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Findings may yield new treatments for COPD

A genetic mutation found in four children born with multiple abnormalities may provide insight into potential treatments for newborn lung distress and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

19 Oct 2009

Asthma is the most common underlying condition associated with H1N1 Swine Flu: CDC Report

Cannabis Science Inc., an emerging pharmaceutical cannabis company, notes a report by epidemiologists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) saying that, among people hospitalized with severe cases of the pandemic strain of H1N1 Swine Flu, asthma is by far the most common underlying condition associated with he disease.

19 Oct 2009

FDA approves 100th antiretroviral for PEPFAR

HHS recently announced the FDA's 100th approval of an antiretroviral drug for PEPFAR, PharmTech.com reports. Seventy-one of the more than 100 drugs reviewed by FDA for PEPFAR were generic products.

19 Oct 2009

Robotically assisted minimally invasive bladder reconstructive surgery on children performed

For the first time, a surgical robot has been used to perform minimally invasive reconstructive surgery on five children whose bladder was dysfunctional because they were born with spina bifida [incomplete formation of the spine or spinal cord].

18 Oct 2009

FDA launches web page with information on how to dispose of certain drugs

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today launched a Web page for consumers with information on how to dispose of certain drugs, including several high-potency opioids and other selected controlled substances.

15 Oct 2009

MDS secures international cooperation to help Canadian teenager with malignant blood disorder

The Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) Foundation says a wide range of international cooperation has been secured to help 18-year-old Wes Laporte of Ontario get treatment for a life-threatening condition in the US.

15 Oct 2009

Baxter International announces financial results for third quarter 2009; updates full-year financial outlook

Baxter International Inc. today reported solid financial results for the third quarter of 2009, and provided its fourth quarter and updated full-year 2009 financial outlook.

From Baxter International Inc. 15 Oct 2009

Patients on statin drugs may have lower AAA surgery costs

Patients taking cholesterol-lowering statin drugs may have better results and lower procedure costs when having a common operation for repairing a bulging aorta, according to a new study presented at the 95th annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons.

15 Oct 2009

Resveratrol in red grapes offers some protection against diabetes

A naturally produced molecule called resveratrol, found in the skin of red grapes, has been shown to lower insulin levels in mice when injected directly into the brain, even when the animals ate a high-fat diet.

15 Oct 2009

New tips to defend against medical identity theft

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Assistant Attorney General Tony West will highlight the Obama Administration’s work to fight Medicare Fraud and release new tips and information to help seniors and Medicare beneficiaries deter, detect and defend against Medical identity theft.

15 Oct 2009

Envoy Therapeutics raises $8 million through private placement

Envoy Therapeutics, Inc., a newly formed drug discovery company, today announced the closing of its first financing, an $8 million private placement of the company’s Series A Preferred Stock. Led by 5AM Ventures, other investors participating in the financing included Takeda Research Investment and Roche Venture Fund.

15 Oct 2009

New anesthesia information management system from iMDsoft

iMDsoft®, a global leader in clinical information systems for perioperative, critical and acute care, unveiled MVexpressTM, a complete anesthesia information management system designed for rapid deployment.

15 Oct 2009

Reform primers from both sides of the pond

The BBC offers a trans-Atlantic primer on American health reform: "Unlike other developed countries, the US does not have a universal system of healthcare coverage," the report explains. Though Obama made health reform his "top priority," members of Congress are "finding it difficult to agree on a bill."

15 Oct 2009

Critical Pharmaceuticals to develop hGH nasal spray

Critical Pharmaceuticals, the speciality pharmaceuticals company, today announced that it had secured a £1.5m translation award from the Wellcome Trust to develop a nasal spray of Human Growth Hormone (hGH) using its proprietary CriticalSorb technology as an alternative to injection.

15 Oct 2009

Marker genes help determine the effectiveness of targeted molecular drug regimen for treating GIST

Analysis of a small number of marker genes may determine in a matter of hours if a patient with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) would respond to a targeted molecular drug regimen. This analysis could allow clinicians to determine if they have chosen the best course of action or need to consider another alternative.

15 Oct 2009

NYU Langone Medical Center to establish a schizophrenia research center with $10M NIMH grant

NYU Langone Medical Center has received a five-year, $10 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to establish a Silvio O. Conte Center for the Neuroscience of Mental Disorders. The center, named after the late Silvio O. Conte, a U.S. congressman and advocate for mental health research, will study the onset of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a disease with cognitive dysfunction, affecting approximately one percent of the population worldwide.

15 Oct 2009

Commonwealth Biotechnologies to acquire GL Biochem

Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc. has recently announced a definitive share purchase agreement to acquire Shanghai-based GL Biochem and associated businesses (the “GL Group”), the largest global supplier of research-grade peptide products and peptide reagents.

15 Oct 2009

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