EYE ON CHINA

China approves five genetically modified crops. China’s science awards further encourage innovation. Severe and prolonged air pollution affects productivity of workers. Negative population growth looms ahead for China. Genetically-enhanced human blood vessel cells. New bat-borne virus related to Ebola. China’s homegrown anti-cancer drug wins international recognition. Tariff changes aim to cut drug prices. New procurement scheme to reduce drug prices. China brings more new drugs to market with fast-track approval. Tougher supervision vowed over food and drugs. Project seeks uniformity in treatment of China’s number one killer. Great potential seen in AI-powered medical imaging. Updates from China’s life sciences industry.

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Repurposing Disulfiram as An Anti-Cancer Agent: Updated Review on Literature and Patents

Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery ◽

10.2174/1574892814666190514104035 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 113-132 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Elmira Ekinci ◽

Sagar Rohondia ◽

Raheel Khan ◽

Qingping P. Dou

Keyword(s):

Drug Resistance ◽

Superoxide Dismutase ◽

Dna Methyltransferase ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Chronic Alcoholism ◽

New Drugs ◽

Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽

Cancer Drug ◽

Cancer Drugs ◽

Anti Cancer

Background:Despite years of success of most anti-cancer drugs, one of the major clinical problems is inherent and acquired resistance to these drugs. Overcoming the drug resistance or developing new drugs would offer promising strategies in cancer treatment. Disulfiram, a drug currently used in the treatment of chronic alcoholism, has been found to have anti-cancer activity.Objective:To summarize the anti-cancer effects of Disulfiram through a thorough patent review.Methods:This article reviews molecular mechanisms and recent patents of Disulfiram in cancer therapy.Results:Several anti-cancer mechanisms of Disulfiram have been proposed, including triggering oxidative stress by the generation of reactive oxygen species, inhibition of the superoxide dismutase activity, suppression of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. In addition, Disulfiram can reverse the resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs by inhibiting the P-glycoprotein multidrug efflux pump and suppressing the activation of NF-kB, both of which play an important role in the development of drug resistance. Furthermore, Disulfiram has been found to reduce angiogenesis because of its metal chelating properties as well as its ability to inactivate Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase and matrix metalloproteinases. Disulfiram has also been shown to inhibit the proteasomes, DNA topoisomerases, DNA methyltransferase, glutathione S-transferase P1, and O6- methylguanine DNA methyltransferase, a DNA repair protein highly expressed in brain tumors. The patents described in this review demonstrate that Disulfiram is useful as an anti-cancer drug.Conclusion:For years the FDA-approved, well-tolerated, inexpensive, orally-administered drug Disulfiram was used in the treatment of chronic alcoholism, but it has recently demonstrated anti-cancer effects in a range of solid and hematological malignancies. Its combination with copper at clinically relevant concentrations might overcome the resistance of many anti-cancer drugs in vitro, in vivo, and in patients.

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The impact of new cancer drug therapies on site specialised cancer treatment activity in a UK cancer network 2014–2018

Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice ◽

10.1177/1078155219839445 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 93-98 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jenna Bhimani ◽

Lara Philipps ◽

Lawrence Simpson ◽

Mark Lythgoe ◽

Aspasia Soultati ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Therapy ◽

New Drugs ◽

Electronic Prescribing ◽

Cancer Drug ◽

Individual Treatment ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

Delivery Planning ◽

The Uk ◽

Cancer Network ◽

The Impact

Introduction Drug treatment for cancer has changed dramatically over the past decade with many new drugs often with multiple applications. More recently, the detailed pathway for approval from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK has been simplified. To explore how these changes have impacted on systemic anti-cancer therapy tumour site-specific prescribing and workload activities, we have reviewed the prescribing records for 2014–2018 in a UK cancer network. Methods Information about the numbers of new systemic anti-cancer therapy drugs and NICE approvals were obtained from print editions of the British National Formulary (BNF) and the NICE website. Data on the numbers of new chemotherapy courses and individual treatment-related attendances were obtained from the cancer network Chemocare electronic prescribing system. Results During the five-year study period, there were 49 new systemic anti-cancer therapy drugs for all tumour types, and a total of 65 NICE technology approvals for solid tumour indications. Overall numbers of treatment courses increased by 40.7% and total treatment-related visits by 80.6%. There was a wide variation across tumour types with the highest number of increased visits seen for melanoma (349.3%) and prostate cancer (242.3%), but in contrast, no appreciable increases were seen for lower gastrointestinal cancers or small cell lung cancer. Conclusion The study confirms the major impact of the arrival of new drug technology and positive NICE appraisals on increasing systemic anti-cancer therapy prescribing and chemotherapy unit activity. The data in this study may be of help in planning for future service delivery planning and workforce configurations.

