Scientists in China are reporting discovery of two proteins present in the blood, of people with colon cancer that may serve as the potential biomarkers for accurately predicting whether the disease will spread. Their study is in ACS’ Journal of Proteome Research, a monthly publication.

BioAlliance Pharma SA (Paris:BIO), a company dedicated to the treatment and supportive care of cancer and AIDS patients, announces final positive results of its pivotal phase III clinical study in immunocompetent patients with recurrent herpes labialis (LIP Study) treated with acyclovir Lauriad®. Primary and secondary endpoints have been met with marked efficacy and good tolerance.

The European Medicines Agency has been formally notified by Antigenics Therapeutics Limited of its decision to withdraw its application for a centralised marketing authorisation for the medicine Oncophage (vitespen), 20 µg solution for infusion.

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: OPTR) announced that it has completed enrollment in the second of two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of fidaxomicin (OPT-80) for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection, or CDI.

High-risk melanoma patients who are treated with radiation after surgery have a significantly lower risk of their cancer returning to the lymph nodes (19 percent), compared to those patients who do not have radiation therapy (31 percent), according to the first randomized study of its kind presented at the plenary session, November 2, 2009, at [...]