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Norwegian researchers develop nano-needles

Pint-sized nail bed: a thin copper plate goes into the oven and out come needles that will force cells to accept the drug. Photo: NTNU

Roche wins FDA approval for novel diabetes Dx
Roche’s next-generation diabetes diagnostic works on the Cobas Integra 800 analyzer. –Courtesy of Roche
Read more: Roche wins FDA approval for novel diabetes Dx – FierceMedicalDevices

TLC388 (Lipotecan®) Taiwan Liposome Company Hepatic cancer drug candidate gets fast track approval status from SFDA
TLC388 (Lipotecan®) structure can be figured out from a link below of a poster
http://www.tlcbio.com/files/news/2011111701580783.pdf
IT IS A CAMPOTHECIN ANALOGUE
The str can be concluded from above picture from a poster by TLC BIO
TLC388 (Lipotecan) is a potent Topoisomerase-1 inhibitor and it can disrupt both Sonic Hedgehog and HIF1-α pathways to overcome cancer drug resistance and inhibit angiogenesis induced by tumor hypoxia. This phase I first-in-human study of Lipotecan examined the MTD, safety, anti-tumor activity and pharmacokinetic profiles of TLC388 in patients with advanced incurable solid tumors.
Methods: Lipotecan was administered intravenously on day 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Patients underwent safety assessments regularly and tumor assessments every other cycle. Pharmacokinetic samples were drawn on days 1, 8 and 15 of cycles 1 and 2 for all treated patients.
http://mct.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/meeting_abstract/10/11_MeetingAbstracts/A89
http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00747474
MAR19 2013
China SFDA has granted fast track approval status to Taiwan Liposome company hepatic cancer drug Lipotecan, shortening the review period. The drug will enter Phase 2 clinical trials in China in the second half of this year. Lipotecan has been granted orphan drug status by US FDA and EU EMEA for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
Nexavar is the standard of care in first line advanced liver cancer patients. Lipotecan as a second-line treatment allows patients who have failed prior treatment with Nexavar to maintain a six month course of the disease without progressing
The FDA has opened the inside track to Novartis’ experimental lung cancer drug, LDK378, which gained “Breakthrough Therapy” designation

The FDA has opened the inside track to Novartis’ experimental lung cancer drug, which gained “Breakthrough Therapy” designation that speeds the development and review schedules for new treatments. The Swiss drug giant plans to file for approval the drug, now in mid-stage clinical trials, in early 2014. Since clinical development began in 2011, the program has advanced with lightning speed compared with those that take 10 years or so to trial before submitted for approval.
While there are no guarantees of an FDA approval for Novartis’ compound, code-named LDK378, the “breakthrough” tag provides an early nod to the potential of the candidate to improve treatment for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) mutations.
The “breakthrough” designation is also important because Novartis’ compound and others with the coveted status have a shot to be approved by the FDA without completing all three phases of clinical trials typically required before an approval decision.
Novartis’ LDK378 joined the “breakthrough” club after showing an 80% response rate in patients studied in Phase I trial of 88 subjects with advanced cases of ALK-positive NSCLC. The company has already begun a pair of Phase II studies of the compound for patients with the same kind of ALK-positive cancers, which account for about 3% to 8% of cases of NSCLC. And plans call for kicking off Phase III development of the new drug later this year.
“LDK378 is a strong example of our research approach, which focuses on identifying the underlying cause of disease pathways,” said Alessandro Riva, Novartis’ global head of oncology development, in a statement. “This Breakthrough Therapy designation will allow us to collaborate more closely with the FDA and potentially to expedite the availability of an important new treatment option for patients with ALK+ NSCLC.”
ThromboGenics NV, European Commission has approved JETREA® (ocriplasmin) in the European Union
Leuven, March 15, 2013
ThromboGenics NV an integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative ophthalmic medicines, today announces that the European Commission has approved JETREA® (ocriplasmin) in the European Union. JETREA® is approved for the treatment of vitreomacular traction (VMT), including when associated with macular hole of diameter less than or equal to 400 microns. The EU approval triggers a €45 million milestone payment to ThromboGenics from its partner Alcon. The first sale of JETREA® in the EU by Alcon will trigger a further €45 million milestone payment to ThromboGenics.
Alcon, a division of Novartis, acquired the rights to commercialize JETREA® outside the United States in March 2012. ThromboGenics retains the right to commercialize the drug in the US. ThromboGenics launched JETREA® in the US in mid-January 2013 where it is approved for the treatment of patients with symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion (VMA).
Ocriplasmin (trade name Jetrea) is a recombinant protease with activity against fibronectin and laminin, components of the vitreoretinal interface. It is used for treatment of symptomatic vitreomacular adhesion, for which it received FDA approval on 17 October 2012. It works by dissolving the proteins that link the vitreous to the macula, resulting in posterior detachment of the vitreous from the retina.[1]
Intravenous formulation of Melphalan, which is in a Phase III trial for use as a conditioning treatment prior to autologous stem cell transplant for patients with multiple myeloma
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Mephalan
15 march 2013
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals has licensed an investigational multiple myeloma drug from Ligand Pharmaceuticals in a deal that could be worth over $50 million.
The treatment in question is an intravenous formulation of melphalan, which is in a Phase III trial for use as a conditioning treatment prior to autologous stem cell transplant for patients with multiple myeloma. Spectrum is assuming the responsibility for the trial and hopes to file Captisol-enabled melphalan in the first half of 2014.
The Captisol technology used to reformulate melphalan allows for longer administration durations and slower infusion rates. It has been used with six US Food and Frug Administration-approved products, including Onyx Pharmaceuticals’ multiple myeloma drug Kyprolis (carfilzomib )and Pfizer’s antifungal Vfend (voriconazole).
Melphalan hydrochloride (trade name Alkeran) is a chemotherapy drug belonging to the class of nitrogen mustard alkylating agents.
An alkylating agent adds an alkyl group (CnH2n+1) to DNA. It attaches the alkyl group to the guanine base of DNA, at the number 7 nitrogen atom of the imidazole ring.
Otherwise known as L-Phenylalanine Mustard, or L-PAM, melphalan is a phenylalanine derivative of mechlorethamine.
Uses
It is used to treat multiple myeloma[1] and ovarian cancer, and occasionally malignant melanoma.
The agent was first investigated as a possible drug for use in melanoma. It was not found to be effective, but has been found to be effective in the treatment of myeloma.
Oral or intravenous; dosing varies by purpose and route of administration as well as patient weight.
Melphalan Prescribing Information: Alkeran[2]
Melphalan Patient Information: MedlinePlus[3]
Melphalan Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS): Sequoia Research Products[4]
- Facon T, Mary JY, Hulin C, et al. (October 2007). “Melphalan and prednisone plus thalidomide versus melphalan and prednisone alone or reduced-intensity autologous stem cell transplantation in elderly patients with multiple myeloma (IFM 99-06): a randomised trial”. Lancet 370 (9594): 1209–18. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61537-2. PMID 17920916.
- celgene.com
- nlm.nih.gov
- seqchem.com
DRUG APPROVALS BY DR ANTHONY MELVIN CRASTO
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