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Novel discovery offers hope for patients with common brain tumor

Biomedical researchers at the University of Central Florida have found a protein that could hold the key to treating one of the most common and aggressive brain tumors in adults.

23 Dec 2009

Autism study and gene therapy in vision are top scientific achievements in 2009

A landmark autism study and a dramatic success for gene therapy in reversing inherited blindness, both at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, were recognized among the top scientific achievements in 2009, according to three national publications: Time magazine, Discover magazine and the journal Science.

23 Dec 2009

Enzyme dCK plays a profound role in normal lymphocyte development

Mice without the deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) enzyme have defects in their adaptive immune system, producing very low levels of both T and B lymphocytes, the major players involved in immune response, according to a study by researchers with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

23 Dec 2009

Brazilian researchers perform autopsy study to examine the causes H1N1 death

Brazilian researchers have performed the first-ever autopsy study to examine the precise causes of death in victims of the H1N1 swine flu.

23 Dec 2009

Researchers develop new approach for treating and healing skin abscesses

Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have developed a new approach for treating and healing skin abscesses caused by bacteria resistant to most antibiotics.

23 Dec 2009

UPMC reports 10,000th patient treated using Elekta's Leksell Gamma Knife system

On the morning of December 17, 2009, UPMC physicians used Gamma Knife® surgery to treat the center's 10,000th patient, an 81-year-old male with a tumor deep in his brainstem, a site where traditional surgery would have been impossible. Gamma Knife surgery is performed using Elekta's Leksell Gamma Knife system, which directs up to 201 pencil-thin beams of therapeutic radiation precisely on brain tumors and other targets in the head.

From Elekta 23 Dec 2009

US Phase 2 clinical trial of RVX-208 commenced by Resverlogix

Resverlogix Corp. ("Resverlogix" or the "Company") announced today that it has begun dosing patients in its US Phase 2 clinical trial lead by Cleveland Clinic. This trial will examine RVX-208, Resverlogix's oral small molecule therapy for the treatment of atherosclerosis, in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

23 Dec 2009

Magnetic stimulation therapy can treat depression

Magnetic stimulation therapy can beat depression when medication and therapy haven't worked, according to the December issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

23 Dec 2009

New project analyzes genetic sequence and variations of every gene expressed by 1,000 tumors

No two tumors are alike, but analyzing the genetics of cancers from different parts of the body may reveal surprising details useful for treatment and prevention.

22 Dec 2009

Darbepoetin alfa does not reduce cardiovascular problem in anemic patients on dialysis

An international study authored by a UT Southwestern Medical Center researcher has concluded that the anemia drug darbepoetin alfa works no better than a placebo in several other applications previously thought to be promising.

22 Dec 2009

Declining use of Advair for COPD, Spiriva patient share increasing

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that since the 2008 retrospective analysis of patient-level claims data, Boehringer Ingelheim/Pfizer's Spiriva has closed the gap in patient share between itself and GlaxoSmithKline's Advair in newly diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Although Advair's patient share in the first line is still greater than Spiriva's, Spiriva has surpassed Advair in the second line and will continue to overcome and widen the gap between itself and Advair over the next two years.

22 Dec 2009

GI Dynamics' EndoBarrier non-surgical type 2 diabetes therapy receives European CE mark approval

GI Dynamics, a leader in non-surgical, endoscopic treatments for type 2 diabetes and obesity, today announced that it has received European CE mark approval for the EndoBarrier™, a non-surgical therapy to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. The CE marking (an acronym for the French "Conformite Europeenne") certifies that a product has met EU requirements for marketing in Europe. Clinical trials involving more than 270 patients have demonstrated the significant weight loss and diabetes improvement achieved with the EndoBarrier Gastrointestinal Liner.

22 Dec 2009

Four Latin American cancer patients receive treatment using RapidArc radiotherapy technology

Four cancer patients became the first in Latin America to receive treatment using a fast form of image-guided radiotherapy that potentially enables doctors to improve outcomes while extending modern care to more patients. Doctors at Hope International Centro de Radioterapia of Guatemala are now treating four patients using RapidArc® radiotherapy technology from Varian Medical Systems, one with recurring prostate cancer, one with a nasal cavity tumor, one with rectal cancer, and one with recurring glioblastoma multiforme--an aggressive type of brain tumor.

22 Dec 2009

Arena Pharmaceuticals submits lorcaserin NDA to the FDA

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for lorcaserin, Arena's internally discovered and developed drug candidate for weight management, including weight loss and maintenance of weight loss. The submission is based on an extensive data package from lorcaserin's clinical development program that includes 18 clinical trials totaling 8,576 patients.

22 Dec 2009

AdvanDx receives FDA clearance for its 90 minutes PNA FISH protocol

AdvanDx today announced that it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for a fast, 90 minutes protocol for its E. coli/P. aeruginosa PNA FISH® and EK/P. aeruginosa PNA FISH® tests. The faster protocol reduces the PNA FISH turn-around time from the original 2.5 hours to 90 minutes by reducing PNA probe hybridization from 90 minutes to 30 minutes.

22 Dec 2009

PGxHealth, DHZ announce collaboration in genetic variant study with response to clopidogrel

PGxHealth, a division of Clinical Data, Inc., today announced that it has established a research collaboration with Deutsches Herzzentrum (DHZ), Munich, Germany, to evaluate the predictive value of genetic markers, including PGxHealth proprietary markers, for response to clopidogrel (Plavix®).

22 Dec 2009

Shire submits REPLAGAL BLA with the FDA

Shire plc , the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has submitted a BLA with the FDA for REPLAGAL(R) (agalsidase alfa), its enzyme replacement therapy for Fabry disease. REPLAGAL first received marketing authorization in the European Union in 2001, and is approved for the treatment of Fabry disease in 45 countries.

22 Dec 2009

Cell Medica receives second grant for development of adenovirus infection therapy

Cell Medica, a clinical stage cellular therapeutics company engaged in the development and delivery of cellular immunotherapy treatment strategies for infectious disease and cancer, has announced that is has appointed four key staff to drive forwards the Company’s activities in the commercialisation of cell therapy treatments.

22 Dec 2009

A properly managed metabolic detoxification program can benefit

“Detox” programs have been in the spotlight recently, with a bevy of Hollywood celebrities citing their “detox” programs as the secret to looking great on the red carpet. But, what exactly is detoxification? Is it merely the latest health and beauty fad, or is it a true health therapy? And can anyone besides the Hollywood elite benefit from it?

22 Dec 2009

School intervention programs may promote psychological well-being among adolescents

A new study which has been conducted at the University of Bologna shows that brief psychological interventions in school may increase well-being among adolescents and these results persist after 6 months

22 Dec 2009