New axis in hypertension FREE

by Kai-Jye Lou, Staff Writer

doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.731

U.S. and Danish researchers are proposing a new target in the renin-angiotensin system—the prostaglandin F receptor—and are suggesting that it offers a new therapeutic mechanism to control blood pressure in a pathway that has yielded multiple marketed drugs.

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IL-15's arranged marriage

by Brian Moy, Staff Writer

doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.732

National Cancer Institute researchers have found that IL-15 in combination with a CD40 antibody agonist could be more effective in treating cancer than the FDA-approved interleukin IL-2. The key will be making the combination sufficiently specific to avoid autoimmune side effects.

Full text - IL-15's arranged marriage | PDF (146 KB) - IL-15's arranged marriage

Not an open and shut helicase

by Michael J. Haas, Senior Writer

doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.733

Taiwanese researchers have identified a new scaffold they say inhibits HCV NS3 helicase without the cytotoxicity associated with other inhibitors of the target. But drug developers think the compounds need to be significantly more specific and potent to be drug candidates.

Full text - Not an open and shut helicase | PDF (155 KB) - Not an open and shut helicase

CIRM's clinical mindset

by Tim Fulmer, Senior Writer

doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.734

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has issued $68 million in grants specifically aimed at moving stem cell research closer to the clinic. The initial winners are institutes and companies focused on developing stem cells for neurodegenerative disorders and scaling up the production of stem cell therapies.

Full text - CIRM's clinical mindset | PDF (134 KB) - CIRM's clinical mindset

Treating arthritis with folate-targeting haptens; predicting susceptibility to neuroblastoma; inhibiting XBP1 to treat atherosclerosis; using adrenergic receptor agonists to treat overactive bladder; and more...

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Structure-based rationalization and prediction of adverse drug reactions; stable therapeutic mRNAs; bivalent protein kinase inhibitors; and more...

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