Drugs News and Research

RSS

Sharps Compliance first quarter retail billings increase 22% to record $1.9 million

Sharps Compliance Corp., a leading full-service provider of cost-effective management solutions for medical waste and unused dispensed medications generated outside the hospital and large healthcare facility setting, today reported $5.2 million in revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2011 ended September 30, 2010.

27 Oct 2010

Baxa announces 2011 dates for courses at STAR Center training facility

Baxa Corporation, a leading provider of medical devices and systems that automate pharmacy operations, today announced the 2011 dates for its STAR (Skills Training, Academics and Resources) Center. Located at the Baxa global headquarters in Englewood CO, the STAR Center furthers best practice in health-system pharmacy operations. The ACPE-accredited 2011 curriculum offers participants hands-on training in a state-of-the-art cleanroom and pharmacy training facility.

27 Oct 2010

MedAvante's centralized ratings to be used in Rexahn's Serdaxin Phase 2a study in MDD patients

MedAvante, Inc., the leader in centralized expert evaluation of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, and Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing and commercializing potential best in class oncology and CNS therapeutics, announced that Rexahn will use MedAvante 's Remote Centralized Ratings™ in their randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2b clinical study assessing the efficacy of Serdaxin® in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

27 Oct 2010

New type of radiation reduces GI side effects but does not improve survival rate in prostate cancer patients

A new British review of existing research suggests that while a newer type of radiation for the treatment of prostate cancer does not help patients live longer compared to an older type at least when similar doses are given it does appear to reduce gastrointestinal side effects.

27 Oct 2010

New International malaria research consortium to develop novel classes of antimalarials

Research teams from three academic institutions and two private sector companies on two continents have come together to form the International malaria research consortium for the development of novel classes of antimalarials. This bold initiative will develop novel classes of drugs against malaria, a deadly disease in desperate need of new treatments.

27 Oct 2010

Quebec recognizes value of ABILIFY for treating schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders

Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada is pleased to announce that Quebec has recognized the value of ABILIFY (aripiprazole) for the treatment of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders in adults and has agreed to list ABILIFY as a reimbursed full benefit on the Quebec public drug plans as of October 14, 2010.

27 Oct 2010

CHORI hosts 2nd annual international Advanced Workshop on Sickle Cell Disease

Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland is hosting the 2nd annual international Advanced Workshop on Sickle Cell Disease October 28 and 29. This impressive conference will bring together hematologists from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, and beyond, and the premier sickle cell experts from the United States for a dialogue on research, comprehensive care, and new treatments and therapies.

27 Oct 2010

CHI releases new white paper on 510(k) review process

California Healthcare Institute today announced the release of a new white paper titled "Upcoming Changes to the 510(k) Process: New Approval Pathways and the Impact on Medical Device Development and Innovation." CHI is a non-profit public policy research and advocacy organization, representing leading California academic institutions, biotechnology, medical device, diagnostics and pharmaceutical firms.

27 Oct 2010

More research needed on impact of exercise on hypertensive patients

There are many good reasons to ensure sufficient exercise in everyday life. However, advising patients with increased blood pressure (hypertension) to exercise regularly is often regarded as a specific medical measure aiming to reduce the increased risk of late complications. But whether more exercise actually helps to avoid illnesses related to hypertension or at least delay their onset has been insufficiently investigated.

27 Oct 2010

VCA Clinical Fellowship awarded for epithelial ovarian cancer research

Dr Clare Scott from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute in Melbourne, Australia, has been awarded a Victorian Cancer Agency (VCA) Clinical Fellowship to further research into an aggressive and highly lethal form of ovarian cancer.

27 Oct 2010

New guideline for using ESAs drugs in cancer patients

An updated joint guideline by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) advises physicians about the appropriate use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), a class of drugs that stimulate the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells, to treat cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia.

27 Oct 2010

Coalition pushes to replace Conn. Insurance Commissioner; Ind. lawmakers raise questions about Medicaid program

State Sen. Edith Prague and a coalition of labor unions and citizen groups are asking Gov. M. Jodi Rell to replace Insurance Commissioner Thomas Sullivan.

27 Oct 2010

Endocrine disrupting chemicals may affect human reproductive system: Research

New research has provided the first evidence that 'gender bending' chemicals which find their way from human products into rivers and oceans can have a significant impact on the ability of fish to breed in UK Rivers.

27 Oct 2010

Pharmaceutical industry pays billions in fraud settlements; Walgreen selling PBM Co.

Bloomberg: "Walgreen Co., the largest U.S. drug-store chain, is looking to sell its pharmacy-benefits management business and has hired an adviser to run an auction, said three people with knowledge of the matter. The sale of the PBM unit, which Walgreen started in 1995, may fetch $500 million to $1 billion. … Medco Health Solutions Inc., Express Scripts Inc. and CVS Caremark Corp., the three largest PBMs in the U.S., are among the companies that have expressed interest, the people said.

27 Oct 2010

Study finds anti-obesity drug reduces brain’s response to appetizing foods

Scientists have revealed that an anti-obesity drug changes the way the brain responds to appetising, high-calorie foods in obese individuals. This insight may aid the development of new anti-obesity drugs which reduce the activity in the regions of the brain stimulated by the sight of tasty foods.

27 Oct 2010

Boston Scientific announces completion of Asthmatx acquisition

Boston Scientific Corporation today announced the completion of its acquisition of Asthmatx, Inc. of Sunnyvale, California. The transaction follows the definitive agreement announced on September 20. Under the terms of the agreement, Boston Scientific purchased all outstanding Asthmatx shares for a total of $193.5 million. Additional payments of up to $250 million are contingent upon achievement of specified revenue-based criteria through 2019. Asthmatx is now an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Boston Scientific.

27 Oct 2010

Sirius receives U.S. patent for using SNP in Protein C gene

Sirius Genomics, a developer of companion diagnostics, announced today that U.S. Patent 7,820,376 entitled "Protein C Polymorphisms" has been issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The patent relates to a novel use of a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) located in the Protein C gene.

27 Oct 2010

Pledge to reduce antipsychotic use in dementia sufferers

A new coalition of 44 organizations called the Dementia Action Alliance, has called for a cut in the use of anti-psychotic drugs for patients with dementia. The coalition includes Alzheimer's Research Trust, Alzheimer's Society, BUPA, Dementia UK, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Royal College of General Practitioners and Stroke Association.

26 Oct 2010

Rising alcohol prices driving the young towards illicit drug use

A latest study that spanned over two years revealed a link between alcohol prices and consumption of illicit drugs such as ecstasy. The study says that as alcohol prices have risen young people have ‘switched’ to the party drug ecstasy as an alternative.

26 Oct 2010

Glaxo to pay $750 million in defective drug settlement

GlaxoSmithKline Plc, one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, has agreed to pay $750 million to settle a U.S. government false-claims lawsuit over the sale of defective drugs. The lawsuit first filed in 2004 by Cheryl D. Eckard, a former global quality assurance manager for the London-based company came to a settlement finally. Eckard, 51, said, “This is not something I wanted to do, but because of patient safety it was necessary.” Being the one to bring this to notice she would receive $96 million from the settlement money. She had warned the company earlier but was fired because of her efforts.

26 Oct 2010