New approach could identify antiviral drugs against wide range of viruses

Research team led by Michael J. Holtzman, MD, from Washington University, US, has recently reported the possibility of novel strategy to find small molecules that can enhance the host defense system against a broad range of viruses. The compounds were tested for their ability to increase the interferon signaling pathway (IFN-pathway) which mediates the host defense against a wide range of viruses. The team has conducted the cell-based high throughput screening of 2240 compounds which led to 64 hit compounds with significant interferon-stimulated response element ISRE) activity being idarubicin hydrochloride the most potent. Idarubicin, an anthracycline, is used as anti-cancer agent. DNA intercalation and topoisomerase II inhibition is responsible for its anti-cancer activity. To confirm that increased ISRE activity by idarubicin is independant of topoisomerase inhibitory effect, the team tested other three potent topoisomerase inhibitors (Etoposide, Hu-0331, and ICRF-193) for the ISRE activity. Interestingly, they found these compounds did not show significant increase in ISRE activity. Instead, two of them (etoposide and Hu-0331) caused decreased ISRE activity.

Pazopanib approved for soft tissue sarcoma

Pazopanib (Votrient) from GlaxoSmithKline has been approved by FDA for the treatment of patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma who have previously received chemotherapy. Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare cancer which begins in soft tissues such as muscle, fat, fibrous etc. Pazopanib is a potent anti-angiogenic agent, which means it interferes with the growth of new blood vessels essential for growth and survival of solid tumors.

You may like to read angiogenesis and anti-angiogenic foods

It was approved in 2009 for the treatment of advanced kidney cancer. 

The common side effects of Votrient includes fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, weight loss, high blood pressure, decreased appetite, vomiting, tumor and muscle pain, hair color changes, a distorted sense of taste, shortness of breath, and skin discoloration.

For more details, here is FDA news release.

FDA approves Vismodegib for basal cell carcinoma

Vismodegib (see structure) under trade name Erivedge from Roche has been approved by FDA for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common type of skin cancer. The drug is intended for the treatment of adults with metastatic basal cell carcinoma, or with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma who are not candidates for surgery and radiation. The drug works by inhibiting the hedgehog pathway, a pathway active in most basal cell cancers. It is the first FDA-approved drug for BCC that inhibits the hedgehog pathway.