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Patchwork of progress in California's battle against childhood obesity

A new study released today offers hope that California may finally be getting a handle on its 30-year battle with childhood obesity, but it also showcases a patchwork of progress that leaves the majority of the state's counties still registering increases in obesity rates among school-age children.

10 Nov 2011

Massachusetts seniors and workers rally against cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid

From the packed Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre in Boston, Sue Rummel of Danvers exclaimed, "I can't afford any cuts to my benefits!" The 64-year-old AARP member who is self-employed and still working, added her voice to thousands of others saying, "Stop the Cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid!"

10 Nov 2011

FDA testing of imported seafood inadequate

Finfish, shrimp, and seafood products are some of the most widely traded foods and about 85 percent of seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported. A new study by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future at the Bloomberg School of Public Health shows that testing of imported seafood by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is inadequate for confirming its safety or identifying risks.

10 Nov 2011

Faster, more sensitive test to detect ciguatera poisoning

Scientists are reporting development of a fast, reliable new test that could help people avoid a terrible type of food poisoning that comes from eating fish tainted with a difficult-to-detect toxin from marine algae growing in warm waters. The report appears in ACS' journal Analytical Chemistry.

10 Nov 2011

FDA creates new Internet resource to protect consumers from health fraud scams

The science of public health was still in its infancy in the 19th and early 20th centuries when early incarnations of the modern Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tried to protect consumers from "snake oil salesmen" and other shifty characters who swindled the sick and gullible.

10 Nov 2011

Experimental drug selectively destroys blood supply of fat tissue and decreases body fat

Obese rhesus monkeys lost on average 11 percent of their body weight after four weeks of treatment with an experimental drug that selectively destroys the blood supply of fat tissue, a research team led by scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reports in Science Translational Medicine.

10 Nov 2011

U.N., aid groups appeal for additional funding, supplies for Pakistan flood victims

The U.N. and several other international aid groups, including Oxfam, Save the Children, Care and ACTED, on Wednesday "warn[ed] they are running short of money and supplies to help millions of people affected by floods in Pakistan," the Associated Press reports.

10 Nov 2011

Fresenius Medical Care receives FDA clearance for 2008T hemodialysis delivery system

At the American Society of Nephrology's Kidney Week 2011, Fresenius Medical Care, the world's largest provider of dialysis products and services, announced that it received U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510 (K) clearance to extend improved touch screen navigation on its most advanced hemodialysis delivery system, the 2008T.

9 Nov 2011

Judge blocks FDA rule on new cigarette pack warning images

Federal Judge Richard Leon says the regulation ordering cigarette makers to put graphic images on the packages may "unconstitutionally compel speech."

9 Nov 2011

Salix to acquire Oceana Therapeutics

Oceana Therapeutics LLC, a privately owned global company focused on commercializing best-in-class specialty therapeutics, today announced it has entered into a definitive agreement for the sale of its operating subsidiary, Oceana Therapeutics, Inc. to Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. of Raleigh, NC.

9 Nov 2011

Amylin and Lilly terminate exenatide alliance, resolve litigation

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company today announced an agreement to terminate their alliance for exenatide and resolve the outstanding litigation between the companies.

9 Nov 2011

Viewpoints: Today's 'personhood' vote in Miss.; reactions to Romney's health care plan

What about in vitro fertilization, a process that both creates and discards embryos? What new rights would be afforded to a fetus, and how would those rights affect or compete with the rights of the woman who carries it? Would a woman who has an abortion be guilty of murder and subject to capital punishment? ... In their quest to ban abortion in Mississippi, the amendment's drafters appear to have rushed past such concerns.

9 Nov 2011

Brazil leading fight against hunger, WFP head says

"Brazil is a world leader in the fight against hunger and its experience can be shared with other countries, visiting World Food Programme [WFP] chief Josette Sheeran said Monday ... in the northeastern city of Salvador while inaugurating a local branch of a newly established Center of Excellence Against Hunger based in the capital Brasilia," Agence France-Presse reports.

9 Nov 2011

Men and overweight individuals eat faster, consume more

Two new studies by researchers at the University of Rhode Island are providing additional insights into the role that eating rate plays in the amount of food one consumes. The studies found that men eat significantly faster than women, heavier people eat faster than slimmer people, and refined grains are consumed faster than whole grains, among other findings.

9 Nov 2011

New poverty calculations show how health costs hurt seniors

The Census Bureau's analysis finds childhood poverty declining because of the CHIP health care program and supplemental nutrition efforts. But older Americans fare worse because of out-of-pocket health costs.

9 Nov 2011

Micromet third quarter total revenues decrease to $4.5 million

Micromet, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of next-generation antibodies for the treatment of cancer, today announced its financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2011.

9 Nov 2011

FDA accepts Genentech's vismodegib NDA for review

Curis, Inc., a drug development company seeking to develop next generation targeted small molecule drug candidates for cancer treatment, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted and filed for review Genentech's new drug application (NDA) for vismodegib for the treatment of adults with advanced basal cell carcinoma (BCC) for whom surgery is considered inappropriate.

9 Nov 2011

QRxPharma receives FDA written acceptance for review of MoxDuo IR NDA

QRxPharma Limited announced today it received written acceptance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for review of the MoxDuo IR New Drug Application (NDA) filed earlier this year.

9 Nov 2011

Fewer businesses take advantage of health tax credits

The Treasury Department says the number of small businesses taking a new tax credit set up in the 2010 health law is smaller than expected. Also, a report to be issued Thursday says the FDA should not be in charge of health information technology.

9 Nov 2011

RWJF announces recipients of 2011 Community Health Leaders Award

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is proud to announce today the recipients of its 2011 Community Health Leaders Award, honoring 10 individuals who have overcome daunting odds to improve the health and quality of life for disadvantaged or underserved communities across the country.

9 Nov 2011