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ITM scientists to combat tapeworm infection using drugs

The Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp increases its fight in Congo against the pork tapeworm, in spite of its name also a human parasite, causing epilepsy.

14 Jan 2011

Medtronic acquires Ardian

Medtronic, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of privately-held Ardian, a developer of catheter-based therapies to treat hypertension and related conditions.

13 Jan 2011

FDA approves Cumberland's Acetadote Injection

Cumberland Pharmaceuticals today announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a new formulation of Acetadote Injection, the Company's product used to treat acetaminophen poisoning.

13 Jan 2011

Addition of caffeine to alcohol does not improve sustained attention or reaction times

Marketing efforts that encourage mixing caffeinated "energy" drinks with alcohol often try to sway young people to believe that caffeine will offset the sedating effects of alcohol and increase alertness and stamina.

13 Jan 2011

SDIX receives FDA method equivalency and AOAC-RI certification for Salmonella Enteritidis test system

SDIX, a leading supplier of rapid detection solutions to the $1 billion food pathogen testing market, today announced that its RapidChek® SELECT™ Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) test system has been reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and determined to be equivalent in accuracy, precision and sensitivity to their current standard methods for poultry house environmental drag swabs and pooled egg testing.

13 Jan 2011

SRI International receives $17.4 million grant to boost treatments for cardiovascular, lung, blood diseases

SRI International, an independent nonprofit research and development organization, announced today that it has been awarded two preclinical services contracts totaling $17.4 million by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, one of the National Institutes of Health.

13 Jan 2011

The neuroscience of musical chills

Scientists have found that the pleasurable experience of listening to music releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain important for more tangible pleasures associated with rewards such as food, drugs and sex. The new study from The Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital - The Neuro at McGill University also reveals that even the anticipation of pleasurable music induces dopamine release [as is the case with food, drug, and sex cues].

13 Jan 2011

Viewpoints: Insurance rate increases; High risk pools; Mental health funding

In another sign of dysfunction in the U.S. healthcare system, Blue Shield of California has levied three rate increases in rapid succession that could raise some premiums as much as 59%. New state Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has said he plans to scrutinize the increases, and that's a good thing, given that Anthem Blue Cross sought a huge increase in premiums last year based on faulty math. But Blue Shield's request also highlights why the country should stay the course on healthcare reform (1/12).

13 Jan 2011

Pfizer initiates rolling submission of crizotinib NDA for ALK-positive advanced NSCLC

Pfizer Inc. announced today that it has initiated the rolling submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for crizotinib (PF-02341066), an oral first-in-class anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors are ALK-positive. Pfizer expects to complete the submission in the first half of 2011.

13 Jan 2011

FDA Advisory Committee recommends non-approval of liprotamase for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

Eli Lilly and Company announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee voted today to recommend non-approval of liprotamase, a non-porcine pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), currently under FDA review for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).

13 Jan 2011

FDA's determination of equivalency validates Neogen's rapid test for Salmonella enteritidis

Neogen Corporation today announced that its rapid test for Salmonella enteritidis (SE) has been determined by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be equivalent to the FDA's traditional testing method in accuracy, precision, and sensitivity for detecting SE.

13 Jan 2011

Exposure to 'thirdhand smoke' poses additional health risks

Scientists are reporting that so-called "thirdhand smoke" - the invisible remains of cigarette smoke that deposits on carpeting, clothing, furniture and other surfaces - may be even more of a health hazard than previously believed. The study, published in ACS' journal, Environmental Science & Technology, extends the known health risks of tobacco among people who do not smoke but encounter the smoke exhaled by smokers or released by smoldering cigarette butts.

13 Jan 2011

BPA more harmful to women with hormonal and fertility imbalances

A recent study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), found higher Bisphenol A (BPA) levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared to controls. Furthermore, researchers found a statistically significant positive association between male sex hormones and BPA in these women suggesting a potential role of BPA in ovarian dysfunction.

13 Jan 2011

FDA accepts to review Fibrocell Science's azficel-T drug

Fibrocell Science, a biotechnology company focused on the development of autologous cell therapies for aesthetic, medical and scientific applications, announced today that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has accepted for review the Company's complete response submission for azficel-T, proposed brand name laViv, for the treatment of moderate to severe nasolabial folds and wrinkles.

12 Jan 2011

K-V Pharmaceutical provides update on FDA review of NDA for Gestiva

K-V Pharmaceutical Company today issued an update on the status of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's review of Hologic, Inc.'s New Drug Application for Gestiva as a treatment for the prevention of preterm birth in women with a singleton pregnancy who have a history of singleton spontaneous preterm birth.

12 Jan 2011

FDA panel rejects new pancreatic enzyme replacement drug

Eli Lilly & Co did not win the support of the U.S. advisory panel on Wednesday for its one-of-its kind drug not made from pig enzymes to help certain pancreatic patients digest food. A Food and Drug Administration panel of outside experts in a 7-4 vote said they were not convinced the experimental medicine, known chemically as liprotamase, worked well enough for patients to absorb enough needed nutrients. One member of the panel abstained.

12 Jan 2011

Endosense initiates enrollment in TactiCath Contact Force Ablation Catheter Study for Atrial Fibrillation

Endosense, a medical technology company focused on improving the efficacy, safety and accessibility of catheter ablation for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, has announced first patient enrollment in the TOCCASTAR (TactiCath Contact Force Ablation Catheter Study for Atrial Fibrillation) clinical study at Na Homolce Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic, by study investigator Petr Neuzil, M.D.

12 Jan 2011

Daiichi Sankyo and ArQule initiate enrollment in ARQ 197 Phase 3 trial in NSCLC

Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited and ArQule, Inc. today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in the Phase 3 trial of ARQ 197, an investigational selective inhibitor of the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase, in combination with erlotinib, for patients diagnosed with non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have received one or two prior systemic anti-cancer therapies.

12 Jan 2011

Best diet aid: Water

If you're like most people, losing those last few holiday pounds is high on your list of to-dos this month. Fortunately, one of the best diet aids is free, abundant and right at your fingertips: water.

12 Jan 2011

Clostridium bacteria may offer a greener alternative to petrol

A diverse family of bacteria that can cause a potentially fatal illness in humans but could offer a greener alternative to petrol to power our cars will be the subject of a talk by a University of Nottingham academic at an international conference.

12 Jan 2011