Article - 04/08/2014 Europe’s first gene therapy Scientists from the National Center for Tumour Diseases (NCT) have shown that adeno-associated viruses (AAV) do not pose a cancer risk. This conclusion is based on the analysis of several million patient cells treated with AAV and the finding that the viruses do not integrate into the patient genome. AAV is the first-ever gene therapy for clinical use in the Western world. AAV vectors could also potentially be used as prototypes for the treatment…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/europe-s-first-gene-therapy
Article - 28/07/2014 Successes and setbacks of clinical gene therapy The use of retroviral haematopoietic stem cell gene therapy to treat hereditary immunodeficiencies has achieved great success in resolving the actual symptoms of the disease, but many of the patients that underwent therapy developed leukaemia later. Effective gene therapies involving gene shuttles that do not cause cancer are therefore required. The good news is that such therapies already exist.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/successes-and-setbacks-of-clinical-gene-therapy
Article - 21/07/2014 Predicting the efficiency of cancer drugs using mathematical models A research consortium was established at the Stuttgart Research Center Systems Biology SRCSB at the University of Stuttgart in January 2013 with the goal of establishing models that help predict the action of targeted therapeutics. The scientists combine molecular biology experiments with complex mathematical models in order to achieve a holistic understanding of disease and therapy. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/predicting-the-efficiency-of-cancer-drugs-using-mathematical-models
Press release - 15/07/2014 amcure Receives EUR 5 Million Funding for the Development of New Tumour Therapeutic Agents amcure GmbH, a spin-off from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), has closed a Series A financing deal amounting to a total of EUR 5 million. The funding comes from a consortium headed by LBBW Venture Capital, with participations from KfW, MBG Mittelständische Beteiligungsgesellschaft Baden-Wuerttemberg, S-Kap Beteiligungen Pforzheim, BioM AG as well as private investors. The company also receives subsidies from the German Ministry of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/amcure-receives-eur-5-million-funding-for-the-development-of-new-tumour-therapeutic-agents
Article - 14/07/2014 Andreas Marx – “Chemical Biology” of DNA polymerases Whether inside the cell or in molecular biology laboratories, the synthesis of DNA would not be possible without DNA polymerases. The regulation and application of this versatile enzyme family is the subject of research carried out by Prof. Dr. Andreas Marx at the University of Konstanz in Southern Germany. In addition to basic research into naturally occurring DNA polymerases, Marx deals with the development of novel polymerases that can be used…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/andreas-marx-chemical-biology-of-dna-polymerases
Article - 14/07/2014 Enhancers promote the activation of cancer-causing genes Scientists from the EMBL and the DKFZ in Heidelberg have made an important discovery about a highly aggressive childhood brain tumour: the oncogenes are activated as a result of comprehensive DNA rearrangements that had moved them into the vicinity of DNA sequences called enhancers. This activation mechanism might play a role in many types of tumours and therefore has the potential for being used in the targeted development of new, more effective…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/enhancers-promote-the-activation-of-cancer-causing-genes
Article - 30/06/2014 Targeting epigenetic DNA modifications for the diagnosis of cancer Epigenetic DNA modifications have been shown to play a role in carcinogenesis and are therefore a promising target for the early detection of cancer. Dr. Daniel Summerer and his research group at the University of Konstanz have developed a method that enables the direct and site-specific identification of epigenetic changes. The method represents a new approach in the field of epigenetic analysis as well as a major step towards simpler cancer…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/targeting-epigenetic-dna-modifications-for-the-diagnosis-of-cancer
Article - 30/06/2014 The German National Cohort: collecting data for a healthier future A large-scale long-term cohort study will be carried out to explain the causes of widespread diseases, in particular cancer, coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes, and to identify the risk factors that lead to or favour the development of a certain disease. The principal objective of the German National Cohort (GNC) is to create the conditions that enable the development of new strategies for the prevention, risk assessment and early…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-german-national-cohort-collecting-data-for-a-healthier-future
