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Environmental factors, obesity and diabetes: Long-term study launched

Three Singapore biomedical institutions have launched a major, long-term study of pregnant mothers and their fetuses as well as infant children to determine just how profoundly environmental factors early in life influence the onset of diseases such as obesity and diabetes in later years.

10 Nov 2009

"Point of Care Diagnostics 2010 and Beyond: Rapid Testing at a Crossroads" report from MarketResearch.com

MarketResearch.com has announced the addition of Kalorama Information's new report "Point of Care Diagnostics 2010 and Beyond: Rapid Testing at a Crossroads," to their collection of In Vitro Diagnostics market reports.

10 Nov 2009

Computerized alerts induce clinicians to prescribe comparable generic equivalents

Simple computerized alerts can help curb the impulse to prescribe unnecessarily expensive, heavily marketed drugs. A study in the August issue of Journal of General Internal Medicine found that when clinicians received computerized alerts, which compared medication brands, they changed 23.3 percent of prescriptions for four heavily marketed sleep medications to comparable generic equivalents.

10 Nov 2009

Third quarter 2009 financial results announced by Akorn

Akorn, Inc. a specialty pharmaceutical company, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.

10 Nov 2009

New imagining technique may yield better antiviral and anti-cancer drugs

A recently devised method of imaging the chemical communication and warfare between microorganisms could lead to new antibiotics, antifungal, antiviral and anti-cancer drugs, said a Texas AgriLife Research scientist.

10 Nov 2009

Yo-yo dieting and sugar-bingeing can lead to anxiety and withdrawal symptoms

In research that sheds light on the perils of yo-yo dieting and repeated bouts of sugar-bingeing, researchers from The Scripps Research Institute have shown in animal models that cycling between periods of eating sweet and regular-tasting food can activate the brain's stress system and generate overeating, anxiety, and withdrawal-like symptoms.

10 Nov 2009

Low doses of amyloid beta protein in healthy brains can cause Alzheimer's disease, say scientists

While too much amyloid beta protein in the brain is linked to the development of Alzheimer's disease, not enough of the protein in healthy brains can cause learning problems and forgetfulness, Saint Louis University scientists have found.

10 Nov 2009

FDA approves Istodax for treatment of Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Istodax (romidepsin), an injectable medication, for treatment of patients with a rare form of cancer known as Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma (CTCL).

10 Nov 2009

FDA accepts ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals' NDA for Omapro

ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Limited announced today that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company’s New Drug Application (NDA) for Omapro™ (omacetaxine mepesuccinate) for the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) who have failed treatment with imatinib and who have developed the Bcr-Abl T315I mutation.

10 Nov 2009

China seeks its own health reforms

The Chinese are also trying to change their health care system, but as the United States tries to extend insurance to all, "China is simply attempting to provide a modicum of coverage for its people," Reuters reports.

9 Nov 2009

NanoViricides to present data on its in vivo studies against influenza

NanoViricides, Inc., announced today that the Company’s CEO, Eugene Seymour, MD, MPH, has been invited to participate in a panel discussion at the Influenza Congress USA 2009, in Washington DC on November 19th (www.terrapinn.com/usaflu). The discussion will center on the “Evolving Role of Anti-Virals” in influenza treatment.

9 Nov 2009

GTx reports financial results for the third quarter of 2009

GTx, Inc. today reported financial results for the third quarter of 2009. The net loss for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009 was $12.8 million and $35.4 million, respectively, compared with a net loss of $11.9 million and $37.9 million for the same periods in 2008. At September 30, 2009 GTx had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $55.5 million.

9 Nov 2009

Tobacco smoke linked with respiratory diseases

Tobacco smoke is involved in uncontrolled asthma, a diminished response to anti-asthma drugs, rhinitis, nasal obstruction, and deregulation of the immune system according to an international expert at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Miami Beach, Fla.

9 Nov 2009

New micronail chip to enable electronics and biological cells communicate with each other

IMEC presents a unique microchip with microscopic nail structures that enable close communication between the electronics and biological cells. The new chip is a mass-producible, easy-to-use tool in electrophysiology research, for example for fundamental research on the functioning and dysfunctioning of the brain. Each micronail structure serves as a close contact-point for one cell, and contains an electrode that can very accurately record and trigger in real-time the electrical activity of an individual electrogenic cell in a network.

9 Nov 2009

Betterthanmedicare.com helps plug the "donut hole", offers discounts on drugs

With his proposed health care reform plan, President Barack Obama has set his sights on cutting name-brand prescription drug costs by 50 percent for Medicare patients who fall into the "Part D" coverage gap, universally known as the "donut hole." Plan advocates rave about the potential cost-cutting and feel it's a promising start to health care reform.

7 Nov 2009

Transatlantic task force to address antibiotic resistance established, experts welcome initiative

Experts on both sides of the Atlantic applaud President Barack Obama and Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, representing the European Union (EU) Presidency, for establishing a transatlantic task force to address antibiotic resistance, an urgent and growing problem that threatens patient safety and public health worldwide.

7 Nov 2009

Biopharma companies need to incorporate innovative elements in their business models to survive healthcare reform

Those biopharmaceutical companies that are able to incorporate innovative and flexible elements into their business models will be best positioned to survive healthcare reform and maintain attractive long-term returns, according to a white paper published today by Cowen Healthcare Royalty Partners, a global healthcare private equity firm, and Health Advances, a leading healthcare strategy firm.

7 Nov 2009

Experts applaud the EU Presidency for establishing a transatlantic task force to address antibiotic resistance

7 Nov 2009

Gastroschisis may be associated with infections during pregnancy

Results of an investigation conducted by University of Nevada, Reno researchers, public health officials and area physicians published this week in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, indicate that Washoe County experienced a cluster of a particular birth defect, gastroschisis, during the period April 2007 - April 2008.

7 Nov 2009

Health policy research roundup

Health Affairs: Enrollment Is Driving Medicaid Costs—But Two Targets Can Yield Savings - "Although Medicaid spending has grown faster than the rate of increase in national health spending, much of this is explained by increased enrollment," write the authors of this paper, who present data showing that "[p]er enrollee, Medicaid spending actually compares favorably to increases in medical care prices and gross domestic product."

7 Nov 2009