Biotechnology News

THURSDAY, Nov. 5 (HealthDay News) -- The reported success of gene therapy in treating two children with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) brings hope to patients with the potentially crippling and fatal brain disorder and their families, says a nonprofit group that supports ALD research. Full Story »

THURSDAY, Nov. 5 (HealthDay News) -- New research sheds light on the possible link between the genes you inherit and the size of your belly. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Want to know your entire DNA sequence? A California company has done it for as little as $1,700. Full Story »

PARIS (AFP) - A breakthrough mix of stem cell and gene therapy halted a lethal brain-wasting illness in two young boys, and could prove effective against other genetic disorders, researchers reported Thursday. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - French scientists mixed gene therapy and bone marrow transplants in two boys to seemingly halt a brain disease that can kill by adolescence. The surprise ingredient: They disabled the HIV virus so it couldn't cause AIDS, and then used it to carry in the healthy new gene. Full Story »

LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists have managed to halt a rare and fatal brain disease with an experimental gene therapy technique using a deactivated version of the AIDS virus, a study published on Thursday showed. Full Story »

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A person's genetic makeup may play an important role in the odds of suffering neck or back pain, new research suggests. Full Story »

BOSTON/LONDON (Reuters) - Human Genome Sciences Inc said its experimental lupus drug Benlysta eased symptoms in more than 43 percent of patients who took it in a clinical trial, paving the way for approval of the first new treatment for the disease in 50 years. Full Story »

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Biotechnology giant Amgen Inc and drug wholesaler AmerisourceBergen Corp were sued on Friday by 14 U.S. states and the District of Columbia over an alleged kickback scheme designed to boost sales of Amgen's popular anemia drug, Aranesp. Full Story »

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Churchgoers have been found to have lower rates of drinking and smoking than those who spend their Sundays elsewhere. Now a new study suggests that for adults, it may not be church attendance itself that explains much of the phenomenon. It might be genes. Full Story »

MEXICO CITY (AFP) - As scientists race the clock to increase food production worldwide, new trials to plant genetically-modified maize have stoked anger in Mexico, the cradle of corn. Full Story »

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who have a compulsive urge to collect and clutter their homes with junk can partly attribute their problem to genes, a new study confirms. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - No need to curse that bad driver weaving in and out of the lane in front of you -- he cannot help it, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday. Full Story »

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- A new type of gene therapy for injured lungs that were previously rejected for transplantation may increase the number of lungs available for transplant, researchers say. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - Call it a genetic patch job for worn lungs: Canadian researchers took donated lungs deemed too damaged to transplant and repaired them with outside-the-body gene therapy. Full Story »

PARIS (AFP) - Culture, not just genes, can drive evolutionary outcomes, according to a study released Wednesday that compares individualist and group-oriented societies across the globe. Full Story »

SILVER SPRING, Maryland (Reuters) - Animal data suggests a proposed Human Genome Sciences Inc drug may help people exposed to anthrax but more study is needed to show the treatment adds benefit beyond antibiotics alone, a U.S. advisory panel said on Tuesday. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - A judge on Tuesday dismissed a Christian adoption agency's challenge to Obama administration regulations expanding stem cell research. Full Story »