Archive for the ‘Gene Therapy Research’ Category

SILVER SPRING, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Nuvilex, Inc. (OTCQB:NVLX), an emerging biotechnology provider of cell and gene therapy solutions, announced today Goldman Small Cap Research has reissued its buy recommendation on Nuvilex with a short term price target of $0.50 per share.

According to the research report prepared by Goldman, The current share price represents but a fraction of its true value, in our view. With recently increased interest and valuation in the pancreatic cancer treatment arena, we believe that Nuvilex is worth $0.20 just on the oncology therapies alone and that the shares will reach $0.50 in the next six months. Looking ahead, as milestone events occur, $1.00 per share is within reach over the next 12-18 months.

Goldman bases this value projection, in part, on the pending acquisition of SG Austria assets, and with it complete control over the cell encapsulation technology that forms the backbone of Nuvilexs planned biotechnology development. The report states in part the following:

Following execution of the SG Austria asset acquisition, we expect to see a flurry of events and progress on the development side which will serve as catalysts, including when management submits its protocol for the next stage pancreatic cancer trial. We would not be surprised to see the stock break through the $0.50 price on such news as well as progress on the next stage of trials for other therapies.

One reason we are so convinced of the great buying opportunity is the fact that pancreatic cancer treatments are currently at the forefront of the biotech space and are enjoying very high valuations. Although Nuvilex is a not a drug producer, but an existing therapy enhancer through the use of its live cell encapsulation enhancement platform, the timing of these milestone events could not be better for Nuvilex and a re-valuation of its offering.

The Goldman report also compares alternative oncology therapies, including Gemzar from Threshold Pharmaceuticals and Merrimack Pharmaceuticals drug encapsulation technology, noting that, contrary to these treatments, the Nuvilex live-cell encapsulation technology is not limited to one specific use, but can be adapted to use for a host of cell types. The report states, Its difficult to compare apples-to-apples in this space as Nuvilex is the only firm utilizing live-cell encapsulation therapy for cancer, while all the other treatments are based upon a particular drug usage. Contrasting the results of different Phase II clinical trials, the Goldman report comments that the pancreatic cancer therapy, based on completed Phase 1/2 data, appears to have yielded statistically greater results than competing technologies.

Commenting on The Goldman Report, Nuvilex Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Robert Ryan, stated, The report did an excellent job highlighting the value and capabilities of our cell encapsulation technology, not just for cancer therapy, but also for the vast array of treatments where live-cell encapsulation can aid multiple diseases. In the case of the completed cancer trials, it generated superior results with lower drug dosages, and reduced chemotherapeutic side effects. As we move forward with diabetes and stem cell therapy treatments, we are confident our success will, as Goldman predicts prompt leaders in multiple treatment segments to partner with Nuvilex in order to maintain their respective market shares.

Investors are recommended to study the Goldman Research Report for a detailed review and valuation methodology regarding Nuvilex.

About Nuvilex

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Nuvilex Reveals Goldman Small Cap Research Cites Groundbreaking Cancer Therapy in Updating Buy Recommendation

28-02-2012 14:48 Albert Rodriguez, MD administers stem cell therapy for Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia. stemcelldrR.com, email airpainmd@aol.com

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Stem Cell Therapy Procedure and Outcome - Video

28-02-2012 12:18 FREE STEM CELL BOOK! myjdimlm.com PUBLIC SERVICE VIDEO Home of JDI Multi Vitamin-Minerals with Stem Cell Nutrition Support Overcome the Aging Process. As we age, the body releases fewer and fewer adult stem cells which are the body's rebuilding tools. Stem cell nutrition helps overcome the aging process by promoting the release of additional adult stem cells in the body. This book contains over 70 different stories from doctors, everyday people, and even about how stem cell nutrition helps animals. Get this book FREE with your first purchase or when you become an active auto-ship member. Join us TODAY and start the Journey that will set you FREE!!! http Enhance your Stem Cells with JDI MultiVitamin with Stem Cell Nutrition Support utilizing... Vita-Stim™ Stem Cell Nutrition Vita-Stim is an all-natural patented supplement that helps to increase the release of adult stem cells or what are also known as progenitor cells noted below. It is not to be confused with any other product that has less than 750 mg. of active ingredient per capsule and could consist of merely fruit extracts and/or simply Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (AFA) extracts.

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PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Pall Corporation (NYSE: PLL), a global leader in filtration, separation and purification, today announced it has entered into an exclusive U.S. distribution agreement with leading animal health products provider MWI Veterinary Supply Co. As part of the agreement, MWI, through its SECUROS division, will market an innovative canine platelet enhancement therapy (C-PET) kit developed by Pall to treat dogs suffering from osteoarthritis as well as tendon and ligament injuries. The disposable system provides veterinarians a quick, portable and cost-effective solution for helping dogs realize long-term relief from these painful conditions.

Osteoarthritis, a major concern for owners of the more than 72 million pet dogs1 in the United States, is a chronic condition characterized by pain and stiffness in the joints. Approximately one in five adult dogs in the U.S.2 suffer from osteoarthritis. Common canine treatment methods can range from weight control and exercise to the administration of nutraceuticals and anti-inflammatory drugs. In an effort to treat the condition rather than just the symptoms, many veterinarians have begun offering alternatives like minimally-invasive cell therapy procedures. Typically offered in conjunction with some of the more traditional methods, cell therapy can help accelerate healing and lead to longer-term relief.

The SECUROS C-PET system relies on Pall’s unique filter-based technology to concentrate platelets and their associated growth factors – which enhance wound healing and induce tissue regeneration – from a small volume of a dog’s own blood. As easy to use in the field as in a clinic, the convenient C-PET system involves a simple process. It includes sedating the dog, drawing blood, filtering the blood, recovering the platelet concentrate, and delivering the cell therapy. In most instances, the C-PET process can be completed in 30 minutes or less.

Additionally, the SECUROS C-PET system does not require a centrifuge or power supply, a significant advantage over other platelet enrichment techniques. Methods that rely on centrifuges expose platelets to forces several thousand times the force of gravity. C-PET is the only platelet therapy method that uses filtration technology to gently capture and recover platelets. Another major benefit is that the C-PET procedure allows veterinarians to adjust the volume of blood used in the procedure to the size of the patient they are treating.

“Pall’s novel point-of-care cell harvesting and delivery method has been used to successfully treat tendinosis in horses,” says Dr. Jeffrey Schaffer, D.V.M., Director of Pall Animal Health. “In adapting this technology for dogs, we worked closely with MWI to identify veterinarians interested in evaluating the product by treating osteoarthritic dogs and using a questionnaire to assess improvement in lameness.3 Over 100 dogs were treated and the improvement in lameness was judged to be statistically significant in animals expected to worsen with this progressive degenerative joint disease.”

These results suggest that the SECUROS C-PET kit would not only provide a long-term, optimal solution for treating osteoarthritis, but also offer veterinarians a practical and safe application of this state-of-the-art procedure. Pall also funded a clinical trial of SECUROS C-PET, the results of which are to be presented at the Veterinary Orthopedic Society (VOS) conference on March 7 in Crested Butte, Colorado.

“We are excited about teaming with Pall on SECUROS C-PET,” says Jim Cleary, MWI President and CEO. “MWI and Pall share a similar commitment to innovation and Pall has an established history in cell therapy as well as the development of practical solutions that are primed for commercial success. With the SECUROS C-PET kit, we can provide veterinarians an easy-to-use and economical single-use disposable solution for treating osteoarthritis that they in turn can offer to clients as a value-added service.”

Added Byron Selman, President, Pall Medical: “MWI is a highly respected leader in its field. With its strong sales force and dedicated technical support team, we believe we have the ideal partner for maximizing the reach of this important innovation in the veterinary community.”

For more information on how to obtain a SECUROS C-PET kit, visit: http://www.securos.com.

About Pall Corporation

Pall Corporation (NYSE: PLL) is a filtration, separation and purification leader providing solutions to meet the critical fluid management needs of customers across the broad spectrum of life sciences and industry. Pall works with customers to advance health, safety and environmentally responsible technologies. The company’s engineered products enable process and product innovation and minimize emissions and waste. Pall Corporation, with total revenues of $2.7 billion for fiscal year 2011, is an S&P 500 company with almost 11,000 employees serving customers worldwide. Pall has been named a “top green company” by Newsweek magazine. To see how Pall is helping enable a greener, safer, more sustainable future, follow us on Twitter @PallCorporation or visit http://www.pall.com/green.

About MWI

MWI is a leading distributor of animal health products across the United States of America and United Kingdom. MWI sells both companion animal and production animal products including pharmaceuticals, vaccines, parasiticides, diagnostics, micro feed ingredients, supplies, pet food, capital equipment and nutritional products. MWI also is a leading innovator and provider of value-added services and technologies used by veterinarians and producers. For more information about MWI, please visit our website at http://www.mwivet.com.

1 U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook (2007 Edition). n.p., n.pag. Web. 9 Jan. 2012. ‹http://www.avma.org/reference/marketstats/sourcebook.asp›.

2 Fox SM, Millis D. Multimodal Management of Canine Osteoarthritis. Manson Publishing Ltd. 2010, p. 24.

3 Hudson et al. Am J Vet Res. 2004 Dec; 65(12):1634-43.

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MWI to Market Innovative Canine Platelet Therapy from Pall Under SECUROS Brand

Gene transfer between species is known as horizontal gene transfer (HGT) and up until recently has been considered a very rare event in plants and animals. In just the past few years, however, some microscopic organisms have been found to transfer genes to plants and even bacteria. Also, recently some parasites have been found to transfer their genes to humans. Now, a diverse research team has found evidence that bacteria found in the gut of the coffee berry borer beetle has transferred its genes to its host, though how exactly it might have done so is still a mystery.

