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Seven tips for navigating Medicare maze

If you're about to turn 65, you'll be part of the first wave of baby boomers signing up for Medicare. Consumer Reports Health recommends signing up as early as three months ahead of your birthday. Failing to do so could potentially cost you thousands of dollars down the road. That's one of seven tips for navigating the Medicare maze available in the December issue of Consumer Reports and online at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.

1 Nov 2010

Catalyst’s CPP-115 improves retinal safety profile than vigabatrin

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. today announced positive results from a series of CPP-115 preclinical safety and efficacy evaluations. CPP-115 was found to have a significantly improved retinal safety profile compared to vigabatrin.

1 Nov 2010

Labtec initiates Sufentanil TDS phase II clinical development program for chronic cancer pain

Labtec GmbH, Langenfeld, Germany announces the start of the phase II clinical development program for its sufentanil transdermal patch. The multicentric, randomized, open label study will evaluate efficacy and safety of Sufentanil TDS against standard treatment in patients with chronic cancer pain.

1 Nov 2010

Cell Therapeutics announces submission of MAA to European Medicines Agency for Pixuvri

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that it has submitted a Marketing Authorization Application to the European Medicines Agency for Pixuvri (pixantrone dimaleate) as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with multiply relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

1 Nov 2010

NeurAxon’s NXN-188 compound effective for acute migraine treatment

NeurAxon, Inc., announced today Phase 2 clinical study results for NXN-188, a novel, first-in-class treatment with the potential to raise the current standard of care in acute migraine.

1 Nov 2010

New laboratory-engineered livers could provide solution to donor shortage

Researchers at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center have reached an early, but important, milestone in the quest to grow replacement livers in the lab. They are the first to use human liver cells to successfully engineer miniature livers that function - at least in a laboratory setting like human livers. The next step is to see if the livers will continue to function after transplantation in an animal model.

1 Nov 2010

FDA approves Afinitor drug for tuberous sclerosis complex

The Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance (TS Alliance) today announced the first drug approved for a tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) indication by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). This drug, manufactured by Novartis Oncology, is called Afinitor and will be used to treat subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs) in individuals with TSC.

1 Nov 2010

Gilead presents Phase IIa data for HCV therapy at The Liver Meeting 2010

Gilead Sciences, Inc. today announced data from a Phase IIa study showing that its investigational compounds GS 9190 and GS 9256, used in conjunction with current standard of care therapies, produced substantial suppression of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) within 28 days of treatment.

1 Nov 2010

FDA new approvals, antibiotic and neurological drugs

Two new drugs have gained approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – one is an antibiotic from Forest Labs and the other a first-time treatment for a neurological disorder developed by Avanir Pharmaceuticals. Another waiting for approval is Biodel's fast-acting insulin Linjeta. On the other hand seven new drugs got rejected including a diabetes drug from Amylin Pharmaceuticals and weight-loss drugs from Arena Pharmaceuticals and Vivus, respectively.

31 Oct 2010

Marijuana legalization initiatives prompt NFIA to launch 'But What About the Children?' campaign

Whether or not Californians approve Proposition 19 on November 2, the proposition is the first of many to legalize marijuana for recreational use and turn it into an unregulated commercial enterprise.

30 Oct 2010

New MBP solution helps provide lifesaving HIV-prevention medications to mothers and babies

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is pleased to partner with UNICEF and other organizations in the roll-out of the Mother-Baby Pack (MBP), an innovative solution to help bring lifesaving HIV-prevention medications to mothers and babies.

30 Oct 2010

CMA calls for nominations of 2011 Award for Excellence in Health Promotion

The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is calling for nominations for its 2011 Award for Excellence in Health Promotion. Introduced in 2003, this award recognizes those outside the health sector who have made a significant contribution toward a healthy population and a healthy community.

30 Oct 2010

Experts at XXXIII World Congress present new clinical challenges about thrombotic disorders

Pharmaceutical Strategic Initiatives announced today that some of the leading experts in the field of thrombosis and anticoagulation provided their perspective and assessment of new clinical challenges at a recent symposium held at the XXXIII World Congress of the International Society of Hematology held in Jerusalem, Israel on October 12, 2010.

30 Oct 2010

New findings on protein factories could unravel cell complexities, lead to new antibiotics and disease treatments

A team from The Scripps Research Institute has revealed the first-ever pictures of the formation of cells' "protein factories." In addition to being a major technical feat on its own, the work could open new pathways for development of antibiotics and treatments for diseases tied to errors in ribosome formation. In addition, the techniques developed in the study can now be applied to other complex challenges in the understanding of cellular processes.

30 Oct 2010

New NRNB center helps clinicians to study network biology

A new center called the National Resource for Network Biology (NRNB), based at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, will help clinicians analyze an ever-growing wealth of complex biological data and apply that knowledge to real problems and diseases.

30 Oct 2010

NIH director receives Mid-Atlantic Bio Lifetime Achievement Award

The 2010 Mid-Atlantic Bio Conference debuted yesterday with an opening reception during which National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, was honored with the Mid-Atlantic Bio Lifetime Achievement Award for his accomplishments in biomedical research and human services and his movement to increase translational work at NIH.

30 Oct 2010

Experts at ICB-2010 Conference to discuss new research findings in biotherapy

The 8th International Conference on Biotherapy (ICB-2010) will be held in Los Angeles, November 11-14, 2010, at the Universal Los Angeles Hilton. It is the single most important meeting for sharing new clinical and research findings in biotherapy (living organisms used to treat or diagnose illness).

30 Oct 2010

Researchers to investigate new drugs for parasitic disease

Urgently-needed new treatment for a parasitic disease is being investigated in research led at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. Human African Trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, affects between 50,000 and 70,000 people in Africa and South America. It is transmitted through the bite of the tsetse fly and attacks the nervous system and brain, leading to fever, headaches and disturbed sleep patterns.

30 Oct 2010

Lancet series examines malaria eradication goal

Eliminating malaria can be achieved only with repeated investment over the long term and will require a major shift in policy and funding, according to some experts, Reuters reports.

30 Oct 2010

NeoPharm enters merger agreement with Insys Therapeutics

NeoPharm, Inc. a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the research, development and commercialization of new and innovative therapeutic applications of drugs for cancer and other diseases, today announced it has entered into a merger agreement with Insys Therapeutics, a Phoenix-based drug development company focused on pain and oncology.

30 Oct 2010