Respiratory News and Research

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Report of 2009 H1N1 influenza VLP vaccine published online

Novavax, Inc. announces the first report of a vaccine protecting ferrets against the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus has been published in the journal Vaccine May 12, 2010 online issue.

14 May 2010

Aradigm reports total revenue of $4.0M for first-quarter 2010

Aradigm Corporation today announced financial results for the first quarter and three months ended March 31, 2010.

13 May 2010

Trubion Pharmaceuticals to present promising data from Phase 1 studies of SBI-087, SBI-087

Trubion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the acceptance of two Phase 1 data presentations on SBI-087 (PF-05230895) at the 2010 annual congress of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) in Rome, Italy. Presentations will include promising data from a Phase 1 study of SBI-087 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a Phase 1 study of SBI-087 for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Copies of both abstracts are available at http://www.eular.org. SBI-087 is Trubion's next-generation CD20-directed small modular immunopharmaceutical (SMIP™) product candidate and is being developed in collaboration with Pfizer.

13 May 2010

Study compares outcome of popular esophageal stents in patients with dysphagia

Less than 50% of patients with esophageal carcinoma are suitable for surgery at the time of diagnosis. Most of these patients present with locally advanced or metastatic disease and/or significant comorbidities. In such circumstances, the only therapeutic option is palliative care to treat dysphagia and prevent respiratory complications secondary to aspiration. Self-expanding metal stents have been proven effective for palliation of dysphagia in patients with esophageal carcinoma, tracheo-esophageal fistulas or anastomotic leaks.

13 May 2010

Merck hosts R&D and Business Briefing

Merck & Co., Inc. today hosted its first R&D and Business Briefing since the completion of the Merck and Schering-Plough merger. The event included a comprehensive review of the company's late-stage pipeline, as well as the company's commercial strategy and progress made in the integration of Merck's worldwide operations.

12 May 2010

Researchers discover molecular mechanism behind smoking cessation effect

The tobacco addiction epidemic is a major public health problem worldwide. Professor Zhao Baolu and his group from the State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences set out to tackle this problem. After 20 years of innovative research, they have developed a novel tea filter to treat cigarette addiction and have discovered the molecular mechanism behind the smoking cessation effect.

12 May 2010

SonarMed AMS technology obtains FDA clearance

SonarMed, a developer and manufacturer of critical care respiratory monitoring technologies, announced that it has received Food and Drug Administration clearance for its patented SonarMed Airway Monitoring System, which monitors breathing tubes for patients requiring ventilators.

12 May 2010

Many pregnant women in the U.S. have insufficient vitamin D levels: Study

Seven out of every ten pregnant women in the United States are not getting enough Vitamin D according to a study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. While prenatal vitamins do raise Vitamin D levels during pregnancy, the study shows that higher doses may be needed for many women.

12 May 2010

Abbott licenses 24 pharmaceutical products from Zydus Cadila

Further strengthening its global competitive position, Abbott today announced a licensing and supply agreement with Zydus Cadila of India for a portfolio of pharmaceutical products that Abbott will commercialize in 15 emerging markets, enabling the company to further accelerate its emerging markets growth.

11 May 2010

China Pharma first-quarter revenue up 16% to $15.1 million

China Pharma Holdings, Inc., a leading fully-integrated specialty pharmaceuticals company in China, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

11 May 2010

Forest, Almirall to present data on aclidinium bromide for COPD and LAS100977 for asthma at ATS conference

Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Almirall, S.A. today announced that they are presenting data from several studies of two investigational inhaled respiratory compounds at the annual American Thoracic Society International Conference taking place in New Orleans May 14-19, 2010. Data on aclidinium bromide, an inhaled muscarinic antagonist, which is in Phase III development for COPD, and LAS100977, a long-acting beta 2-agonist, in Phase II development for asthma, will be presented in 11 separate posters.

11 May 2010

New findings could help develop vaccines against respiratory infections

Inducing cellular immunity as a means to protect against influenza virus is the focus of several laboratories at the Trudeau Institute. Researchers here have recently identified two important signaling components required by the immune system that might allow us to pre-position our own virus-fighting T cells to the lungs, the site of initial infection.

11 May 2010

Alexza Pharmaceuticals first-quarter net loss increases to $13.4 million

Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010 and provided a business update.

11 May 2010

Asthmatx announces first U.S. patient treated with BT delivered by Alair System

Asthmatx, Inc. reported today that doctors at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va., recently treated the first U.S. patient with bronchial thermoplasty (BT) delivered by the Alair® System, the first device-based asthma treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

10 May 2010

NIH awards UF scientists $7.5M for study of MRI technology in evaluating children with DMD

Duchenne muscular dystrophy research at the University of Florida got a major boost with the award of $7.5 million in National Institutes of Health funding to study the use of magnetic resonance imaging in determining the natural progression of the disease.

10 May 2010

Initiation of QVA149 Phase III clinical programme by Novartis triggers $7.5M milestone payment to Sosei

Sosei Group Corporation announce the commencement of the Phase III clinical programme by Novartis, with QVA149, a once-daily, dry powder bronchodilator for inhalation combining a fixed dose of the once-daily beta2-agonist QAB149 (indacaterol) and the long-acting muscarinic antagonist NVA237 (glycopyrronium bromide) for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The start of Phase III triggers a $7.5m milestone payment to Sosei.

10 May 2010

Urgent care and retail health clinics can reduce treatment costs for allergy sufferers

In this economy, allergy sufferers are looking for relief from more than sneezing, runny noses, and itchy eyes. And, according to a recent study, they can find relief for both their symptoms and their wallets, saving anywhere from $50 to $400 in out-of-pocket costs per visit if they skip the emergency room and head to urgent care and retail health clinics when they are unable to see their primary physician.

10 May 2010

Researchers launch NIH-sponsored clinical trial for spinal deformity

Researchers at Northwestern Memorial have launched the first-ever National Institutes of Health-sponsored clinical trial for spinal deformity. The trial will evaluate the effectiveness of surgical and non-surgical treatments in people with adult scoliosis or curvature of the spine. Researchers also hope to identify important factors related to patient reported outcomes such as pain, activity and appearance.

7 May 2010

Comprehensive education program in respiratory therapy

Teleflex Medical has announced the introduction of a comprehensive education program in respiratory therapy, designed to provide an in-depth curriculum focused on maximizing humidification and minimizing challenges through the therapeutic levels outlined in the Respiratory Pyramid of Care. The courses are accredited by the American Association for Respiratory Care.

7 May 2010

First 25 recipients of Frank Lanza Memorial Scholarship Program announced

The American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, with the generous support of METI and L-3 Communications, Inc., have announced the first 25 recipients of the Frank Lanza Memorial Scholarship Program. The scholarships recognize the accomplishments of students enrolled in allied health programs offered by regionally accredited community colleges. Twenty-five students received scholarships of $1,000 each.

7 May 2010