Asia briefs
A drug that appears to be more effective than aspirin at stopping blood clots has been discovered in Australia by a group of researchers from Monash University, Melbourne University and the Melbourne-based biotechnology company Cerylid Biosciences. They say the drug appears to be more effective than aspirin and has fewer side effects.
The problem with current drugs is that they do not discriminate between normal healthy blood clotting after a cut and pathological, disease-causing blood clots. This new drug seems to prevent disease-causing clots and does not increase the risk of bleeding, the researchers say.
In addition to successful studies on animals, the Phase I trials in 30 human volunteers in Adelaide had shown the drug was safe, and a second generation drug is expected to go on trial at the end of the year.
A protein discovered by researchers at Keio University and Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical that helps heal injuries may also curb obesity and diabetes in overweight people. The findings, corroborated through tests on animals, could lead to the development of new diabetes drugs. The team discovered in 2003 that a protein secreted by the liver, angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF), has a therapeutic effect in healing injuries.
Later tests show that mice lacking genes for this protein became markedly obese and developed diabetes, while mice whose genetic makeup was modified to produce a large amount of AGF did not become fat even when fed a high-caloric diet.
Novartis has signed a three-year agreement with the Thai government agency Biotec to develop new medicines based on indigenous natural compounds and micro-organisms. Novartis will train Thai scientists, transfer technology to Biotec, and contribute financial support toward joint research. Internships for Thai scientists will be offered in Switzerland.
Researchers in Melbourne, Australia, have cracked the genetic code for skin healing and growth in mice, which could lead to better treatment for cancer, burns and wounds in humans. Dr Stephen Jane, the Royal Melbourne Hospital's associate professor, said that people with cancer, wounds, burns and surgical cuts were likely to benefit.