Public release date: 1-Oct-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ] Contact: Wolfgang Sadee wolfgang.sadee@osumc.edu 614-292-1597 Ohio State University COLUMBUS, Ohio The discovery of genetic differences affecting up to a third of the population could take the guesswork out of prescribing the correct dose of 25 percent of drugs currently on the market, researchers say. The scientists found two genetic variants that alter the activity level of an enzyme responsible for processing, or metabolizing, drugs ranging from the painkiller codeine to the breast cancer drug tamoxifen. The Ohio State University researchers who found these differences say that pending additional research, the variants are good candidates for inclusion in an existing biomarker test that guides drug dosing. The current test is designed to determine the enzyme's activity level, or expression, to predict whether a patient will fall into one of four categories: poor, intermediate, extensive or ultra-rapid metabolizer. Metabolism speed affects how much medicine a patient needs. But there are limits to the existing test: The current biomarker panel is based on variants that have been associated with how patients respond to different doses of drugs. The researchers who found these previously unidentified variants, however, have determined the specific effects that the … Continue reading →

Genetic testing is a new and important field of medicine, making early detection and prevention of breast and ovarian cancer even more possible. Genetic testing can determine if a woman has the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 mutated genes, which put women at a much higher risk for breast and ovarian cancer. This year, 234,580 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. 40,030 will die from it. As it it, most insurance policies do not cover preventive genetic testing or even mammograms, and will fight hard not to. Women who earn at or below 200% of the poverty level could qualify for Medicaid, but whether they can get testing is sporadic. Genetic testing sometimes changes a course of action, says Pam Anderson, cancer services coordinator for the Georgia Department of Community Health. If a woman finds out she carries the mutated genes that put her at a higher risk for ovarian or breast cancer, she can be more aware of the situation she faces and it can make her doctor more aware of her risks. Testing can help them, together, to form a plan for prevention and early detection. She can also pass down that knowledge to her daughters so … Continue reading →

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading developer of innovative products that rapidly and effectively penetrate the mucosal barrier to treat ocular diseases, announced today that Guillaume Pfefer, Ph.D., Kalas President and Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to provide a corporate update at the 12th Annual BIO Investor Forum being held October 8-9, 2013 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, CA. Dr. Pfefers presentation will take place on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at 11:45 a.m. PT in the Marina room. About Kala Pharmaceuticals Kala Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is advancing innovative treatments for ocular diseases addressing significant unmet needs in both front and back of the eye based on the Companys proprietary Mucus Penetrating Particle (MPP) technology. Kalas topical ocular MPP formulations enhance penetration of diverse therapeutic agents into ocular tissue, including those in the back of the eye, by facilitating penetration through the mucus layer of tear film. Kalas product development pipeline includes: a 1% formulation of loteprednol etabonate (1% LE-MPP) to treat post-surgical ocular inflammation and pain, expected to enter a pivotal clinical study in 2014; a 0.25% LE-MPP formulation for dry eye, blepharitis, and retinal disease, expected to enter clinical trials in 2014, and a topically applied … Continue reading →

Courtesy of NanoDoc Citizen scientists will learn about nanomedicine and explore how nanovehicles can cooperate with each other and their environment to kill tumors. Best strategies will be considered for validation in vitro or in robotico. NanoDoc is a system where scientists can setup simulated tumor scenarios and players are then invited to design nanoparticles to attack the tumor. Various characteristics of the nanoparticles can be manipulated and strategies developed by utilizing players own intuition, the true source of crowdsourced research projects. Before any gaming can commence though, the players are first led through a training session that introduces them to concepts in nanomedicine and how the NanoDoc is to be used. Players then participate in creating new nanoparticles and the most promising candidates will end up being validated in: 1) in vitro tissue-on-a-chip constructs that we have designed to emulate the extravasation of functionalized nanoparticles from artificial vessels into a compartment containing tumor cells and 2) robotic swarm systems (kilobots) in collaboration with Radhika Nagpals lab from the Wyss Institute at Harvard University. In order to play, log in using a Google, Twitter or Facebook account. See more projects in Free, Data Processing, All Ages. Original post: NanoDoc … Continue reading →

OSAKA, Japan and COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Sept. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) and H. Lundbeck A/S (Lundbeck) jointly announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Brintellix (vortioxetine) for the treatment of adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), a debilitating mental health illness affecting approximately 14 million adult Americans in a given year.1 The mechanism of the antidepressant effect of Brintellix is not fully understood. It is an inhibitor of serotonin (5-HT) reuptake and that is thought to be a mechanism of its action. It is also an agonist at 5-HT1A receptors, a partial agonist at 5-HT1B receptors and an antagonist at 5-HT3, 5-HT1D and 5-HT7 receptors. The contribution of each of these activities to Brintellix's antidepressant effect has not been established. It is considered to be the first and only compound with this combination of pharmacodynamic activity. The clinical relevance of this is unknown. "MDD is a multifaceted disorder that encompasses emotional, physical and cognitive symptoms that may make it challenging to treat," said Michael Thase, M.D., professor of Psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "Because patients respond to treatments differently, it is important to have additional … Continue reading →

FRIDAY, Sept. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Sleep education for parents of children with autism helps improve the youngsters' behavior and quality of life, according to a new study. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by difficulties in social interactions and communications. Autism spectrum disorders encompass a wide range from mild to severe. For the study, researchers provided sleep education for the parents of 80 children, aged 2 to 10, with an autism spectrum disorder. During the sessions, the parents learned about daytime and evening habits that promote sleep, including the importance of increasing exercise, limiting caffeine, and lessening the use of video games and computers close to bedtime. In addition, sleep educators helped the parents create a visual schedule for their children to help them establish a bedtime routine and talked about ways to help kids get back to sleep if they woke up at night. "We found that one hour of one-on-one sleep education or four hours of group sleep education delivered to parents, combined with two brief follow-up phone calls, improved sleep as well as anxiety, attention, repetitive behavior and quality of life in children with [autism spectrum disorders] who had difficulty falling asleep," study author Dr. Beth … Continue reading →