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Taking a Break

(A. Kotok)

23 February 2016. Science & Enterprise is taking a break for the next 12 days, in order to recharge some batteries and do some photography. We’ll return to regular posting on Monday, 7 March.

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. . . → Read More: Taking a Break

Gene Editing Creates Pigs Resilient to African Virus

(Mutinka, Pixabay)

23 February 2016. University and industry researchers edited the genomes of domesticated pigs to create a variety better able to withstand a deadly tick-borne virus. The team from University of Edinburgh and the biotechnology companies Sangamo BioSciences and Genus plc published its findings in yesterday’s (22 February) issue of the journal . . . → Read More: Gene Editing Creates Pigs Resilient to African Virus

Breast Cancer Academic Research Program Launched

(National Cancer Institute)

23 February 2016. Breast Cancer Research Foundation in New York began a new initiative to attract more academic researchers to take part in clinical trials of cancer therapies. The group is starting its Drug Research Collaborative, with a $15 million contribution from drug maker Pfizer, that is also granting research . . . → Read More: Breast Cancer Academic Research Program Launched

Duchenne-Related Stem Cell Heart Therapy Trial Underway

(CIRM.gov)

22 February 2016. An early clinical trial testing a stem cell therapy for heart disease among individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy treated its first enrolled patient. The trial is conducted by Capricor Inc. in Los Angeles, developer of the treatments code-named CAP-1002, for cardiomyopathy or heart failure related to Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

. . . → Read More: Duchenne-Related Stem Cell Heart Therapy Trial Underway

Pain Medication Given FDA Breakthrough Tag

(DARPA.gov)

22 February 2016. A new drug to treat moderate to severe pain, now in clinical trials, received a breakthrough designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The drug, oliceridine, is made by Trevena Inc. in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Oliceridine addresses the same pain signals as opioid drugs that affect areas . . . → Read More: Pain Medication Given FDA Breakthrough Tag

FDA Approves New Epilepsy Drug

Brain wiring illustration (Courtesy, Human Connectome Project and NIH)

19 February 2016. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a molecular therapy for epilepsy designed to supplement treatments for partial-onset seizures. The drug is brivaracetam, marketed as Briviact by UCB, a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder where . . . → Read More: FDA Approves New Epilepsy Drug

Multiple Myeloma Gene Therapy Trial Underway

Multiple myeloma characterized by immature plasma cells (National Library of Medicine, NIH)

19 February 2016. The biotechnology company bluebird bio began testing its experimental gene therapy for multiple myeloma in an early-stage clinical trial. The Cambridge, Massachusetts company — which spells its name in all lower-case letters — is also licensing the technology . . . → Read More: Multiple Myeloma Gene Therapy Trial Underway

Bayer Funding Studies of Honey Bee Health, Management

(Jack Dykinga, Agricultural Research Service, USDA)

18 February 2016. Bayer Crop Science is seeking research ideas for improving the health of honey bee colonies in the U.S. Proposals for studies in the $1 million program addressing urgent needs highlighted by Bayer’s Healthy Hives 2020 initiative are due by 1 March 2016.

Bees, which . . . → Read More: Bayer Funding Studies of Honey Bee Health, Management

Antibody Treatment Designed for MERS Virus

(Challenge.gov)

18 February 2016. The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, or MERS virus, is spreading throughout the Middle East and Asia, largely through person-to-person contacts, and with a fatality rate of 36 percent. A research team at University of Maryland, with colleagues from industry and government labs, developed antibodies from genetically-engineered cattle that . . . → Read More: Antibody Treatment Designed for MERS Virus

Patch Finds Heart Problems After Holter Monitor Period

(PublicDomainPictures, Pixabay)

17 February 2016. A review of records of people wearing a single-use heart monitor patch found serious heart rhythm problems occurring well after the 48-hour period recommended for Holter monitors, the device used most often for ambulatory heart monitoring. Results of the study, conducted by researchers at Kaiser Permanente of Northern . . . → Read More: Patch Finds Heart Problems After Holter Monitor Period