Novartis publish series of MK2 inhibitors

Novartis have published a series of pyrrolo-pyrimidone MK2 Inhibitors

Imatinib shows potential in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH)

Phase II data presented at the European Respiratory Society show Imatinib to demonstrate efficacy in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

RAD001/Sandostatin combo shows efficacy in pancreatic cancer

Data presented at the European of Medical Oncology (ESMO) show that combining RAD001 with Sandostatin demonstrates clinical benefits in 82% of  pancreatic neurocrine cancer patients

Kidney cancer patients treated with RAD001 reach 5 months without tumor growth

Data presented at the European of Medical Oncology (ESMO) show that kidney patients treated with RAD001 now reach 5 months without tumor growth compared to 1.9 months for controls

Novartis granted priority review for everolimus in advanced kidney cancer

Novartis have announced that RAD001 (everolimus) has been granted priority review by the US FDA for the treatment of patients with advanced kidney cancer after failure of standard treatment. Marketing authorization applications for RAD001 have also been filed with the EMEA and Swissmedic. The proposed brand name for RAD001 is Afinitor

Novartis publish series of benzimidazole lck inhibitors

Novartis have published a series of benzimidazole lck inhibitors

Gleevec receives priority review in US for GIST after surgery

Gleevec (imatinib) has been granted priority review status by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the first therapy to be reviewed for use after surgery in kit-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

UKs NICE recommends Lucentis for Wet AMD

The UK’s NICE final guidance has recommended Lucentis as a cost-effective treatment for wet AMD

Novartis PI3K/mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 inhibit VEGF induced Angionesis/Cell proliferation

Novartis’ dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 has been found to inhibit VEGF-induced cell proliferation in vitro and VEGF-induced angiogenesis in vivo. Activity is believed to be due to PI3K activity since RAD001 did not exhibit the same effects

Imatinib in connective tissue diseases

Three papers in this months Arthritis and Rheumatism discuss Imatinib in connective tissue diseases:

Treatment of pulmonary fibrosis for twenty weeks with imatinib mesylate in a patient with mixed connective tissue disease
Imatinib mesylate treatment of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis
Is imatinib mesylate a promising drug in systemic sclerosis?