Beta Blocker News and Research

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Beta-adrenergic receptor blocking agents (beta-blockers) are drugs with multiple actions on the heart. Blockade of beta-1 receptors results in slowing of heart rate, reduction in myocardial contractility, and lowering of systemic blood pressure. In the context of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which represents a state of reduced oxygen supply to the affected portion of the heart, these effects may be beneficial as they result in reduced myocardial workload and oxygen demand. Furthermore, beta-blockers may reduce the risk of ventricular arrhythmias, which are an important cause of death following AMI.

Relypsa commences enrollment for RLY5016 Phase 2 study in heart failure patients with chronic kidney disease

Relypsa, Inc., today announced the initiation of patient enrollment in a Phase 2, open-label titration clinical study of the company's lead drug candidate, RLY5016, in heart failure patients with chronic kidney disease. RLY5016 is a novel non-absorbed oral potassium binder intended to prevent and treat hyperkalemia, a serious condition characterized by elevated serum potassium levels.

16 Jun 2010

Programs try cash incentives to get forgetful patients to take meds

The New York Times reports on a new approach to getting patients to take their medications consistently: financial incentives. "One-third to one-half of all patients do not take medication as prescribed, and up to one-quarter never fill prescriptions at all, experts say. Such lapses fuel more than $100 billion dollars in health costs annually because those patients often get sicker. Now, a controversial, and seemingly counterintuitive, effort to tackle the problem is gaining ground: paying people money to take medicine or to comply with prescribed treatment."

14 Jun 2010

Chiasma successfully completes Phase I clinical study of Octreolin

Chiasma, Inc., a privately held biopharma company, announced that it has successfully completed a Phase I clinical study evaluating the safety and pharmacokinetics (PK) of its proprietary product Octreolin, which contains the active ingredient octreotide actetate and is administered orally

14 Jun 2010

Effectiveness of combination band ligation and nadolol for first variceal bleeding not established

A controlled trial conducted by researchers at the E-DA Hospital in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, suggests that a combination of band ligation and nadolol may not be the most effective prophylaxis for first variceal bleeding resulting from cirrhosis. Results of this study appear in the July issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD).

10 Jun 2010

Biofeedback training on MPA decreases performance anxiety, improves performance in musicians

Traditionally, the most successful methods used to combat stage fright have been prescribed medications (beta blockers) and aerobic exercise. In the most recent issue of Biofeedback, researchers studied another technique: the effect of biofeedback training on Musical Performance Anxiety (MPA). MPA is a severe form of stage fright marked by high anxiety levels and impaired performance.

9 Jun 2010

Preoperative BB usage to help prevent POMI revealed at Vascular Annual Meeting

A regional quality improvement effort aimed at increasing the use of preoperative beta-blocker usage to help prevent postoperative myocardial infarction was revealed today at the 64th Vascular Annual Meeting presented by the Society for Vascular Surgery.

9 Jun 2010

NSF International tests, certifies nutritional supplements to prevent unacceptable contaminants

Recent news coverage has consumers concerned about the alarming amount of contaminants, such as pesticides and heavy metals, being found in herbal supplements. NSF International, an independent, not-for-profit public health organization, helps ease these concerns by testing and certifying supplements to ensure they are free of undeclared substances and unacceptable contaminants.

29 May 2010

Cardiac biomarkers help nephrologists manage fluid overload in dialysis patients: Study

Nephrologists must consider fluid overload effects when prescribing dialysis, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. The fluid overload biomarker, N-terminal pro-brain-type natriuretic peptide, previously known as a "cardiac biomarker" in dialysis patients, is an important component of managing patients with kidney disease.

28 May 2010

St. Jude Medical initiates enrollment in FAME II trial for coronary artery disease

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, announced today at EuroPCR that the first patient was enrolled in the FAME II (Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR)-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Plus Optimal Medical Treatment vs. Optimal Medical Treatment Alone in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease) trial.

25 May 2010

Beta-blocker medications provide new hope for patients with COPD: Study

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may have fewer respiratory flare-ups and longer survival if they take beta-blocker medications, according to a report in the May 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

25 May 2010

New study shows preoperative statin therapy protects patients undergoing elective AAA repair

Preoperative statin therapy has a protective effect on patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair that reduces risk and subsequent total hospital costs according to a new study from researchers at the East Carolina Heart Institute in Greenville, North Carolina.

20 May 2010

ARCA biopharma announces SPA agreement with FDA for bucindolol clinical trial

ARCA biopharma, Inc. today announced that it has reached agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) on the design of a clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of bucindolol in approximately 3,200 patients with chronic heart failure who have the genotype that appears to respond most favorably to bucindolol. Bucindolol is the Company's investigational, pharmacologically unique, beta-blocker and mild vasodilator.

17 May 2010

Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource offers information about abdominal aortic aneurysms

Abdominal aortic aneurysms have been considered mainly a man's problem. Men, more often than women, develop a weakened and bulging area in the aorta, the body's largest artery, which poses a risk of rupture. But according to the May issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource, women aren't risk free.

13 May 2010

CHD mortality rate in Ontario decreased by 35%: Study

From 1994 to 2005 in Ontario, Canada, there was a 35 percent decrease in the rate of deaths from coronary heart disease, with about half of this reduction associated with improvements in traditional CHD risk factors such as total cholesterol levels and systolic blood pressure, according to a study in the May 12 issue of JAMA.

12 May 2010

Data from Phase IV study of Bystolic tablets in Hispanic patients with hypertension presented at ASH 2010

Forest Laboratories, Inc. today presented data from a Phase IV study evaluating the effects of Bystolic (nebivolol) tablets in Hispanic patients with hypertension at the 2010 annual scientific meeting of the American Society of Hypertension.

4 May 2010

Molecular imaging can help physicians identify aortic dissection: Research

According to research published in the May issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, molecular imaging can help physicians identify aortic dissection-an often fatal blood vessel condition-and help guide treatment.

3 May 2010

Forest Laboratories' fourth-quarter net sales up 11.0% to $995.6M

Forest Laboratories, Inc., an international pharmaceutical manufacturer and marketer, announced that diluted earnings per share equaled $0.07 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010.

21 Apr 2010

Researchers identify potential drug target for treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at the University of Illinois have identified a potential drug target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: a receptor that is embedded in the membrane of neurons and other cells.

21 Apr 2010

Watson Laboratories' ANDA for generic Toprol XL tablets receives FDA approval

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc. - Florida, has received approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration on its Abbreviated New Drug Application for metoprolol succinate extended-release tablets USP in the 100 and 200 mg strengths, the generic equivalent to AstraZeneca's Toprol XL® tablets.

16 Apr 2010

Stress hormones may suppress tumor growth: Study

Chronic stress triggers a chain of molecular events that protects breakaway ovarian cancer cells from destruction, a team of researchers led by scientists at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center reports April 12 in the early online publication of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

13 Apr 2010