Therapy News and Research

RSS

FDA grants Talecris Biotherapeutics orphan drug designation for Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor to treat AAT deficiency

Talecris Biotherapeutics, Inc. announced today that it was granted orphan drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the development of an aerosol formulation of Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor (Human, A1PI) to treat congenital alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency. AAT deficiency is a chronic, hereditary condition that increases the risk of certain diseases, especially emphysema, which typically emerges in the fourth decade of life. Currently, there are no approved, inhaled treatments available for the treatment of AAT deficiency.

5 Feb 2010

Teens with suicidal thoughts and depressive symptoms can benefit from family therapy

Adolescents with suicidal thoughts and elevated depression had stronger and faster reduction of symptoms when treated with family therapy than with standard treatment in the community.

5 Feb 2010

Radiation oncologists push for safety standards

The New York Times: "The leading professional organization dedicated to radiation oncology has called for enhanced safety measures in administering medical radiation, including the establishment of the nation's first central database for the reporting of errors involving linear accelerators — machines that generate radiation — and CT scanners.

5 Feb 2010

Intrathecal drug delivery cost effective for chronic pain treatments

Estimates of pain care treatment costs exceed $1 billion annually in the United States. Today at the American Academy of Pain Medicine's 26th Annual Meeting two abstracts looked at the issue. One evaluated intrathecal drug delivery (a targeted medicine delivery system) that could save costs over time. The other analyzed the differences between the costs of treatment for chronic pain treatments.

5 Feb 2010

Low frequency therapy for temporary tinnitus: Student research project evolves into web-based company

In 2009 a student research project investigating a low frequency therapy for temporary tinnitus was joint runner-up in the 2009 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, held in Dublin, Ireland. The student research project which has now evolved into a web-based company, Restored Hearing (www.restoredhearing.ie) was one of the companies which showcased recently at the 2010 exhibition.

5 Feb 2010

Tracking early signs of coronary artery clogs: CT perfusion vs. SPECT nuclear imaging tests

Cardiologists and heart imaging specialists at 15 medical centers in eight countries, and led by researchers at Johns Hopkins, have enrolled the first dozen patients in a year-long investigation to learn whether the subtle squeezing of blood flow through the inner layers of the heart is better than traditional SPECT nuclear imaging tests and other diagnostic radiology procedures for accurately tracking the earliest signs of coronary artery clogs.

5 Feb 2010

Access Pharmaceuticals initiates Cobalamin technology program for targeted delivery of siRNA therapies

ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. announced today that it initiated an internal pre-licensing program to confirm the utility of its proprietary Cobalamin (vitamin B12) platform technology for targeted delivery of siRNA therapies. The program is considered important because, despite the widely publicized potential of RNA therapy, researchers up to now have been stymied in their efforts to design a pharmaceutical product that efficiently transports siRNA therapeutics into the cells they are designed to inhibit or kill.

5 Feb 2010

Hope for back pain: Minimally invasive facet arthrodesis and spinal cord stimulation

Results from the first prospective study of minimally invasive facet arthrodesis and long-term data on spinal cord stimulation demonstrate the viability of these options to achieve pain relief in patients with various back pain conditions. The studies were presented today at the American Academy of Pain Medicine's 26th Annual Meeting in San Antonio, TX.

5 Feb 2010

Anti-doping community urges researchers and athletes to fight illegal doping

With the 2010 Winter Olympic Games just days away, officials in the anti-doping community are urging researchers and those in the athletic community to re-double their efforts to fight illegal doping.

5 Feb 2010

Merck announces $1.5M funding commitment over three years to BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

Today, Merck is pleased to announce its $1.5 million funding commitment over three years to the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS (BC-CfE) in support of its research program entitled "Seek and Treat for Optimal Prevention of HIV/AIDS", known as the "seek & treat" program, which will expand HIV treatment and care for hard-to-reach residents in Prince George and Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

5 Feb 2010

Gentiva Health Services sells respiratory/HME and infusion therapy businesses to Lincare Holdings subsidiary

Gentiva Health Services, Inc., a leading provider of comprehensive home health services, announced today that it has sold its businesses providing respiratory therapy and home medical equipment, and infusion therapy to a subsidiary of Lincare Holdings Inc. in an all-cash transaction. Terms were not disclosed.

5 Feb 2010

Anthem Blue Cross introduces DailyMed Pharmacy program for Medi-Cal members

Imagine having to face the daily struggle of taking six or more different medications a day to manage a chronic health condition; add to this the worry of missing or taking a dose incorrectly. For Anthem Blue Cross (Anthem) Medi-Cal members, that daily struggle will now be simplified to help increase medication adherence and reduce medication errors.

