Genentech's new parADigm FREE

by Lev Osherovich, Senior Writer

doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.300

Genentech scientists propose a new mechanism for Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis and have identified a trio of new AD targets. If the findings hold up in animal models, the work could lead to a major change of focus in developing drugs for the disease.

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New home for BDNF

by Kai-Jye Lou, Staff Writer

doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.301

Also in the Alzheimer's space, UC San Diego researchers think they have found a new home for BDNF in the disease and have demonstrated its neuroprotective effects across a panel of rodent and primate models. The group thinks a gene delivery approach could avoid the pitfalls of previous attempts to develop the growth factor as a therapeutic.

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Moving S1P into osteoporosis

by Brian Moy, Staff Writer

doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.302

NIH researchers have opened up yet another area for sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor agonists—osteoporosis. But S1P agonists in the clinic for other diseases such as multiple sclerosis may not be well suited to treat the bone disease.

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DMD's leaky faucet

by Lauren Martz, Staff Writer

doi:10.1038/scibx.2009.303

A team at Columbia University has found a new target for muscular dystrophy—a leaky RyR1 channel. Stopping the leak of calcium from the channel could help protect skeletal muscle.

Full text - DMD's leaky faucet | PDF (166 KB) - DMD's leaky faucet

Inhibiting metadherin to treat hepatocellular carcinoma; treating HCV with macrocyclic peptidomimetics; agonizing DNGR1 to lower cancer therapy-associated inflammatory necrosis; stimulating ADORA1 to treat insomnia; using biomarkers to detect Jalili syndrome; and more...

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A mouse model of Parkinson's disease; pH-sensitive, pegylated nanoparticles for small interfering RNA delivery; vaccination via delivery of dendritic cell-targeted protective antigens; immunomagnetic isolation of rare cells from blood; and more...

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