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Gene study could pave way for novel methods for plagues and other infectious diseases

An international consortium of scientists, including Universitat Aut-noma de Barcelona (UAB) researcher Deodoro Oliveira, have sequenced the genome of three species of parasitoid wasps of the genus Nasonia.

18 Feb 2010

Anti-seizure medication prevents seizures in patients following bleeding stroke: Study

A study by researchers at the University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute at University Hospital supports the use of an alternative medication to prevent seizures in patients who have suffered a life-threatening traumatic brain injury or bleeding stroke.

18 Feb 2010

Pharmaceutical Institute launches Employers and Retail Pharmacy e-courses

Pharmaceutical Institute, a leading provider of specialized training solutions for the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, today announced the launch of two new e-courses, titled Employers and Retail Pharmacy.

18 Feb 2010

FDA warns about drug mix-ups; drug maker agrees to name change to avoid confusion

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned consumers about the potential for serious side effects from mistakenly using Maalox Total Relief instead of other Maalox products. The two products are intended for the relief of different symptoms and contain different active ingredients.

18 Feb 2010

Ibuprofen may reduce risk of Parkinson's disease, says study

New research shows people who regularly take ibuprofen may reduce their risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 62nd Annual Meeting in Toronto April 10 to April 17, 2010.

18 Feb 2010

Media examine fight against counterfeit drugs

The Wall Street Journal reports on the recent shutdown of a counterfeit drug ring in Syria, while highlighting a broader problem with counterfeit medicines in the Middle East. Authorities intercepted "millions of dollars worth of breast cancer, leukemia and other medicines … At least 65 people were detained; it couldn't be learned if they were charged. A trial date hasn't yet been set," according to the newspaper, which notes that the drug ring distributor's activities had also penetrated into some public health systems, "particularly in Iraq."

18 Feb 2010

Sorafenib drug therapy can reduce the size of primary kidney tumors before surgery

More than 57,000 Americans face a diagnosis of kidney cancer each year. Now patients with advanced disease may soon have another treatment option. Physicians who conducted a pilot study at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center found that therapy before surgery with the drug sorafenib can reduce the size of large tumors and could be safely undertaken administered without adding significantly to the risks of surgery.

17 Feb 2010

New sugar-based polymer for disposing food packaging and other plastic items

Food packaging and other disposable plastic items could soon be composted at home along with organic waste thanks to a new sugar-based polymer.

17 Feb 2010

Top health groups increased political spending in 2009

USA Today: "Pharmacists, optometrists and groups representing an array of medical specialists boosted their political giving in 2009, as Congress worked on health care legislation that would dramatically reshape their industry. ... Donations by the top 15 health care political action committees rose to $11.7 million in 2009, a nearly 14% increase from 2007, the most recent non-election year, according to a USA TODAY analysis of data compiled by CQ MoneyLine."

17 Feb 2010

IH Systems selects Robotic IV Automation Systems for cytotoxic drug preparation

Following the successful integration of RIVA (Robotic IV Automation System) - a self-contained unit for filling IV syringes and bags - into three healthcare institutions in 2009, and the announcements of several more sales for installation in 2010, medical device company Intelligent Hospital Systems has confirmed the sale of three additional RIVA systems for cytotoxic drug preparation in 2010.

17 Feb 2010

Marcadia Biotech commences Phase 1 clinical trial of MAR701 for type 2 diabetes

Marcadia Biotech Inc. today announced that it has initiated a Phase 1 clinical trial of MAR701, a novel dual agonist of the incretin hormone receptors for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP). Marcadia plans to initially develop this compound as a treatment for type 2 diabetes with once-weekly dosing. The Phase 1 trial will evaluate MAR701 in healthy volunteers at escalating dose levels.

17 Feb 2010

Soligenix' LPM oral drug delivery technology receives Hong Kong patent

Soligenix, Inc., a late-stage biotechnology company, announced today that it has received a Hong Kong patent which addresses its Lipid Polymer Micelle (LPM™) technology for the improved oral delivery of drugs. The issued Hong Kong patent, HK 1071054, entitled "Stabilized Reverse Micelle Compositions and Uses Thereof" covers lipid structures (reverse micelles) that promote the intestinal absorption of peptides and other sensitive drugs that cannot otherwise be given orally.

