Food News and Research

RSS

Companies may hit new anti-discrimination law when asking workers about health issues

Employers offering wellness and preventive health programs can sometimes run afoul of a new anti-discrimination law restricting their ability to ask workers about family medical histories, The Wall Street Journal reports.

2 Feb 2010

FDA and PATH collaborate to advance pneumococcal vaccine development for children

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced a collaboration with PATH to advance development of a vaccine to protect children against diseases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus), especially pneumonia.

2 Feb 2010

Pervasis Therapeutics reaches agreement with FDA on pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for Vascugel

Pervasis Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has reached an agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the design of a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for Vascugel®, an investigational new drug for the prevention of hemodialysis access graft failure.

2 Feb 2010

Serious liver disorder associated with use of HIV drug, FDA warns

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that non-cirrhotic portal hypertension, a rare, but serious, liver disorder, has been reported in some HIV patients taking Videx/Videx EC (didanosine).

2 Feb 2010

Researchers identify antiviral small molecule that is effective against numerous viruses

Viruses are insidious creatures. They differ from each other in many ways, and they can mutate - at times seemingly at will, as with HIV - to resist a host of weapons fired at them. Complicating matters further is that new viruses are constantly emerging.

2 Feb 2010

U.N. Secretary-General focuses on MDGs during African Union Summit

Addressing the 14th African Union (AU) Summit on Sunday, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for African countries to maintain their commitment to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), "which include reducing poverty, disease and child mortality, ahead of their target date of 2015," BBC reports (1/31).

2 Feb 2010

Thermo Fisher Scientific to acquire Finnzymes

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Finnzymes, a well-recognized provider of integrated tools for molecular biology analysis, including reagents, instruments, consumables and kits. Headquartered in Espoo, Finland, Finnzymes has 90 employees and generated revenue of $20 million in 2009.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 2 Feb 2010

TOPICA's IND for onychomycosis antifungal agent accepted by FDA

TOPICA Pharmaceuticals, a privately-held biotechnology company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company's Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the use of luliconazole, its lead product candidate, in patients with onychomycosis (nail and nail bed fungal infections).

1 Feb 2010

Congress faces one-month deadline on doctor payment fix

The doctor payment fix and several marketplace issues, such as insurance red tape and malpractice cases, continue to loom while health care reform efforts stall.

1 Feb 2010

FDA approves Allergan's JUVÉDERM XC dermal filler

Allergan, Inc. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of JUVÉDERM® XC, a new formulation of the currently FDA-approved JUVÉDERM® dermal filler and the latest advancement in hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal fillers.

1 Feb 2010

Study shows nutritional deficiency, stunted growth and obesity are common among Cameroonian teenagers

There are major differences in how well nourished Cameroonian teenagers are. Differences between city/countryside, boys/girls, and among individuals with high and low socio-economic status are described by Léonie Nzefa Dapi in the dissertation she is defending at Umeå University in Sweden.

1 Feb 2010

Whole grain intake prevents diabetes, heart diseases, and excess weight gain

Three daily servings of whole grains are recommended for prevention of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, and excess weight gain. Yet few adolescents or young adults follow these guidelines, according to national survey data. In a study published in the February 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers from the School of Public Health, University of Minnesota report that young people are consuming less than 1 serving of whole grains per day. The study took an in-depth look at influencers, modifiable factors, and interventions that are critical for successfully addressing this gap.

1 Feb 2010

World Vision to join seven other aid agencies to distribute food in Haiti

World Vision will join seven other aid agencies today to begin a massive distribution of food provided by the World Food Program. The distribution effort, with support of the Haitian Government, is expected to reach some 1.6 million people throughout Port-au-Prince, some living in volatile areas that have so far received little aid.

31 Jan 2010

Senomyx launches sucrose enhancer that can reduce 50% of sugar usage

Senomyx is using proprietary technologies to discover and develop novel flavor ingredients for the food, beverage, and ingredient supply industries. The Company’s flavor programs are focused on creating new ingredients that enhance sweet, savory, salty, and cooling tastes, as well as ingredients that reduce bitter taste. These new flavor ingredients include S6973, a unique sucrose enhancer that may be used to reduce up to 50% of the sugar in a variety of products while maintaining the taste of natural sugar.

30 Jan 2010

MPI Research lauds FDA's current guidance on abuse potential of drugs

On January 26, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a key draft guidance document, Guidance for Industry Assessment of Abuse Potential of Drugs. When finalized, this guidance will represent the FDA’s current position on the abuse potential of drugs. Noteworthy within the document, Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) specified in the Guidance for Industry S7A Safety 471 Pharmacology Studies for Human Pharmaceuticals and in FDA regulations, 21 CFR 472 part 58, now also apply to abuse potential studies in animals.

30 Jan 2010

The Nutro Company announces $50,000 donation to SDF

As search and rescue teams return home from Haiti this week, The Nutro Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated, today announced a $50,000 donation to the Search Dog Foundation (SDF). SDF is a California-based organization that deployed six canine disaster search teams to assist in the search and rescue operations in Haiti.

30 Jan 2010

U.S. Marshals seize unapproved ozone generators from Applied Ozone Systems

At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Marshals today seized 79 ozone generators, models AOS-1M and AOS-1MD, from Applied Ozone Systems of Auburn, Calif. The seized goods, which are medical devices, are valued at $75,900.

30 Jan 2010

One-third of dairy products exceed microbe contamination levels, says study

One-third of samples of milk and dairy products analysed in various restaurants exceed the microbe contamination limits set by the European Union, according to a study carried out by researchers from the University of Valencia (UV). The experts advise against keeping milk in jugs and suggest that these foodstuffs need to be better handled.

30 Jan 2010

FDA approved 53 new oncology and hematology drugs between 2005 and 2007

Over a two and half year period, beginning in 2005 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's oncology drug product's office began reviewing marketing applications, a total of 60 new oncology and hematology drugs were reviewed, of which 53 were approved, according to a new article published online January 29 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

30 Jan 2010

IKF's Wonderfund establishes emergency fund for Haiti's children

The IKF's (International Kids Fund) Wonderfund™ has established an emergency fund for Haiti's Children called the "Haiti's Children Fund." It will support young Haitian earthquake victims expected to arrive at Jackson Memorial Hospital for life-saving medical care. Donations may be made directly through www.wonderfund.org.

30 Jan 2010