There are twenty-seven Alzheimer’s drugs in late-stage clinical trials and eight candidates in Phase II programs that could launch in the next 5 years, according to an analysis presented this week at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference. “The Alzheimer’s disease pipeline, marred by decades of failures and underinvestment, is due for big victories,” UsAgainstAlzheimer’s co-founder […]
Research & Development
Epilepsy biomarker could aid in early detection, targeted treatment
Researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have identified a unique chemical biomarker associated with epileptic brain tissue, according to an article published in the journal Epilepsia. The chemical signature can be detected noninvasively and could enable physicians to precisely locate small regions of abnormal brain tissue in early-stage patients. The researchers […]
Corium touts clinical data for transdermal delivery of Alzheimer’s drug
Corium (NSDQ:CORI) touted data today from a pilot bioequivalence study, comparing its Corplex Donepezil transdermal patch to oral Aricept as delivery method for the most commonly prescribed treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. Data from the pilot study demonstrated that Corium’s transdermal patch met the criteria for bioequivalence to oral Aricept, as measured by primary pharmacokinetic endpoints […]
Mobile diagnostic device detects tumor cells in blood
Researchers from the Rovira i Virgili University have developed and patented a mobile diagnostic device that can detect tumor cells in blood, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. The team reported that the device can quantify tumor cells in a blood sample in real-time, positioning it as a tool to boost the diagnosis and […]
Medtech stories we missed this week: July 14, 2017
From Novarad touting its VR-surgical guidance system to Zynex paying off its $2.2M loan, here are seven medtech stories we missed this week but thought were still worth mentioning. 1. Stimwave announces first patient in Brazil Stimwave announced in a July 5 press release that its first patients in Brazil have received Stimwave’s wireless pain relief […]
MIT researchers fight drug-resistant bacteria with nanoparticles
Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are using nanoparticles to tackle drug-resistant bacteria, according to a study published in Advanced Materials. Gram-negative bacteria are particularly difficult to treat, since they are protected by two cell membranes. But the team of Cambridge-based researchers reported that antimicrobial peptides inside of a silicon nanoparticle effectively reduced the number […]
Blood test enhances early detection of pancreatic cancer
Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania have devised a biomarker panel that could enable earlier diagnosis and better treatment for patients with pancreatic cancer, according to a study published in Science Translational Medicine. Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., the team reported, and often patients are not diagnosed until […]
Study: Nanomedicine shuts down cells that drive cancer growth in glioblastoma
Researchers from Northwestern Medicine have developed lipid polymer-based nanoparticles that target key cancer drivers, called brain tumor initiating cells, in a mouse model of glioblastoma brain tumors. “BTICs are malignant brain tumor populations that underlie the therapy resistance, recurrence and unstoppable invasion commonly encountered by glioblastoma patients after the standard treatment regimen of surgical resection, […]
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 […]
Study: Dangerous medication errors are on the rise
According to a study published in Clinical Toxicology, researchers from Nationwide Children’s Hospital found there was a 100% increase in the rate of serious medication errors per 100,000 U.S. residents between 2000 and 2012. The team analyzed calls to Poison Control Centers across the U.S. and discovered that medication errors, those that happen outside of […]
