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Pfizer enters partnership with Teuto to develop, commercialize generic medicines

Pfizer Inc. announced today that it is entering into a partnership with Laboratorio Teuto Brasileiro S.A., a leading company in the Brazilian generics industry, to develop and commercialize generic medicines.

20 Oct 2010

RWV bioreactor creates 3-D cell culture models

The cells and tissues in our bodies grow, develop and interact in a highly complex, three-dimensional world. Likewise, the various microbial pathogens that invade our bodies and cause infectious disease interact with this complex 3-D tissue milieu. In the current issue of the journal Nature Reviews Microbiology, researcher Cheryl Nickerson and her team at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University highlight an innovative approach for studying cells in 3-D.

20 Oct 2010

Study finds massive blood transfusion associated with severe complications

A study presented at this year's American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting indicates that massive blood transfusion is associated with a significant increase in perioperative risk for mortality, cardiopulmonary complications, and wound-related and infectious complications in the long term.

20 Oct 2010

Carbon dioxide plays a role in gene regulation: Research

UCD Conway researchers have found that carbon dioxide (CO2) is not only involved in climate change and a waste product of respiration in cells but also plays an active role in regulating the genes involved in inflammation and innate immunity. Their research findings were highlighted recently in the The Journal of Immunology.

20 Oct 2010

Smokers have more complications and higher death rate after surgery than non-smokers

Results from a clinical study presented at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2010 found that smokers have significantly more complications post-surgery than non-smokers, including a higher death rate.

20 Oct 2010

Study finds ketamine-propofol combination effective for pediatric procedural sedation

Procedural sedation and analgesia is an essential element of care for children requiring painful procedures in the emergency department. The practice of combining ketamine and propofol, two common medications used in emergency departments, has become more popular. However, until recently, it was unclear whether this practice was superior to the use of either agent alone, especially in children.

20 Oct 2010

Hospital mortality rates decline by 7.98% from 2007 to 2009

A new independent study by HealthGrades of patient outcomes at America's hospitals found that patients at 5-star rated hospitals had a 72% lower risk of dying when compared with patients at 1-star-rated hospitals -- an enormous gap that has held steady over the past years even as overall mortality rates have improved.

20 Oct 2010

Study reveals sex hormones can influence structure and function of heart's right ventricle

In the largest human study to date on the topic, researchers have uncovered evidence of the possible influence of human sex hormones on the structure and function of the right ventricle (RV) of the heart.

20 Oct 2010

Pearl announces $69 million Series C financing round

Pearl Therapeutics Inc., a privately held company developing clinically differentiated combination therapies for the treatment of highly prevalent chronic respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), today announced a $69 million Series C financing. The financing round was led by Vatera Healthcare Partners and included existing investors, Clarus Ventures, New Leaf Venture Partners and 5AM Ventures.

20 Oct 2010

Gilead Sciences third quarter total revenues increase 8% to $1.94 billion

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced today its results of operations for the quarter ended September 30, 2010. Total revenues for the third quarter of 2010 were $1.94 billion, up 8 percent compared to total revenues of $1.80 billion for the third quarter of 2009. Net income for the third quarter of 2010 was $704.9 million, or $0.83 per diluted share, compared to net income for the third quarter of 2009 of $673.0 million, or $0.72 per diluted share.

20 Oct 2010

Long term exposure to air pollution increases risk of severe COPD

Long term exposure to low-level air pollution may increase the risk of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to researcher s in Denmark. While acute exposure of several days to high level air pollution was known to be a risk factor for exacerbation in pre-existing COPD, until now there had been no studies linking long-term air pollution exposure to the development or progression of the disease.

20 Oct 2010

BioMarin announces BMN-111 program for treatment of achondroplasia

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. today announced its program for BMN-111, a peptide therapeutic for the treatment of achondroplasia. BioMarin plans to file an IND in the fourth quarter of 2011 and to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial by the first quarter of 2012.

19 Oct 2010

Forest Laboratories second quarter net sales increase 7.7% to $1,037.3 million

Forest Laboratories, Inc., an international pharmaceutical manufacturer and marketer, announced that diluted earnings per share equaled $1.00 in the second quarter of fiscal 2011.

19 Oct 2010

'Sister' mitral cells may broadcast 2 distinct channels of information on odors to cortex

A team co-led by neuroscientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has shed light -- literally -- on circuitry underlying the olfactory system in mammals, giving us a new view of how that system may pull off some of its most amazing feats.

19 Oct 2010

Importance of handwashing highlighted through events in 80 countries

Noting that Friday is Global Handwashing Day, the Los Angeles Times writes, "Every year, diarrhea and acute respiratory infections cause the death of more than 3.5 million children under age 5. These figures could be cut dramatically if handwashing with soap were widely practiced, experts say."

18 Oct 2010

Nektar presents data of NKTR-181 mu-opioid analgesic candidate at Pain 2010 Symposium

Nektar Therapeutics presented promising data today from preclinical studies of NKTR-181, a next-generation mu-opioid analgesic candidate with a novel molecular design. NKTR-181 is being developed to effectively treat pain while addressing the abuse liability and serious side effects associated with traditional opioid therapies.

18 Oct 2010

Nektar presents NKTR-181 preclinical data at ASA 2010 Annual Meeting

Nektar Therapeutics today presented new preclinical data demonstrating that NKTR-181, a mu-opioid analgesic with a novel molecular structure, dramatically reduces abuse liability while providing analgesia comparable to oxycodone and morphine.

18 Oct 2010

Questcor's H.P. Acthar Gel sNDA for infantile spasms receives FDA approval

Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Questcor's supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for H.P. Acthar® Gel (repository corticotropin injection) in the treatment of infantile spasms (IS), an ultra-rare orphan disorder affecting approximately 2,000 American children annually. IS is a devastating and potentially life-threatening form of epilepsy seen in infancy and early childhood.

15 Oct 2010

Crosstex International introduces customized surgical masks

Cantel Medical Corp., announced today the launch of a new, unique design of medical face masks - the SecureFit™ series by Crosstex International, a Cantel subsidiary and a leading U.S. manufacturer of medical face masks. The SecureFit™ series of masks addresses scientific research that points to poorly fitting masks as a major hindrance to their effectiveness.

15 Oct 2010

Discovery Labs to present lucinactant Phase 2a clinical study results at NACFC Conference

Discovery Laboratories, Inc. today announces that the Phase 2a clinical study of aerosolized KL4 surfactant (lucinactant) in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has completed and the results from the study will be presented at the upcoming North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC; October 21-23, 2010).

15 Oct 2010