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Tips for affording expensive medication

You've lost your prescription insurance benefits because of unemployment; you don't have the extra money you once did for the co-pay; you have an expensive medication that isn't covered. Unfortunately, this is the current situation for many Americans. Carriann Richey, director of outreach and assistant professor of pharmacy practice for Butler University's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, says while affording medications in today's economy may be more difficult than ever before, there are options out there that can help.

28 Oct 2009

Medtronic reports outcome of its Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve trial

Clinical trial results published in this week’s Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) describe six-month outcomes for patients using the Melody® Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve from Medtronic, Inc.. The valve is implanted through a catheter procedure instead of open-heart surgery in patients with congenital heart disease affecting the function of their pulmonary valve.

28 Oct 2009

Congress urged to support President Obama's pledge not to raise taxes on middle-class Americans

Save Flexible Spending Plans in partnership with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) launched a new advertising campaign today encouraging Congress to honor President Obama's pledge not to raise taxes on middle-class Americans by preserving, rather than restricting, the use of flexible spending accounts (FSAs) in health care reform legislation.

28 Oct 2009

Microbix and Hunan Biopharmaceutical to build $200-million influenza vaccine facility

Microbix, a developer of a patented technology that doubles the output of influenza vaccine production, announced today it has signed a joint venture agreement with the Hunan Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (a Hunan Province state-owned enterprise) for initial financing to construct Asia's largest influenza vaccine production facility and the third largest vaccine plant in the world.

28 Oct 2009

BPA-free Bornfree baby bottles reduce colic and middle-ear infections

Parents looking to protect their babies from potentially harmful chemicals are today being advised to buy BornFree(TM), the world's leading brand for baby bottles and feeding devices free from Phthalates, PVC and Bisphenol-A (BPA), which is now available across the UK.

28 Oct 2009

Medtronic announces the international launch of PoleStar N30 Surgical MRI system

This week at the annual Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) announced the Conformite Europeen (CE) mark and international launch of the PoleStar® N30 Surgical MRI system, the latest in neuro oncology surgical solutions.

28 Oct 2009

Vegetable intake during pregnancy can protect unborn child against diabetes

New evidence is emerging for how important it is for pregnant women to eat good, nutritious food. Expecting mothers who eat vegetables every day seem to have children who are less likely to develop type 1 diabetes, is revealed in a new study from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

28 Oct 2009

D3 FastPoint L-DFA Influenza A/ Influenza B Virus Identification Kit receives FDA clearance

Diagnostic Hybrids, a leading developer of in vitro diagnostic fluorescent staining kits and cell culture products, announces the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (510k) clearance of its D3 FastPointTM L-DFATM Influenza A/ Influenza B Virus Identification Kit, which allows for the identification of influenza A virus and influenza B virus from a patient’s specimen in under 30 minutes.

28 Oct 2009

Exposure to carcinogens should be minimized to prevent cancer, says ACS

A new report from an American Cancer Society (ACS) scientific advisory subcommittee on cancer and the environment says exposure to carcinogens should be minimized or eliminated whenever feasible, and calls for new strategies to more effectively and efficiently screen the large number of chemicals to which the public is exposed.

28 Oct 2009

Strong alkaline substances can damage teeth

It has long been known that acids can erode tooth enamel but a new Swedish study from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, shows that strong alkaline substances can damage teeth too - substances with high pH values can destroy parts of the organic content of the tooth, leaving the enamel more vulnerable.

28 Oct 2009

Developing countries paying more for food, WFP executive director says

Despite drops in commodity market prices due to the global economic downturn, "[m]ost of the developing world is paying more for food," and the price of food staples in developing countries has risen, Josette Sheeran, executive director of the U.N. World Food Program (WFP), said Monday, the Associated Press reports.

27 Oct 2009

Hyperion Therapeutics enrolls first patient in HPN-100 phase III clinical trial for urea cycle disorders

Hyperion Therapeutics today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in its pivotal phase III clinical trial of investigational compound HPN-100 (glycerol phenylbutyrate). The 4-week, multi-center, randomized, double-blind, cross-over study is designed to evaluate the non-inferiority of glycerol phenylbutyrate to BUPHENYL® (sodium phenylbutyrate) Tablets and Powder in adults with urea cycle disorders.

27 Oct 2009

More people rely on alternative medicine

As consumers look to save money in a tough economy, many turn to alternative health care options. CBS 4 reports: "Health care costs are soaring. Thousands of people are without jobs and without the benefits afforded them. Now, those people are turning to preventative or alternative measures. ... The National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) shows 38 percent of adults and 12 percent of kids are now using alternative therapies to treat pain. In fact, Americans are now reportedly spending $34 billion a year on alternative therapies" (Demos, 10/26).

27 Oct 2009

Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System partners with Ecolab

Coverall Health-Based Cleaning System, a leading franchisor of commercial cleaning businesses, today announced a strategic alliance agreement with Ecolab Inc., a global leader in cleaning, sanitizing, food safety and infection prevention products and services. The agreement comes at a critical time, as businesses take steps to protect against the H1N1 virus and other germ-related illnesses.

27 Oct 2009

CryoLife granted FDA approval for BioFoam human clinical trial

CryoLife, Inc., an implantable biological medical device and cardiovascular tissue processing company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for the company's Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) to conduct a human clinical trial for its BioFoam® Surgical Matrix protein hydrogel technology.

27 Oct 2009

BioSphere submits an IDE to the FDA for its QuadraSphere Microsphere product

BioSphere Medical, Inc. – the leader in the use of bioengineered microspheres to treat uterine fibroids, hypervascularized tumors and vascular malformations by a minimally invasive, image-guided medical procedure called embolotherapy – today announced the submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) application for a clinical trial for the use of BioSphere’s QuadraSphere® Microsphere product (QuadraSphere) to deliver the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin for the treatment of primary liver cancer.

27 Oct 2009

New Trace Express Viewer software from CDC Software

CDC Software Corporation, a global provider of enterprise software applications and services, today announced the availability of Trace Express Viewer, a new solution for its Ross ERP Lot Trace application that enables easier use, faster access and immediate forward and backward trace functionality to identify suspect materials and assist in the disposition of finished goods in the event of a product recall - key functionalities for product safety and compliance.

27 Oct 2009

Climate change and public health: only fives states have published public health response plans, says study

Trust for America's Health (TFAH) released a new report today that finds only five states have published a strategic climate change plan that includes a public health response. This includes planning for health challenges and emergencies expected to develop from natural disasters, pollution, and infectious diseases as temperatures and sea levels rise.

27 Oct 2009

New hygienic cutlery dispenser, DIXIE SmartStock, aids in fight against germs

Flu season is in full swing, and high-traffic establishments such as foodservice facilities must take preventive measures to ensure a hygienic and safe environment for their customers. Georgia-Pacific Professional Food Services Solutions is aiding in the fight against germs with its hygienic cutlery dispenser, DIXIE® SmartStock®.

27 Oct 2009

PolyMedix completes second successful clinical study of PMX-60056

PolyMedix, Inc. (http://polymedix.com), an emerging biotechnology company developing new therapeutic drug products to treat infectious diseases and acute cardiovascular disorders, has completed a second successful clinical study of its anticoagulant reversing agent, PMX-60056.

27 Oct 2009