In examining the beetle’s genes, the researchers found one in particular that really stood out, HhMAN1, both because it’s not one normally found in insects, and because its known to create a protein called mannanase that is able to break down one of the main ingredients in coffee beans. Interestingly, the team noted, HhMAN1 is commonly found in bacteria, which caused the team to suspect it had jumped from a gut bacteria. Making it even more of a possibility was the fact that the HhMAN1 gene was surrounded by transposons, genes that are known to be able to extract themselves from their host genome and paste themselves into the gene pool of another organism. The final bit of evidence was that in studying the genes of the beetle, it was noted that one section of the genome just looked more like that of a bacteria than an insect.

As most things in nature happen for a reason, it appears the gene transfer has benefitted the coffee berry borer beetle by allowing it to lay its eggs in coffee berries which grow into larva that can feed directly on the carbohydrates in them. The transfer has been so successful that the berry borer beetle is now responsible for half a billion dollars in coffee bean crop damage every year.

More information: Adaptive horizontal transfer of a bacterial gene to an invasive insect pest of coffee, PNAS, Published online before print February 27, 2012, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1121190109

Abstract
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) involves the nonsexual transmission of genetic material across species boundaries. Although often detected in prokaryotes, examples of HGT involving animals are relatively rare, and any evolutionary advantage conferred to the recipient is typically obscure. We identified a gene (HhMAN1) from the coffee berry borer beetle, Hypothenemus hampei, a devastating pest of coffee, which shows clear evidence of HGT from bacteria. HhMAN1 encodes a mannanase, representing a class of glycosyl hydrolases that has not previously been reported in insects. Recombinant HhMAN1 protein hydrolyzes coffee berry galactomannan, the major storage polysaccharide in this species and the presumed food of H. hampei. HhMAN1 was found to be widespread in a broad biogeographic survey of H. hampei accessions, indicating that the HGT event occurred before radiation of the insect from West Africa to Asia and South America. However, the gene was not detected in the closely related species H. obscurus (the tropical nut borer or “false berry borer”), which does not colonize coffee beans. Thus, HGT of HhMAN1 from bacteria represents a likely adaptation to a specific ecological niche and may have been promoted by intensive agricultural practices.

? 2011 PhysOrg.com

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Gene found to have jumped from gut bacteria to beetle

GIA announces the release of a comprehensive global report on the Genetic Testing market. The global market for Genetic Testing is forecast to reach US$2.2 billion by 2017. Increasing knowledge about the potential benefits in genetic testing is one of the prime reasons for the growth of the genetic testing market. Advancements in the genetic testing space, aging population and a subsequent rise in the number of chronic diseases, and increasing incidence of cancer cases are the other factors propelling growth in the genetic testing market.

San Jose, California (PRWEB) February 28, 2012

Follow us on LinkedIn – Genetic testing represents the most rapidly expanding segment of the molecular diagnostics market worldwide. Growing incidence of genetic diseases unravels new opportunities for genetic testing. The transformation of genetic testing from being a service-driven market to a product-driven market is expected to provide an impetus to the diagnostic companies for the expansion of their operations. The market for screening the newborns, diagnosing rare and fatal disorders, and predicting the probability of occurrence of diseases is likely to expand. Particularly, genetic tests to screen the newborns are expected to expand immensely over the coming years.

The US represents the largest market for genetic testing worldwide, as stated by the new market research report on Genetic Testing. Screening for genetic disorders continues to be of fundamental importance in view of the increasing awareness on the importance of prognostic and predictive screening, such as maternal screening. Among such tests, screening for genetic mutations within the CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Trans-Membrane Conductance Regulator) gene is the most frequently conducted test in the US.

Advancements in the genetic testing space are expected to aid in tailoring Personalized Medicine for specific targeted markets. Genetic testing not only identifies the finest cancer treatment for specific patients, but also permits physicians to find if some drugs are unsuitable for a section of patients, while they can be given freely to a majority of others. Genetic testing has also enabled the easy diagnosis of diseases, such as haemophilia, sickle cell anaemia, and cystic fibrosis, facilitating several patients in leading a normal life. Nevertheless, owing to the increasing incidence of cancer cases, cancer genetic testing is expected to register high growth, and would dominate the genetic testing market by 2017.

As each individual’s genetic structure differs, there is a need to develop a method that can be customized as per the individual needs. One of the major issues faced by the industry is the urgent need to employ standard regulations with regard to procedures employed during the genetic testing process. Lack of credible standard procedure has led to the fear among individuals regarding the authenticity of genetic reports. Genetic counseling services are on the rise, specifically in the US. Presently, there are around 2,780 certified genetic counselors operating in the United States.

Major players profiled in the report include Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Molecular Inc., Applied Biosystems Inc., AutoGenomics Inc., BioRad Laboratories, Celera Group, ELITech Group, PerkinElmer Inc., Quest Diagnostics Inc., Roche Diagnostics Corp., Roche Molecular Diagnostics Inc., Transgenomic Inc., among others.

The research report titled "Genetic Testing: A Global Strategic Business Report" announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc., provides a comprehensive review of the genetic testing market, current market trends, key growth drivers, new product innovations/launches, recent industry activity, and profiles of major/niche global market participants. The report provides annual sales estimates and projections for the global genetic testing market for the years 2007 through 2015 for the regions, including US, Canada, Japan, Europe, and Rest of World. The report also analyzes the US market for genetic testing by application type - Pharmacogenomic Testing, Prenatal and Newborn Genetic Testing, and Predictive Medicine. Also, a six-year (2003-2008) historic analysis is provided for additional market perspective.

For more details about this comprehensive market research report, please visit –

http://www.strategyr.com/Genetic_Testing_Market_Report.asp

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a leading publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company currently employs over 800 people worldwide. Annually, GIA publishes more than 1300 full-scale research reports and analyzes 40,000+ market and technology trends while monitoring more than 126,000 Companies worldwide. Serving over 9500 clients in 27 countries, GIA is recognized today, as one of the world's largest and reputed market research firms.

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Global Genetic Testing Market to Reach US$2.2 Billion by 2017, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

LONDON--(Marketwire -02/28/12)- Laboratories performing molecular or genetic diagnostic testing play a vital strategic role in the success of personalized medicine (PM), but are often the "forgotten" link, according to a new survey of 31 laboratories in five EU countries conducted by Labceutics, a division of Diaceutics, that provides value-enhancing laboratory networks and services for the PM industry.

"We wanted to better understand the barriers faced by laboratory leaders as they seek to partner with pharmaceutical companies in the development of companion diagnostic tests for PM," said Maria Fe Paz, Managing Director of Labceutics. "Laboratories' interest in early participation has important implications for the success of pharmaceutical companies' PM businesses."

Survey findings included:

Laboratories as PM stakeholders have been largely forgotten by pharmaceutical companies, which wrongly assume that diagnostic partners have sufficiently engaged laboratories; Unlike the US, Europe has a fragmented laboratory market with strong country personalities, therefore centralized approaches may be too disruptive; A decentralised laboratory strategy in Europe will enable a "high touch" service among laboratory managers or pathologists and physicians; One-size-fits-all laboratory testing plans or "kit" approaches will encounter slow uptake in Europe; Successful introduction of PM therapeutics and companion diagnostics must include early preplanning with laboratories.

"Labs are at the front line of implementing testing algorithms," said Ferdinand Hofstaedter, Professor of Pathology and Director of Institut Für Pathologie Der Universität Regensburg (Germany). "Our business planning must be done in concert with our competing pharmaceutical customers, so that everyone's marketing and financial goals are met."

Only a quarter of laboratories surveyed said they prefer to use an in vitro diagnostics (IVD) kit purchased from a diagnostic company to begin a new testing service. The remainder said they carefully review the test's business case before deciding on an approach, since so many diagnostics have low volumes in the initial three to five years.

The report will be published later this year. Representatives will be available to discuss it at TAT 2012, the International Congress on Targeted Anticancer Therapies, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, March 8-9, 2012.

Labceutics (www.labceutics.com) provides the pharmaceutical industry with a one-stop, value-enhancing laboratory service partner for high quality companion diagnostic testing for personalized medicine.

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Laboratories Essential to Success of Personalised Medicine, but Often Forgotten by Pharmaceutical Industry, According ...

SAN MARINO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Viral Genetics, Inc. (Pinksheets: VRAL.PK - News) today announced that Nathan Tinker, PhD, has joined the company’s list of industry-leading advisors. This represents the next step in the Company’s 2012 plan to reach out to potential industry partners in order to enhance corporate development and capital-raising capabilities.

Nathan Tinker, currently Executive Director of the New York Biotechnology Association (NYBA), has built his career in the life sciences and nano-sciences sectors. NYBA is a not-for-profit trade association promoting the development and growth of bioscience related industries and institutions in New York State. The organization promotes cooperation between academia and industry, and new and established companies, including making specialists from larger member companies available to offer assistance with early-stage ventures. Before joining NYBA, Nathan led the Sabin Vaccine Institute’s Cancer Vaccine Consortium and was a co-founder of the NanoBusiness Alliance (now the NanoBusiness Commercialization Association).

