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First Edition: July 11, 2011

In today's health policy headlines, more reports on the challenges President Barack Obama and congressional leaders are facing in the ongoing debt reduction negotiations.

11 Jul 2011

Randox launches Lab Tests Blog

Randox Laboratories is excited to announce the launch of its very own online blog - Lab Tests Blog.

From Randox Laboratories Ltd. 11 Jul 2011

Isogenica opens new automation facility

Isogenica Ltd today announced the opening of a new automation facility at their current location, Chesterford Research Park.

11 Jul 2011

Valeant signs agreement to acquire Dermik

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. announced today that Valeant and its subsidiary, Valeant International SRL, have signed an agreement to acquire Dermik, a dermatology unit of Sanofi in the U.S. and Canada, as well as the worldwide rights to Sculptra Aesthetic.

11 Jul 2011

APP receives FDA approval to market Clonidine Hydrochloride Injection

APP Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fresenius Kabi Pharmaceuticals Holding, Inc., announced today that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market Clonidine Hydrochloride Injection in two dosage strengths.

11 Jul 2011

FDA approves BOOSTRIX to prevent tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis in older people

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BOOSTRIX for use in adults 65 years of age and older for active booster immunization against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.

11 Jul 2011

Flu vaccine against all strains of virus coming soon

A universal flu vaccine, capable of working against all strains, would save lives and money by eliminating the need for the annual jab say experts. Researchers in California and the Netherlands believe they are now a “step closer” to meeting this objective.

10 Jul 2011

Viewpoints: Debt ceiling & entitlements; Pharmaceutical dilemmas; Bishops 'misunderstand' death with dignity

Democrats have already proposed a 3-1 formula that would allow for $3 in spending cuts for every $1 in new revenue. So we have met our Republican colleagues more than half-way in this painful process. We are even willing to discuss significant savings in Medicare and Medicaid — as long as essential benefits for seniors and the most vulnerable are preserved (Rep. William Lacy Clay, 7/7).

8 Jul 2011

'Plasticity' genes make it harder to form new memories about unfamiliar topics

Scientists have shed light on why it is easier to learn about things related to what we already know than it is to learn about unfamiliar things, according to a new study.

8 Jul 2011

Advocacy group messages, concerns emerge as deficit talks continue

The drug industry and teaching hospitals are among the health industry sectors that are bracing for hits from the budget deal. Meanwhile, other health care providers are watching and waiting -- trying to figure out what might become of their interests as the negotiations go forward. And Democrats and liberal advocates, the staunchest supporters of the health law, fear President Barack Obama could give up too much in the ultimate agreement.

8 Jul 2011

Onconova, SymBio enter commercialization collaboration for rigosertib in Japan and Korea

Onconova Therapeutics, Inc., and SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited announced today that they will collaborate to develop and commercialize rigosertib in Japan and Korea. Onconova is conducting late-stage clinical trials with rigosertib (ON 01910.Na) in the U.S., Europe and India for the treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS) and solid tumors.

8 Jul 2011

Common cell pathway could lead to new treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancer

A discovery by University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers about a how a common cell pathway that helps regulate cell survival and production is turned on could lead to new treatments for autoimmune diseases and cancer.

8 Jul 2011

Shire files lawsuit against Watson over generic Vyvanse

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today confirmed that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc., filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking approval to market lisdexamfetamine dimesylate capsules. Watson's lisdexamfetamine dimesylate capsules are a generic version of Shire LLC's Vyvanse®.

8 Jul 2011

Merck decides not to advance IMO-2055 development for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Idera Pharmaceuticals today provides an update on the clinical development of IMO-2055 (EMD 1201081), a TLR9 agonist for cancer treatment being developed by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, under its collaboration with Idera.

8 Jul 2011

Study finds higher rate of switching from Byetta to Victoza in treatment of type 2 diabetes

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that although Amylin/Eli Lilly's Byetta currently commands a higher patient share than Novo Nordisk's Victoza, more patients were switched from Byetta to Victoza than vice versa (25.2 percent versus 2.8 percent) in the last quarter of 2010 among recently treated type 2 diabetes patients.

8 Jul 2011

Collaborative research discovers broadly acting antibody against influenza viruses

Annually changing flu vaccines with their hit-and-miss effectiveness may soon give way to a single, near-universal flu vaccine, according to a new report from scientists at The Scripps Research Institute and the Dutch biopharmaceutical company Crucell. They describe an antibody that, in animal tests, can prevent or cure infections with a broad variety of influenza viruses, including seasonal and potentially pandemic strains.

8 Jul 2011

Novartis Afinitor Phase III trial on tuberous sclerosis meets primary endpoint

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced today Phase III trial results that showed more than one-third of patients taking Afinitor tablets experienced a 50% or greater reduction in the size of their subependymal giant cell astrocytomas, non-cancerous brain tumors associated with tuberous sclerosis complex.

8 Jul 2011

Exenatide tQT clinical trial meets pre-specified primary endpoint

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company and Alkermes, Inc. today announced results from a thorough QT (tQT) study that assessed the potential of exenatide to increase the QT interval across a wide range of plasma concentrations.

8 Jul 2011

Roche, CPRIT partner to advance cancer research projects in Texas

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) today announced a strategic partnership agreement with the Swiss-based healthcare company Roche to accelerate the development of promising oncology-related cancer research projects in Texas.

8 Jul 2011

U.S. District Court rules in favor of Watson over Mucinex patent suit

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today confirmed that the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has affirmed the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida's February 2011 decision that Watson's generic versions of Mucinex(R), Mucinex(R) D, and Mucinex(R) DM Extended-Release products do not infringe U.S. Patent No. 6,372,252.

8 Jul 2011