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Ketamine reduces depression in treatment-resistant bipolar disorder: Study

A single intravenous dose of the anesthetic agent ketamine appears to reduce symptoms of depression within 40 minutes among those with bipolar disorder who have not responded to other treatments, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

3 Aug 2010

Study explores role of genetic influence on ulcerative colitis

Adults diagnosed with ulcerative colitis after age 50 are more likely to achieve remission from their symptoms than patients diagnosed at younger ages, even when those patients receive similar treatments, according to research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

3 Aug 2010

BioMarin provides update on PEG-PAL Phase 2 clinical study for phenylketonuria

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. announced today an update in the Phase 2 clinical study of PEG-PAL (PEGylated recombinant phenylalanine ammonia lyase) for the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU). Data reported in this announcement reflect preliminary results as of July 23, 2010. Complete top-line results are expected in the fourth quarter of 2010.

3 Aug 2010

Alphavirus vaccine blocks tumor growth in advanced cancer: Research

An experimental vaccine based on a virus that causes encephalitis in the wild appears to block tumor growth in some cases of advanced cancer, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center. Scientists say the vaccine is able to stimulate an immune response, even in the face of profound immune system suppression, a condition most patients with advanced cancer experience.

3 Aug 2010

VertiFlex enrolls 150 patients in Superion Interspinous Spacer IDE clinical trial

VertiFlex, Inc., a leading innovator of minimally invasive and motion preserving spinal surgery technologies, today announced that 150 patients have been enrolled in its pivotal IDE clinical trial of the Superion Interspinous Spacer (ISS).

3 Aug 2010

MBF announces sale of MSD to Water Street Healthcare Partners

MBF Healthcare Partners, L.P., a middle market healthcare focused private equity firm, announced it has sold Medical Specialties Distributors, LLC, to private equity firm Water Street Healthcare Partners.

2 Aug 2010

BIOTONE announces availability of Cocoa-Comfort Massage Balm

BIOTONE announces Cocoa-Comfort Massage Balm, one of the first balms for the professional massage therapy market. Created from a one-of-a-kind formulation whose leading ingredient Cocoa Butter is nature's ultimate hydrator, the new rich, thick balm gives a slight warming feel when applied at the same time it soothes and balances the skin to enhance its texture and tone.

2 Aug 2010

Octapharma USA receives confirmation of orphan drug exclusivity from FDA for wilate

Octapharma USA has received confirmation of orphan drug exclusivity from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for wilate (von Willebrand Factor/Factor VIII Concentrate, Human), the replacement therapy developed specifically for von Willebrand Disease. The approval comes from the FDA Office of Orphan Products Development, which helps to advance the development of products that demonstrate promise for the treatment of rare diseases.

2 Aug 2010

ARO uses Elekta VMAT system for prostate cancer patients

In the expansive region of Australasia—which includes Australia, New Zealand and neighboring islands—Auckland Radiation Oncology Centre is the first to use Elekta VMAT, treating a patient with prostate cancer using a single 100-second arc of radiation. Such rapid treatments change the entire therapy experience for these patients, who have had to remain completely still for seven minutes during radiation delivery for each of 37 to 39 separate treatment sessions or "fractions."

From Elekta 2 Aug 2010

Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals achieves positive results in first clinical study of CXL-1020 for ADHF

Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, today announced that it has achieved positive safety and tolerability results in the first clinical study of its lead drug candidate, CXL-1020, for the treatment of patients with acute decompensated heart failure. Each year in the United States, more than one million patients are hospitalized with acute heart failure.

2 Aug 2010

U.S. gastroenterologists prescribe Abbott's Humira off-label for treating ulcerative colitis: Report

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that 63 percent of surveyed U.S. gastroenterologists prescribe Abbott's Humira off-label for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. According to the new report entitled Treatment Algorithms in Ulcerative Colitis, surveyed gastroenterologists most often prescribe Humira for ulcerative colitis for patients with loss of response, intolerance or no response to Centocor Ortho Biotech's Remicade.

