Mice lacking the PD-1 receptor, which shuts off T cells, affected behavior by altering amino acid levels. Researchers from the Japanese Riken Institute looked into the metabolic effects of unchecked T cells, and showed that T cells that lacked PD-1 accumulated amino acids due to their increased metabolism, including tryptophan and tyrosine, both of which are precursors for neurotransmitter synthesis. Read More
Curevac AG, of Tübingen, Germany, said it initiated a phase I study to assess the intratumoral application of its RNAdjuvant technology in patients with superficial solid tumors that are accessible for intratumoral injections. Read More
Anavex Life Sciences Corp., of New York, reported data from a preclinical study of ANAVEX2-73 showing the drug accelerates the maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) to oligodendrocytes (OLs), potentially leading to remyelination in MS patients. Read More
Phaserx Inc., of Seattle, received a delisting notice from Nasdaq informing the company that its stock will be suspended from Nasdaq trading on Nov. 1 after Nasdaq rejected its plan to regain compliance with the minimum stockholders' equity requirement. Read More
Orexo AB, of Uppsala, Sweden, said the company will issue a notice of conditional early total redemption of its outstanding SEK342 million (US$40.7 million) (excluding the amount held by the company) senior unsecured callable floating rate bonds due 2018. Read More
Kidney-produced erythropoietin (EPO) desensitizes tumors to the effects of antiangiogenic drugs, improving the understanding of the mechanisms underlying resistance to these agents and potentially, how to improve their therapeutic efficacy. Read More
HONG KONG – Neuraly Inc., a startup from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and South Korea-based 1st Biotherapeutics Inc. agreed to co-develop brain penetrant c-Abl inhibitors for Parkinson's disease with aims to file an investigational new drug (IND) application with the FDA next year. Read More
ADELAIDE, Australia – Australia's life sciences sector is expected to bring in almost A$3 trillion (US$2.2 trillion) by 2025. The government is pumping funds into the sector and working with industry to update regulations and building needed translational infrastructure to attract global attention. Read More
Gilead Sciences Inc. beat earnings estimates for the third quarter, but analysts seeking to tease out stabilizing trends in the company's declining hepatitis C virus (HCV) franchise were largely disappointed, while overarching concerns about the paucity of promising late-stage programs also helped drive the stock down slightly Friday. Shares of Gilead (NASDAQ:GILD) closed at $77.07, down 81 cents. Read More
PHILADELPHIA – More than a quarter of brain cancer patients participating in a phase I gene therapy trial survived at least three years after treatment, prompting Tocagen Inc. to move directly into a seamless, pivotal trial following the FDA's granting of a breakthrough therapy designation earlier this year. Read More
