AIMSPRO is Awarded TGA Orphan Status for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

September 29th, 2009 LONDON - In response to today's results from pharmaceutical firm Novartis on its oral multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy FTY-720 (fingolimod), the MS Society has released the following statement: MS Society Head of Research, Dr Lee Dunster, said: "The availability of oral therapies will herald a new dawn for people with MS and if trial results satisfy the regulator there could be a real alternative to inconvenient and unpleasant injections." Notes to Editors: Oral therapies in MS - There are currently two oral therapies in development for MS. - Fingolimod and cladribine (Merck Serono) both show similar reduction in relapse rates and disability progression.

September 14th, 2009 LONDON - Forest Laboratories UK Ltd, (a wholly owned subsidiary of Forest Laboratories Inc) announced that following the successful completion of its pan-European multi-centre phase III study (the Freedom Study), it has applied to the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) to licence its new formulation dry powder colistimethate sodium for inhalation (Colobreathe(R)) for use by Cystic Fibrosis patients. The new formulation which was wholly developed by Forest Laboratories UK has previously been granted orphan drug status by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) and when approved Colobreathe(R) will be made available throughout the EU in conjunction with its chosen partner Grünenthal GmbH.

September 13th, 2009 GENEVA - - The Majority of Patients Found the Electronic Multidose Device "Suitable" or "Very Suitable" for Self-Injection and Rated the Device Functions as "Easy" or "Very Easy" to Use - RebiSmart(TM) Has the Potential to Improve Treatment Adherence for Multiple Sclerosis Patients Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today the results of the RebiSmart(TM) user trial, a Phase IIIb, multi-center, single-arm study assessing the suitability and ease of use of RebiSmart(TM), a new electronic, multi-dose device for self-injection of Rebif(R) in patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS). Based on patient feedback after 12 weeks of use, 72% of patients rated the new RebiSmart(TM) device as "very suitable"/"suitable" for subcutaneous self-injection of Rebif(R) (primary endpoint).

September 10th, 2009 GENEVA - - Data Presented at the 25th Congress of the European Committee for the Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) Held in Dusseldorf, Germany, From September 9-12, 2009. Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today the results of the complete 40-week IMPROVE (Investigating MRI Parameters with Rebif(R) imprOVEd formulation) study.

September 6th, 2009 HEIDELBERG, Germany - SYGNIS Pharma AG (Frankfurt: LIO; ISIN DE0005043509; Prime Standard) announced today that the company will present at the 11th Rodman & Renshaw Annual Global Investment Conference, September 9-11, 2009 at the New York Palace Hotel, New York. The presentation will be given by Prof.

August 23rd, 2009 LONDON - The MS Society, the UK's largest charity dedicated to supporting everyone affected by multiple sclerosis (MS), has responded to the news issued by the University of Bristol concerning the study of Galanin in MS. The exact role of galanin in MS, and its potential as a treatment for MS, is still not certain but further research should clarify this.

June 23rd, 2009 GENEVA - - RebiSmart(TM) is Designed to Improve Ease of Handling and Usage and Introduces the Potential for Improved Treatment Adherence for Multiple Sclerosis Patients - First Launch of RebiSmart(TM) Together With Recently Approved Multidose Cartridges of the new Formulation of Rebif(R) in the European Union and Canada Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today the launch of the innovative individually adjustable electronic injection device RebiSmart(TM) for the self-administration of Rebif(R) (interferon beta-1a), the company's disease-modifying drug used to treat relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). RebiSmart(TM) is the first device of its kind in this indication and was specifically designed for ease of handling and use.

June 14th, 2009 MANCHESTER, England - Dr. Son Le, Technology Development Manager for United Utilities, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for Services to the water industry.

April 13th, 2009 UPPSALA, Sweden - Oasmia Pharmaceutical, Uppsala, Sweden, has been granted Orphan Drug designation by the USA FDA of Paclical(R) for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Orphan Drug designation can entail additional assistance from FDA to expedite and optimize drug development and upon approval a seven year market exclusivity is granted.

April 5th, 2009 LEIDEN, The Netherlands - The Dutch Orphan Disease Registry Consortium is set up in order to build a disease registry framework to collect information on rare diseases, encourage drug development and optimize patient care. The consortium focuses on inborn errors of metabolism as target group of diseases.

August 31st, 2009 NEW DELHI - 'Lateral entrants', a term coined for non-RSS workers, are in for tough days ahead in the Bharatiya Janata Party. In the wake of recent wrangling in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) followed by the exit of senior leader Jaswant Singh and L.K.

April 14th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A team of biologists has demonstrated that a group of African fish, known as cichlids, can eat using the help of a non-visual sensory system, which is the first of its kind reported in this species. Jacqueline Webb, a University of Rhode Island (URI) professor of biology, and her colleagues have demonstrated that a group of African cichlids feeds by using its lateral line sensory system to detect minute vibrations made by prey hidden in the sediments.

January 9th, 2009 AHMEDABAD - The lateral process to place experienced students from various programs in IIM-Ahmedabad at non-entry level positions in different sectors has officially begun, a statement issued by the institute said Saturday. 'The objective of this particular process is to provide our experienced students with a wide gamut of opportunities.

April 21st, 2009 LONDON - British physicist Stephen Hawking is expected to make a 'full recovery' after undergoing a series of tests in a hospital in Cambridge, a spokesman for Cambridge University said Tuesday. The 67-year-old scientist, who is wheelchair-bound and speaks with the help of a voice synthesizer as a result of a motor neuron disease, was rushed to hospital Monday and described as being 'very ill'.

August 14th, 2009 MUMBAI - The Central Bureau of Investigation's Western Region Joint Director Rishi Raj Singh has been awarded the President's Police Medal for distinguished service, it was announced here Friday. An Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of 1985 batch of the Kerala cadre, Rishi Raj Singh was awarded the President's Medal for meritorious services in 2001.

May 8th, 2009 LONDON - The British town of Swindon is to doff its cap to an Indian orphan 12 years after he was found abandoned in a basket in Delhi. Ali McCallum, who was left in a basket outside the Delhi Council for Child Welfare home, Palna, as a four-day-old baby, is now an admired fundraiser for orphanages.

May 8th, 2009 LONDON - The British town of Swindon is to doff its cap to an Indian orphan 12 years after he was found abandoned in a basket in Delhi. Ali McCallum, who was left in a basket outside the Delhi Council for Child Welfare home, Palna, as a four-day-old baby, is now an admired fundraiser for orphanages.

May 24th, 2009 JHARKHAND - An orphan, Rinkita, could never have thought that she would enjoy marital bliss. But in stepped the government of Jharkhand and organised her wedding through a unique scheme.

August 29th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A team of scientists is exploring the fundamental basis for the unique sixth sense of fish to "touch" objects in their surroundings without direct physical contact, or to "see" in the dark, which could better equip robots to orient themselves in their environments with multiple sensors. The research work is being led by Professor Leo van Hermmen and his team in the physics department of the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) in Germany.

May 29th, 2009 LONDON - About 7000 prisoners have been awarded the death sentence in Pakistan, among which 36 were awarded the capital punishment last year alone, the international human rights organization, Amnesty International has said. The international organization, its annual report for the year 2009, said that a total of 236 prisoners were awarded death sentences, but only 36 of them could be actually hanged to death, The News reports.