Birth Control News and Research

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Health law implementation: Insurance, coverage and Medicare payment questions

Kaiser Health News reports that the insurance industry — traditionally a state-regulated industry — is facing new federal scrutiny by four officials in the new Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight. "On this year's to-do list: writing rules to define when premium increases are 'unreasonable,' creating new coverage for people who can't get it because of health conditions and making sure insurers comply with consumer protections. The new director of the office is Jay Angoff, a former Missouri insurance commissioner.

2 Jun 2010

First Edition: June 1, 2010

A number of today's headlines focus on the continuing role of health reform in national political calculations and strategies.

1 Jun 2010

Opinions: Family planning; U.S. food aid

In his latest New York Times column, Nicholas Kristof writes about the "unavailability of birth control in many poor countries," noting some experiences from a recent trip to Africa.

24 May 2010

HTDS Collagenna Skin Care Products enters into exclusive distribution agreement with Medimec

Hard to Treat Diseases Collagenna Skin care Products has entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with the Malaysian company Medimec www.medimec.com.my

21 May 2010

Eli Lilly to present results of two Phase II trials evaluating ALIMTA in combination with chemotherapy, radiation

Results of two Phase II trials evaluating ALIMTA (pemetrexed for injection) in combination with a platinum chemotherapy and radiation for patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer will be presented by Eli Lilly and Company at the 46th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, Ill., on June 6, 2010.

21 May 2010

Genentech to present new data for targeted cancer medicines at 46th ASCO

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, today announced that it will present new data for its targeted cancer medicines and the way they may be used in several different cancer types at the 46th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Approximately 400 abstracts featuring Genentech and Roche's cancer medicines and investigational agents across 30 cancer types will be presented during the meeting that is taking place June 4 to 8, 2010 in Chicago.

21 May 2010

FDA approves Conceptus' ESS305 Essure procedure for increased bilateral placement rate of 96.9%

Conceptus Inc., developer of the Essure(R) procedure, the first and proven non-surgical permanent birth control method, announced today that the third generation (ESS305) of the Essure procedure has received FDA-approval for an improved bilateral placement rate of 96.9%. Improvement in the hysteroscopic time of 9 minutes is an additional benefit.

19 May 2010

Boston Scientific's ACUITY Break-Away Lead Delivery System receives FDA clearance

Boston Scientific Corporation today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance of the ACUITY Break-Away Lead Delivery System for use with cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers, both of which treat heart failure.

14 May 2010

World Bank announces five-year plan to reduce maternal deaths, fertility rates in 58 low-income countries

During the release of its five-year plan to help drive down high maternal death and fertility rates in low-income countries, the World Bank on Tuesday said "that family planning and other reproductive health services have fallen off the radar of many governments, donors and aid agencies," Reuters reports.

13 May 2010

FDA approves Sagent's bacitracin for pneumonia and empyema

Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced FDA approval of bacitracin for injection, USP (bacitracin), an anti-infective product used to treat pneumonia and empyema. Bacitracin will be offered in a 50,000 MU, AP-rated, preservative-free, latex-free, single-dose vial packaged both individually and in packages of ten.

13 May 2010

Folic acid supplement may improve blood flow in young amenorrheic runners

A study led by sports medicine researcher Anne Hoch, D.O. at The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee has found that oral folic acid may provide a safe and inexpensive treatment to improve vascular function in young female runners who are amenorrheic (not menstruating).

11 May 2010

50 years of the Contraceptive Pill

The Contraceptive Pill celebrated its 50th birthday on Mother's Day this year. The Pill was approved by the FDA in 1960 giving greater control to women about when they would like to give birth. The choice was supposed to help eliminate unwanted pregnancies and help couples grow closer. It was also supposed to help the couple financially by not placing burdens of early children on them.

9 May 2010

Natazia tablets receive FDA approval for prevention of pregnancy

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Natazia (estradiol valerate and estradiol valerate/dienogest) tablets for the prevention of pregnancy.

7 May 2010

$DMPA injectible contraceptive associated with increased risk of bone fracture$

DMPA injectible contraceptive associated with increased risk of bone fracture

A new study presented today at the World Congress on Osteoporosis (IOF WCO-ECCEO10) in Florence, Italy shows that DMPA, a commonly used injectible contraceptive, is associated with higher risk of bone fracture when used alone, and not in combination with estrogens.

7 May 2010

LA BioMed receives $1.5M in grant to study contraceptive for men

As the birth control pill marks its 50th birthday this month, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute announced today that it has received $1.5 million in grant funding to study a contraceptive for men that uses a combination of two hormonal gels applied to the skin of the arm and abdomen.

4 May 2010

Opinions: G8 summit; World Malaria Day; Family planning; Global Food Security Act

As G8 development leaders gather in Halifax, Nova Scotia, this week to discuss priorities for the upcoming summit, Josette Sheeran, executive director of the WFP, calls for world leaders to focus on the nutritional needs of mothers and children in developing countries in a Toronto Star opinion piece.

27 Apr 2010

Despite national guidelines, teen boys still get inadequate HIV/STI counseling

Despite national guidelines aimed at improving sexual health services for teenagers, most sexually active boys - even those who report high-risk sexual behaviors - still get too little counseling about HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) during their visits to the doctor, according to a study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

15 Apr 2010

Research reveals demand for over-the-counter oral contraceptives in the US

American women who live along the U.S.-Mexico border frequently buy over-the-counter oral contraceptives from Mexican pharmacies because they don't need a prescription and can send a friend to pick up the pills, according to a study by researchers from two University of Texas campuses and Ibis Reproductive Health.

15 Apr 2010

Gilead Sciences doses first patient in Quad Phase III clinical program

Gilead Sciences, Inc. today announced that it has dosed the first patient in the Phase III clinical program evaluating its investigational fixed-dose, single-tablet "Quad" regimen of elvitegravir, cobicistat (formerly GS 9350), emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

13 Apr 2010

SIGVARIS introduces Athletic Recovery Sock Line for athletes

Medically endorsed SIGVARIS created the Athletic Recovery Sock Line for competitive athletes and weekend warriors as compression garments have become highly visible in all major sports. Whether it's during the actual event, after the event, or even while traveling, athletes are making graduated compression socks part of their everyday attire.

5 Apr 2010