SciBX: Science-Business eXchange Contents: April 11 2013, Volume 6 / Issue 14

TABLE OF CONTENTS April 11 2013, Volume 6 / Issue 14 Analysis Cover Story Translational Notes Targets and Mechanisms The Distillery: Therapeutics Cancer Infectious disease Inflammation Neurology Renal disease The Distillery: Techniques Assays and screens Disease models Drug platforms Advertisement Biopharma Dealmakers A supplement to Nature Biotechnology and Nature Reviews Drug Discovery The December 2012 issue of Biopharma Dealmakers showcases companies with partnering opportunities and contains a special feature on China's emerging biotech industry. This week, find out about how you can collaborate with Pheromonicin Biotechnology Ltd. Nature Publishing Group and Relay Technology Management present: The Epigenetics Target Explorer  Click here to access this free online tool and the accompanying article in Nature Reviews Drug Discovery.  Scotland is a global leader in the drug discovery and development process. We are home to an established network of 50+ pharmaceutical clinical trials support and Contract Research Organisations (CROs). Explore our drug discovery strengths in: • Neuroscience • Oncology • Cardiovascular medicine • Diabetes and metabolic diseases http://www.sdi.co.uk/sectors/life-sciences.aspx   Trade Secrets A Nature Network blog by BIOENTREPRENEUR Brought to you by Nature Biotechnology Access the insights, advice and commentary from scientists and entrepreneurs building biotech sectors around the world. Join the global dialogue on life science entrepreneurship: http://blogs.nature.com/trade_secrets   Analysis Cover Story Top RET, set, go Chris Cain doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.326 Just 15 months after RET fusions were first identified in 1%–2% of NSCLC cases, early data from a Phase II trial of Exelixis' Cometriq suggest that blocking the target could be effective in this patient population. At least four additional investigator-initiated trials are testing marketed RET inhibitors in patients with fusion-positive lung cancer. Full Text | PDF Translational Notes Top GSK's electric frontier Lev Osherovich doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.327 GlaxoSmithKline today launched an academic partnering program and a $1 million cash prize to spark technology development in the new field of electroceuticals. The pharma's goal is to manipulate nerve impulses to treat a range of diseases in the periphery. Full Text | PDF Targets and Mechanisms Top Oncometabolite takedown Joanne Kotz doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.328 Agios has reported the first mutant-selective inhibitors of the metabolic enzymes IDH1 and IDH2 and has shown therapeutic effect in preclinical cancer models. The company has a partnership with Foundation Medicine to develop companion diagnostics to identify patients with cancer who have the mutations. Full Text | PDF RaPID results Chris Cain doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.329 A Japanese team has provided new structural insights into the function of a conserved class of drug transporters. The researchers are collaborating with PeptiDream to develop cyclic peptide inhibitors that hit medically relevant members of the class. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Therapeutics Cancer Top Isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.330 Patient sample and in vitro studies suggest mutant-selective IDH2 inhibitors could help treat patients with IDH2-mutant AML. Full Text | PDF H3 histone family 3A (H3.3A; H3F3A); histone cluster 1 H3b (HIST1H3B); polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.331 In vitro and cell culture studies identified gain-of-function mutations in H3F3A and HIST1H3B that could be targeted to treat pediatric glioblastoma. Full Text | PDF Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.332 Mouse and in vitro studies suggest inhibiting mutant IDH1 could help treat IDH1-mutant gliomas. Full Text | PDF Discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 1 (DDR1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.333 Rat and in vitro studies identified inhibitors of DDR1 that could help treat cancer. Full Text | PDF Tankyrase TRF1-interacting ankyrin-related ADP-ribose polymerase (TNKS); TNKS2 doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.334 In vitro and mouse studies identified a TNKS and TNKS2 dual inhibitor that could be useful for treating cancer. Full Text | PDF Ret proto-oncogene (RET); KIF5B-RET oncogenic fusion protein doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.335 Preliminary results from an investigator-initiated Phase II trial suggest small molecule RET inhibitors could help treat RET fusion–positive lung cancers. Full Text | PDF HNF1 homeobox B (HNF1B) doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.336 Patient studies suggest genetic and epigenetic variation in HNF1B could be useful for the classification and prognosis of ovarian cancers. Full Text | PDF Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.337 Cell culture and mouse studies suggest inhibiting FAK could help treat Ewing's sarcoma. Full Text | PDF Infectious disease Top Dengue NS3 protease; dengue NS2B protein doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.338 In vitro studies suggest a new dengue protease complex could help guide the development of new antivirals to treat dengue fever. Full Text | PDF Inflammation Top F-box protein 3 (FBXO3) doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.339 Patient sample and mouse studies suggest FBXO3 inhibitors could be used to treat inflammation caused by infectious diseases. Full Text | PDF Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6); tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.340 In vitro and cell culture studies suggest inhibiting SIRT6 could help treat inflammation by reducing TNF-α secretion. Full Text | PDF Neurology Top Cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CNR1); CNR2 doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.341 Mouse studies suggest blocking the endocannabinoid system could help treat fragile X syndrome. Full Text | PDF Orexin 1 receptor (HCRTR1; OX1R); HCRTR2 (OX2R) doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.342 Rat and nonhuman primate studies suggest antagonizing orexin receptors could help treat insomnia with fewer cognitive side effects than marketed drugs that modulate GABA receptors. Full Text | PDF μ-Opioid receptor (OPRM1; MOR) doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.343 SAR studies identified synthetic peptide analogs of endomorphin-1 that could be useful for treating pain. Full Text | PDF Renal disease Top Polycystic kidney disease 1 (PKD1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.344 Mouse studies suggest inhibiting glycolysis could help treat autosomal dominant PKD. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Techniques Assays and screens Top Panel of peptoid ligands of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) autoantibodies for diagnosing neuromyelitis optica (NMO) doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.345 A panel of peptoid ligands that bind AQP4 autoantibodies could be useful for diagnosing NMO. Full Text | PDF Yeast chemical genetic screen for inhibitors of human telomerase doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.346 A yeast chemical genetic screening assay for small molecule inhibitors of human telomerase could help identify new leads to treat telomerase-positive cancers. Full Text | PDF Disease models Top Induced neuroblastoma stem cells doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.347 An induced stem cell–like neuroblastoma cell line could be useful for studying the cancer. Full Text | PDF Mammalian cell and fruit fly models for neurodegeneration induced by GGGGCC repeats doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.348 Mammalian neuronal cells and fruit flies that express GGGGCC repeats could be useful as models to study disease pathology and evaluate therapeutic candidates to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Full Text | PDF Transgenic rat model for Alzheimer's disease (AD) doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.349 A transgenic rat model for AD could help identify new therapeutic candidates to treat AD. Full Text | PDF Drug platforms Top Antibody regions required for broadly neutralizing HIV antibody activity doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.350 In vitro and structural studies identified new regions of antibodies against HIV that could contribute to their broadly neutralizing activity. Full Text | PDF Bacteriophage T4 co-delivery of DNA and proteins for prime-boost vaccines doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.351 Cell culture and mouse studies suggest co-delivery of DNA and proteins with bacteriophage T4 could be useful as a vaccine. Full Text | PDF Cross-reactive anti-HIV antibody to guide vaccine epitope development doi:10.1038/scibx.2013.352 Structural and evolutionary analysis of a new cross-reactive HIV antibody could be used to design vaccines to help prevent the disease. Full Text | PDF You have been sent this Table of Contents Alert because you have opted in to receive it. 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