“We are very pleased to add Nathan as a corporate development advisor to our team where we believe he will add a great deal of value by focusing the marketing of both our drug and biofuel technologies to potential strategic partners,” said Haig Keledjian, President of Viral Genetics and VG Energy.

“Viral Genetics and VG Energy provide the strategic partnering marketplace with some of the most interesting science and technology opportunities that I have encountered in an emerging company. The two core technologies are exactly the types of assets that potential industry partners are seeking: they are platform technologies offering a number of potential product development opportunities in major markets and not just 'one-trick ponies;' the intellectual property securing them is well-established through a series of patents and patent applications; and they hold the promise of offering significant advances to their respective end-markets – novel mechanisms of disease treatment and advanced biofuels,” said Nathan Tinker.

About Viral Genetics, Inc.

San Marino, California-based Viral Genetics discovers drug therapies from two platform technologies based on over 60 patents: Metabolic Disruption (MDT) and Targeted Peptides (TPT). Founded in 1994, the biotech company is researching treatments for HIV/AIDS, Lyme Disease, Strep, Staph and drug resistant cancer. A majority-owned subsidiary, VG Energy (www.vgenergy.net), is dedicated to exploring biofuel and agricultural applications for the MDT platform. For more information, visit http://www.viralgenetics.com.

About VG Energy

VG Energy Inc. is an alternative energy and agricultural biotech company that is a majority-owned subsidiary of Viral Genetics Inc. Using its Metabolic Disruption Technology (MDT), Viral Genetics' cancer research led to discoveries with major consequences in a wide variety of other industries, including production of biofuel and vegetable oils. VG Energy holds the exclusive worldwide license to the MDT patent rights for use in the increase of production of various plant-derived oils from algae and seeds. Application of MDT technology to the biofuel industry could potentially allow it to overcome its major obstacle in the area of production efficiency: namely, an increase in production yields leading to feasible economic returns on investment, allowing renewable biodiesel to be competitive with fossil fuels. For more information, please visit http://www.vgenergy.net.

SAFE HARBOR FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties associated with financial projections, budgets, milestone timelines, clinical trials, regulatory approvals, and other risks described by Viral Genetics, Inc. from time to time in its periodic reports, including statements about its VG Energy, Inc. subsidiary. None of Viral Genetics' drug compounds are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or by any comparable regulatory agencies elsewhere in the world, nor are any non-pharmaceutical products of VG Energy, Inc. commercialized. While Viral Genetics believes that the forward-looking statements and underlying assumptions reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, including, but not limited to, the ability of Viral Genetics to establish the efficacy of any of its drug therapies in the treatment of any disease or health condition, the development of studies and strategies leading to commercialization of those drug compounds in the United States, the obtaining of funding required to carry out the development plan, the completion of studies and tests including clinical trials on time or at all, the successful outcome of such studies or tests, or the successful commercialization of VG Energy, Inc.’s non-pharmaceutical products. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by Viral Genetics or any other person that the objectives and plans of Viral Genetics will be achieved.

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Viral Genetics Inc. Adds Nathan Tinker to Corporate Development Advisory Board

GIA announces the release of a comprehensive global report on Gene Therapy markets. The global market for Gene Therapy is forecast to reach US$794 million by 2017. Key factors driving growth in the market include rising demand for new and effective therapies for cancer treatment, in addition to completion of human genome project, rising incidence and prevalence of cancers and other critical diseases, prospective launch of gene therapies in major global markets.

San Jose, California (PRWEB) February 28, 2012

Follow us on LinkedIn – Gene therapy embarks on rapid advancements in the area of novel drug research. In less than a couple of decades, gene therapy has witnessed significant advances. From conceptual stage, gene therapy progressed to the current clinical trials stage in various disease conditions. Gene Therapy holds a distinctive edge when compared to conventional methods such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, owing to the fact that they do not repress the immune system. Analysis reveals that gene therapy holds a great potential for treating several diseases, especially cancer. However, with failures of gene therapies continuing worldwide and regulatory authorities being stringent and watchful, and no drug approved until now in major markets like US and Europe, the global gene therapy market has significant ground to cover. Scientists, besides being actively involved in expanding the horizons in gene therapy by research and development, are simultaneously involved in patenting new technologies.

The most important advantage of gene therapy is elimination of chemotherapy, which is a dreaded procedure with several side effects. Another advantage of gene therapy is evasion of several side effects including hearing impairment and kidney damage resulting from platinum-induced chemotherapy. Gendicine is the first gene therapy medicine to be approved for treatment of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC), and is currently marketed in China. The drug developed by Shenzhen SiBiono Gene Technologies Co (SiBiono) Ltd., is also called as Recombinant Ad-p53 Anti-cancer Injection. The medicine is formulated with an adenoviral vector and p53 tumor suppressor gene and has emerged as a new treatment for HNSCC. Worldwide, there are about five drugs that have completed clinical trials and are awaiting clearance from the concerned regulatory authorities. These drugs include HGF DNA Plasmid from Sosei and Daiichi Sankyo. The drug investigated for treating peripheral vascular disease was filed for approval in Japan way back in 2008, and is yet to receive approval from the Japanese authorities.

Regulation of gene therapy needs to be harmonized on a global scale for promoting international exchange. This could be achieved by extensive circulation of information. With rapid advancements made in the field of gene therapy, the regulation norms tend to change as storehouse of knowledge increases. Somatic gene therapy encompasses a broad spectrum of therapeutic strategies and procedures; hence, the review process is being conducted in a phased manner. Currently under clinical trials, gene therapy is far from being stabilized. Steps need to be taken for regulation of gene therapy with respect to safety features. Development of gene therapy is hampered due to lack of efficiency and specificity of Gene Transfer Systems. High levels of uncertainty envelop technical, clinical, and commercial development of gene therapy.

Major players profiled in the report include AnGes MG Inc., BioSante Pharmaceuticals, GenVec, Oxford BioMedica, Shenzhen SiBiono GeneTech Co., Ltd, Transgene, Urigen Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Vical, Inc.

The research report titled “Gene Therapy: A Global Strategic Business Report” announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc., provides a comprehensive review of the gene therapy market, current market trends, key growth drivers, recent industry activity, and profiles of major/niche global market participants. The report provides annual sales estimates and projections for global gene therapy market for the years 2008 through 2017.

For more details about this comprehensive market research report, please visit –

http://www.strategyr.com/Gene_Therapy_Market_Report.asp

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a leading publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company currently employs over 800 people worldwide. Annually, GIA publishes more than 1300 full-scale research reports and analyzes 40,000+ market and technology trends while monitoring more than 126,000 Companies worldwide. Serving over 9500 clients in 27 countries, GIA is recognized today, as one of the world's largest and reputed market research firms.

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Telephone: 408-528-9966

Fax: 408-528-9977

Email: press(at)StrategyR(dot)com

Web Site: http://www.StrategyR.com/

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Global Gene Therapy Market to Reach US$794 Million by 2017, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:OPXA - News), a biotechnology company developing a novel T-cell therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS), today reported financial results for the year ended December 31, 2011 and provided an overview of corporate developments during the last year.

2011 highlights include:

Clinical and Regulatory Granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Tovaxin® for the treatment of patients with Secondary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (SPMS); Published the results of the Company’s prior Phase IIb TERMS clinical trial of Tovaxin in a leading peer-reviewed publication, Multiple Sclerosis Journal; Executed strategic agreements with the American Red Cross and the Blood Group Alliance, Inc. to streamline blood procurement for future clinical trials; and Met with Health Canada’s Biologics and Genetics Therapies Directorate as part of the process to secure approval for Opexa to conduct a portion of future clinical development in Canada. Operational Optimized the manufacturing process through the implementation of a functionally closed system and single cycle cGMP process; Advanced overall clinical plans for Tovaxin and clearly defined the study protocol for the planned Phase IIb clinical trial in SPMS; Increased employee headcount thereby strengthening our overall cell therapy expertise in preparation for the planned clinical trial in SPMS; and Designed and implemented a proprietary Web-based system to manage patient and product flow throughout future clinical studies. Financial Closed a financing of $8.5 million in gross proceeds through an underwritten public offering in February 2011.

“2011 was a very productive year for Opexa as we remained clearly focused on the preparations for our next clinical trial with Tovaxin,” commented Neil K. Warma, President and Chief Executive Officer of Opexa. “We made a firm decision, based on numerous conversations with key MS opinion leaders, clinicians, pharmaceutical companies, and the FDA to target Secondary Progressive MS. We remain on track to initiate the Phase IIb clinical trial in SPMS within a period of several months subject to securing the necessary resources. We are most pleased with our recruiting efforts as we have been able to hire numerous experts in cell therapy in the areas of manufacturing, quality assurance, quality control and R&D. It is our belief that Tovaxin could be the therapy of choice for many MS patients; and if we are able to demonstrate success, especially in SPMS patients, we will change the course of how MS is treated and will have built significant value in the company.”

“We ended the year with approximately $7.1 million in cash and cash equivalents. Our monthly cash burn during 2011 was approximately $470,000. As we prepare for and proceed toward the initiation of a Phase IIb clinical study in North America, we expect substantial increases in our monthly cash burn. Moving forward, in order to initiate the trial we will need to secure additional financing either through a potential partnership or additional capital raise, and this will be an important focus for us over the coming months,” commented Mr. Warma.

