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Asuragen launches KRAS, BRAF mutational testing in CLIA laboratory

Asuragen, Inc., a leader in molecular diagnostics and nucleic acid-based pharmacogenomics services, announced today that it has launched KRAS and BRAF mutational testing services in its CAP-accredited CLIA laboratory.

2 Sep 2010

LifeCell, Novadaq Technologies sign exclusive sales, marketing agreement

LifeCell Corporation, a business unit of Kinetic Concepts, Inc., and Novadaq Technologies Inc. announced today the signing of an exclusive sales and marketing agreement for distribution of Novadaq's SPY Imaging System in North American surgical markets. LifeCell will drive adoption for the SPY System in breast reconstructive, head and neck, and colorectal surgical specialties, with more than half a million procedures projected annually.

2 Sep 2010

Focused health actions may promote optimal food consumption behaviour, intense physical activity pattern

The University of Athens Medical School has conducted a comprehensive study to evaluate the relationship between diet quality, levels of physical activity and key lifestyle characteristics amongst a group of 12-17 year old schoolchildren. The objective was to determine the most appropriate health actions to reduce the risks of long-term cardiovascular disease. The study concludes that almost half of Greek schoolchildren have a low quality diet, while just 6 percent adhere to the traditional Mediterranean diet along with high levels of physical activity.

2 Sep 2010

Celator Pharmaceuticals raises $20 million in Series D private equity financing

Celator Pharmaceuticals, a privately held pharmaceutical company developing new and more effective therapies to treat cancer based on the company's proprietary technology, today announced that it raised $20 million in a Series D private equity financing.

2 Sep 2010

WFP, UNICEF heads appeal for more flood aid for Pakistan

After touring flood-hit areas in Pakistan on Tuesday, the executive directors of UNICEF and the World Food Program appealed for more flood relief aid, VOA News reports (Maroney, 8/31).

2 Sep 2010

InfraReDx receives 510(k) clearance to market LipiScan IVUS Coronary Imaging System

InfraReDx, Inc., a medical device company developing intelligent cardiovascular diagnostic imaging technologies, today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration to market the LipiScan IVUS Coronary Imaging System. LipiScan IVUS is the first cardiac catheter to combine intravascular ultrasound and near-infrared spectroscopy to help cardiologists identify and characterize the plaques that complicate stenting and are associated with acute coronary events.

2 Sep 2010

Beaumont Hospital expands new multi-organ transplant program

Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak became Michigan's third liver transplant center on Aug. 31. A 59-year-old man from Royal Oak was the first patient to receive a liver transplant through Beaumont's new multi-organ transplant program.

2 Sep 2010

Consulting community pharmacists by patients helps national healthcare systems save millions of euros

Hundreds of millions of euros are being saved each year for national healthcare systems by patients consulting community pharmacists rather than going straight to their doctors, says a survey to be presented today (Wednesday 1 September) at the annual conference of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP).

2 Sep 2010

NAMI provides new dimension to Hearts & Minds initiative

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is providing a new dimension to its Hearts & Minds initiative, an educational program that promotes "mind and body" health practices for individuals who live with mental illness.

2 Sep 2010

URAC invites public comment on second set of toolkits for Patient Centered Health Care Home Program

URAC today announced a call for public comment on the second set of toolkits for its new Patient Centered Health Care Home (PCHCH) Program. The program, comprised of an integrated series of three educational toolkits, will help health care practices follow a step-wise process in their journey to becoming a PCHCH.

2 Sep 2010

UnitedHealth Group, CSRHA team up to support Critical Access Hospitals

UnitedHealth Group has announced it will invest $10 million to help California's Critical Access Hospitals improve their health information technology (IT) systems and adopt electronic health records.

2 Sep 2010

GI Dynamics, Elemental Healthcare sign agreement for distribution of EndoBarrier Gastrointestinal Liner

GI Dynamics, a leader in non-surgical, endoscopic treatments for type 2 diabetes and obesity, today announced it has entered into a new agreement with Elemental Healthcare, based in Hungerford, Berkshire, for the distribution of the EndoBarrier Gastrointestinal Liner in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland.

2 Sep 2010

Agensys commences AGS-16M8F ADC Phase I clinical trial for renal cancer

Agensys, Inc., an affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc., today announced that they have initiated a Phase I clinical trial of AGS-16M8F an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that is being developed for the treatment of metastatic renal cancer. An ADC uses the specific binding properties of an antibody to target a toxin in tumor cells, resulting in selective tumor cell killing.

2 Sep 2010

Unitract Tuberculin syringe clears FDA 510k market clearance

Unilife Corporation, today announced that its Unitract Tuberculin (TB) Syringe has received 510(k) market clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

2 Sep 2010

Pawlenty instructs Minnesota agencies to snub health law's discretionary funds

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, issued an executive order Tuesday instructing state agencies to reject discretionary federal funds that stem from the health overhaul, The Wall Street Journal reports.

2 Sep 2010

March of Dimes supports Congressional Briefing on infant mortality

Very low birthweight and very preterm infants are more likely to die if they are not born at hospitals with neonatal intensive care units specially equipped to care for seriously ill newborns, in contrast to similar babies born at those specialized facilities.

2 Sep 2010

Involving pharmacists in direct patient care activities has favorable effects: Study

Incorporating pharmacists as members of the health care team in direct patient care roles is a viable solution to help improve U.S. health care, according to the results of a comprehensive, systematic review of the health care literature set to be published in the October 2010 edition of Medical Care.

2 Sep 2010

Care Investment Trust approves stock spilt ratio from common stock dividend

Care Investment Trust Inc., a real estate investment and finance company that invests in healthcare-related real estate and commercial mortgage debt, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock split in the ratio of three-for-two to be effected in the form of a common stock dividend.

2 Sep 2010

MIRACLE project to develop lab-on-chip system for diagnosing cancer

Today, at the Engineering in Medicine and Biology Conference in Buenos Aires (Argentina), imec and its project partners announce the launch of the European Seventh Framework Project MIRACLE. The MIRACLE project aims at developing an operational lab-on-chip for the isolation and detection of circulating and disseminated tumor cells in blood.

2 Sep 2010

Gilead Sciences updates stock repurchase program

Gilead Sciences, Inc. today provided an update on the company's previously announced $5.0 billion stock repurchase program authorized by Gilead's Board of Directors in May 2010.

2 Sep 2010