Ocera Therapeutics Completes Phase 2B Enrollment in the ASTUTE Trial

The ASTUTE Trial Studies AST-120 for the Treatment of Patients with Liver Cirrhosis Suffering from Mild Hepatic Encephalopathy SAN DIEGO, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Ocera Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that the ASTUTE Study (AST-120 Used to Treat Hepatic Encephalopathy) has completed enrollment for its Phase 2B study ahead of schedule, with data expected mid 2010. AST-120 adsorbs ammonia and other gut derived toxins that factor prominently in the underlying cause of mild hepatic...

Blocking CRF may prevent excessive alcohol consumption

A team of scientists from The Scripps Research Institute has found that a specific stresshormone, the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF), is key to the development and maintenance of alcohol dependence in animal models. Chemically blocking the stress factor also blocked the signs and symptoms of addiction, suggesting a potentially promising area for future drug...