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U.S. FDA unveils nine graphic health warnings on cigarette packages

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today unveiled the nine graphic health warnings required to appear on every pack of cigarettes sold in the United States and in every cigarette advertisement.

21 Jun 2011

IPS examines access to treatment for drug-resistant TB

"Access to treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis remains compromised, especially in developing countries, because too few pharmaceutical companies manufacture quality-assured drugs," Inter Press Service reports in an article examining how a lack of competition and a working mechanism to keep prices low "has led to skyrocketing prices."

21 Jun 2011

FDA confirms printed prescription drug ads affect consumer understanding of medications

Findings from three studies conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirm that the way information is conveyed and displayed in printed drug advertising affects consumer understanding of prescription medications.

21 Jun 2011

FDA to beef up monitoring of imports

As Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg has been trying to correct inadequately controlled imported food and drugs overwhelming her organization’s ability to monitor them.

21 Jun 2011

Wayne State team receives $330,000 NSF grant to develop 3-D neural probe for tinnitus

A team of Wayne State University researchers was awarded $330,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop a 3-D neural probe. Their aim is to develop an implantable device that will suppress tinnitus, a neurological disorder that affects more than 250 million people worldwide.

21 Jun 2011

U.S. FDA approves generic Levaquin for treatment of bacterial infections

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved the first generic versions of Levaquin, an antibiotic approved to treat certain infections in people ages 18 and older.

21 Jun 2011

Study finds link between energy drink consumption and substance use among musicians

Frequent use of energy drinks is associated with binge drinking, alcohol-related social problems and misuse of prescription drugs among musicians, according to researchers at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions.

21 Jun 2011

Insight into why some people develop drug addiction

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have identified abnormal brain structures in the frontal lobe of cocaine users' brains which are linked to their compulsive cocaine-using behaviour. Their findings were published today, 21 June, in the journal Brain.

21 Jun 2011

Amylin to present data on investigational diabetes drug candidates at ADA annual meeting

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the Company will present data for its two first-in-class diabetes drugs, BYETTA injection and SYMLIN injection, and its investigational diabetes drug candidates BYDUREON and exenatide once monthly at the 71st Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) being held in San Diego, CA from June 24 to June 28.

21 Jun 2011

Benitec’s pain program validated by independent study

Benitec Ltd (ASX:BLT), a world leader in RNA-based gene silencing for human therapeutics, announced that China-based researchers have proved the concept behind Benitec's in house neuropathic pain program.

20 Jun 2011

Home-based care increasingly seen as alternative to nursing homes

The health law includes provisions to assist people who want to stay in their homes longer. Meanwhile, the Chicago Sun-Times reports on knowlege gaps among adult children who may become caregivers to aging parents.

20 Jun 2011

FDA's new strategy calls for coalitions of international regulators, increased data sharing

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today unveiled a new strategy to meet the challenges posed by rapidly rising imports of FDA-regulated products and a complex global supply chain in a report called the "Pathway to Global Product Safety and Quality."

20 Jun 2011

NanoViricides plans to lease new cGMP manufacturing and lab space

NanoViricides, Inc. announced today that it will be leasing new space for cGMP production of its nanoviricides drug candidates against various viral diseases.

20 Jun 2011

Supreme Court ruling would affect around 10,000 Reglan-metoclopramide lawsuits

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule shortly on whether generic drug companies must adequately warn doctors about new or revised risks to patients who have taken the drugs they make. (Pliva v Mensing No. 09-993, Actavis v Mensing No.08-3850 and Actavis v Demahy No. 09-1501) All three cases involve patients who took metoclopramide, the generic version of the brand-name drug Reglan.

20 Jun 2011

Pulmatrix introduces novel iSPERSE inhaled dry powder drug delivery platform

Pulmatrix, a clinical stage biotechnology company discovering and developing a new class of therapies for the prevention, treatment and control of respiratory diseases, today announced the launch of iSPERSE, the company's novel inhaled dry powder drug delivery platform.

20 Jun 2011

UK’s first larynx transplant

In a first, UK will get its voicebox or larynx transplant in less than a year after the Royal College of Surgeons gave its seal of approval for trials to take place. A report by the college said the pioneering procedure could help people who had cancer of the larynx to speak and breathe normally again.

19 Jun 2011

Drug addiction management costs UK £3.6bn a year: Report

According to a latest report from the think tank the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS), drug addiction costs £3.6bn a year for both treating problem drug users and keeping them on benefits. The study by has criticised government plans to change the way authorities tackle drug addiction. It claims the plans for payment-by-results schemes are “doomed to failure, not least because they are being run by the very organizations responsible for the current failure of policy”.

19 Jun 2011

Controversy over F.D.A.-Avastin decision to reignite June 28-29 with new round of hearings

Controversy over the F.D.A.'s proposal to withdraw approval of Avastin for breast cancer treatment will reignite June 28-29 with a new round of hearings. One oncologist who will be monitoring the hearings is Dr. Frederick C. Tucker Jr. of Fredericksburg Oncology in Virginia, whose recent New York Times op ed defended the F.D.A.'s position on scientific grounds.

18 Jun 2011

Dems introduce bills to push for Medicare negotiated drug pricing

Congressional Democrats have introduced legislation to let Medicare negotiate prescription drug prices - a move that could result in significant savings, the bill supporters say. They are urging that their measure be included in the effort to raise the debt ceiling.

18 Jun 2011

PDA urges public to undergo screening for oral cancer

Oral cancer claims more lives than leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid cancer, or skin cancer. In 2010, approximately 36,540 Americans were diagnosed with this largely preventable type of cancer that affects the mouth and throat; 7,880 died of the disease. Early detection is essential to dramatically reduce the number of deaths from oral cancer.

18 Jun 2011