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The uninsured, putting off care, facing debt

ProPublica profiles Anne Johnson, a 41-year-old single mother in California "whose family has been uninsured since she lost her job as a secretary in February," and explores how health reform could affect her. Johnson "needs her aortic valve replaced, but without insurance she can't afford the surgery. She is supposed to get checkups every six months, but that is also too expensive - so she has put them off."

4 Nov 2009

Sigma-Aldrich, Polyplus-transfection sign licensing agreement to manufacture ZNA oligonucleotides

Sigma-Aldrich today announced a worldwide licensing agreement with Polyplus-transfection (Strasbourg, France) to manufacture and commercialize Zip Nucleic Acid (ZNA(TM)) oligonucleotides, a new technology that provides solutions for increased affinity for nucleic acids.

3 Nov 2009

Absorption Systems awarded FDA SBIR grant for developing its CellPort Technologies testing platform

Absorption Systems LP today announced that it has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to continue development of the company’s CellPort Technologies™ testing platform. This unique assay platform enables more specific prediction of potential drug-drug interactions mediated by human drug transport proteins.

3 Nov 2009

Insurers pressed about use of premium money for non-medical expenses

An analysis released in a letter by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., suggests that the amount of money insurance companies spend to cover medical expenses could be less than the companies claim.

3 Nov 2009

Party leaders say House GOP bill to be released soon

"The Republicans' health care bill in the House focuses more on lowering costs than on expanding coverage, party leaders said Monday — setting up a stark divide between the GOP and Democrats who have made near universal coverage a top priority of their bills," Politico reports.

3 Nov 2009

Malaria Conference addresses RTS,S vaccine, tools, treatment

On Tuesday at the 5th Multilateral Initiative on Malaria (MIM) Pan-African Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, scientists and global health experts focused on malaria eradication, Agence France-Presse reports. "Key among the strategies ... is the development of an effective anti-malaria vaccine, a project scientists have been researching since the late 80s. ... RTS,S is the most clinically advanced malaria vaccine so far, according to the Malaria Vaccine Initiative," the news service writes (11/3).

3 Nov 2009

Health Analytics Solution Center launched by IBM

IBM today announced the launch of its Health Analytics Solution Center, part of a network of global centers addressing the growing demand for advanced analytics needed to help hospitals and medical staff improve decision-making and provide higher quality care.

3 Nov 2009

Reid: Lawmakers may not complete health legislation this year

CongressDaily: "Senate Majority Leader Reid is not expected to receive until next week scoring from CBO that will allow him to piece together a final healthcare overhaul bill, Senate sources said today. The possible two-week review period on proposals that Reid sent CBO Oct. 26 has bolstered speculation that an overhaul bill might not come to the Senate floor before December in a debate that could stretch into next year."

3 Nov 2009

Democrats still face roadblocks to health reform: Abortion, immigration

Though House leaders say they'd like a health reform bill vote by Friday, some Democrats are threatening to block its passage over the issue of abortion.

3 Nov 2009

GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer formally launch company to develop new HIV treatments

Pharmaceutical companies GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Pfizer on Tuesday formally launched ViiV Healthcare, a company focused on the development of new HIV treatments, Dow Jones Newswires/SmartMoney.com reports (11/3).

3 Nov 2009

$3.9 million Challenge grant for Thomas Jefferson researchers

Four researchers from Thomas Jefferson University have received $3.9 million in Challenge grant funds as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

3 Nov 2009

Louisiana struggles with Medicaid shortfall; Texas governor criticizes reform

Newspapers report on health issues at the state level, including Louisiana's struggles with a Medicaid shortfall and the Texas governor's criticism of congressional health care reform efforts.

3 Nov 2009

Health affairs issue focuses on HIV/AIDS, NTDs

By 2031 developing countries could need an estimated $35 billion to fight HIV/AIDS - three times the amount currently spent, according to a Health Affairs study published Tuesday, the New York Times reports.

3 Nov 2009

Also in Global Health News: Breast cancer in developing world; Burkina Faso ITN distribution; diarrhea in people over age five; Gates Q&A

"International cancer specialists meet this week to plan an assault on a troubling increase of breast cancer in developing countries, where nearly two-thirds of women aren't diagnosed until it has spread through their bodies," the Associated Press reports. Researchers will also look at "some worrisome data" that suggests breast cancer affects "women, on average, about 10 years" earlier in developing countries than it does in the U.S. (Neergaard, 11/3).

3 Nov 2009

Aethlon Medical begins collaborative biomarker program to study neurodegenerative disease

Aethlon Medical, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: AEMD) announced today that it has initiated a collaborative biomarker discovery program with the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy (CSTE) at Boston University School of Medicine and the Sports Legacy Institute (SLI).

3 Nov 2009

CBO: House health bill would lower some middle class premiums, raise costs for others

House Democrats say their health overhaul proposal will lead to health insurance premium savings for many consumers, though estimates of the overall measure's cost, as well as the taxes and fees required to pay for it, is a source of criticism and concern.

3 Nov 2009

Scientists discover two genes that can lead to aggressive leukaemia

Two genes, each one of which is known to cause cancer on its own, together can lead to aggressive leukaemia. This is the conclusion from new research carried out on gene-modified mice at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The discovery has surprised scientists, and may lead to new treatments.

3 Nov 2009

CBO finding few friends on health reform 'scoring'

The Congressional Budget Office isn't making any friends in their treatment of the health care reform bills on either side of the aisle, with lawmakers complaining about its scope, timeline to deliver scores and murky cost estimates.

3 Nov 2009

Entest BioMedical and Quantum Advisors sign Letter of Intent

Entest BioMedical Inc. (OTCBB: ENTB) announced today that it has signed a Letter of Intent with Quantum Advisors, a San Diego based biotechnology consulting firm, to assist Entest with the development of its Stem Cell Therapeutic Treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

3 Nov 2009