Drugs

Study Supports GCSF Use in Treating Strokes

A study from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine finds that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) or Amgen’s Neupogen, which was approved in 1991 for treating neutropenia (low white blood cells) caused by chemotherapy, may offer a new way to treat strokes. Published in the Journal of Biomedical Science, the study is the first to report on the neuroprotective effect of GCSF against autophagy and mitochondrial stress in vivo. “The data support the hypothesis that GCSF is one of the few growth factors that can reduce infarction by decreasing endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial stress while improving behavioral performance,” the researchers write.

The mouse-model study showed that GCSF “improved neurological deficits that occur in the first few days following cerebral ischemia and improved long-term behavioral outcomes while also stimulating a neural progenitor recovery response,” according to the researchers. They say there have been many studies that have shown that as an endogenous growth factor and immune system modulator factor, GCSF was favorable in models of neurological disorders such as stroke and traumatic brain injury. “Although the anti-apoptotic activity of GCSF is reported in global cerebral ischemia, this mechanism has not been fully explored,” they write.

The researchers say they have been developing GCSF as a therapeutic method to replenish new brain cells because of its ability to preserve the central nervous system, suppress cell death and at the same time elicit neurogenesis as well as angiogenesis. It works the same way for other neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease due to its neuroprotective properties, they say.

Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton’s responses on vaccines, contraception and abortion medication during her 9/24 Senate confirmation hearing raise concerns that ideology could influence her decision-making if she takes over the agency, MSNBC senior medical analyst Dr. Vin Gupta said Friday. Gupta was particularly critical of Overton’

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA commissioner nominee Heidi Overton emerged from her Senate confirmation hearing Thursday (see earlier story) without resolving questions about whether she has enough Republican support to advance — and with a rapidly narrowing window for confirmation before the midterm elections. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing provided few

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA has classified Boston Scientific's recall of its Imager II Angiographic Catheters as Class I because a manufacturing problem could cause catheter tips to degrade and detach, potentially resulting in life-threatening complications. The agency announced the Class I classification 9/25, updating an Early Alert it issued

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

FDA has approved Roche’s Gazyva (obinutuzumab) for reducing the risk of relapse in adults and children aged 2 and older with frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent, childhood-onset idiopathic nephrotic syndrome who are in remission. The expanded approval covers the use of the CD20-directed antibody beyond its existing

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Gupta Raises Concerns About Overton’s Independence, Ideology

Overton Confirmation Remains Uncertain After Senate Hearing

FDA Classifies Boston Scientific Imager II Catheter Recall as Class I

FDA Approves Gazyva for Childhood-Onset Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome