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Other religious challenges to mandate still await court decisions

Those cases generally involve nonprofit and religious organizations. Meanwhile, some employers who say their religious beliefs prevented them from complying with the contraceptive mandate say they plan to halt coverage of some methods following the Supreme Court decision, reports The Wall Street Journal, Meanwhile, attention moves to the administration as it attempts to draft new rules.

1 Jul 2014

Use of catheter ablation lowers risk for atrial fibrillation

Use of catheter ablation is not only beneficial for treating atrial flutter but also can significantly reduce hospital visits - both inpatient and emergency - and lower the risk for atrial fibrillation, according to research by UC San Francisco.

1 Jul 2014

Gateway Apothecary wins Peter M. Fox Excellence in HIV Credentialing Award for 2014

Gateway Apothecary in St. Louis, Mo., has received a Peter M. Fox Excellence in HIV Credentialing Award for 2014. Gateway was the only pharmacy to be recognized among the 17 nationwide award recipients, which consist primarily of physicians and/or medical practices.

1 Jul 2014

In 5-4 decision, high court sides with Hobby Lobby

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday in a 5-4 split said "closely held" companies can on religious grounds opt out of a federal health-care law requirement that companies provide contraception coverage for employees, carving another piece from President Barack Obama's signature domestic achievement.

1 Jul 2014

First Edition: Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including numerous reports about the Supreme Court's decision on the health law's contraception mandate and its effect for coverage and on national politics.

1 Jul 2014

Heavy drinkers at greater risk of developing pneumonia and ARDS

Heavy drinking damages the body in many ways. In addition to liver failure, alcoholics are at a much greater risk of developing pneumonia and life threatening acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), for which there is no treatment.

1 Jul 2014

Herbal supplement can become dangerous when taken with prescribed drugs

St. John's wort, the leading complementary and alternative treatment for depression in the United States, can be dangerous when taken with many commonly prescribed drugs, according to a study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

1 Jul 2014

Hospitals taking new steps to figure per patient cost

The new tools rely heavily on data to figure out just what it will cost to treat a patient -- and they're sometimes buying information from "data brokers" to do it.

1 Jul 2014

Researchers develop new way to identify potential therapeutic targets for drug resistant melanoma

Moffitt Cancer Center researchers developed a new way to identify possible therapeutic targets for patients with drug resistant melanoma. It involves using liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry to measure biomarkers or molecules in blood and tissue that indicates cancer is present. These measurements can help researchers determine if a patient is responding to treatment.

1 Jul 2014

Inaccurate doctor lists hurt access for low-income Californians

Meanwhile, confusion over limited providers also has led to unforeseen bills for enrollees in private plans in California, reports The Los Angeles Times. Other stories look at the growing number of insurers who want to participate in the online marketplaces and how 19 states have passed laws restricting the workers who help consumers sign up, despite a new federal rule eliminating many such restrictions.

1 Jul 2014

A*STAR scientists pioneered a molecular connection between obesity and diabetes

Scientists from the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, a research institute under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, have discovered that obese individuals lack a protein that is essential for regulating blood glucose levels, causing them to face higher risks of developing diabetes.

1 Jul 2014

Research finding may accelerate development of treatments for PTSD

Scientists at Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University have identified a drug that appears to make memories of fearsome events less durable in mice.

1 Jul 2014

Concerns rise about delays in getting generic drugs to market

PBS NewsHour explores concerns that settlements on patents for drugs sometimes delay the generic version getting to consumers.

1 Jul 2014

Researchers find unique cell type that can protect against uveitis

Researchers at the National Eye Institute (NEI) have found a unique cell type that, in tests on mice, can protect against uveitis—a group of inflammatory diseases that affect the eye and can cause vision loss.

1 Jul 2014

Advocates and critics brace for High Court decision on contraceptive mandate

The Supreme Court is expected to release its ruling today on a case brought by the owners of Hobby Lobby craft store and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp., who object to being forced to offer some types of birth control.

30 Jun 2014

Merck reports results from global EMEND Phase 3 study for CINV prevention in pediatric cancer patients

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced results from a global, investigational Phase 3 study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EMEND (aprepitant) in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in pediatric cancer patients, aged 6 months to 17 years.

30 Jun 2014

ANMAT approves Genzyme’s Lemtrada for treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis

Genzyme, a Sanofi company (EURONEXT:SAN and NYSE:SNY), announced today that Argentina's National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT) has approved LemtradaTM (alemtuzumab) for adult patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) with active disease defined by clinical or imaging features.

30 Jun 2014

Cidara Therapeutics closes $32M Series A financing to advance novel echinocandin antifungal drug

Cidara Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company, announced today that it has completed a $32 million Series A financing that will enable it to advance candidates from the company's Cloudbreak™ targeted immunotherapy platform and biafungin™, a novel long acting echinocandin antifungal drug, into human clinical studies.

30 Jun 2014

Synthetic Biologics supports SYN-004 C.difficile preventative program with formation of Clinical Advisory Board

Synthetic Biologics, Inc., a developer of novel anti-infective biologic and drug candidates targeting specific pathogens that cause serious infections and diseases, announced today the formation of a Clinical Advisory Board (CAB) to support development of SYN-004, the Company's lead anti-infective product candidate for the prevention of the devastating effects of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)

30 Jun 2014

Bacteria can survive under antibiotic exposure by developing a biological timer

Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers showed that when exposed to repeated cycles of antibiotics, bacteria evolved a new adaptation by remaining dormant for the treatment period. The results show for the first time that bacteria can develop a biological timer to survive under antibiotic exposure.

30 Jun 2014