Related to Michael J. Fox Foundation Launches $40M Parkinson Biomarker Initiative

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  Recent failures bear out the necessity for marker development alongside drug R&D but also highlight the complexities.
  
• Jumping On Genetic Testing—The War of the SNPs
  Molecular diagnostics still have a long way to go before they can properly deliver on all their promises.
  
• Biomarkers Poised for Breakout Moment
  A passel of discussions at BIO highlight the importance of these disease-state indicators.
  
• No New Parkinson Disease Drug Expected Anytime Soon
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• Amgen’s Biomarker Research Underlies Vectibix’ Success
  Next-generation sequencing technology is being used on Phase III trial data.
  
• Companies with Cancer Therapeutic Candidates Ramp Up Companion Diagnostic Efforts
  As regulatory framework gets fine-tuned, firms realize the importance of having a biomarker strategy.
  
• FDA Details Requirements for Regulatory Submissions of Genomic Biomarkers
  Agency hopes efforts to streamline biomarker development will advance more into the clinic.
  
• IOM Guidelines for Use of Omics Tests in Clinical Trials Add Rigor to Quality Assurance
  The report stresses the importance of independent researchers to verify initial biomarker discoveries.
  
• Autologous Immunotherapy Updates at ASCO Further Define Antitumor Immune Responses
  Biovest and Dendreon presented studies involving their respective vaccines in the neoadjuvant setting.
  
• Why Biomarker Discovery Is Hard
  Differentiating which markers are in the driver’s seat and which are along for the ride is key.
  
• Blood Flow as Diagnostic Marker
  Jamming, or vaso-occlusion, could be used to distinguish sickle cell disease patients with poor outcomes from those with good outcomes.
  
• The Search for Depression Biomarkers
  The ability to predict drug responses more accurately is driving efforts.
  
• Literature Review: ELISA—Detected Through A Quick Glance
  Researchers provide an assay chemistry that allows for a direct visual scoring of an ELISA result to detect protein analytes at ultralow concentrations.
  
• DNA Methylation Rules: Studying Epigenetics with New Tools
  The tools to unravel the epigenetic control mechanisms that influence how cells control access of transcriptional proteins to DNA are just beginning to emerge.