The human body is filled with about 100 trillion microorganisms or bacteria in its intestines, which is much more than even the number of cells in the body. These gut bacteria aid in fermenting undigested carbohydrates and consume fatty acids. The microbes are also found in other mammals. New research shows that these gut microbes […]
While the most common animal models used in scientific research are lab rats and mice, pet dogs may also be useful animals to study. Nature Reviews mentions that dogs and humans have many similar characteristics such as tumor genetics, molecular targets, treatment responses, and even biological mannerisms. Thereby analyzing cancer in dogs and comparing findings […]
The characterization and optimization of the safety and efficacy of drug candidates in the discovery phase of drug development are crucial to prevent drug failure and to predict clinical outcomes during advanced phases. This post will discuss the various aspects and strategies of identifying lead compounds in early drug development. Physiochemical properties of candidate drugs […]
Over the years, the scientific community has found more results supporting the health risks of sugar such as cancer development, obesity, and diabetes. While food manufacturers have attempted to curb the problem by offering products with artificial sweeteners, studies continue to show that diet soda and similar synthetic sweets also have hazards. Science Magazine reports […]
In early drug development, identifying predictable safety issues of pharmaceutical lead candidates is crucial for reducing safety-related attrition later in the process. Approximately 75% of all adverse drug reactions (ADR) have been dose-dependent, which can be predicted on the basis of pharmacology profiling and safety evaluation studies. In this post, we will focus on the […]
Cancer research has advanced tremendously over the years due to the significant benefits of mouse model studies. However, it has taken longer than anticipated to develop cancer drugs that are both effective in animal models and human clinical trials. Cancer research has only a 10 percent success rate of drugs that are both compelling in […]
Immunomodulatory biologics (“biologics”) are large molecules – proteins, peptides, and nucleotides – produced through biological processes in living cells and organisms. Currently, biologics represent one-third of newly licensed pharmaceutical products and target a broad range of diseases, mainly in oncology and autoimmune/inflammatory disorders. These biologics are generated through recombinant DNA-based techniques and are divided into […]
Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are serious conditions that affect the colon and small intestine as well as the mouth, esophagus, and stomach. These conditions can lead to vomiting, abdominal cramps and pain, weight loss, diarrhea, and even anemia. According to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, inflammatory bowel diseases – including ulcerative colitis and […]
Approximately 75% of breast cancers are diagnosed as hormone positive and exhibit acceptable responses to endocrine-targeted therapies, whereas 7-15% are ER-/PR- Her2+ or ER-/PR-/HER2- – which are somewhat refractory to conventional endocrine treatment. Gene variations, different cancer subtypes, and diverse histopathologies and clinical outcomes among patients all present a challenge to currently available breast cancer […]
Scientists have spent the last century developing better cancer treatments and uncovering causes of tumor growth in order to save lives. However, today the U.S.-based scientific community is able to do little without the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Luckily, the FDA has recently moved forward in enhancing cancer treatments and research […]