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Much remains to be done for autism spectrum disorders, say experts

Scientific understanding and medical treatments for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have advanced significantly over the past several years, but much remains to be done, say experts from the Center for Autism Research at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia who published a scientific review of the field today.

15 Oct 2009

Genetic mutation implicated in breast and ovarian cancers could also have a role in causing heart failure: Study

A genetic mutation implicated in breast and ovarian cancers could also have a role in causing heart failure, according to a new study reported at the 95th annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.

15 Oct 2009

Genetic diversity thwarts the usefulness of malaria vaccine

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Center for Vaccine Development (CVD) have charted the extreme genetic differences that occur over time in the most dangerous malaria parasite in the world. While there is no approved vaccine for malaria, various experimental vaccines are in development.

15 Oct 2009

Also in Global Health News: 'Delivering as one'; syringe vending machine; hospital preparedness

Rwanda will host a three-day U.N. meeting next week to discuss ways to improve the U.N.'s ability to "provide development assistance in a more coordinated way," the New Times/allAfrica.com reports. "Rwanda is one of the 8 pilot countries implementing the U.N. 'Delivering as One' initiative, as part of the body's reform process," the publication writes. Participants in the meeting will share their experiences and lessons learned from the program since its implementation in 2007 (Gathoni, 10/14).

15 Oct 2009

IMF policies harm Kenyan health system, report says

According to a report released Tuesday, policies set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have restricted government spending on health services, "denying sick Kenyans access to drugs and quality healthcare," Business Daily reports.

15 Oct 2009

Less expensive anti-rejection drug as effective as more expensive drug, says study

A newer, less expensive drug used to suppress the immune system and prevent organ rejection in kidney and pancreas transplant patients works just as well as its much more expensive counterpart, according to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

15 Oct 2009

NIH awards grant to conduct genetic drug research on cancer and heart disease

A Virginia Tech chemist has been awarded a $2.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct research that will aid in the development of new heart disease and cancer medicines that have fewer side effects.

15 Oct 2009

Postive vote from FDA Advisory Committee for Fampridine-SR 10

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs (PCNSD) Advisory Committee voted 12 to 1 that clinical data on Fampridine-SR 10 mg twice daily demonstrated substantial evidence of effectiveness as a treatment to improve walking in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and voted 10 to 2 (1 abstention) that it is clinically meaningful and can be safe for use.

15 Oct 2009

Abortions worldwide decline, unsafe abortions kill 70,000 women annually, report says

Fewer abortions are taking place worldwide because of increased contraceptive use, a study by the Guttmacher Institute has found, Reuters reports. The study also indicates that 20 million "unsafe abortions, mostly in poorer countries and often carried out by the women themselves using inappropriate drugs or herbal potions, or by untrained traditional healers," still occur each year and kill 70,000 women annually (Kelland, 10/13).

15 Oct 2009

Blocking folic acid action during early pregnancy leads to increased risk of abnormalities in growing baby

Using medication that reduces or blocks the actions of folic acid during the first trimester of pregnancy (weeks 1-12), increases the risk that the growing baby will develop abnormalities. This conclusion was reached by a team of Epidemiologists, Paediatricians, Clinical Pharmacologists, Obstetricians and Gynaecologists who examined birth and abortion data collected in Israel between 1998 and 2007.

15 Oct 2009

Atlantic examines flu vaccine, antiviral skepticism

As countries around the world roll out H1N1 (swine flu) virus vaccine campaigns, the Atlantic examines, "[W]hat if everything we think we know about fighting influenza is wrong?"

15 Oct 2009

Medications to reduce folic acid during pregnancy increase the risk of abnormalities in fetus

Pregnant women are advised to take vitamin supplements containing folic acid as part of their routine pre-natal care. Now, a new study warns that taking medications that reduce or block the actions of folic acid during the first trimester of pregnancy increase the risk that the growing baby will develop abnormalities.

14 Oct 2009

EMEA grants ArQule's ARQ 197 orphan drug designation

ArQule, Inc. today announced that the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) has designated ARQ 197 as an orphan medical product for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma.

14 Oct 2009

Roche and Genentech to discuss their radical collaborative business model at the Windhover Conference

Elsevier Business Intelligence and Windhover Conferences have announced a major addition to the lineup for their upcoming Therapeutic Area Partnerships event, Nov. 17-19 in Boston, MA. In Roche and Genentech: Understanding Their Collaborative Business Development Model, the two executives who designed and implemented the radical new collaborative business model will share exactly how they make this relationship work and the outlook for the business model in the future.

14 Oct 2009

OSUCCC-James and Global Vision Technologies collaborate to deliver a web-based patient registry solution

The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC-James) has entered into a contract with Global Vision Technologies (GVT) to create and deliver a new, web-based Photo Dynamic Therapy patient registry solution -- ClinicalPURSUIT -- to help streamline the data collection and outcomes analysis process.

14 Oct 2009

NY Senators co-sponsors bill to establish comprehensive program for lung cancer

Today, Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) hailed the support of Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) who have signed on as co-sponsors of a bill to establish the first ever multi-agency, comprehensive program targeted at lung cancer.

14 Oct 2009

Diabetes care undergoes a paradigm shift to delay onset of full-blown disease

Diabetes care is undergoing a paradigm shift in which insulin is being prescribed earlier, for more conditions, in order to delay the onset of full-blown disease, according to a study released today by Scientia Advisors.

14 Oct 2009

Brain researcher finds how the epilepsy and pain drug works

A Duke University Medical Center researcher who spent years looking for the signals that prompt the brain to form new connections between neurons has found one that may explain precisely how a well-known drug for epilepsy and pain actually works.

14 Oct 2009

Researchers identify genetic mechanisms involved in the formation and survival of L-form bacteria

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have for the first time identified the genetic mechanisms involved in the formation and survival of L-form bacteria. Their findings are described in a study published October 6 in the journal PLoS ONE.

14 Oct 2009

Harvard researchers unite in fight against antibiotic resistance

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have awarded $5 million to an interdisciplinary group of Harvard researchers to launch the "Harvard-wide Program on Antibiotic Resistance."

14 Oct 2009

Drugs News and Research

Much remains to be done for autism spectrum disorders, say experts

Genetic mutation implicated in breast and ovarian cancers could also have a role in causing heart failure: Study

Genetic diversity thwarts the usefulness of malaria vaccine

Also in Global Health News: 'Delivering as one'; syringe vending machine; hospital preparedness

IMF policies harm Kenyan health system, report says

Less expensive anti-rejection drug as effective as more expensive drug, says study

NIH awards grant to conduct genetic drug research on cancer and heart disease

Postive vote from FDA Advisory Committee for Fampridine-SR 10

Abortions worldwide decline, unsafe abortions kill 70,000 women annually, report says

Blocking folic acid action during early pregnancy leads to increased risk of abnormalities in growing baby

Atlantic examines flu vaccine, antiviral skepticism

Medications to reduce folic acid during pregnancy increase the risk of abnormalities in fetus

EMEA grants ArQule's ARQ 197 orphan drug designation

Roche and Genentech to discuss their radical collaborative business model at the Windhover Conference

OSUCCC-James and Global Vision Technologies collaborate to deliver a web-based patient registry solution

NY Senators co-sponsors bill to establish comprehensive program for lung cancer

Diabetes care undergoes a paradigm shift to delay onset of full-blown disease

Brain researcher finds how the epilepsy and pain drug works

Researchers identify genetic mechanisms involved in the formation and survival of L-form bacteria

Harvard researchers unite in fight against antibiotic resistance

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