Year Ended December 31, 2011 Financial Results

Opexa reported no commercial revenues in the year ended December 31, 2011 or in the comparable prior-year period.

Research and development expenses were $3,340,038 for 2011, compared with $2,584,734 for 2010. The increase in expenses was primarily due to an increase in personnel, an increase in development fees, an increase in facilities costs and the initiation of key experiments in preparation for our next clinical trial, and was partially offset by a decrease in the engagement of consultants and a decrease in stock compensation expense. The increase in expenses compared to the prior year was also due in part to a one-time $244,479 credit received from the Internal Revenue Service during 2010 for the Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Grant for qualifying 2009 research and development expenses.

General and administrative expenses for 2011 were $2,406,269 compared with $2,216,043 for 2010. The increase in expense is due to an increase in business development costs, an increase in investor relations outreach, an increase in stock compensation expense and an increase in facilities costs, and was partially offset by a reduction in professional service fees.

Depreciation and amortization expenses for 2011 were $210,252 compared with $168,843 for 2010. The increase in expense is due to an increase in depreciation for facility build out costs incurred during 2011, an increase in depreciation for laboratory and manufacturing equipment acquired during 2011 and an increase in depreciation for information technology equipment acquired during 2011.

Interest expense was $3,135 for 2011, compared with $500,648 for 2010. The decrease in interest expense was primarily related to the non-cash amortization of the remaining discount and deferred financing fees in connection with the June 23, 2010 conversion to common stock of $1,250,000 in principal amount of convertible promissory notes.

Opexa reported a net loss for the year ended December 31, 2011 of $5,968,448, or $0.26 per share, compared with a net loss for the year ended December 31, 2010 of $5,469,067, or $0.32 per share. The increase in net loss is primarily due to the increases in research and development, general and administrative, and depreciation expenses, and was partially offset by a decrease in interest expense.

Cash and cash equivalents were $7,109,215 as of December 31, 2011 compared to $3,812,535 as of December 31, 2010.

For additional information please see Opexa’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed today with the SEC.

About Opexa

Opexa Therapeutics, Inc. is dedicated to the development of patient-specific cellular therapies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). The Company’s leading T-cell therapy is a personalized cellular immunotherapy treatment that is in late stage clinical development targeting both Secondary Progressive and Relapsing Remitting MS. The T-cell therapy is derived from T-cells isolated from peripheral blood, expanded ex vivo, and reintroduced into the patients via subcutaneous injections. This process triggers a potent immune response against specific subsets of autoreactive T-cells known to attack myelin and, thereby, reduces the risk of relapse over time.

For more information visit the Opexa Therapeutics website at http://www.opexatherapeutics.com.

Cautionary Statement Relating to Forward-Looking Information for the Purpose of "Safe Harbor" Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This press release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The words “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “may,” “could,” “intends,” “exploring,” “evaluating” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release which are not strictly historical statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the development of the Company’s product candidate, Tovaxin, constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, without limitation, risks associated with: our capital position, the ability of the Company to enter into and benefit from a partnering arrangement for the Company's product candidate, Tovaxin, on reasonably satisfactory terms (if at all), our dependence (if partnered) on the resources and abilities of any partner for the further development of Tovaxin, our ability to compete with larger, better financed pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, new approaches to the treatment of our targeted diseases, our expectation of incurring continued losses, our uncertainty of developing a marketable product, our ability to raise additional capital to continue our treatment development programs and to undertake and complete any further clinical studies for Tovaxin, the success of our clinical trials, the efficacy of Tovaxin for any particular indication, such as for relapsing remitting MS or secondary progressive MS, our ability to develop and commercialize products, our ability to obtain required regulatory approvals, our compliance with all Food and Drug Administration regulations, our ability to obtain, maintain and protect intellectual property rights (including for Tovaxin), the risk of litigation regarding our intellectual property rights, the success of third party development and commercialization efforts with respect to products covered by intellectual property rights that the Company may license or transfer, our limited manufacturing capabilities, our dependence on third-party manufacturers, our ability to hire and retain skilled personnel, our volatile stock price, and other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. We assume no obligation or undertaking to update any forward-looking statements to reflect any changes in expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. You should, however, review additional disclosures we make in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

OPEXA THERAPEUTICS, INC.

(a development stage company)

    Statements of Expenses Data:  

Twelve Months Ended

December 31,

2011   2010 Research and development $ 3,340,038 $ 2,584,734 General and administrative 2,406,269 2,216,043 Depreciation and amortization 210,252 168,843 Loss on disposal of assets   9,686     459   Operating loss (5,966,245 ) (4,970,079 )   Interest income 932 1,660 Interest expense   (3,135 )   (500,648 ) Net loss $ (5,968,448 ) $ (5,469,067 )   Basic and diluted loss per share $ (0.26 ) $ (0.32 )   Weighted average shares outstanding 22,532,498 17,071,691         Selected Balance Sheet Data: 2011 2010 Cash and cash equivalents $ 7,109,215 $ 3,812,535 Other current assets 124,773 85,525 Fixed assets, net 1,029,236 815,958 Total assets 8,263,224 4,714,018 Total current liabilities 1,067,860 745,305 Total long term liabilities - - Total stockholders' equity 7,195,364 3,968,713

See the article here:
Opexa Therapeutics Reports Year End 2011 Financial Results and Provides Corporate Update

GIA announces the release of a comprehensive global report on Gene Amplification Technologies market. The global market for Gene Amplification Technologies is forecast to reach US$2.2 billion by the year 2017. The gene amplification technologies market received a significant impetus in the wake of the successful completion of the Human Genome Project, which continues to be a growth factor in addition to development of molecular diagnostics. With significant role in the area of diagnostics, factors such as aging population and increasing prevalence of age-related diseases are driving the gene amplification technologies market worldwide.

San Jose, California (PRWEB) February 27, 2012

Follow us on LinkedIn – Gene Amplification Technology addresses applications, such as molecular biology research, gene therapy, drug discovery, forensic identification and diagnosis, and is one of the rapidly growing markets in the area of life sciences. Molecular diagnostics and the Human Genome Project (HGP) have been the major growth drivers for gene amplification technology over the years. The industry continues to be affected with issues such as patent expiry, and competitive advantages associated with the existing and emerging technologies. Aging population, and the increasing incidence and prevalence of age-related diseases press the need for new diagnostics. Genetic testing is one such solution that makes use of gene amplification technology, which bodes the potential larger role that gene amplification technology could play in the area of diagnostics. With the growing improvements in the diagnostics market, DNA diagnostic technologies are set to achieve superior efficiencies and improved activity in numerous application areas, including healthcare, biomedical research, toxicology, bioremediation, forensics and personnel identification, environmental monitoring, quality control in the food industry, animal husbandry, and agriculture.

Polymerase Chain Reaction represents a major technique in the gene amplification space, with substantial penetration in the market. The market has been witnessing significant growth rate over the years, and has successfully weathered the recent economic downturn posting accelerated growth even during the period. Continued growth in the market, despite the external pressure, bodes well for the future growth of this technology in terms of market opportunities. Growth in the PCR market is, however, threatened in the wake of increasing application and the development of alternative technologies. Some of the alternative technologies existing in the market include Strand Displacement Amplification (SDA) and Ligase Chain Reaction (LCR). Growth in the PCR market, in the foreseeable future, is projected to be mainly driven by qPCR technique, closely followed by RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription PCR). Fuelled by the introduction of novel PCR instruments for the detection of several critical diseases, PCR continues to dominate the gene therapy market. Qualitative PCR is used for applications, such as monitoring gene expression levels and viral load. Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) is a powerful tool for gene expression analysis because of its sensitivity, speed, ease of use, and versatility.

Burgeoning demand for molecular diagnostics in clinical settings is expected to drive the miniaturization of DNA-amplification technologies. Popularly known as DNA-amplification-on-a-chip, the technology encompasses a microfluidic device with sensors, heating aids, and a reaction container. Being portable, the device can be used in a doctor’s clinic or at a patient bedside. The technology is still in development and many companies are actively conducting research to develop a final solution/process for commercial use.

Global market for gene amplification technologies is led by the US, which is also the fastest growing market worldwide, as stated by the new market research report on Gene Amplification Technologies. Segment wise, PCR continues to dominate the gene therapy market, supported by roll out of several novel PCR instruments used for detecting most critical diseases. PCR allows amplification of genetic material in large quantities, and also enables the diagnosis of widespread diseases such as HIV. However, growth in the gene amplification technologies market would be driven by other gene amplification technologies, which are forecast to display stronger growth worldwide.

Major players profiled in the report include Abbott Laboratories; Becton, Dickinson and Company; bioMérieux; Bio-Rad Laboratories; Cepheid; Life Technologies Corporation; QIAGEN N.V; Roche Diagnostics; Rubicon Genomics; and Takara Bio, Inc.

The research report titled "Gene Amplification Technologies: A Global Strategic Business Report" announced by Global Industry Analysts Inc., provides a comprehensive review of the gene amplification technologies market, current market trends, key growth drivers, new product innovations/launches, recent industry activity, and profiles of major/niche global market participants. The report provides annual sales estimates and projections for the global gene amplification technologies market for the years 2009 through 2017. The study also provides historic data for an insight into market evolution over the period 2003 through 2008.

For more details about this comprehensive market research report, please visit –

http://www.strategyr.com/Gene_Amplification_Technologies_Market_Report.asp

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a leading publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company currently employs over 800 people worldwide. Annually, GIA publishes more than 1300 full-scale research reports and analyzes 40,000+ market and technology trends while monitoring more than 126,000 Companies worldwide. Serving over 9500 clients in 27 countries, GIA is recognized today, as one of the world's largest and reputed market research firms.

