Placebo News and Research

RSS

Drug therapy may be effective in treating both the manic and depressive phases of bipolar disorder

The condition (bipolar I and II) affects approximately 8 million Americans, who have relied on a combination of drugs to manage their symptoms, and who remain at high risk of committing suicide because of the difficulty in treating the disorder.

6 Jul 2005

Orthodontics takes first step toward biological control of tooth movement

In the first study of its kind, University of Florida researchers are testing the power of a natural human hormone to biochemically move teeth faster and less painfully during orthodontic treatment.

6 Jul 2005

Vitamin E supplements do not protect healthy women against heart attacks and stroke

Vitamin E supplements do not protect healthy women against heart attacks and stroke, according to new results from the Women's Health Study, a long-term clinical trial of the effect of vitamin E and aspirin on both the prevention of cardiovascular disease and of cancer.

5 Jul 2005

Bone Medical completes first trial of oral parathyroid hormone product for treatment of osteoporosis

Bone Medical Ltd announced today the completion of a Phase I trial of its oral parathyroid hormone (PTH) product Perthoxal™ under development for the treatment of osteoporosis.

3 Jul 2005

Daclizumab effective at reducing organ rejection and risk of infection in heart transplant patients

A new study shows that a drug, called daclizumab, is effective at reducing organ rejection and risk of infection in heart transplant patients. The multi-center study by cardiologists from the United States, Sweden, Germany and Canada will be published in the June 30 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

30 Jun 2005

Bipolar survey indicates how patient satisfaction is achieved

Preliminary results from a large-scale global study of people living with bipolar disorder, presented today at the World Congress of Biological Psychiatry (WCBP), found that patient satisfaction with treatment is achieved through combining broad-based efficacy with a favourable tolerability profile.

30 Jun 2005

Myriad Genetics issued new patent under license

Myriad Genetics has announced the issuance of Patent No. 6,911,466 entitled, "AB42 Lowering Agents". Myriad holds exclusive rights to the patent under a licensing agreement with Mayo Clinic. The patent covers methods of using a broad class of compounds known as selective amyloid beta 42 lowering agents (SALAs) to lower levels of the toxic peptide.

29 Jun 2005

Experimental drug for diabetes looks promising

Encouraging results in a small study, with a new experimental treatment, promises help for certain diabetics to retain some ability to make their own insulin.

29 Jun 2005

Tetracycline antibiotic shows promise for treating osteoarthritis

A tetracycline antibiotic, doxycycline, has been successfully used to treat a wide-range of bacterial infections. In addition to its effects as an antibiotic, doxycycline has other actions as a drug and, in laboratory studies with animals and with human tissue, can inhibit the degradation of cartilage in a way that could be useful for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA).

28 Jun 2005

Vitamin C pretty useless when it comes to colds

Since the 1970's, when research advocated that doses of Vitamin C would help alleviate symptoms of the common cold, that doctrine has been generally accepted.

28 Jun 2005

Migraine sufferers find effects of Botox more than skin-deep

A new study says that in some cases Botox may reduce the number of migraine headaches in some patients.

26 Jun 2005

Adult nasal spray helps teenagers cope with migraines

A Florida researcher reports that a prescription nasal spray approved for adults with migraines also helps teenagers and potentially offers relief for a population which is underserved in this respect.

26 Jun 2005

Nitromed heart drug designed for blacks wins U.S. approval

A new heart drug designed specifically for blacks has been approved by U.S. officials.

26 Jun 2005

New drug delays the onset of diabetes

New research has shown that an experimental drug, designed to reset the body's immune system, could delay the need for extra insulin in some people with recently diagnosed juvenile diabetes.

23 Jun 2005

Most children with infective conjunctivitis (pinkeye) do not need treatment with an antibiotic

One in eight school children have an episode of conjunctivitis every year. This amounts to more than 1 million episodes in the UK and more than 5 million in the USA. Diagnosis of the condition is usually straight forward but doctors find difficulty in differentiating a viral cause from a bacterial cause.

21 Jun 2005

First new treatment for Elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis)

Scientists at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine have proved that a single course of one antibiotic may hold the key to curing the parasitic worm disease Elephantiasis (lymphatic filariasis) that has been one of the most common causes of global disability since Biblical times.

21 Jun 2005

New study finds many concerns with clinical trials

A new study led by OHRI Scientist and University of Ottawa Professor, Dr. Dean Fergusson, has looked at current practices in justifying the conduct of clinical trials and found many concerns. For starters, the report notes, some researchers don't even look at existing evidence, repeating trials that have already been conducted and scientifically validated.

21 Jun 2005

New topical pain cream, Maxilene, eases procedural pain

Researchers at The Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) have found that a new topical anaesthetic (liposomal lidocaine 4% cream, brand name Maxilene) effectively reduced pain for children having IVs inserted (cannulation) in the emergency department and improved procedural success rates.

20 Jun 2005

Ramelteon may help chronic insomniacs

Ramelteon, a novel investigational compound under review with the FDA for the treatment of insomnia, reduced the time it took to fall asleep and increased total sleep time in adults with chronic insomnia, according to results from a Phase 3 study presented this week at the 19th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS).

20 Jun 2005

FDA severely limits access to cancer drug Iressa

After Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials agreed with studies showing lung cancer drug, Iressa, did not help patients live longer, drug company AstraZeneca said it would severely limit access to its drug.

20 Jun 2005