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NextGen Sciences Launches CNS Disease Biomarker Assay
January 20, 2012
NextGen Sciences aims to be a leader in the growing CNS biomarker market, launching a new tool to help researchers identify disease biomarkers. Their new multiplex panel consists of 82 human proteins found in the cerebrospinal fluid that may have potential to diagnose ALS, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Power3 Medical Products has a similar product in development based on serum markers (read here: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/amarantus-biosciences-licenses-parkinsons-disease-diagnostic-biomarker-test-from-power3-medical-products-2012-01-23).


Phytopharm Reports Preclinical ALS Success
January 16, 2012
British company Phytopharm reports that new research shows that its neurotrophic drug Cogane leads to significant improvement in muscle strength in ALS mice in studies conducted by an academic collaborator. Cogane is currently in clinical trials for Parkinson's disease and has received orphan drug status for ALS by the American and European regulatory agencies.


Biogen Expands Neurological Pipeline
January 11, 2012
After shedding about 17 early-stage drug projects and its oncology and cardiovascular programs a few years ago, Biogen Idec seeks to gradually rebuild it early-stage drug pipeline with compounds aimed to treat neurological and autoimmune conditions. The company’s CEO talks to the Wall Street Journal about looking for new potential drugs for the company's pipeline and discusses their late stage ALS and spinal muscular atrophy drugs.


MDA Awards $1 Million to Tivorsan Pharmaceuticals for Accelerating Pivotal Pre-Clinical Work on TVN-102 as a Potential Muscular Dystrophy Treatment
January 5, 2012
Rhode Island based biotech startup Tivorsan Pharmaceuticals has received $1 million from the Muscular Dystrophy Association's Venture Philanthropy division to accelerate its pre-clinical research for TVN-102 for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The drug mimics a protein naturally found on muscle fiber membranes that stabilizes neuromuscular junctions, structures compromised in neuromuscular diseases like DMD and ALS.


Biogen Idec Strikes $299M Deal for Isis Antisense Drug
January 4, 2012
The recent multi-million dollar deal between Biogen Idec and Isis Pharmaceuticals signals Biogen’s growing interest in rare diseases. Under the agreement, Biogen will provide $29 million in upfront funding to finance Isis’ antisense Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) drug, which has recently shown efficacy for SMA, a genetic motor neuron disease with certain similarities to ALS. Isis is also moving forward with its antisense ALS drug under clinical development in collaboration with Genzyme.