5 Feb 2010

Top-line results from Optimer Pharmaceuticals' second fidaxomicin Phase 3 trial in CDI patients

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced positive top-line results from the second of two pivotal Phase 3 trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of fidaxomicin (OPT-80) in patients with Clostridium difficile Infection (CDI). This study was conducted in approximately 100 clinical sites throughout North America and Europe. The Company plans to use data from this study to support submission of a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the second half of 2010.

5 Feb 2010

San Antonio Methodist Hospital upgrades to Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion system

AMERICAN SHARED HOSPITAL SERVICES, a leading provider of turnkey technology solutions for advanced radiosurgical and radiation therapy services, announced today that it has entered into a contract to supply a Leksell Gamma Knife® PerfexionTM system to Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. This new Perfexion system, the eighth placed by AMS to date, will replace an existing Gamma Knife supplied by AMS and is expected to begin treating patients later this year.

5 Feb 2010

iPSC technology for identifying agents that reprogram human somatic cells receives Notice of Allowance

Fate Therapeutics, Inc. received a Notice of Allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for U.S. Patent Application Number 10/997,146 entitled "Methods for Reprogramming Somatic Cells." Upon issuance, the patent will cover foundational induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology for identifying agents that enable the reprogramming of human somatic cells, including pluripotency genes, small molecules and biologics.

5 Feb 2010

ARUP Laboratories adds three downstream cost calculators to its Suite of Utilization Management Services

ARUP Laboratories announced the release of three groundbreaking tools, downstream cost calculators, to its Suite of Utilization Management Services.

5 Feb 2010

BioMarin announces update on BMN 110 Phase I/II trial for Morquio A Syndrome

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. today announced an update on the Phase I/II trial for BMN 110 or N-acetylgalactosamine 6-sulfatase (GALNS), intended for the treatment of the lysosomal storage disorder Mucopolysaccharidosis Type IVA (MPS IVA), or Morquio A Syndrome. Preliminary clinical data from the first 24 weeks of the study (12 weeks at 0.1mg/kg and 12 weeks at 1.0 mg/kg) have been evaluated, and BioMarin plans to announce top-line results for the full 36-week study after completion of dosing at 2.0 mg/kg in the second quarter of 2010.

5 Feb 2010

Bioheart initiates REGEN Phase I Clinical Trial for testing genetically modified MyoCell in CHF patients

Bioheart, Inc., announced today that the company has commenced work on its REGEN trial, a Phase I Clinical Trial to test genetically modified MyoCell® in patients suffering from Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). Bioheart’s MyoCell® is a regenerative cell therapy that uses myoblasts, or muscle stem cells,that are grown from a patient’s own muscle. MyoCell® has been tested successfully on patients in four clinical trials.

5 Feb 2010

Research could help in developing more effective treatments for wound infections

Bacteria that infect chronic wounds can be deadly to maggot 'biosurgeons' used to treat the lesions, show researchers writing in the journal Microbiology. The findings could lead to more effective treatment of wounds and the development of novel antibiotics.

5 Feb 2010

With health reform stalled, Medicare coverage for some therapies subject to caps

Stalled health care reform efforts have created several unresolved issues, some of which related to Medicare and Medicaid.

5 Feb 2010

Therapy News and Research

FDA grants Talecris Biotherapeutics orphan drug designation for Alpha1-Proteinase Inhibitor to treat AAT deficiency

Teens with suicidal thoughts and depressive symptoms can benefit from family therapy

Radiation oncologists push for safety standards

Intrathecal drug delivery cost effective for chronic pain treatments

Low frequency therapy for temporary tinnitus: Student research project evolves into web-based company

Tracking early signs of coronary artery clogs: CT perfusion vs. SPECT nuclear imaging tests

Access Pharmaceuticals initiates Cobalamin technology program for targeted delivery of siRNA therapies

Hope for back pain: Minimally invasive facet arthrodesis and spinal cord stimulation

Anti-doping community urges researchers and athletes to fight illegal doping

Merck announces $1.5M funding commitment over three years to BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

Gentiva Health Services sells respiratory/HME and infusion therapy businesses to Lincare Holdings subsidiary

Anthem Blue Cross introduces DailyMed Pharmacy program for Medi-Cal members

Top-line results from Optimer Pharmaceuticals' second fidaxomicin Phase 3 trial in CDI patients

San Antonio Methodist Hospital upgrades to Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion system

iPSC technology for identifying agents that reprogram human somatic cells receives Notice of Allowance

ARUP Laboratories adds three downstream cost calculators to its Suite of Utilization Management Services

BioMarin announces update on BMN 110 Phase I/II trial for Morquio A Syndrome

Bioheart initiates REGEN Phase I Clinical Trial for testing genetically modified MyoCell in CHF patients

Research could help in developing more effective treatments for wound infections

With health reform stalled, Medicare coverage for some therapies subject to caps

Industry Focus eBook - Cell biology (5th edition) eBook

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

Latest News