Article - 16/06/2014 Methadone – the last step to becoming an anti-cancer drug It all began several years ago with a surprising discovery in the laboratory. Claudia Friesen, a chemist at Ulm University, discovered that leukaemia cells that were exposed to methadone died within a relatively short period of time. Seven years on and many papers later, what was once a rather exotic substance is now undergoing clinical testing in cancer patients.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/methadone-the-last-step-to-becoming-an-anti-cancer-drug
Press release - 27/05/2014 DKFZ and NCT: individualized cancer medicine Comprehensive genome analyses of cancer cells have shown that each tumor and cancer patient are unique and need to be treated individually. To pave the way, by 2015 the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg aims to offer cancer patients at the NCT analyses of their individual cancer genomes to be used as the basis for personalized recommendations for treatment. This initiative from the DKFZ and NCT has been made possible by generous…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/dkfz-and-nct-individualized-cancer-medicine
Press release - 26/05/2014 50 years of research for life without cancer The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg turns 50 this year. Conducting research on the basic biological mechanisms of cancer, the DKFZ has been instrumental in our current understanding of the development and growth of cancer and has advanced the development of enhanced methods for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/press-release/50-years-of-research-for-life-without-cancer
Article - 28/04/2014 Sciomics: antibody microarrays and their broad range of applications Sciomics GmbH is a start-up biotech from Heidelberg with a special focus on protein microarrays. Sciomics produces complex, high-density antibody microarrays for cancer-relevant proteins and offers services for medical research, diagnostics and the industry, including biomarker screening, the verification of biomarker candidates, the analysis and localization of drug targets and their signalling pathways as well as the characterization of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/sciomics-antibody-microarrays-and-their-broad-range-of-applications
Article - 22/04/2014 Synthetic nanoparticles as mini-pills for the treatment of tumours Little is yet known about the risks and dangers of the tiny particles that play a key role in the field of nanotechnology because many applications are still under development. The technology is therefore not without controversy. However, there are promising possibilities for equipping artificial particles with new functions, such as optimizing the targeted delivery of drugs in the human body or developing a non-invasive type of cancer therapy.…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/synthetic-nanoparticles-as-mini-pills-for-the-treatment-of-tumours
Article - 14/04/2014 New insights into apoptotic signalling networks Apoptosis, i.e. programmed cell death, is a precisely regulated process that leads to the elimination of surplus or damaged cells. The proteins of the Bcl-2 family play a key role in apoptosis. However, their complex interactions are not yet known in detail. A group of researchers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland is now trying to get to the bottom of this issue. Coordinated by the University of Konstanz, the researchers are jointly…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/new-insights-into-apoptotic-signalling-networks
Article - 31/03/2014 Lsd1 – a gatekeeper for differentiation onset of embryonic mouse stem cells Epigenetics is an emerging field of research that studies heritable changes in gene expression that are not caused by changes in the underlying DNA sequence. Prof. Dr. Roland Schüle, Director of Central Clinical Research at the Freiburg University Medical Centre, and his team are specifically focused on epigenetic modifiers that regulate the timely development of placental mouse tissue. Schüle and his team have discovered in mouse embryos that a…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/lsd1-a-gatekeeper-for-differentiation-onset-of-embryonic-mouse-stem-cells
Dossier - 31/03/2014 Peptides – diverse molecules of life Peptides exist in all organisms, wherever there are cells. The range of their physiological functions is huge. Biologically active peptides can act as hormones, neurotransmitters, growth factors as well as toxins and antibiotics. This is what makes them highly interesting drug leads. They are used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, cancer and other diseases. Despite some drawbacks, peptides are gaining in importance as candidates for drugs…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/peptides-diverse-molecules-of-life
Article - 31/03/2014 The growing significance of peptide therapeutics The therapeutic use of peptides lags behind that of proteins. And there are good reasons for this. However, it seems that this is beginning to change and that peptide therapeutics are growing in significance. As a matter of fact, peptides have become rather popular candidates for drugs. https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/the-growing-significance-of-peptide-therapeutics
