Alkermes : Positive Data on Proprietary Molecules Targeting Opioid Receptors

July 1, 2008 - Alkermes, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALKS) announced positive preclinical results for three proprietary molecules targeting opioid receptors, including ALKS 33. Data from two preclinical studies demonstrated that the three molecules showed statistically superior oral efficacy as well as evidence for improved metabolic and pharmacokinetic profiles compared to an active control. The data were presented at the 2008 Research Society on Alcoholism/International Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (RSA/ISBRA) Joint Scientific Meeting in Washington, D.C.

"We are encouraged by the compelling preclinical profiles emerging for this series of orally active, proprietary molecules, which represent multiple opportunities to advance novel drug candidates into our pipeline," stated Daniel Deaver, Ph.D., vice president, non-clinical development of Alkermes. "These findings support the continued development of next-generation therapeutics to treat a broad range of diseases, including central nervous system disorders and brain reward disorders, such as addiction, obesity and other impulse-control disorders.".. Alkermes' Press Release -

EnteroMedics : ISO 13485:2003 Certification for the Maestro(TM) System

Jun 27, 2008 - EnteroMedics Inc. (NASDAQ: ETRM), the developer of medical devices using neuroblocking technology to treat obesity and other gastrointestinal disorders, announced that it has received ISO 13485:2003 certification from KEMA Quality B.V. for the design, manufacture and distribution of surgical implants and associated accessories for nervous impulse modulation for the purpose of regulating gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders. EnteroMedics is in pivotal testing of VBLOC(TM) vagal blocking therapy, delivered via the Maestro(TM) System, for the treatment of obesity... EnteroMedics' Press Release -

Palatin Technologies : AMENDMENT EXPANDING ASTRAZENECA OBESITY COLLABORATION

July 1, 2008 – Palatin Technologies, Inc. (AMEX: PTN) announced that AstraZeneca and Palatin have amended their exclusive global licensing and research collaboration agreement to discover, develop and commercialize compounds that target melanocortin receptors. The original agreement was effective in January 2007.
Under the amendment, Palatin has agreed to license additional compounds and associated intellectual property to AstraZeneca. Palatin will receive development and regulatory milestone payments if any additional compound advances into human clinical trials, and sales target milestone payments and stepped royalties if any additional compound is commercialized.


Research scientists at AstraZeneca and Palatin are working to complete election of a lead drug candidate for initial clinical evaluation. Under the agreement, AstraZeneca is responsible for product commercialization, product discovery and development costs... Palatin Technologies' Press Release -

Elixir Pharmaceuticals : Exclusive Sirtuin Intellectual Property License Agreement with Boston University.

July 1, 2008 - Elixir Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced the Company has entered an exclusive license agreement with Boston University to key intellectual property covering discoveries regarding the use of modulators of SIRT1, a member of the sirtuin class of protein deacetylase enzymes. SIRT1 is the human equivalent of Sir2, a gene identified in yeast that has been recognized to play a key role in the control of lifespan, metabolism, resistance to stress and other cellular regulatory pathways. Th agreement with Boston University encompasses therapeutic applications for SIRT1 modulators in metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes, as well as therapeutic modulation of SIRT1 for anti-angiogenic activity to treat cancer... [PDF] Elixir Pharmaceuticals' Press Release -

AstraZeneca and Columbia University Medical Center : strategic research collaboration to develop novel therapeutics for diabetes and obesity

June 17, 2008 - AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) and Columbia University Medical Center announced that they have entered into a strategic research collaboration in metabolic related diseases, to develop novel therapeutics primarily in type 2 diabetes and obesity and, with a secondary focus on atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)/dyslipidemia (abnormal blood lipid levels).

The preclinical and clinical research will focus on discovering mechanisms and identifying new biological targets for intervention that have the potential of being starting points for successful and commercially viable treatments to tackle these diseases that are major risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality... AstraZeneca's Press Release -

Amarillo Biosciences Files Patent to Treat Obesity with Oral Interferon

June 11, 2008 — Amarillo Biosciences, Inc. (OTCBB: AMAR), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on low-dose orally administered interferon as a treatment for a variety of conditions, announced that a patent has been filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on the oral use of interferon to treat obesity.

The company recently conducted a review of clinical data from four studies that it had conducted wherein 582 women were treated for autoimmune diseases or fibromyalgia syndrome over three to six months with one of 5 different low daily doses of oral interferon or placebo. This review found that a significantly greater proportion of women given two specific doses of oral interferon experienced at least a 5% weight loss, compared to the women given placebo. This surprising benefit occurred in the women given oral interferon without a significant increase in adverse events... Amarillo Biosciences' Press Release -