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Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

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Global Gene Amplification Technologies Market to Reach US$2.2 Billion by 2017, According to New Report by Global ...

An insect that plagues coffee plants likely got its bean-digesting gene from a bacterium.

Horizontal or lateral gene transfers—the swap of genetic material between different species—are relatively rare in animals and, when they are identified, they frequently have unknown ecological significance. Research published online today (February 27) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that a coffee-devouring insect pest has a bacterial gene embedded in its DNA that encodes a coffee-digesting protein.

“What’s novel in this case is a bacterial gene going into the insect that actually allows the insect to feed off of a new food source,” said Julie Dunning Hotopp, a genomicist who studies lateral gene transfer at the University of Maryland and was not involved in the research. “It’s a gene that’s been transferred and it’s functional.”

Coffee berry borer beetle (Hypothenemus hampei) is an insect pest that feeds on coffee beans, causing industry losses of around $500 million each year and affecting more than 17 million coffee-farming families. A few years ago, a group of researchers at Cenicafé, Colombia’s National Center for Coffee Research, contacted Jocelyn Rose, a plant biologist at Cornell University, to study what proteins are secreted by the pest that allow it to digest coffee.

Screening the insect’s gut for digestive enzymes, Rose identified a protein similar to mannanase, an enzyme found across kingdoms that can break down coffee-specific sugars. But “there are no mannanase genes in insects,” Rose said. “What was remarkable is that, when we looked at the gene sequence, it looked like a bacterial sequence.”

Despite its sequence similarity to bacterial genes, the gene did show some hallmarks of eukaryotes, such as the addition of a poly-A tail on the resulting RNA and the loss of the Shine-Delgarno sequence, a prokaryotic-specific sequence found upstream of the gene. The researchers confirmed that the gene was not present due to gut bacteria contamination by carefully sequencing the regions on either side of the gene. The flanking areas were eukaryotic transposons, pieces of DNA that can jump around the genome, not bacterial sequences, indicating the sequence wasn’t from a bacterium living in the gut.

If the gene did indeed come from a bacterium, it would mark one of only a few cases of lateral gene transfer in animals.

Rose and his team also sequenced this same region of the genome in coffee berry borers collected from 16 countries, and found that the gene was present in all of them, suggesting that the gene acquisition preceded its invasion as a pest. He then harvested the enzyme from the beetle’s gut to show that it could, in fact, break down coffee beans. In contrast, the gut enzymes and proteins from closely related beetle species could not digest the coffee, suggesting they did not carry the mannanase or related genes.

But how the borer beetles acquired the gene is unclear. The presence of flanking transposons could be one explanation, Rose noted. However, “a lot of DNA is composed of transposons, so [a gene is] more likely to be [inserted] adjacent to a transposon” just by chance, Dunning Hotopp said. Plus, gene insertion into transposon-heavy DNA regions is less likely to “disrupt a gene needed by the organism,” she added, preventing its quick elimination by natural selection.

Regardless of the mechanism, the evidence for both lateral gene transfer and ecological significance are compelling, said Patrick Keeling, a molecular evolutionary biologist at the University of British Columbia who did not participate in the study. However, “the distribution of an enzyme like this is critical to understanding any ecological implications.” Because few insect genomes are sequenced, scientists simply don’t know how widespread the enzyme is. If as more insect genomes are sequenced, the gene starts “popping up all over the place, this could get more complicated, maybe in a really interesting way,” he added.

R. Acuña et al., “Adaptive horizontal transfer of a bacterial gene to an invasive insect pest of coffee,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, doi: 10.1073/pnas.1121190109, 2012.

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Coffee Pest Gene Transfer

The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, headquartered in Trieste, Italy, is facing its first budget cut in 25 years.

ICGEB

An international biotechnology research centre is facing lay-offs and equipment shortages following budget cuts by Italy, one of its main funders.

The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) was set up in 1987 by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to advance research and training in biomedicine and plant biotechnology for the developing world. The centre is now an autonomous, intergovernmental organization in the UN system. It has 61 member states, many of which are developing countries, and employs more than 500 scientists at campuses in Trieste, Italy; New Delhi; and Cape Town, South Africa. The Italian site focuses on biomedicine and molecular biology, the Indian one on virology, immunology and plant biotechnology, and the South African campus on infectious diseases and cancer.

Marc Van Montagu, founder of the Institute of Plant Biotechnology for Developing Countries in Ghent, Belgium, and a scientific advisor to the ICGEB, says that the UN centre has an important role in international development. “The time of giving aid money to developing countries should come to an end; the ICGEB teaches these countries how to have access to their own agricultural resources,” he says. 

The governments of the countries that host the research campuses together cover 95% of the nearly €17-million (US$22.8-million) core budget. But this year, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is cutting €2 million from its €12.4-million contribution, as part of a multi-billion-euro package of austerity measures approved by the Italian parliament last November.

“This is the first time we have suffered cuts in 25 years,” says Francisco Baralle, a molecular biologist and director-general of the ICGEB. “Some personnel reduction will be necessary in Trieste and New Delhi.” The Cape Town campus has a separate budget provided by the South African government, and won’t be affected by the funding squeeze.

“No member state seems prepared to take over from Italy.”

Austerity measures

The cuts will be distributed equally between the Italian and Indian sites, which will have to lay off some of the 171 staffers who are paid from the core budget. The ICGEB has already asked for voluntary resignations, with a non-voluntary phase to follow if necessary.

Pierre Chambon, founder of the Institute for Genetics and Cellular and Molecular Biology in Strasbourg, France, and a former scientific adviser to the ICGEB, says that the Trieste campus is “one of the best research centres in Italy, but these cuts will hit it hard”.

Fabian Feiguin, a neurobiologist and group leader at the Trieste site, is worried. “These measures will affect the number and length of fellowships, and are already affecting equipment affordability,” he says.

The New Delhi campus is facing further problems. Its budget is already too small to cover electricity and maintenance expenses, says Baralle; researchers must seek authorization to perform experiments at night not only for security reasons, but also to reduce electricity costs.

In a statement to Nature, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Italy is asking for more cooperation from other member states. “We are supporting the ICGEB mainly on a voluntary basis and will continue to do so, but it is desirable to reach a new equilibrium among donors,” it said. Italy is also urging member states that are behind with their dues to pay up.

Baralle hopes to mitigate the effects of the cuts by expanding the centre’s non-core budget, which currently makes up 30% of the total and comes from external research grants. But, warns Chambon, “it’s not easy to cover such a sum with extra grants”.

The ICGEB will also ask other member countries to increase their contributions. However, Van Montagu fears that it will prove difficult to get more money. “No member state seems prepared to take over from Italy,” he says.

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Budget cuts force lay-offs at UN biotechnology centre

There is a tremendous opportunity in genetic medicine for innovation and for new players to make significant contributions, because it is still experimental, noted biologist and Nobel Laureate Dr David Baltimore said yesterday.
“Today, it is mainly the province of biotechnology companies and universities, not big pharmaceutical companies,” he observed in a keynote presentation at the Qatar International Conference on Stem Cell Science and Policy 2012.
There are new genetic tools available – though they are still experimental - to treat diseases which involve adding, subtracting or modifying genes in the cells of the body.
“However, they are powerful tools and I am confident they will be an important part of the medicine of the future,” he said.
Speaking on ‘The hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) as a target for therapy against cancer and Aids,’ Dr Baltimore explained that HSCs are one of the few cell types routinely used for bone marrow transplant.
The HSCs are easily accessible, retroviruses can be used to carry genes into these stem cells, the genes are then expressed in all of cells that derive from the HSC and can correct inherited defects and bring genes that perform therapy under a programme called engineering immunity.
“Though the human immune system is a wondrous creation of evolution yet it is not without certain limitations. One, in particular, is its poor ability to stop the growth of cancer cells– another is its hosting of HIV.
“In the case of cancer, the machinery of immunity can attack cancers but it rarely attacks with the necessary power. For HIV, the ability of the virus to use the CD4 and CCR5 proteins as receptors means that CD4 cells are the major cell type in which the virus grows.
“We have been trying to supply genes to the immune system by gene transfer methods that would improve its ability to block cancer and block infection of CD4 cells by HIV.
“For cancer, we have focused on T cell receptor genes. For HIV, we have used a small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) targeted to CCR5. We have been quite successful in mice with both strategies and are now moving to humans.
“In both cases, our experiments with mice have focused on putting genes into HSCs as, once these cells are altered, they provide modified blood cells to the body for life.
“In our human cancer trials we first used peripheral T cells for modification with dramatic effect but it has been transient.
“We are now moving to stem cells. For the siRNA against CCR5, we plan to initiate trials within six months using autologous, gene-modified stem cells,” he added.
The ensuing panel discussion on ‘Opportunities and challenges for stem cell research,’ saw Prof Irving Weissman (Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine) cautioning against ‘phoney organisations engaged in stem cell therapy.’
Prof Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte (Salk Institute for Biological Studies, US) stated that stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood should be considered as one of the key cells for use in regenerative medicine.
The session also featured Dr Alan Trounson (California Institute of Regenerative Medicine), Prof Roger Pedersen (The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge), Dr Lawrence Corey (University of Washington) and with Dr Richard Klausner (managing partner of biotechnology venture capital firm The Column Group) as moderator.
Earlier, Ambassador Edward P Djerejian (founding director, James A Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, US) spoke about the collaboration with Qatar Foundation on stem cell research.

