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New triple-therapies found cost-effective for chronic hepatitis C patients with advanced liver disease

A towering $60,000 bill, a year of fierce, flu-like symptoms and a running risk of depression are among the possible costs of two new hepatitis C treatments. But according to Stanford University health policy researchers, they might be worth it.

21 Feb 2012

AWMSG makes prostate cancer drug abiraterone available on the NHS

Cancer Research UK welcomes the news that the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG) has made prostate cancer drug abiraterone available on the NHS, paving the way for NICE to make a positive ruling when they publish their final guidance in May.

21 Feb 2012

Some answers about prescription psychiatric drugs

The circumstances of Whitney Houston's demise have dominated headlines and search trends since news outlets first reported of her death. Her struggle with addiction was covered extensively by the media, and even discussed candidly by Houston herself during several high-profile interviews.

20 Feb 2012

KI's chemical interaction map shows how inhibitors bind to PARP enzymes

A team of researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has generated a map over the effects of small drug-like molecules on PARP1 and other similar proteins in the body. This map may explain the mechanism behind putative side effects of the so-called PARP inhibitors, and can play an important role in the development of novel tailor-made cancer drugs.

20 Feb 2012

DNA ‘nanorobot’ effectively targets cancer leaving healthy cells untouched: Study

Researchers have developed ‘nano-sized’ probes built from DNA that can seek and destroy cancer cells, leaving healthy cells untouched. These ‘nanorobots’ release their drug payload only when they reach and identify their target and are believed to improve many treatments for disease.

20 Feb 2012

Deadly flu virus research may be published for the advancement of science but more risk assessment needed says WHO

According to the World Health Organization, the two controversial studies that explain how scientists mutated the H5N1 bird flu virus into a form that could cause a deadly human pandemic will be published only after experts fully assess the risks.

20 Feb 2012

Natural compound of Chilean avocado plant can combat resistant yellow staphylococci

Aggressive infections in hospitals are an increasing health problem worldwide. The development of bacterial resistance is alarming. Now a young Danish scientist has found a natural substance in a Chilean rainforest plant that effectively supports the effect of traditional treatment with antibiotics.

20 Feb 2012

Gender identity disorder linked with mental health risk in children

The first study to characterize a cohort of U.S. children with diagnosed gender identity disorder, led by researchers at Children's Hospital Boston, documents significant mental health risks as children struggle with strong feelings of being born "in the wrong body."

20 Feb 2012

Modified imatinib cancer drug prevents morphine tolerance in rats

By reformulating the common cancer drug imatinib (Gleevec), researchers have eliminated morphine tolerance in rats - an important step toward improving the effectiveness of chronic pain management in patients, according to researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

20 Feb 2012

Study reveals potential strength of different anti-HIV combination drugs

Using a mathematical formula that carefully measures the degree to which HIV infection of immune system cells is stalled by antiretroviral therapy, AIDS experts at Johns Hopkins have calculated precisely how well dozens of such anti-HIV drugs work, alone or in any of 857 likely combinations, in suppressing the virus. Results of the team's latest research reveal how some combinations work better than others at impeding viral replication, and keeping the disease in check.

19 Feb 2012

Defects in GPR120 protein may lead to obesity and liver disease

Defects in a protein that functions as a dietary fat sensor may be a cause of obesity and liver disease, according to a study published in the journal Nature, led by researchers at Imperial College London. The findings highlight a promising target for new drugs to treat obesity and metabolic disorders.

19 Feb 2012

Penn oncologist to discuss role of autophagy in fighting cancer at AAAS annual meeting

Blocking autophagy -- the process of "self-eating" within cells -- is turning out to be a viable way to enhance the effectiveness of a wide variety of cancer treatments.

19 Feb 2012

Remote controlled microchip successfully delivers drug in early clinical trial

Researchers have developed a new microchip implant device that can deliver bone-building drugs to seven osteoporosis patients. The microchips worked inside patients as drug-delivering pacemakers, following a prescription plan sent by radio signal.

18 Feb 2012

NPAF commends passage of bill for parity in insurance coverage for orally administered chemotherapy

Representatives of Virginia's patient advocacy community praised the State House of Representatives and State Senate today for voting strongly in support of legislation that, if enacted, will help thousands of Virginia's insured cancer patients who are currently unable to access their physician-prescribed chemotherapy treatment regimens of choice.

18 Feb 2012

FDA prioritizes review of Ra-223 and MDV3100 for treating CRPC

The arsenal of prostate cancer treatments for men with advanced prostate cancer may soon be strengthened as the FDA prioritizes the review of both Ra-223 and MDV3100 for treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Based on positive, independent research of each drug, better survival rates and improved bone health for patients with late-stage prostate cancer may be within reach.

18 Feb 2012

Substituting antiepileptic drugs may lead to increase in risk of epilepsy

The substitution of brand-name antiepileptic drugs with cheaper generic equivalents has been an ongoing point of contention among doctors, federal officials and people with epilepsy.

18 Feb 2012

FDA to reconsider diet drug that failed to get approval in 2010

Next week, advisers to the Food and Drug Administration will recommend whether the agency should approve the first new prescription diet pill in 13 years. The F.D.A. rejected the drug under review, Qnexa, in 2010, amid safety concerns, and the drug's manufacturer is now presenting additional data to argue its case.

18 Feb 2012

More than 1 in 4 elderly patients received potentially hazardous drugs during 2007

More than one in four elderly patients was given potentially hazardous medication during 2007. That is the conclusion of a study by Ute Amann and her co-authors in the current issue of the Deutsches Ärzteblatt International.

18 Feb 2012

CMS urged to limit definition of research for reporting under Physician Payment Sunshine Act

Expressing concerns that many physicians will be discouraged from conducting medical research because of cumbersome reporting requirements and potential mischaracterizations of their income, the Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) is urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to adopt a limited definition of research for purposes of reporting under the Physician Payment Sunshine Act.

18 Feb 2012

PCMA launches That's What PBMs Do campaign in Maryland

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) has launched a new ad campaign in Maryland that highlights the core value proposition of pharmacy benefit managers.

18 Feb 2012

Drugs News and Research

New triple-therapies found cost-effective for chronic hepatitis C patients with advanced liver disease

AWMSG makes prostate cancer drug abiraterone available on the NHS

Some answers about prescription psychiatric drugs

KI's chemical interaction map shows how inhibitors bind to PARP enzymes

DNA ‘nanorobot’ effectively targets cancer leaving healthy cells untouched: Study

Deadly flu virus research may be published for the advancement of science but more risk assessment needed says WHO

Natural compound of Chilean avocado plant can combat resistant yellow staphylococci

Gender identity disorder linked with mental health risk in children

Modified imatinib cancer drug prevents morphine tolerance in rats

Study reveals potential strength of different anti-HIV combination drugs

Defects in GPR120 protein may lead to obesity and liver disease

Penn oncologist to discuss role of autophagy in fighting cancer at AAAS annual meeting

Remote controlled microchip successfully delivers drug in early clinical trial

NPAF commends passage of bill for parity in insurance coverage for orally administered chemotherapy

FDA prioritizes review of Ra-223 and MDV3100 for treating CRPC

Substituting antiepileptic drugs may lead to increase in risk of epilepsy

FDA to reconsider diet drug that failed to get approval in 2010

More than 1 in 4 elderly patients received potentially hazardous drugs during 2007

CMS urged to limit definition of research for reporting under Physician Payment Sunshine Act

PCMA launches That's What PBMs Do campaign in Maryland

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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