Article - 31/03/2014 TherapySelect – Identifying Susceptibility to Cancer Therapy TherapySelect Dr. Frank Kischkel is an innovative biotechnology company based in Heidelberg, Germany, with a special focus on the development, validation and application of diagnostic tests for cancer patients. The company’s proprietary CTR-Test® uses patients’ cancer cells to determine the tumor’s susceptibility to treatment with cytostatic drugs. This knowledge helps identify ineffective drugs prior to treatment as well as reduce adverse drug…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/therapyselect-identifying-susceptibility-to-cancer-therapy
Article - 26/03/2014 CeloNova is taking off CeloNova BioSciences is a global medical device company whose core technology is currently mainly used for interventional cardiology (stents) and tumour embolisation (selective occlusion of tumour arteries) products. The company has been expanding since 2010. CeloNova products are currently available in 52 countries and there are plans to place them on the Asian market in 2014 and further increase company turnover.https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/celonova-is-taking-off
Article - 24/03/2014 DNA – from Watson and Crick to modern molecular biology Watson and Crick deciphered the structure of DNA around 60 years ago and thus provided the key to understanding how genetic information is passed on. Since this discovery, which laid the foundation for molecular biology, new insights and developments have significantly changed many research areas and have also found their way into our everyday lives. DNA sequencing, genetic fingerprinting or personalised medicine – Watson and Crick’s heritage is…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/dna-from-watson-and-crick-to-modern-molecular-biology
Article - 24/03/2014 Vaccine against papillomaviruses protects from skin cancer Papillomaviruses are thought to cause non-melanoma skin cancer in people exposed to UV radiation, especially those who have suppressed immune systems. Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Charité University Hospital in Berlin have developed a vaccine that protects mice against such skin tumours. The vaccine is even effective in mice that have previously been infected with papillomaviruses and that have suppressed…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/vaccine-against-papillomaviruses-protects-from-skin-cancer
Article - 17/03/2014 Bacterial toxins manipulate proteins that serve as signalling switches in the host cell The enterobacterial species Photorhabdus asymbiotica und luminescens live in symbiosis with predatory nematodes that infest insect larvae and feed on their victims. The bacteria wait in the worms gut until their symbiotic partner has crept into the larvae then they are released and kill the insect with an ingenious toxin cocktail. Researchers in the team led by Professor Aktories and Dr. Thomas Jank recently discovered a mechanism of one of the…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/bacterial-toxins-manipulate-proteins-that-serve-as-signalling-switches-in-the-host-cell
Dossier - 10/03/2014 Cancer therapy and cancer diagnostics Thanks to improved diagnostics and therapy, today’s cancer patients can live considerably longer than patients several years ago. Nevertheless, some cancers, especially the strongly metastatic ones, are difficult to treat. Therapies targeting immune cells or cancer stem cells could potentially improve the current situation. The early detection and classification of tumours is crucial for the successful treatment of the disease, and molecular…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/dossier/cancer-therapy-and-cancer-diagnostics
Article - 24/02/2014 Chemical tools for exploring cell division The cell cycle, consisting of interphase and mitosis, forms the basis for eukaryotic growth and reproduction. Numerous control and regulatory mechanisms guarantee that the separation and distribution of the chromosomes happens synchronously with the formation of the daughter cells. Amongst other things, the two daughter cells only form when the chromosomes are far enough apart from each other. Professor Dr. Thomas Mayer from the University of…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/chemical-tools-for-exploring-cell-division
Article - 17/02/2014 Personalised tumour diagnostics with high-throughput sequencing CeGaT GmbH Center for Genomics and Transcriptomics in Tübingen is one of the first organisations that have managed to combine human genetic diagnostics with high-throughput sequencing for the diagnosis of specific tumour variants. CeGat researchers have developed diagnostic panels that they use to study more than 550 tumour-relevant genes simultaneously. The identification of genetic changes provides a more detailed diagnosis of tumours and helps…https://www.gesundheitsindustrie-bw.de/en/article/news/personalised-tumour-diagnostics-with-high-throughput-sequencing