABA Compound in COPD

October 31, 2007 - Theravance, Inc. (NASDAQ: THRX) announced that GSK has initiated a Phase 2 clinical study of GSK961081, an investigational bifunctional muscarinic antagonist-beta₂ agonist compound for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)... Theravance's Press Release -