Cancer drug site to boost Ben Venue’s prospects

The building with the missing wall at Ben Venue Laboratories Inc. eventually will help the drug manufacturer secure more business from companies developing drugs to fight cancer, company officials say.

The Bedford company, which manufactures injectable drugs on a contract basis, is in the midst of constructing a $139 million plant devoted to the production of cytotoxic and genotoxic compounds — drug compounds, many of which are used in cancer treatments, that are toxic to cells and genes.

The building, which will be about 244,000 square feet when finished, should help Ben Venue attract more business because some international regulators require drug companies to use isolated facilities when making cytotoxic and genotoxic compounds, said David Henderson, vice president of operations. Read more

ASA404 vaccine improves survival for non-small cell lung cancer patients

Antisoma, a biotechnology company specializing in the development of novel drugs for the treatment of cancer, released a statement that the vaccine ASA404 improves anticancer responses and survival for patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

ASA404 is known as a vascular disrupting agent (VDA). ASA404 is different from angiogenenesis inhibitors that disrupt the new formation of blood vessels. This vaccine disrupts established blood vessels that feed cancer cells.

The researchers concluded that ASA404 appears promising in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer. A Phase III clinical trial is expected to begin in 2008. This is the last step prior to FDA review. Read more

EU Approves Roche’s Avastin For Cancer

According to the world’s biggest maker of cancer drugs, Roche Holding AG, Avastin medicine has won European approval as the first treatment for patients suffering from advanced lung cancer.

The Basel, Switzerland based Roche said, Avastin may be used with chemotherapy for treating the patients with non-small cell lung cancer. This approval followed a recommendation by the European Union’s Committee for Human Medicinal Products last month.

Roche said that approval is based on data from two U.S. clinical trials.

Avastin belongs to cancer drugs’ group, known as targeted therapies. These medicines are designed to cause fewer side effects than chemotherapy. Read more

For health

Jagalah kesehatan Anda dengan baik, ok.

Eat healthily, woman

RECOGNISING the central role that a woman plays in the family, the society and the nation, the national level recognition of Women’s Day for 2007 was scheduled for August 25 2007. Their contribution is particularly significant in view of the 50th anniversary of the nation’s independence.

With good health and well-being, a woman can continue to carry out her duty as a wife, mother, member of the community and citizen. Good nutrition is imperative to enable her to contribute to her family and to her nation.

Indeed, women determine not only the nutrition they receive, but the nutrition their families receive as well. Read more

Foeniculum vulgare: ‘meetin’ seed’

Feathery green or bronze leaves grow along the succulent stems that sprout from the bulbous root of fennel. Foeniculum vulgare or common fennel is a perennial grown mainly for its flavorful leaves and seeds. Florence fennel (finocchio) is an annual prized for its edible base. Both varieties have leaves, seeds, stems and bulbs that taste like anise and licorice with nutty overtones.

Fennel requires six hours of sun each day and a rich, well-drained soil to thrive. More water during the hot weather will guarantee a plump tasty bulb. “Earth up” around the bulb to prevent photosynthesis so the bulb remains white. It grows well in cool conditions so a planting in August will mature in the fall. Fennel is said to be a “nasty neighbor” to bush beans, tomatoes and peppers and coriander is unfriendly to fennel because it prevents seeds from forming. Locate these plants far from each other in the garden!
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Garden can supply the medicine for what ails you

“We built it to add to our sacred space, to add to the beauty,” Levin said of the garden she built four years ago with a peace pole in the center.

The garden is one of several on what used to be a horse farm. She and husband Fred also put in three ponds, one with a water fall, a labyrinth path and a screened gazebo overlooking the medicine wheel garden.

“It just seemed to fit in with the theme: spirituality, sacred space,” she said. “I’ll come out here to sit and meditate. It’s very peaceful.”

Whether it’s a medicine wheel, herb garden or healing garden, more gardeners are selecting plants our forefathers used to relieve everything from coughs to constipation. Read more

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