Volume 9 Issue 10, October 2010

Do the lack of efficacy and the increase in the risk of skin cancer seen in Phase III trials of Eli Lilly's γ-secretase inhibitor undermine the potential of targeting this enzyme for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease?

A recent report provides a rare example of a potential new class of antibiotics. Dan Jones investigates the difficulties of finding such drugs.

The Head of Global Scientific Strategy at Merck Research laboratories discusses research and development priorities at Merck following their merger with Schering–Plough.

Fully human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which have the potential to be less immunogenic than earlier humanized and chimeric mAbs, are the most rapidly growing class of mAbs in clinical development. Here, Reichert and colleagues highlight trends in the development of human mAbs, seven of which have so far gained regulatory approval.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are attracting increasing attention as promising targets for the treatment of cancer. Here, the authors discuss the role of miRNAs in cancer development, and discuss the rationale, the strategies and the challenges for developing therapeutics that modulate miRNAs.

Compounds that alter microtubule function can be highly active in patients with cancer. Here, the authors review the mechanisms of action of and resistance to microtubule-binding agents, then highlight novel anticancer microtubule-binding agents that have recently been approved or reached clinical trials.

Integrins — a large family of cell adhesion molecules — have been extensively investigated as targets for diseases including thrombosis, cancer and autoimmune disorders. This article discusses how recent advances in understanding of integrin structure, function, ligand interaction and signalling pathways, as well as lessons learned from first-generation integrin antagonists, are indicating novel strategies for inhibiting integrins that could help exploit their full therapeutic potential.