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WHO reports on risk from radiation exposure, Humanitarian Assistance arrives in Japan following earthquake

The WHO on Saturday said the public health risk of a radiation leak resulting from earthquake damage at a nuclear reactor site in Japan "appeared to be 'quite low' but the WHO network of medical experts was ready to assist if requested," Reuters reports.

15 Mar 2011

U.N. officials highlight lack of access to humanitarian aid in Libya

Three-quarters of Libya was still unable to access humanitarian aid last week, Catherine Bragg, the U.N.'s deputy emergency relief coordinator, said on Thursday, the Canadian Press reports.

15 Mar 2011

Bariatric surgery can lead to long-term weight loss, reduce cardiac risk factors in obese adults

Bariatric surgery can result in long-term weight loss and significant reductions in cardiac and other risk factors for some severely obese adults, according to a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.

15 Mar 2011

WFP announces plan to boost food aid, U.N. calls for international aid amid escalating crisis in Cote d'Ivoire

Amid growing concerns over the increasing number of people fleeing from escalating violence in Cote d'Ivoire, the U.N. World Food Program on Friday announced plans to boost food aid to tens of thousands of displaced people and the families hosting them in other countries, AlertNet reports.

15 Mar 2011

Positive top-line results from IPX066 Phase III study in patients with PD

Impax Pharmaceuticals, the branded products division of Impax Laboratories, Inc., today announced statistically significant, positive, top-line results of the ADVANCE-Parkinson's Disease Phase III clinical study of the safety and efficacy of IPX066 versus immediate-release carbidopa-levodopa in advanced PD patients experiencing motor fluctuations.

15 Mar 2011

Bayer receives FDA approval for Gadavist Injection

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Gadavist Injection, a macrocyclic gadolinium-based contrast agent, for intravenous use in diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging in adults and children to detect and visualize areas with disrupted blood brain barrier and/or abnormal vascularity of the central nervous system.

14 Mar 2011

Majority of Americans fall short of vitamin D

Well-known for its role in keeping bones strong, vitamin D is now being hailed for so much more – from normal muscle function to a healthy immune system. Yet despite the growing research on the power of vitamin D, seven out of 10 Americans still fall short of the recommended vitamin D in their diets each day, according to the recent Dietary Guidelines Committee Advisory report.

14 Mar 2011

Biodel selects BIOD-105, BIOD-107 recombinant human insulin formulations for clinical testing, development

Biodel Inc. announced today that it has selected two new formulations of recombinant human insulin for clinical testing and is accelerating clinical development plans of these mealtime insulin drug candidates. The new formulations, BIOD-105 and BIOD-107, are designed to result in more rapid insulin action compared to currently marketed meal time insulin analogs while maintaining an injection site tolerability profile comparable to currently marketed insulins.

14 Mar 2011

Omthera commences dosing in pivotal Epanova Phase III EVOLVE trial in patients with very high triglycerides

Omthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held emerging specialty pharmaceuticals company, announced today that the first patient has been dosed in its pivotal Phase III EVOLVE (EpanoVa fOr Lowering Very high triglyceridEs) trial for Epanova™, the Company's lead compound for the treatment of patients with very high triglycerides. Epanova is an Omega-3 fatty acid containing a novel formulation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

14 Mar 2011

SCLR announces FDA's issue of deficiency letter for pseudoephedrine ANDA

SCOLR Pharma, Inc. today announced it has received a letter from the Food and Drug Administration identifying deficiencies regarding its Abbreviated New Drug Application for extended-release pseudoephedrine.

14 Mar 2011

CTI, Chroma enter agreement to co-develop and license tosedostat

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. and Chroma Therapeutics Ltd. announced today that the companies have entered into a co-development and license agreement providing CTI with exclusive marketing and co-development rights to Chroma's drug candidate tosedostat in North, Central and South America.

14 Mar 2011

New book on toxins

Toxins are a burning issue. A straightforward guide to a closer understanding of toxins in our daily lives is published by Wiley. The Dose Makes the Poison: A Plain-Language Guide to Toxicology, 3rd Edition cuts through the fear generated by the media, which leads to a distortion in many people's conceptions of toxins and chemicals.

14 Mar 2011

Several Republican members of Congress urge Obama administration to deny North Korean food aid request

Several Republican lawmakers said Thursday that the Obama administration should "deny North Korea's request for food aid" because of concerns that it would support Kim Jong-Il's regime, Agence France-Presse reports.

14 Mar 2011

Peanut allergy has a genetic link: Study

A new study suggests that children with a certain gene defect are more likely to develop a peanut allergy. They studied the effect of changes in the gene filaggrin, which helps the skin block out allergens. They noted what has been seen before – the changes in the gene reduce the effectiveness of the barrier, increasing the risk for eczema and asthma.

14 Mar 2011

Combination therapy may overcome Herceptin-resistant breast cancer

Breast cancer tumors take numerous paths to resist the targeted drug Herceptin, but a single roadblock at a crucial crossroads may restore a tumor's vulnerability to treatment, scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center report on line at Nature Medicine.

14 Mar 2011

Home genetic tests need medical supervision: Expert panel

According to an advisory panel to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, genetic tests sold directly to consumers that might help to predict health risks may need to be supplied through doctors. An official, Alberto Gutierrez, director of the FDA office that regulates diagnostic screening tools reported that the Molecular and Clinical Genetics Advisory Panel concluded two days of hearings on the increasingly popular tests and had come to this resolution.

14 Mar 2011

Food for healthy teeth and gums

For years, dentists have told patients to avoid foods that can harm their oral health. However, researchers are also looking at how including beneficial foods and beverages can improve your teeth and gums. Experts from Western Dental Services, Inc., suggest including the following foods in your diet to help maintain your smile's health and beauty.

11 Mar 2011

Longer looks: Best health policy picks from thought-provoking publications

Every Thursday, KHN's Jessica Marcy compiles this selection of interesting perspectives, from a variety of publications, on health care in America.

11 Mar 2011

FDA approves Lantheus Medical Imaging's SPA for flurpiridaz F-18 Phase 3 trial in coronary artery disease

Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., a worldwide leader in diagnostic imaging, 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 and planned analysis of a Phase 3 clinical trial for the assessment of myocardial perfusion using Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging of flurpiridaz F-18 in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD).

11 Mar 2011

Arena fourth quarter net loss decreases to $28.2 million

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010, and reviewed recent developments.

11 Mar 2011