Debio 0617, a novel inhibitor of an undisclosed oncology pathway:
Lausanne, Switzerland, and Bangalore, India – September 13, 2010 – Debiopharm Group™ (Debiopharm), a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical group of companies with a focus on the development of innovative prescription drugs that target unmet medical needs, and Aurigene Discovery Technologies Ltd (Aurigene), a Bangalore-based fully integrated, global biotech focused on small molecule and peptide drug discovery and development from target identification and validation to pre-IND drug candidates, today announced the successful nomination of a development candidate, Debio 0617, a novel inhibitor of an undisclosed oncology pathway. Debio 0617 has started IND enabling studies and is expected to enter clinical development in 2012.

Advinus Therapeutics, the research-based pharmaceutical company promoted by the TATA Group has discovered a novel molecule for the treatment of type II diabetes – GKM -001. The molecule is an activator of glucokinase; an enzyme that regulates glucose balance and insulin secretion in the body.
GKM-001 is the completely indigenously developed molecule and the initial clinical trials have shown excellent results for both safety and efficacy.
“Considering past failures of other companies on this target, our discovery program primarily focused on identifying a molecule that would be efficacious without causing hypoglycemia. The Phase I data indicate that GKM – 001 is a liver selective molecule that has overcome the biggest clinical challenge of hypoglycemia. GKM-001 is differentiated from most other GK molecules in development due to this novel mechanism of action,” said Dr. Rashmi Barbhaiya, MD & CEO, Advinus Therapeutics.

Cellular targets for anti-retroviral drug development are disclosed. The cellular targets comprise ATR kinase and its relevant substrates, based on the identification of the ATR kinase as required for the final step of retroviral DNA integration. Assays for identifying modulators of retroviral integration via the ATR kinase pathway are disclosed, as well as modulators identified by such assays. Pharmaceutical preparations and methods of their use in treating retroviral infection are also disclosed.

A dosage form is disclosed comprising means for delaying the delivery of drug from the dosage form following the administration of the dosage form to a patient in need of drug therapy.

The present invention provides novel antibodies. In particular, the present invention provides fusion antibodies comprising antibody heavy and light chain fusions. The present invention further provides multivalent antibodies comprising multiple fusion antibody chains. The present invention further provides methods of generating splice resistant antibody genes.

Methods for the formation of colloidal suspensions. The method includes combining an aqueous substance with a second substance that is normally immiscible with the aqueous substance, to form a mixture, and before, during or after the combining removing dissolved gases from one or both of the aqueous and second substance, whereby the aqueous and second substances mix and form a colloidal suspension. The methods for the formation of colloidal suspensions include methods for the formation of emulsions as well as particulate dispersions. The methods used to form the colloidal suspensions in accordance with the present invention produce colloidal suspensions that are stable for periods from an hour to several weeks in the absence of surfactants or stabilizing agents.

The present invention is based, at least in part, on the discovery of compositions and methods for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases or disorders, e.g., HIV infection, AIDS, and AIDS-related diseases. In particular, the present invention pertains to methods of modulating cellular gene expression or protein activity, e.g., CCR5, gene expression or protein activity and/or gene expression or protein activity of a gene or sequence of an infectious agent, in order to treat or prevent infectious diseases or disorders, HIV infection, AIDS, or an AIDS-related disease or disorder. In one embodiment the combination of an RNA interfering agent targeting a cellular gene in combination with an RNA interfering agent targeting a gene or sequence of an infectious agent results in prolonged prevention of infection by an infectious agent. The present invention is based on the identification of novel RNA interference agents, e.g., siRNA molecules, which target cellular genes, e.g., chemokine receptors, e.g., the CCR5 gene, and result in inhibition of target gene expression on target gene expressing cells, thereby inhibiting entry of infectious agents, e,g., HIV infection into target cells, prevention infection, and/or suppressing replication in established infection.