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Shah sworn in as USAID administrator

On Thursday, Rajiv Shah was sworn in as USAID administrator at an official ceremony in Washington, D.C., Foreign Policy's blog, "The Cable," reports. "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed overwhelming praise and relief before swearing in Shah," according to the blog, which noted that Clinton's remarks provided some "insider details" about Shah.

9 Jan 2010

TRIA Beauty receives OTC clearance from FDA for hand-held blue light device

TRIA Beauty, the leader in light-based therapeutic beauty devices, today announced it received over-the-counter (OTC) clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a hand-held blue light device designed for at-home use.

9 Jan 2010

NexMed updates corporate activities

NexMed, Inc., a specialty CRO and a developer of products based on the NexACT® technology, today provided an update on ongoing corporate activities and the status of the Company’s NASDAQ listing.

9 Jan 2010

IHSS supporters vow to fight Governor's budget cut proposals

Representatives of more than 450,000 seniors and people with disabilities and those who care for them today urged the State Legislature to fight Gov. Schwarzenegger's mean-spirited and hypocritical proposal to destroy the In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program.

9 Jan 2010

HRH Princess Haya calls for more investment in medical research

HRH Princess Haya Al Hussein of Jordan yesterday called for more investment in medical research in a keynote speech at a medical conference hosted by the Aswan Heart Centre.

9 Jan 2010

ACT receives FDA notification regarding its embryonic stem cell trials for SMD

Advanced Cell Technology, Inc., a biotechnology company applying cellular technology in the field of regenerative medicine, announced today that it has received notification from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the Agency is currently drafting a response to the Company relating to the Investigational New Drug (IND) Application it filed in November seeking clearance to initiate a Phase I/II multicenter study using embryonic stem cell derived retinal cells to treat patients with Stargardt’s Macular Dystrophy (SMD).

9 Jan 2010

Also in global health news: Museveni on Uganda anti-gay bill; Zambia, India on collaboration; media examines water issues; Southern Sudan conflict

The Associated Press reports that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has said that the anti-gay bill to be considered late next month or early March by the country's parliament "is too harsh and [he] has encouraged his ruling National Resistance Movement Party to overturn the death sentence provision. Several lawmakers have agreed and say they will push to remove the statute."

9 Jan 2010

FDA yet to review MannKind’s NDA for insulin therapy

MannKind Corporation announced that it was informed today by the Food and Drug Administration that the FDA will not be able to complete the review of MannKind’s new drug application (NDA) for its ultra rapid-acting insulin therapy by the action date of January 16, 2010.

9 Jan 2010

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care wins contract to develop a pilot of FDA's Sentinel System

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has awarded a contract to Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Inc. to develop a pilot of the FDA's Sentinel System, which will use automated health care data to evaluate medical product safety.

9 Jan 2010

Savient Pharmaceuticals announces filing of KRYSTEXXA BLA resubmission on track

Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. provided an update on its activities directed toward the resubmission of its Biologics License Application (BLA) for KRYSTEXXA(TM) (pegloticase) as a treatment for chronic gout in patients refractory to conventional therapy and reaffirmed its belief that it continues to be on track for the filing of the BLA resubmission for KRYSTEXXA in the first quarter of 2010.

9 Jan 2010

Boston Scientific's PROMUS Everolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent System receives Japanese marketing approval

Boston Scientific Corporation announced today that it has received approval from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) to market its PROMUS® Everolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent System for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The Company plans to launch the product as soon as reimbursement approval is granted, which is expected in the coming weeks.

9 Jan 2010

Watson Pharmaceuticals files ANDA with FDA seeking approval to market LoSeasonique

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading specialty pharmaceutical company, today confirmed that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc., has filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval to market its levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol (0.10 mg/0.02 mg) oral contraceptive product prior to the expiration of U.S. Patent No. 7,615,545, which is owned by Duramed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.

9 Jan 2010

FDA grants unconditional approval for World Heart's Levacor VAD BTT study

World Heart Corporation, a developer of mechanical circulatory systems, announced today that it has received unconditional approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") for the bridge-to-transplant ("BTT") study of the Levacor Ventricular Assist Device ("VAD"). Study enrollment will encompass 160 subjects, a reduction from the approximately 200 subjects of the original statistical plan. As previously announced, the BTT study will begin initially at ten clinical sites.

8 Jan 2010

AUA updates clinical practice guideline on female stress urinary incontinence

A complete evaluation, including an assessment of post-void residual volume, is key when evaluating a female patient for surgery to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI), according to a new clinical practice guideline released today by the American Urological Association (AUA).

8 Jan 2010

Genentech's ACTEMRA approved to treat RA

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ACTEMRA® (tocilizumab) for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist therapies.

8 Jan 2010

Three new retail stores of China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals opened in 2009

China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals" or the "Company"), is a leading manufacturer, distributor and retailer of Chinese traditional medicines, pharmaceutical products, natural health products, health food, cosmetics, and medical equipment in Northeastern China. The Company today announced that it had opened three new stores in 2009.

8 Jan 2010

IMRIS obtains regulatory approval to market surgical imaging systems in South Korea

IMRIS Inc. ("IMRIS" or the "Company") today announced that it has gained regulatory approval from the Korea Food & Drug Administration permitting the Company to immediately begin marketing its 1.5 Tesla and 3.0 Tesla IMRISneuro systems in South Korea.

8 Jan 2010

A holistic approach to weight loss

When your New Year's resolution to lose weight crumbles as fast as the cookie touching your lips, it's time to admit that diets don't work. More successful is a holistic approach to losing weight that lets you feel good about feeding your body the nourishment it craves.

8 Jan 2010

Role of calcium-sensing receptor in human taste perception

Calcium may not come to mind when you think of tasty foods, but in a study appearing in the January 8 issue of JBC, Japanese researchers have provided the first demonstration that calcium channels on the tongue are the targets of compounds that can enhance taste.

8 Jan 2010

First Edition: January 8, 2010

Today's headlines reflect the continuing developments as congressional Democrats discuss policy specifics and take steps toward finalizing their health overhaul.

8 Jan 2010