Pharmaceuticals News and Research

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Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, NIDA partner to conduct CPP-109 Phase II(b) clinical trial for cocaine addiction

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. announced today that it has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to conduct a U.S. Phase II(b) clinical trial evaluating CPP-109, Catalyst's formulation of vigabatrin, for the treatment of cocaine addiction. It is anticipated that NIDA, under their agreement with Veteran's Administration Cooperative Studies Program, will provide substantial resources for the trial and that Catalyst will contribute approximately $2.5 million in resources as part of the estimated $10 million trial cost.

23 Feb 2010

Findings suggest bitter melon extract may help in preventing breast cancer

Bitter melon extract, a common dietary supplement, exerts a significant effect against breast cancer cell growth and may eventually become a chemopreventive agent against this form of cancer, according to results of a recent study.

23 Feb 2010

FDA Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee supports approval of XIFAXAN 550 mg for management of HE

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today reported that the Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA has recommended by a vote of 14 to 4 in favor of the approval of XIFAXAN® (rifaximin) Tablets, 550 mg for the maintenance of remission of hepatic encephalopathy (HE).

23 Feb 2010

EHSI: Health stocks gain after federal decision on payments

Emerging Healthcare Solutions, Inc. voiced encouragement from the climb of healthcare stocks on Monday after a federal announcement on Medicare payment rates - helping offset any worries about a White House proposal to regulate premiums.

23 Feb 2010

NASDAQ halts trading of Salix Pharmaceuticals stock, FDA Committee to discuss XIFAXAN NDA

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today announced that NASDAQ has halted trading of the Company’s common stock this morning. The Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA is meeting today to discuss the efficacy and safety of the New Drug Application (NDA) for XIFAXAN® (rifaximin) Tablets, 550 mg for the maintenance of remission of hepatic encephalopathy.

23 Feb 2010

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals reports positive results from Phase 2 clinical trials for IBS and type 2 diabetes

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for human disease, today updated its drug development progress and reported financial results for the three months and year ended December 31, 2009.

23 Feb 2010

TCAD therapy active and synergistic against drug resistant influenza virus strains

Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held company, reported today on the publication of results from a preclinical study that demonstrated the synergistic effects of triple combination antiviral drug (TCAD) therapy against multiple strains of seasonal, pandemic, and avian influenza A (H1N1, H3N2 and H5N1) virus, including three strains of amantadine resistant pandemic H1N1 and two strains of oseltamivir resistant seasonal H1N1.

23 Feb 2010

Obecure granted patent covering betahistine with olanzapine for mitigating antipsychotic drug associated weight gain

Obecure Ltd., a subsidiary of Bio-Light Israeli Life Science Investments Ltd., has received notice of allowance from the US Patent Office for its two key patent applications covering methods of use and compositions covering the use of betahistine with olanzapine for the mitigation of the serious weight gain associated as a side effect of the antipsychotic drug.

23 Feb 2010

Somerset Hospital collaborates with Mckesson to automate pharmacy with PROmanager-Rx system

Somerset Hospital in Pennsylvania has joined with McKesson to automate its pharmacy using the new PROmanager-Rx™ system. The system will enable the 150-bed hospital to fully automate dispensing of tablets, capsules, and other oral solid medications that come directly from drug manufacturers in unit-dose, bar-coded form. Somerset, already a user of McKesson’s Paragon® community hospital information system, expects PROmanager-Rx to automate dispensing for approximately 80 percent of its daily scheduled patient doses.

23 Feb 2010

Centric Health Resources and CHT to create sustainable healthcare system for Americans

St. Louis-based Centric Health Resources, Inc. joined the Center for Health Transformation (CHT) a high-impact collaboration of private and public sector leaders committed to creating a 21st Century Intelligent Health System that saves lives and money for all Americans.

23 Feb 2010

Lilly, Merck, Pfizer collaborate to accelerate research on commonly-diagnosed cancer

Eli Lilly and Company, Merck (also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) outside the USA and Canada), and Pfizer Inc. today announced the formation of the Asian Cancer Research Group, Inc., an independent, not-for-profit company established to accelerate research and ultimately improve treatment for patients affected with the most commonly-diagnosed cancers in Asia.

23 Feb 2010

BCBSA’s statement on Obama's healthcare reform proposal

President Obama's proposal to establish a new Health Insurance Rate Authority ignores the unique cost drivers in each of the 50 state insurance markets. Several governors from both parties have recently expressed reservations about a one-size-fits-all approach to healthcare reform.

23 Feb 2010

Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Option Fund partner to develop novel inhibitors against key metalloenzyme target

Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a licensing option agreement with the Novartis Option Fund. Under terms of the agreement, Viamet will utilize its proprietary Metallophile™ Technology to discover and develop novel metalloenzyme inhibitors against a specific metalloenzyme of high interest to Novartis. The agreement includes an upfront fee and potential milestones totaling over $200 million as well as product royalties.

