What is an endocrine disruptor?

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and potential EDCs are mostly man-made found in various materials. By interfering with the body's endocrine system, endocrine disruptors produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, and immune effects in humans, abnormal growth patterns and neurodevelopmental delays in children. Thus, diethylstilbestrol (DES) a non-steroidal estrogen, which is regarded as a proof of concept, induces clear cell carcinoma among young women.

[Two news drugs (ivacaftor & bedaquiline), one biomarker (florbetapir) and a re-positioned drug (propranolol) on the market].

Among the new molecular entities approved by the EMEA and the FDA in 2012, four have caught our attention for their significant contribution to the health of patient. First of all, among the notable 2012 approvals, is ivacaftor or Kalydeco®. This is the first treatment that targets one of the gene defects that is underlying cause of cystic fibrosis.

[Four new drugs on the market: abiraterone, belatacept, vandetanib and fidaxomycine].

Among the 35 new molecular entities approved by the FDA in 2011, 17 were particularly notable for their significant contributions to the health of patients, including abiraterone acetate, vandetanib, belatacept and fidaxomicin. Thus, abiraterone acetate, namely Zytiga®, was included as the first in a new class of drugs to treat late-stage prostate cancer. The ability of Zytiga® to prolong survival in these patients was considered as significant because they have few other treatments options and the benefits of Zytiga® outweighed the risks of reported side-effects.

Platinum anticancer drugs. From serendipity to rational design.

The discovery of cis-platin was serendipitous. In 1965, Rosenberg was looking into the effects of an electric field on the growth of Escherichia coli bacteria. He noticed that bacteria ceased to divide when placed in an electric field but what Rosenberg also observed was a 300-fold increase in the size of the bacteria.

Contributions of the D-Ring to the activity of etoposide against human topoisomerase IIα: potential interactions with DNA in the ternary enzyme--drug--DNA complex.

Etoposide is a widely prescribed anticancer drug that stabilizes covalent topoisomerase II-cleaved DNA complexes. The drug contains a polycyclic ring system (rings A-D), a glycosidic moiety at C4, and a pendant ring (E-ring) at C1. Interactions between human topoisomerase IIα and etoposide in the binary enzyme--drug complex appear to be mediated by substituents on the A-, B-, and E-rings of etoposide.