January 2016

Teenagers as young as 16 are experiencing chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), say researchers, adding that it shows that the condition is much more common in them than previously thought.

Agenus Inc., an immuno-oncology company developing checkpoint modulator antibodies and cancer vaccines, announced  that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the company's investigational new drug (IND) application for AGEN1884, an immune checkpoint modulator (CPM) antibody that binds to cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4). Clearance was also received for a second CPM antibody partnered with Incyte (NASDAQ: INCY) for INCAGN1876, which targets glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein (GITR). Clinical trials for both candidates are expected to begin in the first half of 2016.

Amgen announced that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare has approved the cholesterol-lowering medication Repatha® (evolocumab) Injection, the first proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor to be approved in Japan. Repatha is a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits PCSK9, a protein that reduces the liver's ability to remove low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or "bad" cholesterol, from the blood. Repatha was developed in Japan by Amgen Astellas BioPharma K.K. (AABP), a joint venture between Amgen and Astellas Pharma Inc., a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Tokyo.

Pelvalon, a medical device company dedicated to developing innovative solutions for women suffering from loss of bowel control, today announced limited U.S. commercial availability of its Eclipse™ System, following U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) clearance for the company’s next-generation device.

Vitamin B12 levels in the brain are significantly decreased in the elderly and are much lower in individuals with autism or schizophrenia as compared to their peers at similar ages, a new study has found.

Neurons present in our gut play a key role in protecting intestinal tissue from over-inflammation, says a new research from the Rockefeller University.

German Scientists have taken an important step forward in understanding "Black Death" that wrecked havoc in Europe hundreds of years ago.