23 Feb 2010

Committee calls for strategies to curb hypertension

Public health officials and health care providers need to step up their efforts to reduce Americans' increasing rates of high blood pressure and better treat those with the condition, which triggers more than one-third of heart attacks and almost half of heart failures in the United States each year, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

23 Feb 2010

Green Smoke claims e-cigarettes are healthy alternative to traditional tobacco

The controversy surrounding electronic cigarettes and the FDA continues. As reported by CNN, New York Times and USA Today, the FDA lost its first battle against e-cigarettes in a federal court and is appealing the ruling.

23 Feb 2010

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals commences dosing in MM-121/Tarceva combination Phase 1/2 study for NSCLC

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the first patient has received an initial dose in a Phase 1/2 clinical study combining MM-121 with Tarceva® (erlotinib) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This is the first of multiple trials that Merrimack and sanofi-aventis expect to initiate in 2010 as part of a broad Phase 2 clinical development program for MM-121.

23 Feb 2010

Watson Laboratories files ANDA for generic Aplenzin ER in treatment of major depressive disorder

Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading global specialty pharmaceutical company, today confirmed that its subsidiary, Watson Laboratories, Inc.- Florida, filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking approval to market its 174 mg and 348 mg strength bupropion hydrobromide tablets prior to the expiration of patents owned by Biovail. Watson's 174 mg and 348 mg strength bupropion hydrobromide tablet products are generic versions of Biovail's Aplenzin™ ER, which is indicated for major depressive disorder.

23 Feb 2010

Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Takeda Pharmaceutical to advance pramlintide/metreleptin combination therapy development

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced today that the companies have selected the combination treatment of pramlintide, an analog of the natural hormone amylin, and metreleptin, an analog of the natural hormone leptin, for advancement toward Phase 3 development. The decision to advance the program followed encouraging results from a 52-week blinded, placebo-controlled Phase 2 extension study. The pramlintide/metreleptin combination met the key target criteria of sustained and robust weight loss.

23 Feb 2010

Ritter Pharmaceuticals to discuss lactose intolerance and associated health risks at NIH Conference

Ritter Pharmaceuticals, a company dedicated to helping individuals live a healthier and happier life style through improved digestion, announced today that it will join the leading lactose intolerance experts around the country at the NIH Consensus Development Conference for Lactose Intolerance and Health in Bethesda, Maryland from February 22-24.

22 Feb 2010

OrbiMed announces next venture capital fund for investments in biopharmaceutical and medical device companies

OrbiMed, a leading investment management firm focused on the healthcare sector, is pleased to announce the launch of its next venture capital fund, Caduceus Private Investments IV, LP, with $550 million in limited partner commitments. Approximately 80% of the new fund’s capital is from returning investors, and the fund’s partners include some of the largest pension plans, endowments, foundations, and sovereign funds globally.

22 Feb 2010

Pharmaceuticals News and Research

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, NIDA partner to conduct CPP-109 Phase II(b) clinical trial for cocaine addiction

Findings suggest bitter melon extract may help in preventing breast cancer

FDA Gastrointestinal Drugs Advisory Committee supports approval of XIFAXAN 550 mg for management of HE

EHSI: Health stocks gain after federal decision on payments

NASDAQ halts trading of Salix Pharmaceuticals stock, FDA Committee to discuss XIFAXAN NDA

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals reports positive results from Phase 2 clinical trials for IBS and type 2 diabetes

TCAD therapy active and synergistic against drug resistant influenza virus strains

Obecure granted patent covering betahistine with olanzapine for mitigating antipsychotic drug associated weight gain

Somerset Hospital collaborates with Mckesson to automate pharmacy with PROmanager-Rx system

Centric Health Resources and CHT to create sustainable healthcare system for Americans

Lilly, Merck, Pfizer collaborate to accelerate research on commonly-diagnosed cancer

BCBSA’s statement on Obama's healthcare reform proposal

Viamet Pharmaceuticals, Novartis Option Fund partner to develop novel inhibitors against key metalloenzyme target

Committee calls for strategies to curb hypertension

Green Smoke claims e-cigarettes are healthy alternative to traditional tobacco

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals commences dosing in MM-121/Tarceva combination Phase 1/2 study for NSCLC

Watson Laboratories files ANDA for generic Aplenzin ER in treatment of major depressive disorder

Amylin Pharmaceuticals and Takeda Pharmaceutical to advance pramlintide/metreleptin combination therapy development

Ritter Pharmaceuticals to discuss lactose intolerance and associated health risks at NIH Conference

OrbiMed announces next venture capital fund for investments in biopharmaceutical and medical device companies

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