Category: Endocrinology

Modigene Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: MODG) reported that researchers will publish a study in the October edition of the journal Endocrinology showing that erythropoietin (EPO) linked to Modigene’s carboxyl terminal peptide (CTP) technology significantly increased the half-life of standard EPO in animal models.

Growth hormone and associated proteins could be responsible for promoting many types of cancer, including breast and prostate cancer, according to an Australian researcher. Professor Mike Waters, from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at The University of Queensland, said that blocking growth hormone action could be a useful avenue for cancer therapy.

Novo Nordisk announced that Norditropin(R) (somatropin [rDNA origin] injection) received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of children with short stature associated with Turner syndrome. Turner syndrome is a rare chromosomal condition caused by complete or partial absence of the second sex chromosome (X chromosome) in females.

Callisto Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Amex: KAL; FWB: CA4), a developer of new drug treatments in the fight against cancer and gastrointestinal disorders and diseases, announced that complete enrollment of its Phase II clinical trial of Atiprimod to treat low to intermediate grade neuroendocrine carcinoma (advanced carcinoid cancer) was accomplished ahead of schedule. The trial, designed to enroll 40 patients, presently has patients enrolled at seven clinical sites in the U.S.

New research commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research’s Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) programme is investigating the effectiveness of alternative types of treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia), with the aim of developing a treatment pathway to help doctors decide about the best course of treatment for patients.

NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: NPSP) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Orphan Products Development has granted orphan drug designation to PREOS(R) (parathyroid hormone [rDNA origin] for injection) for the treatment of hypoparathyroidism, a rare deficiency of parathyroid hormone for which there is no FDA-approved therapy.

Switzerland-based Horphag Research’s Pycnogenol — an extract derived from the bark of the pine tree Pinus pinaster — might ease menopausal symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, vaginal dryness and menstrual problems, according to a study to be published in the upcoming issue of the Scandinavian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,

New findings by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers show that a byproduct of cholesterol metabolism interferes with the beneficial effects estrogen has on the cardiovascular system, providing a better understanding of the interplay between cholesterol and estrogen in heart disease.

University of Iowa researchers have discovered a gene that plays a linchpin role in the ability of breast cancer cells to respond to estrogen. The finding may lead to improved therapies for hormone responsive breast cancers and may explain differences in the effectiveness of current treatments. Estrogen causes hormone responsive breast cancer cells to grow and divide by interacting with estrogen receptors made by cancer cells.

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that patients suffering from the metabolic syndrome a cluster of conditions that increases the risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes also have a propensity to develop highly acidic urine, which increases the risk of developing kidney stones.