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Merck announces acquisition of SmartCells

Merck & Co., Inc., and SmartCells, Inc., today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Merck will acquire SmartCells, a private company developing a glucose responsive insulin formulation for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

2 Dec 2010

European Commission approves Pfizer's SUTENT for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Pfizer Inc. announced today that the European Commission has approved SUTENT (sunitinib malate) for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic, well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET) with disease progression in adults.

2 Dec 2010

Scientists find new protein to break-up blood clots in prion diseases

The joy of a juicy hamburger could make a comeback thanks a new discovery by scientists from the University of Kentucky. In a new research report in the December 2010 print issue of The FASEB Journal, scientists found that a protein our body uses to break up blood clots speeds up the progress of prion diseases. This substance, called plasminogen, is a new drug target for prion diseases in both humans and animals.

2 Dec 2010

Advent of HAART leads to decrease in mortality among people living with HIV/AIDS

During the decade since the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), or 1996-2006, mortality among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) sharply decreased in the United States. So, too, did the percentages of PLWHA deaths attributable to AIDS-defining illnesses, just as there was a marked increase in the percentage of deaths attributable to heart, kidney, and liver disease.

2 Dec 2010

Mount Sinai’s instructor receives Liz Tilberis Grant from OCRF

AnaLisa DiFeo, PhD, Instructor in the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, has been honored by the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) with the Liz Tilberis Grant.

2 Dec 2010

Anti-retroviral therapy yields 'Lazarus effect': Long-term household investment strategy replaces hopelessness

Two teams of researchers at UC San Diego and other U.S. and African universities and the World Bank have documented significant spillover benefits of a drug therapy to combat AIDS symptoms and a novel prevention strategy that focuses on girls in Sub-Saharan Africa, an area with two-thirds of the world's HIV infections.

2 Dec 2010

Expert panel at RSNA meeting to discuss medical imaging technique

An expert panel convened today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) to discuss medical imaging appropriateness, ionizing radiation from imaging procedures and efforts under way to curb overutilization, decrease radiation dose and educate patients on the risks and benefits of medical imaging.

2 Dec 2010

St. Jude ICU honored with Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence for second consecutive year

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has been recognized for the second consecutive year with the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence given by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). In 2009, the St. Jude ICU became Tennessee's first ICU to win the honor.

2 Dec 2010

CSC files IND application to commence Phase I study for Spinal Muscular Atrophy

California Stem Cell, Inc. (CSC) and Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (FSMA) announced today that CSC has filed an investigational new drug (IND) application with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for approval to commence a Phase I safety study on a jointly-developed stem cell-derived motor neuron transplantation therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type I.

2 Dec 2010

AMT, Amgen amend GDNF gene license agreement

Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics Holding N.V., a leader in the development of gene-based therapies, today announced that it has amended and restated its licensing agreement with Amgen for gene therapy applications incorporating the GDNF (glial cell derived neurotrophic factor) gene, to which Amgen holds rights. Financial terms were not disclosed.

2 Dec 2010

Regular, low-cost preventive medication can protect people with HIV from TB

Children and adults living with HIV can be protected from one of their deadliest threats - tuberculosis (TB) - with a regular, low-cost preventive medication according to new guidelines launched today by the WHO. Of the nearly two million AIDS-related deaths each year, a quarter of them are associated with TB.

2 Dec 2010

Stemline to feature SL-401 clinical efficacy at ASH Annual Meeting

Stemline Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that two abstracts featuring SL-401 clinical efficacy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and pre-clinical activity in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) have been selected for presentation at the upcoming 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) to be held in Orlando, FL from December 4-7, 2010.

2 Dec 2010

CSL Behring launches next generation HeliTrax System for Apple's devices

CSL Behring announced today the availability of the next generation HeliTrax System as part of a specially designed software platform for Apple's iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad devices. This enhanced system is designed to improve therapy management for people with hemophilia A who use CSL Behring's recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII).

2 Dec 2010

FDA advisory committee votes against Avodart sNDA for prostate cancer risk reduction

GlaxoSmithKline today announced the results of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) meeting to discuss the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Avodart® (dutasteride) for reducing the risk of prostate cancer in men at risk for the disease, defined as those who have had a prior negative biopsy due to clinical concern and have an elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

2 Dec 2010

Wake Forest University to begin clinical trial for low-grade gliomas

For patients with low-grade gliomas, or slow growing brain tumors, a shot in the arm might soon lead to a new treatment therapy. A groundbreaking, first in humans vaccine will be tested in an early phase clinical trial that will soon begin at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Eighteen patients will be the first in the world to receive it.

2 Dec 2010

FDA approves CUBICIN 2-minute IV injection for MRSA skin infections, bacteremia

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its currently-marketed antibiotic, CUBICIN (daptomycin for injection), has been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for once-a-day dosing as a 2-minute intravenous (IV) injection.

2 Dec 2010

Oncolytics initiates enrollment in Phase II ovarian cancer study

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. announced today the start of enrollment in a randomized Phase II ovarian cancer study. The Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) is conducting the randomized Phase II trial of weekly paclitaxel versus weekly paclitaxel with REOLYSIN in patients with persistent or recurrent ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer (GOG186H).

2 Dec 2010

Worm eggs may heal ulcerative colitis: Research

A new study involving a man who swallowed worm eggs to relieve symptoms of ulcerative colitis sheds light on how worms promote healing in the intestine. The study, published today in Science Translational Medicine, also identifies potential targets for more conventional ways of treating colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease.

2 Dec 2010

Researchers identify blip in gene that causes JMP syndrome

UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have identified a gene responsible for a rare disease that results in severe joint stiffness, muscle loss, anemia and panniculitis-induced lipodystrophy, or JMP syndrome.

2 Dec 2010

U.N. says PMTCT of HIV is achievable; efforts must target millions currently 'falling through the cracks'

A generation of babies could be born free of AIDS if the international community stepped up efforts to provide universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and social protection, the United Nations said on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

2 Dec 2010