Copyright 2008 Medical News Today Latest Clinical Trials / Drug Trials News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/clinical_trials/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125164.php Genentech, Inc. (NYSE: DNA) and Biogen Idec (Nasdaq: BIIB) today announced that a global Phase III study of Rituxan® (rituximab) in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy met its primary endpoint of improving progression-free survival (PFS), as assessed by investigators, in patients with previously treated CD20-positive chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) compared to chemotherapy alone. There were no new or unexpected safety signals reported in the study. Lymphoma / Leukemia Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125165.php An early proof-of-concept study presented shows promising results for imatinib in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a severe, incurable blood vessel disorder. Hypertension Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124816.php Researchers from Syracuse Preventive Medicine, NY, USA discuss a new drug called ranolazine that has been deemed a safe and effective treatment for chronic stable angina. Drs Stephen Nash and David Nash discuss this new treatment option in a New Drug Class paper published in The Lancet. Angina is characterized by severe chest pain caused by a lack of blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscle, often due to ischemic heart disease. Clinical Trials / Drug Trials Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125145.php Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) announced the schedule of the Company's major events and press announcements at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation's (CRF) twentieth annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium, which runs from October 12 to 17 in Washington, D.C. Cardiovascular / Cardiology Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125148.php Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda") announced that Takeda Global Research and Development Center, Inc., a wholly owned United States (U.S.) subsidiary, received notification that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will not be able to complete its review of the alogliptin New Drug Application (NDA) by the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of October 27, 2008. Diabetes Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125149.php Millions of patients with treatment-resistant clinical depression, who have struggled for years with disability and how to cope with their condition, now have an option that could help them lead more productive and successful lives. The NeuroStar TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) Therapy system, developed by Neuronetics, Inc. Depression Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125157.php There is little experience with the (neuro) psychological treatment of patients with solvent-induced chronic toxic encephalopathy (CSE). This randomised controlled trial evaluates a treatment programme based on previous outcome studies of patients with chronic fatigue, whiplash and traumatic brain damage. Neurology / Neuroscience Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125158.php Alcohol abuse serves as a chronic stressor between partners and has a deleterious effect on relationship functioning. Psychology / Psychiatry Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125166.php Ranolazine, a new treatment for chronic, stable angina, is discussed as a safe and effective option for patients in a New Drug Class paper released on October 10, 2008 in The Lancet. Chronic stable angina is a prolonged chest pain which is often linked to heart disease. It is often present when the patient is exercising. This kind of angina is highly prevalent in developed nations, and in the United States, 9.1 million have the condition. Clinical Trials / Drug Trials Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125120.php Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) announced today that its Phase II trial of baminercept (BG9924, LTBR-Ig) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who have had an inadequate response to conventional therapy with a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) did not meet its primary endpoint. The primary endpoint was defined as the proportion of baminercept-treated patients who achieved an ACR50 response, a standard measure of disease improvement in RA, compared to placebo at 14 weeks. Bones / Orthopaedics Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125113.php The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston a $9.2 million grant to conduct a multi-center clinical trial that could lead to an improved survival rate for trauma patients - both soldiers and civilians -- who require massive blood transfusions. The university's Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS) is contracting with the U.S. Blood / Hematology Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125091.php Shire Limited, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces that data published in Gut show that 64.4% of patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC) who achieved clinical and endoscopic remission maintained this at 12 months when given two mesalazine 1200mg gastro-resistant, prolonged release tablets (Mezavant XL) once a day as a maintenance therapy. GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125082.php Interim study results show that once-daily Exjade® (deferasirox) reduces iron that can build up in key organs in patients who undergo repeated blood transfusions as part of their treatment for thalassaemia. Blood / Hematology Fri, 10 Oct 2008 01:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/125000.php Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT; NASDAQ: EVTC) announced today that Phase I clinical studies for its proprietary, small molecule P2X7 receptor antagonist have been initiated. The P2X7 receptor is an ATP-gated ion channel primarily expressed on cells of the immune system and is thought to play an important role in inflammatory processes through the regulation of a number of proinflammatory cytokines. Arthritis / Rheumatology Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124973.php SCOLR Pharma, Inc. (Amex: DDD) announced the completion of patient enrollment and dosing for the third of its three pivotal trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of its formulation of 12-hour extended-release (ER) ibuprofen for the over-the-counter (OTC) market. The Company expects to report top-line results from this pivotal trial in November 2008. Pain / Anesthetics Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124975.php Alfacell Corporation (Nasdaq: ACEL) announced that a paper published in Cell Cycle (2008; Vol. 7, Issue 20) reports that ONCONASE (ranpirnase) targets small interfering RNA (siRNA), likely within the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) of the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism. Cancer / Oncology Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124976.php Diamyd Medical reports that the world's most influential medical journal, the New England Journal of Medicine, has published an article with results from the company's study of the Diamyd(R) diabetes vaccine for type 1 diabetes. The article is now available on the journal's web site (http://www.nejm.org) and will be in print on October 30. Diabetes Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124977.php TCT 2008 attendees will be among the first to hear a report on initial clinical experiences with the vProtect(TM) Luminal Shield in patients with non-flow-limiting "vulnerable" plaques. Cardiovascular / Cardiology Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124978.php Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE: WPI), a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved RAPAFLO(TM) (silodosin), the company's new alpha blocker for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of BPH. BPH is the number one reason patients visit urologists and is characterized by urination problems, including decreased urine flow, more frequent urination and nocturia. Prostate / Prostate Cancer Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124981.php QLT Inc. (NASDAQ: QLTI; TSX: QLT) announced that it has initiated a Phase I safety study in healthy adults of QLT091001, an orally administered synthetic retinoid replacement therapy for 11-cis-retinal, which is a key biochemical component of the visual retinoid cycle. Eye Health / Blindness Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124983.php Results of a multicenter study led by Johns Hopkins Children's Center challenge the longstanding practice of treating premature babies with hydrocortisone, a steroid believed to fight inflammation and prevent lung disease. The researchers found that such treatment offers little or no benefit and that low cortisol levels are not even necessarily harmful. Pediatrics / Children's Health Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124984.php Existing recommendations for treating vitamin D deficiency in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) are too low to cover the serious need, leaving most at high risk for bone loss and rickets, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center. Cystic Fibrosis Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124985.php Four months after a successful hand transplant -- 35 years after amputation in an industrial accident at age 19 -- a 54-year-old man's emerging sense of touch is registered in the former "hand area" of the his brain, says a University of Oregon neuroscientist. The finding, appearing online in advance of regular publication in the Oct. Neurology / Neuroscience Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124990.php Results of the UPLIFT® trial, presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Annual Congress, demonstrated that tiotropium (Spiriva®) administered to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients, showed sustained improvements in lung function for up to 4 years (p Respiratory / Asthma Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 PDT http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/124991.php Based on positive Phase II trial findings, Bayer Schering Pharma will move into Phase III trials with its oral agent riociguat (BAY 63-2521). Riociguat is the first member of a new class of vasodilating agents called soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulators. It is being investigated as a new approach for the treatment of different forms of pulmonary hypertension. Hypertension