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Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated liver disease after liver transplantation

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated liver disease continues to be the most common indication for liver transplantation (LT) in the United States accounting for nearly 50% of all liver transplants. Recurrence is universal in patients viremic at the time of transplantation with histological hepatitis developing in the majority of patients. Although the natural history of recurrent HCV is difficult to predict, it is widely accepted that cirrhosis from recurrent HCV occurs in up to 30% of patients within five years of transplantation.

8 Jun 2011

Higher than IOM recommended Vitamin D levels required for optimizing osteoporosis, low BMD therapy

To fully optimize a drug therapy for osteoporosis and low bone mineral density (BMD), patients should maintain vitamin D levels above the limits recently recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), according to a new study by researchers from Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. The study will be presented at the Endocrine Society's Annual Meeting in Boston, June 4-7.

7 Jun 2011

Non-steroidal, oral contraceptive for men

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center are honing in on the development of what may be the first non-steroidal, oral contraceptive for men. Tests of low doses of a compound that interferes with retinoic acid receptors (RARs), whose ligands are metabolites of dietary vitamin A, showed that it caused sterility in male mice.

7 Jun 2011

New study shows Bisphenol A exposure through diet has been underestimated

A new University of Missouri study shows that the exposure to the controversial chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) through diet has been underestimated by previous lab tests.

6 Jun 2011

Ipsen decides to assess development of Irosustat in combination with hormonal therapies

Ipsen today announced its decision to assess the alternative development of Irosustat (BN 83495) in combination with other hormonal therapies. This decision is based on the futility analysis from the proof-of-concept trial phase II clinical study carried out in Europe in monotherapy in endometrial cancer, and on the phase I/II clinical study results obtained in metastatic prostate and breast cancers.

6 Jun 2011

Ipilimumab and bevacizumab drugs effective in treating metatastic melanoma

A duo of drugs, each targeting a prime survival strategy of tumors, can be safely administered and are potentially more effective than either drug alone for advanced, inoperable melanomas, according to a phase 1 clinical trial led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigators.

4 Jun 2011

Ampio commences new anti-inflammatory agent Phase 1B trial in osteoarthritis

Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it received ethics board approval for a Phase 1B clinical trial in Australia of its biologic anti-inflammatory agent, Ampion.

1 Jun 2011

Gout drug success for Novartis

Novartis AG's new gout therapy drug gives patients better pain relief and significantly cuts the risk of new attacks say two late stage studies. The studies show that more than 450 patients taking Ilaris, or ACZ885, had less pain and the risk of new attacks were reduced by up to 68 percent compared to those taking an injectable steroid to treat gouty arthritis attacks, which can last for a week or more.

26 May 2011

Oral and injected steroids appear to be equally effective for sudden hearing loss

A relatively new treatment for sudden hearing loss that involves injecting steroids into the middle ear appears to work just as well as the current standard of oral steroids, a study by researchers at Johns Hopkins and other institutions suggests.

25 May 2011

Two Novartis ACZ885 Phase III trial data in severe gouty arthritis to be presented at EULAR 2011

Novartis announced results of two pivotal Phase III trials in patients with severe gouty arthritis, showing that ACZ885 provided superior pain relief and reduced the risk of suffering new attacks by up to 68% compared to an injectable steroid used to treat gouty arthritis attacks.

25 May 2011

Stanford University develops stress-shielding device to reduce surgical scarring

Researchers at Stanford University have developed a special wound dressing that they report was able to significantly reduce scar tissue caused by incisions.

23 May 2011

African-American children have poor lung function at their initial visit to asthma specialist

African-American children are more likely to report previous emergency room visits, hospitalizations and need for intensive care unit management for asthma than Caucasian children on their first visit to an asthma specialist, according to a study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University.

18 May 2011

InVivo Therapeutics reports net loss of $1,278,000 for first quarter 2011

InVivo Therapeutics, a medical device company focused on the development of groundbreaking technologies for the treatment of spinal cord injuries, today reported financial results for the first quarter 2011.

16 May 2011

UCSD scientists discover steroid hormone that inhibits brain inflammation

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered a steroid hormone that inhibits inflammation in the brain. The findings, to be published in the May 13 issue of the journal Cell, have implications for understanding the exaggerated inflammatory responses that are characteristic features of numerous neurodegenerative diseases.

13 May 2011

MTTI obtains exclusive license for novel fluorescence dyes from Massachusetts General Hospital

Molecular Targeting Technologies, Inc., announced that it has obtained an exclusive license from the Massachusetts General Hospital for novel fluorescence dyes developed by Scott Hilderbrand, Ph.D. Fangwei Shao, Ph.D., and Ralph Weissleder, Ph.D. M.D.

11 May 2011

When Government usurps responsibility, people are more likely to abdicate

We hear much talk about preventive care, but nobody has defined it. From the content of the discussions, I deduce that what the health bureaucrats actually refer to would be better characterized as “early detection.” Early detection is what occurs when a physician finds a disease in its early stages that might have been prevented by earlier measures. But who can take those measures? Not the physician, only the patient. There is only one person living the patient’s life; it is the patient. I cannot live his life for him.

9 May 2011

Leukotriene antagonists can serve as effective alternative to conventional asthma treatment

A rarely prescribed asthma drug is easier to use and just as effective as conventional treatment with inhalers, according to a new study led by the University of East Anglia.

5 May 2011

New study identifies less invasive therapy for ACE inhibitor side-effects

A new Henry Ford Hospital study takes a closer look at one of the lesser known, but potential most serious side-effects of ACE inhibitor use - facial, tongue and airway swelling - and identifies a successful and less invasive course of treatment.

29 Apr 2011

Centocor Ortho Biotech receives FDA approval for Zytiga to treat prostate cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Zytiga in combination with prednisone to treat patients with late-stage castration-resistant prostate cancer who have received prior docetaxel.

28 Apr 2011

Positive results from Otonomy's OTO-104 Phase 1b study in Meniere's disease

Otonomy, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative therapeutics for diseases and disorders of the inner and middle ear, today announced positive data from a Phase 1b study of the company's lead product candidate, OTO-104, in patients with Meniere's disease.