Profil Institute : Expansion of Its Cardiometabolic Capabilities for Diabetes and Obesity Clinical Drug Trials

November 22, 2010 - Profil Institute Expands Its Cardiometabolic Capabilities for Diabetes and Obesity Clinical Drug Trials – Profil™ Institute for Clinical Research, Inc., a company specializing in early phase clinical trials for diabetes and obesity, announced the expansion of its capabilities for cardiac safety and cardiovascular efficacy studies in the company’s early phase diabetes and obesity clinical trials.
"Assessing cardiac safety is a critical early objective for the evaluation of new drugs, particularly in compounds for the treatment of diabetes," said Robert J. Schott, a cardiologist and Director of Cardiometabolic Research at the Profil Institute for Clinical Research. "At Profil Institute we are excited to be implementing new technologies and procedures which allow us to assess cardiac safety signals in Phase I drug research, specifically in our ability to detect a drug's risk for causing sudden cardiac death with prolongation of the QT interval as a marker. We understand that detection of cardiac safety signals is mission-critical in early drug development, and new technologies allow us to do this in a more cost-effective and timely manner for our customers."... [PDF] Profil™ Institute for Clinical Research's Press Release -

Cognis develops two active ingredients for weight management and cognitive performance from InterMed Discovery

July 13, 2010 - Specialty chemicals supplier Cognis and InterMed Discovery (IMD), a world class natural product lead-discovery company, are continuing their strategic cooperation: Cognis has now exclusively licensed two new active ingredients for weight management and cognitive performance from IMD, further expanding the company’s innovation pipeline. Tests on the products Cognis has already acquired from IMD are already delivering promising results.


The sales potential is increasing for active ingredients in functional foods to support weight management and benefit heart and brain health, largely because obesity is becoming a major public health problem in many parts of the world and society as a whole is getting older. During their ongoing collaboration, Cognis and IMD have utilized IMD’s database of biologically active natural substances and its unique IMD Bioprofiling® technology platform to discover innovative functional ingredients for specific food applications, and to bring suitable active substances to market-readiness... Cognis' Press Release - InterMed Discovery's Press Release -

Braasch Biotech : Novel Patent for Somatostatin Vaccines in High-Value Therapeutic Markets

29 May 2010 - Braasch Biotech LLC announces the granting of its United States patent 7,722,881, titled Chloramphenicol Acetyl Transferase (CAT)-Defective Somatostatin Fusion Protein and Uses Thereof by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The patent, enhances the Company’s portfolio of somatostatin vaccine intellectual property, and is directed to target the down-regulation of somatostatin, which controls circulating growth hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) .The patent’s subject matter constitutes the Company’s first patent in the area of therapeutic vaccines.

“Braasch is compiling a designed portfolio of intellectual property with value tied to the unique scope of the target label claims for its somatostatin vaccines. Today’s patent issuance comes less than 2 years after its initial filing, indicative of the relevance of the technology,” stated Keith Haffer, Ph.D., president of Braasch. ”With the archetype hormone somatostatin presence in all vertebrate species, the use of our technology can be adapted for various animal models to drive our therapeutic vaccine pipeline. We view today’s milestone as more than just another patent issuance; it is a development that significantly enhances the fundamental usefulness and functionality of our growing somatostatin vaccine estate.”

Braasch Biotech is implementing a proactive strategy to continue to build and strengthen a diverse and competitive intellectual property portfolio that provides the company and its partners with a strong proprietary position in the therapeutic vaccine space. The company has filed additional patent applications in the US and Europe for its technologies for obesity, diabetes type 2, Myocardial Diseases, Rett Syndrome, as well as productivity enhancement vaccines for animal livestock... Braasch Biotech's Press Release -

GI Dynamics : European CE Mark Approval for 12 Months of EndoBarrier™ Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity; Announces U.K. Launch

October 15, 2010 - Innovative Medical Device Offers Patients a Catalyst for Regaining Control of Diabetes and Weight; Targeted Rollout Begins with Centers of Excellence – GI Dynamics, a leader in non-surgical, endoscopic treatments for type 2 diabetes and obesity, announced that it has received European CE mark approval for the EndoBarrier, a non-surgical therapy to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. This approval is specific to up to 12 months of treatment with the EndoBarrier; the product has already received CE mark approval for three and six months of treatment. Through its commercial partner, Elemental Healthcare, GI Dynamics has also announced the launch of the EndoBarrier in the United Kingdom.
Alberic Fiennes, M.D., consultant bariatric surgeon at St. Anthony's Hospital in Surrey, said: “This new procedure is pioneering in that it works as a metabolic regulator directly treating type 2 diabetes and associated weight-gain, giving patients a chance to drastically improve their condition. I was excited when I first heard about EndoBarrier and impressed at the results produced by clinical studies that showed that as early as the first week post procedure, patients can experience a significant effect on their diabetes.”
Clinical trials involving more than 300 patients have demonstrated the significant weight loss and diabetes improvement achieved with the EndoBarrier Gastrointestinal Liner. In fact, the EndoBarrier has been clinically proven to lower HbA1c levels (data presented at Digestive Disease Week 2010) and achieve weight loss of more than 20.0 percent of total body weight during 12 months of treatment (data presented at the International Federation for Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders 2010 World Congress, and Obesity 2010: 28th Annual Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society). The EndoBarrier procedure is quick, incisionless and reversible, and many patients often go home the day of the procedure. In recent clinical trials, there have been no serious adverse events and the most common potential side effects include pain, nausea and vomiting, which generally resolves in the first two weeks of treatment... GI Dynamics' Press Release -