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Cell Communication Following DNA Damage Has Implications In Aging And Cancer
When cells experiencing DNA damage fail to repair themselves, they send a signal to their neighbors letting them know they"re in trouble. The discovery, which shows that a process dubbed the DDR (DNA Damage Response) also controls communication from cell to cell, has implications for both cancer and aging. The findings appear in the July 13 online edition of the Nature Cell Biology.
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Scientists And Clinicians Meet To Understand "Rain Man"
UQ"s Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) will host a workshop tomorrow Tuesday July 14 for clinicians and scientists seeking to better understand the syndromes associated with a brain development condition made famous in the movie Rain Man.
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President Obama Reverses Bush Policy Preventing Consumers From Suing Product Makers In State Courts
President Obama on Wednesday ordered federal agencies to rescind regulations enacted by former President George W. Bush"s administration that protect manufacturers of such products as medical devices from product-liability lawsuits in state court, the Wall Street Journal reports. The decision could affect a wide range of manufacturers and products because the Bush administration "aggressively" encouraged federal agencies to make rules that pre-empt and override state laws, which often meant protecting manufacturers of medical equipment from lawsuits, according to the Journal. Obama in a two-page memo wrote that federal agencies and departments could claim state law is pre-empted by federal law only when there is a well-defined legal basis. The memo stated that state laws are important because they supplement federal regulations. "State and local governments have frequently protected health, safety and environment more aggressively than has the national government," Obama wrote (Mundy/Kendall, Wall Street Journal, 5/21). Obama ordered agencies to review regulations from the past decade and look for possible occasions in which the government improperly declared federal pre-emption (Yost, AP/Kansas City Star, 5/20). According to the Journal, business groups oppose the decision (Wall Street Journal, 5/21).
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Mersana Reports Preliminary Phase 1 Results Of XMT-1001 In Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

Mersana Therapeutics presented preliminary results of a Phase 1 clinical trial for its lead development candidate, XMT-1001, in a poster session at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Orlando. XMT-1001 is a broad-spectrum cytotoxic, based on camptothecin (CPT), conjugated to Mersana"s biodegradable polymer platform, Fleximer(R). Ten of 37 evaluable patients dosed to date demonstrated evidence of stable disease and seven patients had prolonged stable disease for at least 12 weeks. The study has also demonstrated that XMT-1001 can be safely given to patients. Toxicities such as hemorrhagic cystitis and serious diarrhea were not observed in this preliminary assessment. In addition, a favorable pharmacokinetic profile was observed. "We are encouraged by the favorable safety and pharmacokinetic profile demonstrated by XMT-1001 thus far," said Julie Olson, Chief Executive Officer of Mersana. "These preliminary results build on our preclinical studies, which showed that XMT-1001 has greater efficacy in human tumor xenograft models than comparable doses of irinotecan, an agent with a similar mechanism of action as camptothecin and that is approved to treat patients with colon cancer. We look forward to advancing XMT-1001 into a Phase 2 trial in a solid tumor indication." About the XMT-1001 Preliminary Study The Phase 1 trial is an open label, dose escalation study of XMT-1001 administered as an IV infusion once every three weeks in patients with advanced solid tumors. The objectives of the study are to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) as well as to assess safety and pharmacokinetics. The maximum tolerated dose is not yet defined and accrual to the study continues. ASCO Poster Information "A Phase I study of the safety and pharmacokinetics (PK) of XMT-1001 given as an intravenous (IV) infusion once every three weeks to patients with advanced solid tumors." By E. Sausville, L. Garbo, G. J. Weiss, S. Anthony, D. Shkolny, A. V. Yurkovetskiy, C. Bethune, R. J. Fram; University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD; New York Oncology Hematology, Albany, NY; TGen Clinical Research Services, Scottsdale, AZ; Mersana Therapeutics, Inc., Cambridge, MA; Covance Bioanalytical, Madison, WI About Fleximer(R) The key component of Mersana"s platform is Fleximer(R), a novel, biodegradable and bio-inert polymer that can be chemically linked to small molecules and biologics. Fleximer(R) technology improves the therapeutic index of existing compounds by uniquely combining biodegradability with "biological stealth" properties, making Fleximer(R) materials and their conjugates long-circulating and non-immunotoxic. Fleximer(R) molecules are characterized by solubility in water, with stability in common manufacturing procedures. About Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. Mersana Therapeutics employs its biodegradable polymer platform (Fleximer(R)) to create new and better medicines. We are advancing our own clinical-stage pipeline of novel compounds with the potential to address multiple oncology indications. We also leverage the versatility of Fleximer through partnerships to overcome the safety, efficacy, and delivery challenges of nucleic acids, biologics, and small molecules in numerous therapeutic areas. Fleximer(R) and Mersana(R) are registered trademarks of Mersana Therapeutics, Inc. Mersana Therapeutics, Inc


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