2 Aug 2010

Repligen receives three additional grants to develop HDAC inhibitors for neurodegenerative diseases

Repligen Corporation today announced that the Company has received three additional grants to support its research program to develop HDAC inhibitors for neurodegenerative diseases. Repligen has received $436,000 in research funding to support the ongoing development of histone deacetylase inhibitors for Friedreich's ataxia.

2 Aug 2010

Study: hGH linked to PROLOR's CTP technology increases half-life, bioactivity

PROLOR Biotech, Inc., a company developing next generation biobetter therapeutic proteins, today reported publication of a preclinical study in the current on-line edition of the journal Endocrinology showing that human growth hormone (hGH) linked to PROLOR's carboxyl terminal peptide (CTP) technology has significantly increased half-life and bioactivity compared to commercially available hGH. The publication, which is authored by PROLOR researchers, will also be included in the September print edition of Endocrinology.

2 Aug 2010

HDL does not predict heart attack risk after dramatic statin therapy: Study

People with high levels of "good cholesterol," HDL-C, tend to have fewer heart attacks, but HDL-C may offer little protection to people who take statins to lower harmful LDL cholesterol, researchers reported July 21. At Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Dr. Paul Ridker and colleagues analyzed a large study of healthy people who took the statin CRESTOR® (rosuvastatin calcium) to prevent heart attacks. They found that in this group, having high HDL-C was a bad predictor of heart attack risk.

2 Aug 2010

Inpatient rehab helps patient to regain functions lost from injury, illness

After a person receives acute care in a "regular" hospital for catastrophic illness, traumatic injury or a debilitating chronic condition, the next step in the process of recovery often involves a stay at an inpatient rehabilitation, or rehab, facility.Patients often have little warning when they're quickly moved to a rehab facility from acute care. Those who envision a long, leisurely recovery in a hospital or at home may find that the abrupt transition-and new responsibilities in rehab-leaves their heads spinning.

2 Aug 2010

Screening tool kit to measure public facilities

Denis Anson, M.S., O.T.R., director of research and development for the Assistive Technology Research Institute (ATRI) at Misericordia University, has worn a lot of different hats in his professional career.By utilizing the expertise he's acquired during his 30 years of practice and application of assistive technology and occupational therapy strategies, Anson has devised and brought to market the Americans with Disabilities Act — Compliance Assessment Toolkit or ADA-CAT to measure whether public facilities are in compliance with the federal law that was enacted 20 years ago.

2 Aug 2010

Almac's solutions to support biopharma companies by adopting biomarker strategies

Almac today announced the launch of Biomarkers for biopharma a range of solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of the biopharma industry.Almac's solutions are to support biopharma companies in adopting biomarker strategies to enable them to better understand their drug, improve their drug's success rate, improve the drug's value and ultimately maximise their drug's potential.

2 Aug 2010

Scientists identify way to regulate uncontrolled growth of blood vessels

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have identified a new way to regulate the uncontrolled growth of blood vessels, a major problem in a broad range of diseases and conditions.

2 Aug 2010

Store-and-forward telemedicine as effective as in-person evaluation for planning ear surgery: Study

The 2010 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation,the largest meeting of ear, nose, and throat doctors in the world, will convene September 26-29, in Boston, MA. The official abstract supplement for the annual meeting is now available with the regular August 2010 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.

2 Aug 2010

UK Court gives Smith & Nephew right to Appeal in RENASYS patent litigation

The Advanced Wound Management division of Smith & Nephew, Inc., a subsidiary of Smith & Nephew plc. notes the finding of the Patents Court of the High Court of Justice of England and Wales in the patent litigation brought by Kinetic Concepts, Inc.. In that case, the Court found that parts of the Smith & Nephew RENASYS™ EZ and RENASYS GO Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) Systems have infringed the patents EP0853950 and EP0777504 in the United Kingdom. Today the Court has given Smith & Nephew the right to Appeal this decision. Our full range of RENASYS products remains on the market."

31 Jul 2010