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'Survival protein' protects brain against effects of stroke

Johns Hopkins scientists say that a newly discovered "survival protein" protects the brain against the effects of stroke in rodent brain tissue by interfering with a particular kind of cell death that's also implicated in complications from diabetes and heart attack.

24 May 2011

Long-term, regular acetaminophen use may be associated with lower prostate cancer risk

A new study from American Cancer Society researchers finds use of 30 tablets a month or more of acetaminophen for five or more years was associated with an estimated 38% lower risk of prostate cancer. The study appears in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention and is one of only two studies of prostate cancer to date that have examined the association with acetaminophen use that was both long-term and regular.

24 May 2011

Vertex Incivek receives FDA approval for treatment of chronic hepatitis C

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Incivek treat certain adults with chronic hepatitis C infection. Incivek is used for patients who have either not received interferon-based drug therapy for their infection or who have not responded adequately to prior therapies. Incivek is approved for use with interferon therapy made up of peginterferon alfa and ribavirin.

24 May 2011

Infertility centers under scrutiny

Private infertility treatment centers in Britain are set to come under increased scrutiny. These centers have come under scrutiny for exploiting vulnerable couples with their high fees and exaggerated success story claims.

23 May 2011

Johns Hopkins bioethicists urge disaster preparedness for mentally impaired

Johns Hopkins bioethicists say disaster-response planning has generally overlooked the special needs of people who suffer from pre-existing and serious mental conditions. Survivors already diagnosed with schizophrenia, dementia, addictions and bipolar disorder are vulnerable long before a disaster strikes, they point out.

23 May 2011

PolyPid announces new drug delivery system and an innovative biodegradable bone void filler

PolyPid, a developer of innovative drug carriers, announced today the company’s flagship platform – PolyPid. PolyPid is a new, innovative family of drug carriers, based on a fusion between two known drug delivery systems: polymers and lipid-based systems. The new drug carriers enable long-lasting and controlled release of therapeutic drugs. The revolutionary, patented carrier can be tailored to almost any drug – small molecules, peptides, protein and nucleic acids-based drugs. The formulations can be pre-planned in order to achieve the desired release rate of the drug/s and the optimal duration, which can last up to several months.

23 May 2011

Discovery of possible new strategy for treating neurologic disorders

23 May 2011

Scientists find new drug target in breast cancer

Researchers have identified a new protein involved in the development of drug resistance in breast cancer which could be a target for new treatments, they report today in the journal Nature Medicine.

23 May 2011

Substantial portion of patients with headaches improve without treatment

Headache is a very common complaint, with over 90% of all persons experiencing a headache at some time in their lives. Headaches commonly are tension-type (TTH) or migraine. They have high socioeconomic impact and can disturb most daily activities. Treatments range from pharmacologic to behavioral interventions.

23 May 2011

Aethlon to introduce new adaptive dialysis-like affinity platform technology at C21 partnering conference

Aethlon Medical, Inc., the pioneer in developing therapeutic filtration devices to address infectious disease and cancer, announces that Chairman and CEO James A. Joyce will present the Aethlon ADAPT™ system in a presentation at the C21 BioVentures™ Life Sciences Partnering Conference.

23 May 2011

FDA approves Amneal's generic Furadantin

Amneal Pharmaceuticals, LLC is pleased to announce that it has received U.S. FDA approval to manufacture Nitrofurantoin Oral Suspension in the 25 mg/5 ml strength effective May 13, 2011. Amneal's generic, the first on the market, is an AA-rated, therapeutically equivalent alternative to Furadantin.

23 May 2011

First Edition: May 23, 2011

Today's headlines include reports about a new poll that shows Americans don't believe Medicare has to be cut in order to balance the budget.

23 May 2011

Scientists direct embryonic, induced human stem cells to become astrocytes in lab dish

Pity the lowly astrocyte, the most common cell in the human nervous system. Long considered to be little more than putty in the brain and spinal cord, the star-shaped astrocyte has found new respect among neuroscientists who have begun to recognize its many functions in the brain, not to mention its role in a range of disorders of the central nervous system.

23 May 2011

Researchers identify new drug resistant protein in breast cancer

Researchers have identified a new protein involved in the development of drug resistance in breast cancer which could be a target for new treatments, they report today in the journal Nature Medicine.

23 May 2011

Verizon Wireless and Medco unveil mobile medication app with real-time patient-specific drug safety

Verizon Wireless and Medco Health Solutions, Inc. have announced a mobile application that can instantly guide patients and their doctors to the lowest-cost prescription drug to meet their health needs and help them identify potentially harmful drug interactions. Available now on Verizon Wireless Android handsets and BlackBerry devices, the new Medco Pharmacy mobile app delivers critical information to help Medco members manage their prescription medications.

22 May 2011

McDonald's reacts to protests and calls to fire Ronald

McDonald's Corp has refused to pay heed to the protesters who ask it to assess the impact of its food on childhood obesity, and said its trademark clown Ronald McDonald would be hawking Happy Meals to kids for years to come.

22 May 2011

Avandia withdrawal from shelves by November: FDA

The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has announced that in the beginning of November, the diabetes drug Avandia will no longer be sold in pharmacy shelves, due to the cardiovascular risks it’s causing its patients.

22 May 2011

16 Countries announce new commitments to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality

Today 16 countries announced new commitments to dramatically reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality, as part of the Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health.

21 May 2011

Many 'legal high' drugs sold on the internet do not contain ingredients they claim

Many drugs sold as 'legal highs' on the internet do not contain the ingredients they claim. Some instead contain controlled substances and are illegal to sell over the internet. These are findings of Dr. Mark Baron, who bought a range of tablets from different websites to see what each contained. The study is published today in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis.

21 May 2011

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute researcher selected Fellow of the Royal Society

Internationally recognised malaria researcher Professor Alan Cowman from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, Australia, has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, the UK's peak academy promoting excellence in science.

21 May 2011