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Genentech, Biogen Idec file declaratory relief complaint against GSK regarding Arzerra

Genmab A/S announced today that on March 23, 2010 Genentech, Inc. and Biogen Idec, Inc. filed a declaratory relief complaint at the US District Court, Southern District of California against Genmab's collaboration partner GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for patent infringement under US patent No 7,682,612 based on GSK's manufacture, marketing and sale of Arzerra™ in the United States for the treatment of fludarabine and alemtuzumab refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

26 Mar 2010

Fairbanks Institute for Healthy Communities introduces INbank biorepository

The Fairbanks Institute for Healthy Communities, the Indianapolis not-for-profit organization working to improve community health, announced today the creation of INbank™, a next generation biorepository that will provide scientists with an important resource for research on chronic diseases of aging.

26 Mar 2010

Medical conditions put seniors at high risk of unsubsidized medical prescription expenses

If you're older, a woman, and suffering from either dementia or diabetes, you are the most likely to be exposed to unsubsidized medication costs in the US. This is known as the coverage gap for enrollees of Medicare Part D - the US federal program which subsidizes the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries.

26 Mar 2010

Ontario's doctors commend government for taking steps to create comprehensive health care system

In the face of ongoing economic challenges, Ontario's doctors commend the government for taking the necessary steps to increase quality and efficiency in the health care system.

26 Mar 2010

HealthWell applauds lawmakers for passing historic health care reform bill

The HealthWell Foundation, a national nonprofit that helps underinsured Americans afford their medical treatments, applauds lawmakers for passing the historic health care reform bill this week. While the bill extends coverage to millions of uninsured people, it does not adequately address the problem of the underinsured -- people who have health insurance but not enough coverage to afford the care they need. It may even increase the number of people in this underserved group.

26 Mar 2010

Early screening for diabetes and kidney disease can improve health outcomes

Millions of Americans may have chronic kidney disease (CKD) and not know it, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN).

26 Mar 2010

Interim results from ZALBIN Phase 2B trial in chronic hepatitis C patients announced

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today announced interim results through Week 12 following the end of treatment in a Phase 2b clinical trial conducted by Novartis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ZALBIN™ (albinterferon alfa-2b), an investigational agent, administered monthly in combination with ribavirin in 391 treatment-naive patients with genotypes 2 and 3 chronic hepatitis C virus. The primary efficacy endpoint is sustained virologic response (SVR) at Week 48 (24 weeks following the end of treatment).

26 Mar 2010

FDA approves Mirapex ER tablets for signs and symptoms of idiopathic PD

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved once-daily Mirapex ER® (pramipexole dihydrochloride) extended-release tablets for the signs and symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson's disease, which includes early and advanced PD. PD is the second most common chronic neurological disorder in older adults after Alzheimer's. Parkinson's disease has no cure.

26 Mar 2010

Novelos Therapeutics commences enrollment in Phase 2 trial of NOV-205 for chronic hepatitis C

Novelos Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of therapeutics to treat cancer and hepatitis, today announced that it has enrolled the first patient in a U.S. Phase 2 trial evaluating NOV-205 as monotherapy in up to 40 chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 patients who previously failed treatment with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin.

26 Mar 2010

BioScrip acquires Critical Homecare Solutions Holdings

BioScrip, Inc. today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Critical Homecare Solutions Holdings, Inc. (“CHS”), a leading provider of home infusion and home nursing products and services to patients suffering from chronic and acute medical conditions.

26 Mar 2010

Johns Hopkins doctor says sports events and cell phones can harm voice

From the first tip-off during March Madness to the championship’s final buzzer, and with start of the 2010 Major League Baseball season, on Sunday, April 4, thousands of people will relentlessly scream and shout, placing tremendous strain on their voices. While no one is recommending complete silence, the constant pressure on the vocal cords can cause great damage.

25 Mar 2010

Chronic job stress linked to obesity

A new study that provides a snapshot of a typical American workplace observed that chronic job stress and lack of physical activity are strongly associated with being overweight or obese.

25 Mar 2010

Genetic variation associated with lower risk of sudden cardiac arrest:Study

Physician-scientists at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute have found that a genetic variation is associated with lower risk of sudden cardiac arrest, a disorder that gives little warning and is fatal in about 95 percent of cases. Findings will be published tomorrow by the Public Library of Science (PloS One).

