Researchers have created a drug-filled microneedle skin patch that helps convert energy-storing fat, or white fat, into energy-burning fat, or brown fat – all the while boosting the body’s metabolism. The team of researchers at Columbia University Medical Center and the University of North Carolina reported that their patch could one day be used to burn […]
Preclinical Trials
Icon beats Street on Q2 earnings, acquires Mapi Group
Drug development provider Icon PLC (Nasdaq: ICLR) saw its stock jump about 6% in value today after announcing second-quarter earnings that beat analysts’ expectations. The Dublin, Ireland–based company, which serves the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, also said it has acquired the Mapi Group, which provides patient-centered health outcomes research and commercialisation. Financial terms of […]
Nanotech derived from amniotic stem cells could help treat brain cancer
Creative Medical Technology Holdings (OTC:CELZ) touted its exosome technology today, reporting that it demonstrated an ability to regenerate healthy brain cells while selectively halting the growth of glioma brain cancer cells in a preclinical model. The company’s exosomes are vesicles harvested from amniotic stem cell technology, which it licensed from the University of California San […]
Study: Microneedle patch, protein combo could boost efficacy of flu vaccine
Researchers at Georgia State University and Georgia Institute of Technology have devised a method to boost the efficacy of a traditional influenza vaccine. The team combined a fusion protein into a microneedle patch made from a biocompatible polymer. The patch’s needles are biodegradable, releasing vaccine into the skin as they dissolve. Mice receiving a conventional […]
Synspira’s therapy could boost antibiotics against drug-resistant bacteria in CF patients
Privately-held Synspira touted a study today of its inhaled glycopolymer-based therapeutic with antibiotics as a potential treatment for pulmonary infection caused by the Burkholderia cepacia complex in patients with cystic fibrosis. The study was published in PLOS One. Synspira’s lead polycationic glycopolymer, SNSP113, was studied in combination with tobramycin and meropenem. These antibiotics, as well as ceftazidime, are often […]
Capillary Biomedical takes aim at ‘the Achilles heel of diabetes’
Major players in the medical device realm are in a heated race to develop the first artificial pancreas to help patients with diabetes manage the chronic condition. Just last year, Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) won FDA approval for its MiniMed 670G hybrid-closed loop system. But while companies compete for the top spot in developing what could be a […]
GSK inks deal for AI-driven drug discovery
Exscientia inked a drug discovery collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) that could bring the Scotland-based company up to $37.5 million. As a part of the deal, Exscientia plans to use its artificial-intelligence platform to discover small molecules for up to 10 disease-related targets, as chosen by GSK. GSK is slated to pay Exscientia in preclinical candidate milestone […]
Plant-virus nanoparticles combined with chemo delays tumor progression
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine and RWTH Aachen University have demonstrated that injecting nanoscale potato-virus particles and doxorubicin into melanoma tumors slows tumor progression in mice. The team’s work was published in Nano Letters. Although simultaneous injection of the virus particles and a chemo drug prompted a […]
OncoSec inks preclinical deal with Jounce Therapeutics
OncoSec Medical (NSDQ:ONCS) said today that it inked a preclinical deal with Jounce Therapeutics (NSDQ:JNCE) through the OncoSec Technology Access Program. According to the agreement, Jounce will have access to OncoSec’s gene delivery technology to assess the efficacy of intratumorally-delivered therapeutic candidates. The deal includes OncoSec’s Genesis research generator, which features customizable electroporation parameters for […]
Nanoparticles use 2 mechanisms to boost immunotherapy
Cancer immunotherapy, a treatment approach that has gained momentum over the past few years, only helps a small fraction of patients. But researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have developed a nanoparticle that may one day help expand the patient population that benefits from immunotherapy. Immunotherapy usually falls into 1 of 2 […]
