Further development of HDAC inhibitor PDX101...Mechanistic data on the potential therapeutic role of nicotine in Parkinson's disease

Todays Headlines from across the DailyUpdates network

Featured Journal Article (from DailyUpdates-Neurodegenerative Diseases): Mechanistic data on the potential therapeutic role of nicotine in Parkinson's disease Market analysis shows that products currently used that have a neuroprotective effect had a market value of $5.1 billion in 2005 out of a CNS market value of $34.6 billion. With the approval of new products and takeover of markets for obsolete symptomatic therapies, the neuroprotection market value will rise $11.5 billion by the year 2010 when it will constitute a major and important component of the CNS market. Two of the major indications within the neurodegerative market are Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease (see World Neurodegeneratives Disease Markets, 2005-2009). There is a growing body of evidence linking alterations in nicotinic receptor number and/or function to both of these diseases as well as other CNS disorders. With respect to Parkinson’s disease, chronic oral nicotine has been shown to partially protect against striatal damage in nonhuman primates, suggesting potential as a treatment. Today’s featured study reports that nicotine treatment has a generalized effect on dopaminergic function preventing the dopamine turnover and the loss of synaptic plasticity in dopaminergic neurons that occurs after nigrostriatal damage [J Neurosci. 2006 Apr 26;26(17):4681-9]

Featured News Item (from DailyUpdates-Oncology): Further development of HDAC inhibitor PDX101 The histone deacetylase inhibitor class of therapeutics represents a highly exciting approach to cancer. Merck's ZOLINZA (SAHA; vorinostat) and Gloucester Pharmaceuticals' Romidepsin (Depsipeptide; FK228) lead this class however PXD101, being developed by CuraGen and TopoTarget is fast in pursuit. In November 2005 updated interim Phase I data on this compound was presented and this was followed in February, 2005 by the initiation of a phase II study in lymphoma (for a full analysis of this field see our feature Histone deacetylase inhibitors-Moving from the bench to a promising companion for classic and targeted cancer therapies). Although hematological cancers have represented the lead indication for all of the HDAC inhibitors in advanced development clinical studies have broadened to encompass solid tumors and today’s release from CuraGen and TopoTarget announces the initiation of a Phase I/II trial evaluating the safety and potential efficacy of PXD101 for the treatment of hepatocellular cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the fifth commonest cancer worldwide with about one million new cases diagnosed annually. It is estimated that the incidence of HCC in the seven major pharma markets will continue to rise over the next decade. There is no gold standard therapy - the market is characterized by high levels of unmet need, large patient potential and high commercial potential (see Hepatocellular Carcinoma - Growing Market Seeks New Players [source: CuraGen]