17 Feb 2010

Nebraska laws to protect patients and healthcare providers against unfair prescription insurance practices

Dozens of patients and state and national advocacy and healthcare groups, including Nebraska Medical Association and Nebraska Nurses Association, today urged passage of two precedent-setting consumer protection healthcare bills during a hearing at the Nebraska State Capitol. These laws would be the first in the nation to protect patients and healthcare providers against unfair prescription insurance practices.

17 Feb 2010

AHF to protest Merck’s Isentress pricing and policies at CROI

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will host a protest Wednesday morning, February 17 at 8:00am targeting Merck and Co. Pharmaceuticals over the pricing and policies for its key HIV/AIDS drug, Isentress, the most expensive first-line AIDS treatment in the US, during the 17th Conference of Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in San Francisco.

17 Feb 2010

New book by 12 world-leading scientists calls for renewed approach to drug policy

Drug policy - or really, the way our society controls and provides interventions for both legal and illegal psychoactive substances - is one of those things that seems inherently controversial.

17 Feb 2010

Belatacept costimulation blocker can prevent rejection of new organs by the immune system

Initial results of a study conducted at 100 centers worldwide indicate that belatacept, a first-in-class costimulation blocker can prevent the immune system rejecting new organs. The results also suggest that it may provide similar patient and graft survival to cyclosporine but with fewer side effects and superior kidney function after 12 months. The study, published today in the American Journal of Transplantation, provides the first findings to come from BENEFIT (Belatacept Evaluation of Nephroprotection and Efficacy as First-line Immunosuppression Trial).

17 Feb 2010

Research suggests scorpion venom could be an alternative to morphine painkiller

Scorpion venom is notoriously poisonous ― but it might be used as an alternative to dangerous and addictive painkillers like morphine, a Tel Aviv University researcher claims.

17 Feb 2010

Scotland's $13 billion chemicals sector to showcase new initiatives at Informex

Scotland's $13 billion chemicals sector will showcase innovative new initiatives at Informex this week, highlighting the country's research and manufacturing expertise, and offering integrated, world-class solutions to the global chemicals industry.

17 Feb 2010

Protein crucial in mediating anti-inflammatory actions of nuclear lipid receptors discovered

Researchers at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have discovered a protein that is crucial in mediating the anti-inflammatory actions of nuclear lipid receptors. The findings, published in the research journal Genes & Development, link lipid metabolism and inflammation and open up new possibilities for developing treatments of metabolic diseases associated with inflammation, such as diabetes and atherosclerosis.

17 Feb 2010

Orexo AB reports year-end 2009 financial results

Sales of Abstral continue to show robust growth, with royalty revenues rising sharply during the fourth quarter – up threefold from the preceding quarter. Our partner, ProStrakan, launched during 2009 Abstral in UK, Germany, France, Spain and Greece, and product launches in additional markets are imminent. Sales growth confirms that there is a substantial medical requirement in the case of cancer patients suffering from breakthrough pain.

17 Feb 2010

Drugs News and Research

Gene study could pave way for novel methods for plagues and other infectious diseases

Anti-seizure medication prevents seizures in patients following bleeding stroke: Study

Pharmaceutical Institute launches Employers and Retail Pharmacy e-courses

FDA warns about drug mix-ups; drug maker agrees to name change to avoid confusion

Ibuprofen may reduce risk of Parkinson's disease, says study

Media examine fight against counterfeit drugs

Sorafenib drug therapy can reduce the size of primary kidney tumors before surgery

New sugar-based polymer for disposing food packaging and other plastic items

Top health groups increased political spending in 2009

IH Systems selects Robotic IV Automation Systems for cytotoxic drug preparation

Marcadia Biotech commences Phase 1 clinical trial of MAR701 for type 2 diabetes

Soligenix' LPM oral drug delivery technology receives Hong Kong patent

Nebraska laws to protect patients and healthcare providers against unfair prescription insurance practices

AHF to protest Merck’s Isentress pricing and policies at CROI

New book by 12 world-leading scientists calls for renewed approach to drug policy

Belatacept costimulation blocker can prevent rejection of new organs by the immune system

Research suggests scorpion venom could be an alternative to morphine painkiller

Scotland's $13 billion chemicals sector to showcase new initiatives at Informex

Protein crucial in mediating anti-inflammatory actions of nuclear lipid receptors discovered

Orexo AB reports year-end 2009 financial results

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

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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