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‘Scope for innovation in genetic medicine’

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -02/27/12)- Advances in cancer screening and treatment has caused the death rate from cancer to drop dramatically in recent years. Cancer death rates dropped by 1.8 percent per year in men and 1.6 percent per year in women between 2004 and 2008, according to the American Cancer Society's annual report on cancer statistics. Five Star Equities examines the outlook for companies in the Biotechnology industry and provides equity research on Exelixis Inc. (NASDAQ: EXEL - News) and Seattle Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ: SGEN - News). Access to the full company reports can be found at:

http://www.fivestarequities.com/EXEL

http://www.fivestarequities.com/SGEN

Death rates fell in all four of the most common cancers, lung, colon, breast and prostate, with lung cancer accounting for nearly 40 percent of the total drop in men and breast cancer account for 34 percent of the total decline in women, the American Cancer Society report finds.

The U.S. FDA has been approving cancer drugs at a faster rate than its European counterpart (the EMA), Friends of Cancer Research reports. Between 2003 and 2010, the FDA not only approved more new cancer drugs than did the EMA, it approved these drugs more quickly: of 23 drugs approved by both agencies, the median time from marketing submission to FDA approval was 182 days vs. EMA approval of 350 days according to the report.

Five Star Equities releases regular market updates on the biotechnology industry so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Take a few minutes to register with us free at http://www.fivestarequities.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Seattle Genetics, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company, focuses on the development and commercialization of monoclonal antibody-based therapies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases in the United States. Earlier this month the company reported fourth quarter net loss for 2011 was $27.2 million, or a loss of 24 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $34.5 million, or a loss 34 cents per share, for the same period in 2010.

Exelixis' lead compound, cabozantinib, was recently highlighted in a new peer-reviewed publication "demonstrating that simultaneous inhibition of MET and VEGF signaling reduces tumor invasiveness and metastasis in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer," the company announced in a press release.

Five Star Equities provides Market Research focused on equities that offer growth opportunities, value, and strong potential return. We strive to provide the most up-to-date market activities. We constantly create research reports and newsletters for our members. Five Star Equities has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned companies. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at:

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Cancer Treatments Evolve - Exelixis and Seattle Genetics Look to Lead

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) may sometimes have a genetic component, a team of German researchers reports.

DNA analysis from a small group of infants who succumbed to SIDS revealed that many of the male children carried a particular enzyme mutation that may have impaired their ability to breath properly. This was not the case for female SIDS patients.

Study author Dr. Michael Klintschar, director of the Institute for Legal Medicine at Medical University Hannover in Germany, said his team tried to build upon previous research suggesting that "abnormalities in the brain stem, the part of the brain that regulates breathing and other basic functions, lead to SIDS."

"The reasons for these abnormalities are unclear," he noted, "but some scientists believe that the genes inherited by the parents might be one of several factors."

Klintschar and his colleagues found indications that SIDS risk might be higher among male infants who carry a mutation of an enzyme -- called MAOA -- that appears to impede key neurotransmitter function.

"Babies that have this variant inherited might have an impaired breathing regulation," he said. "But the risk conveyed by this gene variant is relatively small compared to other factors, like sleeping position (or exposure to) smoking. Moreover, the findings have to be replicated in another population sample."

The study appears online and in the March issue of Pediatrics.

The authors noted that SIDS is one of the great mysteries in pediatric medicine, with efforts to pin down the root cause for the sudden loss of children under the age of 1 year falling short of a definitive answer.

The new study focused on 156 white infants (99 boys and 57 girls) who were born in the Lower Saxony region of Germany and died while sleeping.

The deaths took place between the second and the 51st week of life, and all remained "unexplained" despite full autopsies, clinical history reviews and analyses of the circumstances of death.

DNA samples were taken from all the deceased, as well as from another 260 male adults between the ages of 18 and 30.

The result: MAOA mutations were more commonly found among male SIDS children than among their healthy male counterparts. This did not hold true with female SIDS children.

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Gene may be culprit in SIDS for boys

Ogden • By the time Camilla Black Grondahl became pregnant with her second child in 2010, she had already watched two older sisters bury sons who were born with a congenital affliction that gave them the appearance of “little old men.” Various health problems made their survival impossible.

The young mother did not know whether she, too, could pass the condition to her unborn son. But a Utah researcher, who had been sequencing her family’s genes, did know.

Gholson Lyon’s research team had detected a mutation in her genome that gave any boy she conceived a 50-50 chance of sharing the heartbreaking fate of his cousins and two uncles.

“My jaw dropped open. Who would have thought that another mother would get pregnant during this research and it would be a boy?” said Lyon, then a professor of psychiatry leading the University of Utah’s genetic research into the disease.

He found himself in an ethical quandary that is bound to become more common in biomedical research. As technology advances and costs come down, gene sequencing is becoming routine — yet no system is in place to alert study volunteers about results that could have crucial bearing on their health.

Lyon is a physician, but he was not comfortable with warning the Grondahl family. He was not Camilla Grondahl’s doctor. And the gene sequencing, like almost all testing done for biomedical research, was not done in a clinically certified manner.

What if the data were wrong and the young woman terminated her pregnancy?

Nor was he comfortable not sharing the results with the family, who had welcomed him into their home.

Story continues below

Last February, the Grondahls’ son Max was born with the telltale signs of the then-unknown disease: wrinkled skin, hernias and facial deformities. By the time “our valiant hero,” as his parents called Max, died four months later, U. researchers had a name for the disease: Ogden syndrome.

In a commentary published this week in the top-shelf science journal Nature, Lyon describes the ethical dilemma that he and other genetic researchers face when they find genes with medical consequences for those they are studying.

“At the moment, human-genetics researchers operate in a totally unregulated environment, following their own protocols to obtain, store, track and analyze DNA — creating many opportunities for error,” Lyon wrote. “But when the result can mean the difference between life and death, mistakes are not an option.”

He proposes requiring that all sequencing of human genes follow strict federal guidelines known as Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, or CLIA. The move would add physicians to each study, who would order certified testing and ensure volunteers received genetic counseling to explain the results.

“In this way, when participants want to know what we know, we will feel confident that what we tell them is correct,” wrote Lyon, now a research scientist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Next month, he is moving to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a leading genetics research institution on Long Island.

But Lyon concedes there are no simple answers, although he believes his proposal could save society money in the long run since the resulting information could prevent disease in some cases and improve treatment outcomes in others. And sequencing DNA in centralized certified-facilities could be less costly, thanks to economies of scale, and avoid unnecessary duplication of sequencing.

But if all laboratories that might make discoveries related to volunteers’ health were required to be CLIA-certified, research costs could be driven up, said Lynn Jorde, the chairman of the U.’s human genetics department and the past president of the American Society of Human Genetics.

“It would cost a great deal of extra money,” Jorde said, “at a time when research funding is rapidly vanishing.”

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Ogden family at center of ethics debate in genetics research

Public release date: 26-Feb-2012
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Contact: Aileen Sheehy
press.office@sanger.ac.uk
44-122-349-6928
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute

Researchers have identified an elusive gene responsible for Thrombocytopenia with Absent Radii (TAR), a rare inherited blood and skeletal disorder. As a result, this research is now being transformed into a medical test that allows prenatal diagnosis and genetic counselling in affected families.

The team used genetic sequencing to discover that TAR results from low levels of the protein called Y14. They found that the syndrome occurs by a unique inherited mechanism.

Platelets are the second most abundant cell in the blood. Their main task is to survey the blood vessel wall for damage and to plug and repair it where required. Some people are born with low numbers of platelets and these rare conditions are thought to be inherited. TAR syndrome combines the unique features of low platelet count and prominent bleeding, especially in infancy, and skeletal abnormalities affecting the upper limb ranging from absence of the radial bone in the forearm to virtually total absence of upper limb. The genetic basis of TAR syndrome has eluded researchers for 50 years.

"Without the use of modern genomics technologies, the discovery of this unexpected mechanism of disease inheritance would have been much more difficult", said Dr Cornelis Albers, from the Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge. "To achieve our latest findings, we deciphered about 40 million letters of genetic code in five patients."

Many people with TAR were known to have a deletion in one copy of chromosome 1, but this was thought not to be the whole story because parents who carry the same deletion are not suffering from TAR: other variants had to be involved. The team sequenced the genomes of people affected by the disorder who also carried the deletion and discovered that the vast majority of them had one of two variants of a gene called RBM8A. They found that when the genetic deletion and one of the variants are co-inherited by a child, TAR results.

RBM8A controls the production of the protein Y14. They found that the combination of the genetic deletion of one copy of the RBM8A gene and the variants on the other copy greatly reduces the level of Y14. The team concluded that it is low levels of Y14 that affect platelet formation and cause TAR disorder.

"The lack of production of adequate amounts of the protein Y14 in TAR patients only seems to effect the formation of platelets but not of other blood cells." said Dr Cedric Ghevaert from the University of Cambridge. "We have shed some light on how some inherited disorders can present with such striking features associating seemingly unconnected characteristics such as skeletal and blood defects"

This is the first human disorder identified to be caused by a presumed defect of the Exon Junction Complex, part of the cellular machinery that contributes to producing messages that direct protein production. This study opens the path that could lead to the identification of the genetic basis of other similar inherited syndromes, which will help improvements in diagnosis, genetic counselling and patient care in the NHS and beyond.

