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ORAL Solo Phase 3 study shows tasocitinib reduces signs and symptoms of active RA

Pfizer Inc. today announced results of ORAL Solo (1045), a Phase 3 study that showed tasocitinib (CP-690,550), an investigational, novel, oral JAK inhibitor, administered as monotherapy met two primary endpoints, demonstrating a statistically significant reduction in signs and symptoms of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and improvement in physical function as measured by ACR20 response rates and mean change in HAQ-DI, respectively, versus placebo at three months.

9 Nov 2010

GBS meningitis in infants still very serious

Although now less frequent because of preventive antibiotics, meningitis caused by group B streptococcal (GBS) bacteria is still a serious illness causing a high rate of death and severe complications in infants, reports a study in the November issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.

9 Nov 2010

Childhood abuse increases risk of type 2 diabetes in women: Study

A new study of nearly 70,000 women found a clear association between abuse in childhood and adolescence and the risk of type 2 diabetes in adult women.

9 Nov 2010

AHF joins breakthrough research for HIV control

A study published in Science yesterday, reveals what could be the key to why some HIV/AIDS patients' immune systems keep the disease at bay without medication.

9 Nov 2010

New approach to treat castration resistant prostate cancer

A monoclonal antibody targeting a well known cell surface protein inhibited prostate cancer growth and metastasis in an aggressive form of the disease that did not respond to hormone therapy, according to a study by researchers with the UCLA Department of Urology and UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

9 Nov 2010

New TB-drugome may help identify protein targets for tuberculosis

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and the University of Leeds have linked hundreds of federally approved drugs to more than 1,000 proteins in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), opening new avenues to repurpose these drugs to treat TB.

9 Nov 2010

Chemotherapy for breast cancer does more harm than good

A fundamental principle of medicine is: "first, do no harm." However, for doctors who treat breast cancer, this is easier said than done. Every year, almost 22,000 Canadian women are diagnosed with breast cancer - their treatment usually involves surgery to remove a tumour and then chemotherapy to reduce the risk of cancer returning.

9 Nov 2010

Study discovers role of Vav1 oncogene in several cancers

Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered that Vav1 - an oncogene (cancer-causing gene) found in recent years to be one of the factors in tumorous tissue growth -- plays a wider role in several types of cancer than had previously been thought. The discovery has implications for further concentration on targeting this gene in cancer research.

9 Nov 2010

SIMPONI injection improves inflammation, structural damage in RA patients

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analyses from two Phase 3 clinical trials showed that once every four week subcutaneous injections of SIMPONI (golimumab) 50 mg plus methotrexate resulted in statistically significant improvements in markers of inflammation and structural damage in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with placebo plus methotrexate.

9 Nov 2010

Epeius receives competitive grant to support Rexin-G oncology product

Epeius Biotechnologies Corporation, a leader in the emerging field of targeted genetic medicine, announced today the receipt of additional financial support for the company's lead oncology product, Rexin-G, from the U.S. Departments of Treasury, Health and Human Services (HHS), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the form of a prestigious competitive grant.

9 Nov 2010

CMS to review cancer vaccine, analysis shows high Medicare drug spending not correlated with better care

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are conducting an unusual review to determine whether the government should pay for an expensive new vaccine for treating prostate cancer, rekindling debate over whether some therapies are too costly.

9 Nov 2010

Family history of HG increases risk of extreme morning sickness during pregnancy

Approximately 60,000 pregnant women are hospitalized each year due to hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), an extreme form of nausea and vomiting that endangers their lives and often forces them to reluctantly terminate their pregnancies.

9 Nov 2010

Vaccinations do not increase risk of RA

Common adult vaccinations are not associated with an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta.

9 Nov 2010

Teens abuse prescription drugs more than illegal drugs

According to the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, teens abuse prescription medications more than all illegal drugs combined, excluding marijuana. Many teens are under the misconception that these highly addictive, easily accessible drugs are "safer" than illicit drugs.

9 Nov 2010

Research reveals EBV virus infected cell manipulates cancer-producing cells

A new discovery by UNC scientists describes how cells infected by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) produce small vesicles or sacs called exosomes, changing their cellular "cargo" of proteins and RNA. This altered exosome enters cells and can change the growth of recipient cells from benign to cancer-producing.

9 Nov 2010

Doctors abandon traditional practice for concierge medicine, hospital employment

The Palm Beach Post, on the growth of concierge medicine: "As health reform prepares to send another 32 million people into the already stressed health system, some say that concierge medicine is the future — where the wealthy see the best primary care doctors in a luxury setting, and everyone else makes do with clinics staffed by 'physician extenders' such as nurse practitioners.

8 Nov 2010

Denosumab superior to Zometa in preventing SREs in breast cancer patients with bone metastases: Study

Amgen today announced the publication of results from a pivotal Phase 3 study of 2,046 patients which compared denosumab with Zometa® (zoledronic acid) in delaying or preventing skeletal-related events (SREs) in breast cancer patients with bone metastases. An SRE consists of any of the following: a pathologic fracture, the need for radiation or surgery to ameliorate bone pathology secondary to tumor growth, or spinal cord compression.

8 Nov 2010

Calypte receives $244,479 tax credit under QTDP program

Calypte Biomedical Corporation, the developer, manufacturer and marketer of the Aware HIV-1/2 OMT (oral fluid) HIV test, announced today that it has been awarded a tax credit of $244,479 under U.S. Government's Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project (QTDP) program.

8 Nov 2010

Soy-based drug could prevent prostate cancer metastasis

Northwestern Medicine researchers at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University have found that a new, nontoxic drug made from a chemical in soy could prevent the movement of cancer cells from the prostate to the rest of the body.

8 Nov 2010

New Yorker examines global TB diagnostic challenges

The New Yorker examines the challenges associated with treating tuberculosis across the world and looks at whether a rapid diagnostic test could prevent millions of deaths from the disease.

8 Nov 2010