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Depression can sabotage efforts to effectively treat Hepatitis C

Adherence to interferon, an important medication used to treat Hepatitis C, is critical to successfully clearing the virus that causes the disease. A new observational analysis by Medco Health Solutions, Inc. finds that when Hepatitis C patients are also being treated for depression -- a frequent side effect of interferon use -- they are more likely to remain on their interferon therapy.

12 Apr 2011

Florida Society of Pain Management Providers applauds Senate President for supporting PDMP

The Florida Society of Pain Management Providers, applauds Senate President Mike Haridopolos, Senator Mike Fasano and Attorney General Pam Bondi for their support of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and their united opposition to the attempt to repeal the program.

11 Apr 2011

FDA accepts Antares Pharma's Anturol NDA for filing, assigns PDUFA date

Antares Pharma, Inc. today announced the New Drug Application (NDA) for Anturol® Gel in patients with overactive bladder (OAB) was accepted for filing for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Anturol is an oxybutynin gel incorporating Antares' ATD Gel technology.

8 Apr 2011

Doctor files whistleblower retaliation lawsuit against Catholic Charities of Washington

Dr. Charles C. Briggs filed a whistleblower retaliation lawsuit today in D.C. Superior Court against Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington in connection with the organization's failure to rectify serious medical violations committed against patients at its clinics in Washington, D.C. and Langley Park, MD.

8 Apr 2011

Catalyst Health prices public offering of 5,500,000 shares of common stock

Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc. today announced the successful pricing of its public offering of 5,500,000 shares of common stock, consisting of 4,500,000 shares to be sold by the Company and 1,000,000 shares to be sold by one of its stockholders, Principal Holding Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Principal Financial Group, Inc., at a price of $53.00 per share.

8 Apr 2011

Rite Aid reports fourth quarter net loss of $205.7 million

Rite Aid Corporation today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 26, 2011.

7 Apr 2011

Viewpoints: Major news organizations on Ryan plan: Solution or 'hypocrisy'?

Give House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan credit for finally putting Republicans' money where their mouths have been for years: His 2012 budget proposal, released Tuesday, would actually begin to produce the smaller government Republicans have always said they wanted, even as they were ramping up federal spending, creating a prescription drug benefit without paying for it, campaigning against efforts to curb Medicare, and turning budget surpluses into titanic deficits.

7 Apr 2011

Optimer, Cubist sign deal to market DIFICID for CDI treatment in the U.S.

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the signing of an exclusive two-year co-promotion agreement to market DIFICID, in the United States.

6 Apr 2011

CMS: Medicare advantage rate increases will be lower-than-expected

The payments will be lower than initially projected because of lower-than-expected spending on doctor visits.

6 Apr 2011

Study finds marked increases in teen use of marijuana and Ecstasy

Following a decade of steady declines, a new national study released today by The Partnership at Drugfree.org and MetLife Foundation indicates that teen drug and alcohol use is headed in the wrong direction, with marked increases in teen use of marijuana and Ecstasy over the past three years.

6 Apr 2011

Children with ASDs benefit from certain medical and behavioral treatments

Some medical and behavioral treatments show promise for reducing certain behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorders, but more research is needed to assess the potential benefits and harms, according to a new report funded by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The research results were published online in the journal Pediatrics.

5 Apr 2011

State Roundup: Budget cuts in Texas, Wash. State; Ariz. smoking, weight fees; Coping with Rx drug abuse

The Texas House voted 98-49 Sunday night to slash funding for public schools, nursing homes and college financial aid in a dramatic show by Republicans elected on a limited-government message in the face of a massive budget shortfall.

4 Apr 2011

Optimer study highlights economic burden of acute and recurrent CDI in hospital patients

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the presentation of information from insurance claims and survey databases highlighting the unmet need for targeted therapies to treat subpopulations at high risk of recurrence of Clostridium difficile infection.

4 Apr 2011

Ryan: Major changes for Medicare, Medicaid in GOP's 2012 budget

Even as Congress faces a showdown this week on 2011 federal spending, both parties are gearing for the 2012 budget battle.

4 Apr 2011

Optimer reports grant of inducement stock options

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that on March 31, 2011 the Compensation Committee of its Board of Directors approved the grant of inducement stock options to purchase an aggregate of 258,000 shares of common stock to 7 new employees.

2 Apr 2011

ASHIM announces affordable alternative Mini-Med Health Plans

The American Society of Health Informatics Managers (ASHIM) announced Mini-Med Health Plans for members and their families. This offering aids those ASHIM members struggling with current health care costs.

1 Apr 2011

Vertex announces final results from Phase 3 REALIZE study against HCV

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced final results from its pivotal Phase 3 REALIZE study that evaluated people with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C whose prior treatment with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin was unsuccessful either because they relapsed, had a partial response or had a null response.

1 Apr 2011

Vertex announces interim results from VX-222 ongoing Phase 2 study against hepatitis C

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced interim results from an ongoing Phase 2 study designed to assess the safety and tolerability of 12-week response-guided treatment regimens with its polymerase inhibitor, VX-222, and its protease inhibitor, telaprevir, in combination with pegylated-interferon and ribavirin in people with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C who were new to treatment.

31 Mar 2011

Pacira reports net loss of $7.0 million for quarter ended December 31, 2010

Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year ended December 31, 2010, provided an update on the execution of its pre-commercial and launch strategies for EXPAREL and established 2011 financial guidance.

31 Mar 2011

FDA grants orphan drug status to America Stem Cell's ASC-101

America Stem Cell, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Orphan Drug Designation to ASC-101 to improve homing to bone marrow in patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

30 Mar 2011