"The discovery of the gene for TAR will make it simpler to diagnose more accurately future cases with a simple DNA test. This new test is currently being developed for the NHS as part of the international ThromboGenomics initiative led by Professor Ouwehand" commented Dr Ruth Newbury-Ecob, Honorary Reader in Medical Genetics and Consultant in Clinical Genetics at the University of Bristol Hospitals.

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Notes to Editors

The findings were made following a collaborative study by the NHS Blood and Transplant platelet research team at the University of Cambridge and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, which is led by Dr Cedric Ghevaert and Professor Willem Ouwehand. The Cambridge researchers joined forces with Dr Ruth Newbury-Ecob from the University of Bristol and worked together with various other European research partners from Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

Publication

Nature Genetics website, 26 February 2012
Albers et al 'Compound inheritance of a low-frequency regulatory SNP and a rare null mutation in exon-junction complex subunit RBM8A causes TAR syndrome' DOI 10.1038/ng.1083

Funding

The platelet research team in Cambridge is supported by the British Heart Foundation, the European Commission, the National Institute for Health Research for England (NIHR), NHS Blood and Transplant and the Wellcome Trust.

Dr Cedric Ghevaert and Prof Willem Ouwehand are also consultant Haematologists for NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT). NHSBT collects blood and platelets from non-remunerated volunteer donors. Every day about 8,000 units of blood are needed by the NHS and 1100 platelet concentrates. For the latter about 600 donors attend a special clinic at which platelets are harvested from the blood of the donor by a process called apheresis.

The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) http://www.nihr.ac.uk) is the major governmental fund provider for clinical translational research in the NHS. The mission of the NIHR is to maintain a health research system in which the NHS supports outstanding individuals, working in world-class facilities, conducting leading-edge research, focussed on the needs of patients and the public.

The Wellcome Trust is a global charity dedicated to achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health. It supports the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities. The Trust's breadth of support includes public engagement, education and the application of research to improve health. It is independent of both political and commercial interests. http://www.wellcome.ac.uk

The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, which receives the majority of its funding from the Wellcome Trust, was founded in 1992. The Institute is responsible for the completion of the sequence of approximately one-third of the human genome as well as genomes of model organisms and more than 90 pathogen genomes. In October 2006, new funding was awarded by the Wellcome Trust to exploit the wealth of genome data now available to answer important questions about health and disease. http://www.sanger.ac.uk

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

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Elusive platelet count and limb development gene discovered

Cambridge researchers have identified an elusive gene responsible for a rare inherited blood and skeletal disorder – Thrombocytopenia with Absent Radii (TAR).

The research is now being transformed into a medical test that allows prenatal diagnosis and genetic counselling in affected families.

The team used genetic sequencing to discover that TAR results from low levels of the protein called Y14. They found that the syndrome occurs by a unique inherited mechanism.

Platelets are the second most abundant cell in the blood. Their main task is to survey the blood vessel wall for damage and to plug and repair it where required.

Some people are born with low numbers of platelets and these rare conditions are thought to be inherited. TAR syndrome combines the unique features of low platelet count and prominent bleeding, especially in infancy, and skeletal abnormalities affecting the upper limb ranging from absence of the radial bone in the forearm to virtually total absence of upper limb. The genetic basis of TAR syndrome has eluded researchers for 50 years.

“Without the use of modern genomics technologies, the discovery of this unexpected mechanism of disease inheritance would have been much more difficult,” said Dr Cornelis Albers, from the Sanger Institute and the University of Cambridge.

“To achieve our latest findings, we deciphered about 40 million letters of genetic code in five patients.”

Many people with TAR were known to have a deletion in one copy of chromosome 1, but this was thought not to be the whole story because parents who carry the same deletion do not suffer from TAR: other variants had to be involved.

The team sequenced the genomes of people affected by the disorder who also carried the deletion and discovered that the vast majority of them had one of two variants of a gene called RBM8A. They found that when the genetic deletion and one of the variants are co-inherited by a child, TAR results.

RBM8A controls the production of the protein Y14. They found that the combination of the genetic deletion of one copy of the RBM8A gene and the variants on the other copy greatly reduces the level of Y14. The team concluded that it is low levels of Y14 that affect platelet formation and cause TAR disorder.

“The lack of production of adequate amounts of the protein Y14 in TAR patients only seems to affect the formation of platelets but not of other blood cells.” said Dr Cedric Ghevaert from the University of Cambridge.

“We have shed some light on how some inherited disorders can present with such striking features associating seemingly unconnected characteristics such as skeletal and blood defects.”

This is the first human disorder identified to be caused by a presumed defect of the Exon Junction Complex, part of the cellular machinery that contributes to producing messages that direct protein production.

This study opens the path that could lead to the identification of the genetic basis of other similar inherited syndromes, which will help improvements in diagnosis, genetic counselling and patient care in the NHS and beyond.

The findings were made following a collaborative study by the NHS Blood and Transplant platelet research team at the University of Cambridge and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, which is led by Dr Cedric Ghevaert and Professor Willem Ouwehand.

The Cambridge researchers joined forces with Dr Ruth Newbury-Ecob from the University of Bristol and worked together with various other European research partners from Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

The platelet research team in Cambridge is supported by the British Heart Foundation, the European Commission, the National Institute for Health Research for England (NIHR), NHS Blood and Transplant and the Wellcome Trust.

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Elusive gene discovered by research team

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Kochi, Feb 25: In the wake of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh questioning the role of foreign-aided NGOs in opposing use of genetic engineering, union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh Saturday stressed that the decision to stay commercial use of Bt. Brinjal was not influenced by any NGO.

Answering queries from media persons on his visit here, Ramesh said his decision on Bt Brinjal was based on wide consultations with stakeholders, adding that the use of bio-technology for the crop to be consumed by humans needed to be carefully evaluated.

"No NGO influenced my decision," said Ramesh, who had decided to put on hold the commercial release of the Bt. Brinjal in February 2010 when he was union environment minister.

Ramesh's remarks assume significance in the wake of prime minister's interview to a science journal saying that India must make use of genetic engineering technology to increase agricultural productivity, and NGOs funded by the US and Scandinavian countries were not fully appreciative of the country's development challenges.

Ramesh said that the decision to put a moratorium on the commercial release of Bt. Brinjal was taken after seven months of consultations with the public, various stakeholders including the states, farmers and NGOs. He said he had written on the issue to the chief ministers of all states.

Bio-technology in agriculture was not merely a scientific issue but "political issue" as it affects human safety, he said.

Referring to his decision on Bt Brinjal, Ramesh said Greenpeace had accused him of propagating the line of genetic engineering firm Monsanto during a public hearing in Bangalore.

"So on Bt Brinjal, since I was directly involved, I can confidently say no NGOs influenced my views," he said.

The minister said that there was no scientific consensus on Bt. Brinjal, the full protocol on the test has not been completed and there was no independent professional mechanism to instil confidence in the public.

"I did not ban Bt Brinjal. I decided lets put moratorium (on it)," Ramesh said and added he could not have ignored opinion of chief ministers who opposed it.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who supports Bt Cotton, did not support the move on Bt Brinjal, he noted.

"I cannot ignore states. Ultimately in agriculture, we have to take states along with us," he said. (IANS)

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Decision on Bt. Brinjal not influenced by NGOs: Jairam

ScienceDaily (Feb. 24, 2012) — The RIKEN Center for Genomic Medicine is examining how drugs can be matched to a patient's genetic information through the study of single nucleotide polymorphisms. Taisei Mushiroda from the Laboratory for Pharmacogenetics explains...

Drugs are not equally effective on all patients. A treatment that is dramatically effective on some patients can be ineffective on others. Drugs can also have serious side effects; in the worst case, a drug used to treat a disease can produce a fatal outcome. By examining genetic differences among individuals and administering drugs on the basis of such findings, the impact of side effects can be reduced. Taisei Mushiroda, the Laboratory Head of the Research Group for Pharmacogenomics at the RIKEN Center for Genomic Medicine, is making advances in personalized medicine with research into how drugs can be tailored to a patient's genetic information through the analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).

Identifying the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that plays a key role in drug rash

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced that the gout treatment allopurinol, the antiepileptic drug carbamazepine and the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic drug loxoprofen hold the highest incidence of serious drug rash.

"The data we collected showed that the great majority of drug rash cases were caused by carbamazepine. We therefore proceeded to clarify the relationship between carbamazepine and drug rash, using Genome- Wide Association Study (GWAS). We divided our study population into two groups: those who experienced side effects and those who did not. We performed a comprehensive analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the genome to statistically extract SNPs that are significantly associated with drug rash. The gene involved in drug rash was then identified from among those positioned near the SNPs"

Strands of DNA carry genetic information in the sequenced arrangement of the four bases A (adenine), T (thymine), G (guanine) and C (cytosine). Consisting of some three billion base pairs, the human genome carries the complete genetic information of a human being. Although there is more than 99% base sequence homology in all people, the remaining 1% of base sequences differ individually. "These differences are SNPs. It is estimated that more than 10 million SNPs are present in the human genome. They are associated with the appearance and constitution of the individual, and even with how drugs work and what side effects develop."

