By Matthew Mahady

Articles

Findings Implicate Virus as Skin Cancer Cause

May 24th 2010

University of Pittsburgh scientists ecently discovered a virus that they have determined is the cause of Merkel cell carcinoma.

Stanford Researchers Lock on to Novel Leukemia Treatment Target

May 24th 2010

Stanford University School of Medicine investigators may have discovered a new chemotherapy target for a deadly form of leukemia. A molecular signal, glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), known to regulate cell growth appears to play a %u201Cdouble agent%u201D role.

Nanotech-based Methylation Testing May Profoundly Impact Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment Assessment

May 24th 2010

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, have developed an innovative test to screen for chemical modifications to DNA, which are known as methylation. The test could potentially be used to diagnose cancer early on and to assess patients%u2019 response to cancer therapies.

Synthetic Protein Discovery May Yield Major Breakthroughs in Oncology Treatment

May 24th 2010

Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee have announced a pending patent on a new synthetic version of a protein involved in some cancers and immune system diseases.

Study Links Hepatitis B Exposure to Increased Pancreatic Cancer Risk

May 24th 2010

In what researchers are touting as a first-of-its-kind finding, Houston-based University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center investigators have discovered a potential connection between exposure to the hepatitis B virus and an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Gardasil Indications Expanded to Include Vaginal and Vulvar Cancers

May 24th 2010

Merck has won FDA approval to market Gardasil,which immunizes patients against cancer-causing strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), as a preventive vaccine for vaginal and vulvar cancers, as well.

Eli Lilly Lands Expanded Lung Cancer Latitude

May 24th 2010

Eli Lilly and Company has obtained FDA approval for an expanded indication of its anti-cancer agent Alimta. This new indication allows Alimta to be combined with cisplatin as a first-line treatment in locally advanced or metastatic nonâ€“small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for patients with nonsquamous histology.

Three Trials Affirm Anticancer Benefit of Zometa in Early-Stage Breast Cancer

May 24th 2010

At the 33rd Annual ESMO Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, investigators presented new data from 3 clinical trials that indicate Zometa reduces the risk of local and distant breast cancer recurrence in pre- and postmenopausal women with early stage disease (stage I or II).

MediGene Drug Candidate May Extend Pancreatic Cancer Survival

May 24th 2010

MediGene, based in Germany, has a new product in late-stage development that may offer hope to patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer.

FDA Approves First Anti-Nausea Patch for Patients in Chemotherapy

May 24th 2010

ProStrakan Group plc, announced it had attained FDA approval to market Sancuso in the United States. The company describes Sancuso as the first and only anti-nausea and vomiting agent formulated for delivery via a transdermal patch, designed specifically to prevent these adverse effects in patients with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy.

Rapid Pace of Oncology Industry Consolidation Continues: Pfizer's Sights on Bayer, ImClone Runs from BMS to Eli Lilly

May 24th 2010

Despite the rocky global economy-or perhaps because of it-consolidation in the oncology biotechnology industry continues to race forward. Over the past several quarters, we have seen a trend toward increased mergers and acquisitions, and this shows no signs of slowing down.

Pfizer Continues Transformation; Stakes Future on New Direction

May 24th 2010

Several months ago, Physicians' Financial News covered Pfizer Inc's aggressive move into the oncology market and the strategic and tactical refocus that accompanied its paradigm-changing shift in priorities. Since then, Pfizer has continued its profound efforts to reorganize in earnest pursuit of a larger berth in the cancer marketplace.