Ariana : new KEM multi-objective data analysis and decision support software with enhanced chemical structure analysis and predictive capabilities

Paris, France. March 12th, 2008 – Paris based Ariana Pharma announced that it has released a new version of its multi-objective dat analysis and decision support software KEM®, bringing enhanced 2D visualization capabilities for identifying relations that link chemical structural features with multiple end points. In addition, the learning and prediction processes have been streamlined into a dedicated KEM Predict module for accurate prediction of end points. KEM is now also available through a command line interface, readily allowing the integration with a large variety of platforms.
The new release of KEM® fully supports visualization of SMILES descriptors. Enhanced filtering capacities include substructure searches. Complex relations identified by KEM can be easily exported to a variety of formats including PDF. Improved molecular table include new tools for easy selection of molecules...
... About Ariana Pharma
Ariana™ Pharma delivers pioneering multi objectives decision support tools to dramatically accelerate and improve the discovery, development and safety of pharmaceutical products. Its KEM® knowledge extraction and management platform comprehensively mines data, including data other systems neglect, and helps scientists take simultaneous decisions involving multiple criteria and objectives. The Company has established a rapidly growing software business through collaboration and licensing agreements with some of the largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Ariana was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Paris, France... [PDF] Ariana Pharma's Press Release -

Biocortech Issued Key US Patent for a Small-Molecule Antidepressant

Paris, March 10, 2008 - Biocortech announced today that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has approved the issuance of a patent for a family of compounds, including BC-22, under development for the treatment of depression. The patent (Application No 11/581,950) was filed on Oct 13, 2006, and is titled, "Derivatives of 14,15-dihydro 20,21-dinoreburnamenin-14-ol, and applications thereof".

Clinical depression affects more than 20 million American adults each year. Although available antidepressant medications are effective for a large segment of the population with depression, symptoms may continue despite multiple treatment strategies in 10 to 30 percent of those patients. In addition, current treatment strategies also face other issues, such as delayed onset, dose-limiting side effects, and tolerance/dependence. Thus, there is a clear need for novel depression treatments...
...About Biocortech
Biocortech is a biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery and development of novel biomarkers and treatments for psychiatric disorders. Biocortech has proprietary assays and technologies to identify biomarkers and develop compounds that can safely and effectively identify and treat diseases such as depression, bipolar disorders, schizophrenia and cognitive deficits. Biocortech has a strong clinical advisory group and drug development capabilities, enabling us to move diagnostic platforms and drugs into humans quickly and efficiently. Biocortech is based in Paris, France... Biocortech's Press Release -

Cellectis : publication of a paper entitled "Computer design of obligate heterodimer meganucleases allows efficient cutting of custom DNA sequences"..

April 22nd 2008 - Cellectis SA, the rational genome engineering company specializing in the production of meganuclease recombination systems and in meganuclease engineering, announced the publication of a new paper in the high-profile Nucleic Acids Research journal (Fajardo-Sanchez et al., Computer design of obligat heterodimer meganucleases allows efficient cutting of custom DNA sequences, Nucleic Acids Res. 2008, Feb. 14th [Epub ahead of print])...
... In this study, researcher from CRG modified two engineered meganucleases from Cellectis’ collection, in order to improve their specificity. Most engineered meganucleases so far are heterodimers derived from the dimeric I-CreI protein. Heterodimer formation is obtained by coexpression of two monomers in the targeted cell, and is actually associated with the formation of two homodimers recognizing different targets. This results in a loss of specificity, which can be solved only by the suppression of homodimer formation. To address this problem, CRG researchers have modified the protein-protein interface of the two proteins in order to abolish homodimerisation. This design could in principle be applied to every and any heterodimer produced by Cellectis... [PDF] Cellectis' Press Release - PDF du Communiqué de Presse de Cellectis -

ERYtech Pharma : last patient for its Phase II GRASPALL clinical trial

May 15th 2008 - ERYtech Pharma, a French biotechnology company, announces the inclusion of its last patient in its Phase II clinical trial for relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).
The main goal of this trial is to evaluate the pharmacokinetic, the pharmacodynamic and the safety of GRASPA®, ERYtech Pharma’s new medicinal product. Twenty four patients, comprised of nine adults and nine children received at least one dose of. GRASPA® three other child, and three adult patients received the control product, the free form of native E. coli L-Asparaginase... ERYtech's Press Release -

Scient'x : FDA 510(K) Clearance for Isobar DUO Dynamic Stabilization System

May 06, 2008 - Scient'x, a privately held manufacturer of innovative spinal implant technologies, announced that it has received FDA 510(k) clearance to market its new Isobar DUO™ Dynamic Stabilization System. This system is an extension of the original Isobar Dynamic TTL-Rod® which received FDA 510(k) clearance in 1998. The Isobar Duo™ has been cleared to provide immobilization and stabilization of spinal segments in skeletally mature patients as an adjunct to fusion in the treatment of the following acute and chronic instabilities or deformities of the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine: degenerative spondylolisthesis with objective evidence of neurological impairment; fracture, dislocation, scoliosis, kyphosis, spinal tumor; and failed previous fusion. The development of this system originated directly from surgeon requests to utilize the Isobar Dynamic TTL-Rod® technology at multiple levels. With the Isobar Duo™, the surgeon is able to utilize a standard 5.5mm diameter rod with two unique dampener elements that provides controlled motion for use at two levels... Scient'x's Press Release -

Sanofi-aventis : Phase III Results for Eplivanserin

April 30, 20008 - ... Eplivanserin : Sanofi-aventis announced today that the GEMS Phase III study shows that the 5-HT2A antagonist eplivanserin in development for the treatment of insomnia characterized by sleep maintenance difficulties/night- time awakenings significantly reduces WASO (Wake time After Sleep Onset) and the number of night-time awakenings reported by the patient at 6 and 12 weeks of treatment, versus placebo. An improvement of the quality of sleep was also observed in the study.These results confirm those of the EPLILONG study (phase III study conducted in similar conditions), which also showed that eplivanserin significantly reduces WASO and the number of night-time awakenings reported by the patient at 6 and 12 weeks, versus placebo and improves the quality of sleep... [PDF] Sanofi-aventis' Press Release - PDF du Communiqué de Presse de Sanofi-Aventis -

NOVAGALI PHARMA : First Patient in U.S. Phase I Clinical Study with CORTIJECT for Diabetic Macular Edema

April 24th, 2008 - Novagali Pharma, an emerging ophthalmic pharmaceutical company today announced that it has successfully injected the first patient in a Phase I clinical trial using CORTIJECT®, an ophthalmic injectable emulsion based on EYEJECT® technology platform containing a corticosteroid prodrug for the treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). This trial, which will enroll a total of 15 patients, is designed to evaluate the safety and to observe the efficacy trend of CORTIJECT®. The patients will be monitored for a period of twelve months following injection... Novagali Pharma's Press Release - Communiqué de Presse Novagali -