25 Mar 2010

Health care reform bill includes provisions for MTM programs, says Arcadia Resources

Arcadia Resources, Inc., a leading provider of innovative consumer health care services under the Arcadia HealthCare(SM) and DailyMed Pharmacy program, today announced the healthcare reform bill advanced in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 21st contains important provisions related to medication therapy management (MTM) including a series of grant and pilot programs.

25 Mar 2010

Isotechnika Pharma releases fourth quarter financial results; reviews operational and scientific highlights for 2009

Isotechnika Pharma Inc. has released its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009 and provided a review of the Company's operational and scientific highlights for 2009

25 Mar 2010

Payers can improve risk-sharing approaches for expensive therapies and technology

Wolters Kluwer Pharma Solutions, Inc., a leading provider of scientific information and analytics to the pharmaceutical and biotech fields, announced today that it has published the collective recommendations of an international team of healthcare experts on how payers can improve their risk-sharing approaches for expensive new therapies and technology.

25 Mar 2010

MediciNova reports net loss of $5.9 million for 2009 fourth quarter

MediciNova, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that is publicly traded on the Nasdaq Global Market and the Hercules Market of the Osaka Securities Exchange (Code Number: 4875), today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009.

25 Mar 2010

Alzheimer's Foundation of America applauds dementia-related provisions in health reform law

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA) is extremely pleased that the historic health reform signed into law by President Obama late this morning, after passing the U.S. House of Representatives on Sunday and the U.S. Senate in December, includes a number of provisions that are especially significant for AFA's constituents—and bode well for improving quality of life for individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, and their family caregivers. In particular, we are grateful that the final action addresses many of the practical and financial needs faced daily by this population, speaks to preventative issues and bolsters training of dementia care professionals.

25 Mar 2010

Hepatic encephalopathy drug XIFAXAN 550 mg tablets receives FDA marketing approval

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted marketing approval for XIFAXAN 550 mg tablets for reduction in risk of overt hepatic encephalopathy recurrence in patients 18 years of age or older. HE is a serious disorder caused by chronic liver failure, resulting in cognitive, psychiatric and motor impairments. This approval was supported by findings from the largest randomized trial of maintenance therapy in HE conducted to date, which assessed the efficacy and safety of XIFAXAN 550 mg tablets and demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the risk of overt HE recurrence.

25 Mar 2010

Experimental vaccine can help delay IBD and colon cancer

An experimental vaccine against an abnormal protein found in some tumors has the potential to delay the onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and in turn prevent progression to colon cancer, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

25 Mar 2010

Chronic News and Research

Genentech, Biogen Idec file declaratory relief complaint against GSK regarding Arzerra

Fairbanks Institute for Healthy Communities introduces INbank biorepository

Medical conditions put seniors at high risk of unsubsidized medical prescription expenses

Ontario's doctors commend government for taking steps to create comprehensive health care system

HealthWell applauds lawmakers for passing historic health care reform bill

Early screening for diabetes and kidney disease can improve health outcomes

Interim results from ZALBIN Phase 2B trial in chronic hepatitis C patients announced

FDA approves Mirapex ER tablets for signs and symptoms of idiopathic PD

Novelos Therapeutics commences enrollment in Phase 2 trial of NOV-205 for chronic hepatitis C

BioScrip acquires Critical Homecare Solutions Holdings

Johns Hopkins doctor says sports events and cell phones can harm voice

Chronic job stress linked to obesity

Genetic variation associated with lower risk of sudden cardiac arrest:Study

Health care reform bill includes provisions for MTM programs, says Arcadia Resources

Isotechnika Pharma releases fourth quarter financial results; reviews operational and scientific highlights for 2009

Payers can improve risk-sharing approaches for expensive therapies and technology

MediciNova reports net loss of $5.9 million for 2009 fourth quarter

Alzheimer's Foundation of America applauds dementia-related provisions in health reform law

Hepatic encephalopathy drug XIFAXAN 550 mg tablets receives FDA marketing approval

Experimental vaccine can help delay IBD and colon cancer

Bringing real-time analytics to downstream bioprocess monitoring

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

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