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Progress in the development of early diagnosis and a drug with unique pharmacology to improve cancer therapy

Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences ◽

10.1098/rsta.2008.0106 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 366 (1880) ◽

pp. 3599-3617 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

A Lehotzky ◽

N Tőkési ◽

I Gonzalez-Alvarez ◽

V Merino ◽

M Bermejo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cancer Therapy ◽

Early Diagnosis ◽

Drug Market ◽

New Drugs ◽

Cancer Drug ◽

Major Health ◽

Economic Problems ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

New Type ◽

Unstructured Protein

Cancer continues to be one of the major health and socio-economic problems worldwide, despite considerable efforts to improve its early diagnosis and treatment. The identification of new constituents as biomarkers for early diagnosis of neoplastic cells and the discovery of new type of drugs with their mechanistic actions are crucial to improve cancer therapy. New drugs have entered the market, thanks to industrial and legislative efforts ensuring continuity of pharmaceutical development. New targets have been identified, but cancer therapy and the anti-cancer drug market still partly depend on anti-mitotic agents. The objective of this paper is to show the effects of KAR-2, a potent anti-mitotic compound, and TPPP/p25, a new unstructured protein, on the structural and functional characteristics of the microtubule system. Understanding the actions of these two potential effectors on the microtubule system could be the clue for early diagnosis and improvement of cancer therapy.

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Company News

Asia-Pacific Biotech News ◽

10.1142/s0219030303001587 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 07 (14) ◽

pp. 847-855

Keyword(s):

Joint Venture ◽

Blood Clot ◽

Drug Distribution ◽

New Drugs ◽

Cancer Drug ◽

Biological Product ◽

Genome Research ◽

Phase Ii Clinical Trials ◽

Heart Pump ◽

Anti Cancer

Panvax’s Foot-and-Mouth Vaccine Program. Agenix’s ThromboView Phase Ia Blood Clot Trial Successful. Sino-Australian Joint Venture Established. Beijing Deweizhi’s Latest Drug Procurement Agreement. Shandong Enterprises Collaborate with Beijing Universities. Shandong Qilu Pharmaceutical Launches Indobufen Tablets. Domestic AIDS Drug Cleared For Marketing. Azithromycin Powder Marketed by Zhejiang Kangyu. Trial Reforms in Zhejiang Drug Distribution Industry. Anti-Cancer Drug Enters Phase II Clinical Trials. Bioway’s Nerve Growth Factor Put into Production. Latest Drug Delivery Center in Operation. Metahelix Signs Genome Research Deal with ViaLactia Biosciences. AstraZeneca Seeks Exclusive Marketing Rights for New Drugs in India. Imaging Technology Utilized in Meat Contaminant Screening. Inproser Launches In’novase Project in Malaysia. Asia’s First Human Insulin Plant. World’s Smallest Heart Pump Undergoing Clinical Trial. Kaohxiong Biological Product Co. Signs Distribution Agreement with Bayer. Agilent Technologies Expands Mass Spectrometry Portfolio with New MS Instruments and Proteomics Software.

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Company News

Asia-Pacific Biotech News ◽

10.1142/s0219030301000830 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 05 (15) ◽

pp. 323-332

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Erectile Dysfunction ◽

Joint Venture ◽

Phase Ii Trial ◽

Total Joint Replacement ◽

New Drugs ◽

Asia Pacific ◽

Cancer Drug ◽

Anti Cancer ◽

Korean Firm

Shanghai Roche Adopts Siebel eBusiness Applications. Trimedyne Commences Sales in China. HK's Healthy International to Distribute US Baywood Products for the Asia Pacific. Exactech Opens Total Joint Replacement Clinics in China. NexMed's New Erectile Dysfunction Product Launched in China. Singapore Key to Agilent's R&D. Yamanouchi Ties-up with Celera Genomics. Korean Firm Gets FDA Nod for Clinical Trials of New Drugs. Dr. Reddy's Gets Approval to Market Its First Biotech Product. Nicholas Piramal and Reckitt Benckiser Joint Venture Called Off. China's Largest Gene Company Applies for 3700 Patents. Syncor Acquires Australia's Radpharm Scientific. Prana Biotech Develops Potential Cure for Alzheimer's Disease. Progen Enters Into Phase II Trial of Anti-Cancer Drug. Ranbaxy Acquires Indian Herbal Brands. Sumitomo to Commercialize Novirio's Hepatitis B Drug.

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