Relationship between drug rash caused by the antiepileptic drug carbamazepine and the HLA-A*3101 gene

Mushiroda and his colleagues conducted a study on Japanese epileptic patients undergoing treatment with carbamazepine. Of the sixty-one patients who experienced drug rash, 37 (about 61%) were found to have the HLA- A*3101 gene. In contrast, of the 376 patients who did not experience drug rash, 329 (about 88%) were found to lack HLA-A*3101.

"Reportedly, about 3% of Japanese patients experience drug rash when taking carbamazepine. About 60% of those have HLA-A*3101. It is therefore recommended that 60% of 3% (about 2%) of Japanese epileptic patients take antiepileptic drugs other than carbamazepine. In this way, the incidence of drug rash can be reduced by 2%," says Mushiroda. However, as this association was only discovered in 2010, further evidence must be presented before it can be useful in a clinical setting.

Personalized medicine expected to find clinical applications in 1 or 2 years

The next step after identifying the associated SNP is to determine its applicability in the clinical setting. It is also necessary to verify that SNP diagnosis is effective in both therapeutic and cost-benefit aspects. In ongoing prospective clinical research of nevirapine, it has been estimated that SNP diagnosis would cut annual medical expenditures by about US$60,000 (about ¥5 million) per hospital. This next phase will be necessary for successful application of the new system to the antiepileptic drug carbamazepine.

Before SNP genotyping can be firmly established in medical practice, however, a quick and accurate method to examine SNPs at the lowest cost is needed. In collaboration with Toppan Printing Co. Ltd. and RIKEN Genesis Co. Ltd., Mushiroda's team have developed the TPSA-003 genotype analysis system which can help to deliver more economical SNP genotyping (Fig. 3). The system provides results automatically in just one hour, simply by placing a single drop of untreated blood in the dedicated container and inserting the sample in the machine. "This is a groundbreaking machine. The conventional method involves the complex process of separating leukocytes from the blood sample, extracting the DNA from the leukocytes and applying the DNA to the machine to analyze SNPs. Conventionally, DNA extraction alone requires at least half a day even when undertaken by a highly skilled person. With the new system, the same task, including SNP genotyping, is completed in 60 minutes. This means that an accurate diagnosis can be obtained while the patient stays in the waiting room. Quick diagnosis is a big advantage for the patient as well."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by RIKEN, via ResearchSEA.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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Advancing personalized medicine: Tailoring drugs to fit a patient's genetic predisposition

BEEF producers from Australia and across the globe attending Beef Australia 2012 have the chance to arrive in Rockhampton early and enhance their cattle breeding knowledge by participating in the Bayer & Bioniche International Beef Cattle Genetics Conference.

The conference will be held at the Rockhampton campus of CQ University Australia on May 6 and 7, as a lead-in event to the national cattle industry exposition, Beef Australia 2012, which runs from May 7-12.

The conference features an exceptional program of international experts and Australian industry pioneers, who will outline the tools and strategies to increase genetic improvement, as well as permanently and sustainably increase productivity of the national herd.

Leading beef producer Kara Knudsen, of Mundubbera, Qld, was one of the first to register to attend the conference, as the latest in genetic technology was the key to staying ahead of the game.

“As a commercial producer I believe knowledge and embracing new technologies as they become commercially available is a key to long-term success,” Ms Knudsen said.

“We’re heading to the conference to find out first-hand what is happening at the frontier of genomics and what is available to us now.

“We are investigating the use of embryo transfer technology. Currently this is only economical for stud producers, but new research and better techniques now mean these sorts of processes are in reach of the average producer and genetic progression can happen at lightning speed.””

Among the keynote speakers will be Professor Mike Goddard, who will release the Beef Cooperative Research Centre’s (Beef CRC) updated accuracies for the blended genomic breeding values, which will be an invaluable tool for producers in selecting the best breeding stock to improve the productivity of their herds.

The new breeding values will include hard-to-measure genetic traits like carcase and meat quality, net feed intake and male and female reproductive performance in tropical cattle.

Among the international experts speaking at the conference will be Professor Raysildo Lôbo, from the University of São Paulo, who is also President of the Brazilian Association of Cattle Breeders and Researchers (ANCP).

He has 40 years of experience in developing applications of Animal Breeding and Reproductive Biotechnology, has written more than 200 scientific papers for international journals, and will offer an insight into the genetic developments in the world’s largest beef cattle herd.

“The Brazilian beef industry is committed to improving the efficiency of the national herd of nearly 204 million cattle,”” Dr Lôbo said.

“Breeders of our national breed, the Nellore, that represent around 80 percent of the herd, are putting a huge effort into improving fertility using genetic selection for breeding values for fertility traits integrated with genomic tools.”

Other major topics to be covered at the conference include: International Market Opportunities for Beef; Opportunities for Import and Export of Superior Genetics; the international launch of the MateSel Mate Selection Technology; and case studies of how genetics can add value throughout the beef supply chain.

After the conference a number of international delegates will be also attend the Bayer Genetics and Reproduction Technologies Marketplace during the week of the exposition.

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Genetics conference a lead-in to Beef Australia 2012

Kochi, Feb 25 (IANS) In the wake of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh questioning the role of foreign-aided NGOs in opposing use of genetic engineering, union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh Saturday stressed that the decision to ban commercial use of Bt. Brinjal was not influenced by any NGO.

Answering queries from media persons on his visit here, Ramesh said his decision on Bt Brinjal was based on wide consultations with stakeholders, adding that the use of bio-technology for the crop to be consumed by humans needed to be carefully evaluated.

'No NGO influenced my decision,' said Ramesh, who had decided to put on hold the commercial release of the Bt. Brinjal in February 2010 when he was union environment minister.

Ramesh's remarks assume significance in the wake of prime minister's interview to a science journal saying that India must make use of genetic engineering technology to increase agricultural productivity, and NGOs funded by the US and Scandinavian countries were not fully appreciative of the country's development challenges.

Ramesh said that the decision to put a moratorium on the commercial release of Bt. Brinjal was taken after seven months of consultations with the public, various stakeholders including the states, farmers and NGOs. He said he had written on the issue to the chief ministers of all states.

Bio-technology in agriculture was not merely a scientific issue but 'political issue' as it affects human safety, he said.

Referring to his decision on Bt Brinjal, Ramesh said Greenpeace had accused him of propagating the line of genetic engineering firm Monsanto during a public hearing in Bangalore.

'So on Bt Brinjal, since I was directly involved, I can confidently say no NGOs influenced my views,' he said.

The minister said that there was no scientific consensus on Bt. Brinjal, the full protocol on the test has not been completed and there was no independent professional mechanism to instil confidence in the public.

'I did not ban Bt Brinjal. I decided lets put moratorium (on it),' Ramesh said and added he could not have ignored opinion of chief ministers who opposed it.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who supports Bt Cotton, did not support the move on Bt Brinjal, he noted.

'I cannot ignore states. Ultimately in agriculture, we have to take states along with us,' he said.

Read more here:
Bt.Brinjal decision not influenced by NGOs, asserts Jairam

Researchers find the first evidence that a sirtuin gene prolongs life in mice.

In 2001, researchers showed that a sirtuin protein—associated with the cellular stress response and metabolism—was essential for slowing aging in yeast. Now, researchers at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat-Gan, Israel, found that a different member of the sirtuin family may stall death in mice, suggesting sirtuins may also be significant players in mammalian aging.

A couple of years ago, sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) became the focus of attention in aging research because it was the gene that most closely resembled the yeast gene linked to longevity. In 2008, pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline paid $270 million for a biotech company that was searching for compounds that activated SIRT1, according to Nature. But evidence for SIRT1’s role in expanding lifespan in humans has been hard to come by, and research showing its longevity effects in fruit flies has been questioned.

Instead, researchers at Bar-Ilan turned their focus to sirtuin 6 (SIRT6), which in 2006 was shown to speed death in mice lacking the gene. Here they showed that, at least in male mice, overexpression of the SIRT6 extended lifespan by nearly 16 percent. However, other researchers question whether the increase in lifespan is really due to improved longevity, which is associated with improved memory and mobility, or rather a result of anti-cancer or improved metabolic effects, reported Nature.

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A Mammalian Longevity Gene?

London, Feb 24 (ANI): Scientists have mapped the genetic code of the most common type of hereditary breast cancer for the first time, which has raised hopes for better diagnosis and treatment of the killer disease.

The researchers have "fully sequenced" the DNA of two breast cancers caused by a faulty BRCA1 gene, which is responsible for aggressive and highly drug-resistant tumours.

The team from the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) say they hope that their work will lead to more tailored treatment for patients.

"It is exciting to find new genes which could be involved in causing and driving breast cancer. Now these have been identified we have to do more work to find out the role that they play. Ultimately, this knowledge could help us develop new treatments that target the specific defects of each patient's disease," the Daily Star quoted Rachael Natrajan, one of the scientists involved in the study as saying.

Breast cancers genetically passed down through families account for up to 10 percent of all cases, affecting around 4,500 people in the UK each year.

According to the scientists, cases caused by the BRCA1 gene are "usually aggressive" and "do not benefit" from targeted drugs such as tamoxifen and herceptin.

The research found that despite both tumours being caused by the same source they mutated in almost completely different ways.

"We often consider patients with a faulty BRCA gene as one group but our work shows that each tumour can look very different from each other genetically. Now we understand this, we can start to identify the best treatment strategies to save more lives of hereditary breast cancer patients," Jorge Reis-Filho, who co-authored the study, said.

The study has been published in the Journal of Pathology. (ANI)

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New gene mutation raises hope for breast cancer patients