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The Charlotte Jewish News - Novemt>er, 1995 - Page 20 Big transmission problem or minor adjustment? It takes an expert to know. Take 50% OFF • Specialists in Automatic, Manual Transmissions & Clutch repair • We service foreign cars, trucks, vans, RVs • Authorized dealer for most extended warran ties (new/used) • Ask about diagnostic service for computer controlled transmisstions 2413 S. Tryon Street t Towning available (704)334-5329 • Ask about financing Fax (704)344-1332 ouuunHMiiuiia Andy Weingarten. Independent Dealer • Fleet Prices A/eilable Transmission Service by mentioning this ad AAMCO IntroducirmA New Ptmician Who mally Delivers. The physicians and staff of Ormand Center for Women are proud to announce that Dr. Steven Abbey has recently joined our staff to offer comprehensive obstetric and gynecological care. From high risk pregnancies to the treatment of menstrual disorders, menopause and infertility, turn to Dr Abbey and Ormand Coiter for Womofi. When it ccMnes to personalized care for wom«i, we really deliver. Steven J Abbey, M.D. Mico/ikwL'Harvard College (A.B. degree In Physical Sciences) Medkal SchooL. State University of New Ynic; Buffalo. NY Residency: MetroHeaith Medical Cent«~, Cleveland, OH Membenhips: Juniw Fellow, Americ£ui College of Obstetiics and Gynea^ogy, Member, American Medical Association CENTER PORVOMEN Matthews Office 84^9151 1450 Matthews Township Pkwv, Ste. 400 Beside Presbyterian Hospital Matthews Monroe Office 28^2553 1406 L FranUtai Street Across From Union Memorial New 'RdniQlogpes Speed Up Drug Discovery By Bernard Dichek There’s a new gold rush in the drug industry, reminiscent of the early days of genetic engineering when drug giants snapped up fledg ling biotechnology companies for hundreds of millions of dollars. Only this time the large drug companies are targeting biopharmaceutical companies with new technologies that speed up drug discovery. In the past year Glaxo paid $538 million for Affymax, Eli Lilly bought S{^nx Pharmaceuticals for $72 million and Marion Merrell Dow Inc. acquired Selectide Corp. for $58 million. What these fast-rising compa nies have in common are computer- aided technologies to spot molecules that alleviate or cure illnesses. Us ing recent advances in computer modelling and magnetic resonance imaging, drug developers can now rapidly screen laige numbers of pro tein fragments known as peptides until they find one with potential to be a drug. Although peptide drugs are still in their infancy, they already are generating worldwide sales of more than $3 billion a year. Peptor is a young Israel-based company that has invented several peptide-related technologies. In a recent interview, Peptor’s President Dr. Yoram Karmon, explained how these tech nologies are changing the way in which new drugs are discovered. “The new technologies elimi nate the need for time-consuming research with large protein struc tures. Drugs based on massive pro tein molecules also have the disad vantage of binding with body recep tors otiier than the ones involved in a specific disease,*, says Karmon. “By zeroing in on peptides, which are the small active sites of proteins that do the real work, drug devel opers can come up with purer prod ucts that don’t cause undesirable side effects.” Companies like Peptor test variations of peptides until tiiey find one that binds with a body receptor linked to a disease. “If the match is Volunteers of the Month Library Volunteers Hats Off To The Library Volunteers By Amalia Warshenbrot, • LibrarianSpeizman Jewish Library During November many Jewish communities celebrate Jew ish Book Month with special pro grams and book fairs. How fitting it is to choose this month to honor all of the Speizman Jewish Library volunteers! Without these dedi cated people, the library would not be able to offer its services to the community at large: Leon and Flora Benveniste have been volunteer ing at the library since it opened. They wrap and put pockets into books and repair damaged books. The following hard working volunteers type book cards, news paper articles and correspondence: * Mae Goldman * Helene Howard * Naomi Myles * Ruth Richardson * Wanda Schwartz * Sylvia Wallach. These volunteers are liter ally the “driving force” behind other volunteers, because they drive other volunteers who are unable to drive: • Eileen Darholt • Julius Goldman • Ruth Rkhardson • Stanley 'Hilman. The following people help with the Book and Author Pro gram, sponsored by Hadassah, the Jewish Community Center and the Speizman Jewish Library: • Roz Cooper • Rosalind Ikranto • Lynda White The Book Fair runs smoothly thanks to the following volunteers; • Ell Hyman • Henry Hirschmann • Dr. Jay Jacoby • Maddie Joffe • Bobbie Pollard • Ruth Rkhardson If the names of any library volunteers have been omitted, I apologize All the library patrons - children and adults • salute these dedicated volunteers. I couldn’t manage the library without them. Next time you visit the Speizman Jewish Library, remember the many volunteers “hidden behind the books.” a good one, the peptide drug will thwart the disease, says Karmon. Current peptide drugs how ever, are not without drawbacks. Because peptides have a dynamic, constantly-changing shape, they of ten are unstable as drugs and require large dosages. Peptor’s latest discovery, which caused excitement when it was demonstrated at a recent meet ing of the European Peptide Soci ety in Belgium, may have solved this problem. “We have found a way to give peptides a rigid structure. This allows them to stay anchored into cell receptors for a long enough pe riod of time to be effective,” says Karmon. Because of the multi-disciplin ary nature of peptide research, Peptor is utilizing experts at leading research institutes from Califmiia’s Salk Institute, Germany’s Munich University anlsrael’s Hebrew Uni versity. Peptor currently is concentrat ing its efforts in fmding peptide drugs for treating gastrointestinal diseases and fungal infections. Fu ture plans include applying its pro prietary technologies to create drugs for multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and various cancers. The company ah^ady is col laborating with the U.S.-based Xoma Corp. in the development of its anti-fungal peptide and expects soon to start a joint venture with an European company to develop pep tides for lymphatic cancer and leu kemia. “The new high-tech approach to drug discovery has the promise of bringing drugs to market faster than ever before,” concludes Karmon. Peptor expects to have its first dmgs ready for clinical trials in Europe as early as the end of next year. HOWARD EPSTEIN, Agent /llisiale' You’re in good hands. Specializing in the foiiowing insurance: • Auto • Business • Home • Life • Condo • Boat • Rental • Personal Umbrella 809 West John Street Matthews, NC 28105 (704) 846-9700 1996 AMMs Insurance Coff'paffy • Aialatg Ul» insurance Company. Northbrook, IL
The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 1, 1995, edition 1
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