Neurotech Insights
January 31, 2008
Inside This Issue: Autism
Top News Alerts: Product Updates, Deals & Financings
Highlights: The 26th Annual JP Morgan Healthcare Conference
Featured Topic: Autism Treatments in Development
Featured Company: KidsDx
Subscribe now to access hundreds of articles covering developments in drugs, devices and diagnostics for the brain and nervous system.
Market Highlights: Orexigen and Questcor Join Neurotech Index
The NASDAQ NeuroInsights Neurotech Index (NERV) underwent its semiannual evaluation adding two companies, Orexigen (OREX) and Questcor (QSC) and losing four, Somaxon (SOMX), Penwest (PPCO), Neurogen (NRGN) and Somanetics (SMTS). NERV rose in the beginning of the month due to positive sentiment at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference (see story, page 2), before dropping along with the rest of the market. Palatin Technologies (PTN) was the top neurotech gainer after settling a legal dispute with Competitive Tech. (CTT) related to bremelanotide, its peptide in clinical development for sexual dysfunction. Northstar Neuroscience (NSTR) stock was crushed after announcing that their EVEREST trial for stroke motor recovery failed to meet endpoints, sending the valuation down 84% to $38 million...
Autism Still Lacking Treatments
Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as it is now called, is a complex developmental disability. In modern medical texts it is considered one of five Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PPD's). PDD's are characterized by severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development. ASD is the most common of the PDD's, a category that also includes Asperger's Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD), Rett's Disorder, and a catch-all group known as PDD-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) .The cornerstone of current treatment is behavioral therapy. Pharmaceuticals may also be used to control co-morbid symptoms. There are roughly 45 clinical trials ongoing in autism...
KidsDx: Start-up Targets Growing Autism Diagnosis Market
KidsDx is a startup company on a mission. The founders, Melinda Cuthbert, CEO and Sandip Ray, CSO, want to bring differential diagnosis to the problem of autism. "Autism is a disorder that is difficult to diagnose," says Cuthbert, "early intervention makes all the difference. It would improve the outcome for many kids..."
Companies Covered In This Issue Include: Amarin, Adolor, Allon Therapeutics, Amarin, AstraZeneca, Cortex, CureMark, CeNeRx BioPharma, Cogmed, CoMentis, Cypress Bioscience, CytRx, Diamyd Medical, Forest Labs, GSK, Jazz Pharma, Medivation, Micrus Endovascular, Nastech Pharma, Neuronetrix, NMT Medical, NovaDel Pharma, Neuropharm Group, Nastech Pharmaceuticals, Repligen, TeachTown, Penumbra, Orexigen, Questcor, Somaxon, GlaxoSmithKline, Satoris, Synosia, Valor Medical, Xenoport, Alkermes, Arcion Therapeutics, Bayhill Therapeutics, Bial, Brain Resource, Direveo, EyeTel Imaging, Gelesis, Genizon, Janssen-Cilag, Knopp Neurosciences, Lineagen, Merck, Mochida, NeurogesX, NeuroMetrix, Omeros, Optum Health, Peptimmune, Pfizer, Satoris, Senexis, Sepracor, Taisho, Wyeth, Zogenix
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