Monthly Archives: May 2012

Senesco’s SNS01 is a Potent Regulator of Programmed Cell Death and Tumor Growth in Murine Models of Multiple Myeloma

Posted: Published on May 25th, 2012

BRIDGEWATER, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Senesco Technologies, Inc. (Senesco or the Company) (NYSE MKT: SNT), announced today that the characteristics and activity of SNS01 have been released on-line in Molecular Therapy, the official journal of the American Society for Gene & Cell Therapy. The print version of the article is scheduled to be published during the summer. http://www.nature.com/mt/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/mt201294a.html SNS01 is an earlier formulation of Senescos therapeutic candidate SNS01-T, which is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1b/2a clinical study to treat patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, said Leslie J. Browne, Ph.D., President and CEO of Senesco. SNS01 helped us to establish the benefits of modulating the eIF5A pathway to selectively trigger programmed cell death in malignant B-cells and to develop a more potent and better tolerated version to take into clinical trials. The Company recently announced the oral presentation, entitled SNS01-T, an eIF5A-Based Gene Therapy Nanoparticle Designed for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma, has Anti-Tumoral Activity in Lymphoma, which described the effectiveness of SNS01-T in B-cell cancers. Research for both publications was performed in Senesco CSO John Thompsons research laboratory at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. About SNS01-T SNS01-T is a novel approach to cancer therapy that is … Continue reading →

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Researchers Discover Drug Destroys Human Cancer Stem Cells but Not Healthy Ones

Posted: Published on May 25th, 2012

Released: 5/16/2012 2:15 PM EDT Embargo expired: 5/24/2012 12:00 PM EDT Source: McMaster University Newswise Hamilton, ON (May 24, 2012) -- A team of scientists at McMaster University has discovered a drug, thioridazine, successfully kills cancer stem cells in the human while avoiding the toxic side-effects of conventional cancer treatments. The unusual aspect of our finding is the way this human-ready drug actually kills cancer stem cells; by changing them into cells that are non-cancerous, said Mick Bhatia, the principal investigator for the study and scientific director of McMasters Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. Unlike chemotherapy and radiation, thioridazine appears to have no effect on normal stem cells. The research, published today in the science journal CELL, holds the promise of a new strategy and discovery pipeline for the development of anticancer drugs in the treatment of various cancers. The research team has identified another dozen drugs that have good potential for the same response. For 15 years, some researchers have believed stem cells are the source of many cancers. In 1997, Canadian researchers first identified cancer stem cells in certain types of leukemia. Cancer stem cells have since been identified … Continue reading →

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McMaster University researchers discover drug destroys human cancer stem cells but not healthy ones

Posted: Published on May 25th, 2012

Public release date: 24-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Veronica McGuire vmcguir@mcmaster.ca 90-552-591-402-2169 McMaster University Hamilton, ON (May 24, 2012) -- A team of scientists at McMaster University has discovered a drug, thioridazine, successfully kills cancer stem cells in the human while avoiding the toxic side-effects of conventional cancer treatments. "The unusual aspect of our finding is the way this human-ready drug actually kills cancer stem cells; by changing them into cells that are non-cancerous," said Mick Bhatia, the principal investigator for the study and scientific director of McMaster's Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. Unlike chemotherapy and radiation, thioridazine appears to have no effect on normal stem cells. The research, published today in the science journal CELL, holds the promise of a new strategy and discovery pipeline for the development of anticancer drugs in the treatment of various cancers. The research team has identified another dozen drugs that have good potential for the same response. For 15 years, some researchers have believed stem cells are the source of many cancers. In 1997, Canadian researchers first identified cancer stem cells in certain types of leukemia. Cancer stem cells have since … Continue reading →

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McMaster University researchers discover drug that kills cancer stem cells

Posted: Published on May 25th, 2012

McMaster researchers have discovered an anti-psychotic drug kills cancer stem cells without the toxic side-effects of other treatments. Patients taking thioridazine for Parkinsons Disease and schizophrenia have 10 times fewer instances of cancer after being on the drug for a few years. Were connecting dots that we werent connecting before, said Dr. Mick Bhatia, principal investigator of the study and scientific director of McMasters Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute. Were excited we have something interesting, but were always nervous because we want to make sure it helps people. The impact of this will be determined if we can put some patients in remission and certainly thats my romantic goal. He expects a small number of Hamilton leukemia patients with no other treatment options will have access to the drug through a clinical trial within a year. Hes also hoping to set up a second trial at another Ontario cancer centre. Its not everyday you find a drug you can move into the clinic, said Bhatia. The only thing we can hope for is that what weve seen in the laboratory, were hoping will work in a patient. If it works, it could dramatically change cancer treatment. Thioridazine on its … Continue reading →

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Drug that kills cancer stem cells has safety concerns

Posted: Published on May 25th, 2012

An antipsychotic drug found by McMaster University researchers to kill cancer stem cells was pulled from the shelves by Health Canada years ago because of safety concerns. Thioridazine could dramatically change cancer treatment. The researchers recently discovered it reduced leukemia stem cells by 50 per cent in 24 hours in mice injected with primary human samples. We have certainly not seen any drug weve ever tested have that kind of potency, said Dr. Mick Bhatia, scientific director of McMasters Stem Cell and Cancer Research Institute and principal investigator of the study published Thursday in the science journal CELL. Thioridazine is also remarkable because its a smart drug that kills only cancer stem cells and appears to have no effect on normal cells. As a result, it avoids the toxic side-effects of conventional cancer treatments. Were excited we have something interesting, but were always nervous because we want to make sure it helps people, said Bhatia. The impact of this will be determined if we can put some patients in remission and certainly thats my romantic goal. But there are questions about the safety of the drug. Health Canada halted sales of Thioridazine in September 2005. It was pulled because it … Continue reading →

