January 2016

In the first study of its kind, researchers have identified a dozen inherited traits related to sleep, awake and activity cycles that are associated with severe bipolar disorder.

A person's diet can greatly impact his sperm's quality leading to harmful gene mutation in his children, scientists including an Indian-origin researcher have discovered.

Global Blood Therapeutics, Inc. (GBT), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of grievous blood-based disorders with significant unmet needs, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation for GBT440 for the treatment of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). GBT440 is being developed as a potentially disease-modifying therapy for SCD.

Minerva Neurosciences, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapies to treat CNS disorders, announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company's Investigational New Drug (IND) application for MIN-101, a first-in-class 5-HT2a and sigma2 antagonist in clinical development for the treatment of schizophrenia.

Pluristem Therapeutics Inc.,  a leading developer of placenta-based cell therapy products, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted the Company’s PLX-PAD cells Orphan Drug Designation in the treatment of severe preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is among the most common medical complications of pregnancy and a leading cause of premature births, stillbirths and neonatal and maternal deaths. There is no cure except delivery. Due to high risks to the mother, women diagnosed with severe preeclampsia are usually delivered promptly, even if the baby will be born prematurely and may suffer permanent disabilities as a result. Severe preeclampsia occurs in approximately 1% of pregnancies in Western countries.