Latest news

Diamyd US Phase III study well under way
Diamyd Medical announces today (10 March 2010) that one hundred study participants have been included in the ongoing US Phase III study, DiaPrevent. The global Phase III program with the company’s lead drug candidate Diamyd® has thereby enrolled more than 430 children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in Europe and the USA.
One hundred patients are now enrolled in the company’s US Phase III study called DiaPrevent at 33 diabetes centers throughout the USA and more sites will be added. The study will include 320 children and adolescents between 10 and 20 years of age, recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.
“After FDA’s approval to include children down to 10 years of age, which is enabling us to add pediatric sites, the recruitment rate has shown a remarkable increase. Numerous sites have been added with more to come. Last month one new patient per day received their first injection and the recruitment rate is accelerating," says Elisabeth Lindner, CEO and President of Diamyd Medical.
More than 430 children have received Diamyd® or placebo in the global Phase III program. To date, no serious side effects related to the drug have been reported, which supports the strong safety profile seen in previous studies with Diamyd®.
Read the full story

New strategy for internationalisation of education
On March 2nd, the Vice-Chancellor approved a new strategy for internationalisation of education at Umeå University.
The new plan of action is for the period 2010-2012, and the work towards internationalisation during this time period will focus on the following areas:

  • Improve the organisation and distribution of work in the internationalisation efforts
  • Develop, modernize and evaluate partnership agreements
  • Strengthen and publicise the “Umeå University” brand internationally
  • Increase international mobility among students, teachers and administrative staff
  • Strengthen the incentives for participation in internationalisation work
  • Create systems for adequate, relevant and target-group specific information in English for staff and students
  • Increase the integration of international students in studies and improve “internationalization at home”.
Read the full story

Perceived health can predict survival of esophago-gastric cancer
Changes in patients' self-rated quality of life after treatment for esophago-gastric cancer can predict the chances for long-term survival. This is the result researchers at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet made, in a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Pernilla Lagergren- The patient's self-rated quality of life, provide indications of whether he or she will survive. If the patient is experiencing poor physical recovery, fatigue and pain after treatment, this should be taken very seriously and lead to further investigation, says Pernilla Lagergren, researcher at Karolinska Institutet.
Esophageal and gastric cancers are aggressive tumors and the chance of surviving five years after treatment, is approximately 30-50 percent. Therefore it is very urgent to find factors that can predict the chances of survival after treatment.
Read the full story

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Reports Financial Results for the Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2009
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company utilizing innovative technology to fuel drug discovery and clinical development of novel treatments for central nervous system disorders, today (9 March 2010) reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. ACADIA reported a net loss of $8.7 million, or $0.23 per common share, for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared to a net loss of $14.0 million, or $0.38 per common share, for the fourth quarter of 2008. The net loss for the fourth quarter of 2009 included charges of $1.3 million in connection with ACADIA's restructuring announced in October. For the year ended December 31, 2009, ACADIA reported a net loss of $45.1 million, or $1.20 per common share, compared to a net loss of $64.2 million, or $1.73 per common share, for 2008.
Read the full story

RECENTIN did not meet primary endpoint in Horizon III study in metastatic colorectal cancer
AstraZeneca today (8 March 2010)announced the top-line results of a Phase II/III study evaluating RECENTIN (cediranib) compared with Avastin (bevacizumab) in patients with first-line metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). This study, HORIZON III, assessed the efficacy of cediranib compared with bevacizumab, both in combination with chemotherapy. Clinical activity was observed in the cediranib arm of the study and there was no statistically significant difference between treatment arms on the efficacy endpoints examined. However, the efficacy did not meet the pre-specified criteria for the primary endpoint of non-inferiority in progression-free survival.
The spectrum of adverse events associated with cediranib was broadly consistent with previous studies. HORIZON III continues with ongoing collection of overall survival data.
This is the first of two pivotal studies of cediranib in first-line mCRC. The other study, HORIZON II, is assessing the efficacy of cediranib combined with chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone, and data are expected in the coming months. Results from both studies will determine the clinical utility, if any, for cediranib in colorectal cancer and decisions regarding regulatory filing. Data from both of these studies will be submitted to a forthcoming medical meeting in the second half of 2010.
Read the full story

Michael J. Fox made honorary doctor at Karolinska Institutet
The renowned advocate and actor Michael J. Fox was (5 March 2010) made honorary doctor of medicine at Karolinska Institutet in recognition of his work raising funds and awareness for Parkinson's disease as the founder of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF).
Since 2000, the foundation has awarded over 175 million dollars to Parkinson's drug development research around the world, including at Karolinska Institutet. Michael J. Fox is to receive his honorary doctorate on 5 March from Associate Professor and Dean Clara H. Gumpert representing the Board of Research, which selects the honorary doctors at Karolinska Institutet. The ceremony will take place at the private residence of Mr David E. R. Dangoor Sweden's Honorary Consul-General in New York. Participating in the ceremony are also Professor Jan Andersson, vice-president of Karolinska Institutet and Professor Johan Ericson representing the research field.
"In its short history, the Michael J. Fox Foundation has gained the admiration and respect of the worldwide research community for its rigorous scientific standards and its commitment to quickly and aggressively funding high-impact therapeutic development," says Clara H. Gumpert, Dean.
Read the full story

The Board of Directors of Anoto evaluates the offer by Aurora Investment Ltd.
The Board of Directors of Anoto Group AB has noted the partial cash offer by Aurora Investment Ltd. to the shareholders of Anoto to tender up to 20.0 per cent of the shares in Anoto to Aurora. The Board of Directors of Anoto will evaluate the offer and announce its opinion of the offer and the reasons for this opinion by no later than two weeks prior to the expiry of the acceptance period.
Read the full story

Diamyd terminates liquidity provider agreement
Due to increased turnover in the share Mangold Fondkommission AB will no longer act as liquidity provider in Diamyd Medical's B-share. The current liquidity provider agreement will expire on March 5, 2010. A new liquidity provider has not been appointed.
Read the full story