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Haggen adds 130 years of industry experience to its leadership team

Posted: Published on May 25th, 2012

BELLINGHAM, Wash., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Today Haggen announced four new hires and one promotion to its senior staff in order to help manage the emerging opportunities the company has found since the Northwest Fresh brand launched at its Bellevue, Washington store in November 2011. New hires include John Turley as Senior Vice President of Operations; Clement Stevens as Senior Vice President of Sales and Merchandising; Guy DiPasqua as Vice President of Pharmacy; Ronette Snyder as Vice President of Marketing; and Renee Glondo as the Director of Bakery. The additions come following Haggen's successful launch of its Northwest Fresh initiative built upon the brand pillars of community, homemade and delight. Combined, these new staff members bring over 130 years of retail experience to their respective positions and departments and will help strengthen the company's ability to meet the needs of customers as Northwest Fresh expands throughout Haggen's 28-store network. "We are excited to welcome these new additions to the Haggen family," said C.J. Gabriel, Jr. (Gabe), president and CEO of Haggen. "Each one brings unique experience and talent to the table and will be instrumental in continuing our mission to bring the best in quality and service to our customers … Continue reading →

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Smiles and cheers as drug court participants attain sobriety

Posted: Published on May 25th, 2012

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Angela Mardini of West Jordan holds her certificate of graduation as Third District Juvenile Court hosts a graduation ceremony at the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse on Wednesday, May 23, 2012, for 20 Drug Court participants of the Family Dependency Drug Court and the Delinquency Drug Court. Mardini, who was happy to get her two children back after a long and difficult journey, is now a peer counselor at Valley Mental Health. Drug Court graduates have completed substance abuse treatment services, frequent drug testing, and close monitoring by the court. After successfully completing the program, Family Dependency Drug Court participants are reunified with their children, while Delinquency Drug Court participants have their charges dismissed. Graduation 21 people successfully complete the program. Family and friends of 21 graduates of 3rd District drug court on Wednesday shared messages of hope and encouragement to others fighting to overcome addictions. The 21 six juveniles were honored at the Matheson Courthouse for successfully completing drug treatment. Each year, the Family Dependency Drug Court serves about 140 parents. The Juvenile Drug Court works with about 65 youth. About 60 percent of parents and juveniles who enter both drug courts successfully … Continue reading →

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Drugs can clear congestion without punishing prostate

Posted: Published on May 25th, 2012

Q. I control my symptoms of enlarged prostate with medication. The trouble with prostate problems is that you can't take decongestants with a cold, because they can make it hard to urinate. I usually rely on a vaporizer when I catch a cold, but with the last one I had horrible chest congestion. In desperation, I took Mucinex DM for the congestion, and then realized that I might be in for difficulties urinating. To my great surprise, I was able to urinate normally. In addition, I found that it opened my nasal passages. I'm so glad to have found something I can use for a cold. A. Decongestants can indeed cause urinary difficulty for men with enlarged prostates. Mucinex DM contains the expectorant guaifenesin and the cough suppressant dextromethorphan. These compounds are unlikely to cause prostate problems. Q. My wife took Lipitor to lower her cholesterol. When her legs began to hurt, she quit taking it. She still couldn't ride the mower, one of her pleasures. She was diagnosed with ALS and passed away less than a year later. I lost the most precious person in my life after 31 years of marriage. I am convinced that the drug she … Continue reading →

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Drugs likely involved in kidnappings – cops

Posted: Published on May 25th, 2012

POLICE believe drugs were behind a series of kidnappings in which alleged dealers drove their victims around Sydney at gunpoint forcing them to withdraw money. A couple alleged by police to be drug dealers in the local nightclub scene have been charged with three counts of kidnapping after a Sydney DJ and a couple were held hostage for several hours in two separate incidents. Police have found a "sophisticated replica" weapon which they believe was used in the alleged attacks. Police say the nightclub DJ was forced into the couple's vehicle in St Leonards last Friday and driven to several ATMs around the city. He was forced to hand over a large amount of cash before his friends noticed him missing and called the police. Police contacted the victim and he was released unharmed. During investigations into the kidnapping, police uncovered a second and third victim allegedly held by the pair in April. ``The partner of the victim was detained in what could be called a drug house in Surry Hills, whilst these transactions took place,'' Detective Superintendent Robert Critchlow told reporters in Sydney. Police say the couple were threatened and did not make any reports. They allege all three … Continue reading →

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Drugs may be OK’d faster – Fri, 25 May 2012 PST

Posted: Published on May 25th, 2012

May 25, 2012 in Nation/World Senate approves overhaul in FDA approvalprocess From Wire Reports An outline of the Senate bills key provisions. A14 WASHINGTON The Senate overwhelmingly approved legislation Thursday that would allow Americans speedier access to generic drugs as well as breakthrough treatments for life-threatening diseases as part of a Food and Drug Administration revamping that now heads to theHouse. The FDA bill includes routine financial provisions as well as new policies that supporters say could save lives by bringing new drugs and medical devices to the marketplace morequickly. The legislation would allow the continued collection of fees agreed to by brand-name drug and medical device manufacturers in addition to launching new fees on generic drug makers to fund FDA review and approval of productapplications. At the same time, the legislation would allow the FDA to create a breakthrough designation to speed the development of drugs that may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies for those with serious or life-threateningillness. The Senate bill, approved by a 96-1 vote, also addresses a number of concerns about the safety and quality of importedmedicines. The legislation represents a major shift in how the government oversees the pharmaceutical industry. For more than 70 … Continue reading →

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