Asthma News and Research

RSS

Asthma is a common inflammatory disease affecting the airways that leads to shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing. Symptoms range from mild to severe but are generally manageable with appropriate treatment.

Amgen's Prolia Complete Response submission: FDA classifies and sets PDUFA date

Amgen Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has evaluated the content of the Company's Complete Response submission for Prolia™ (denosumab) in the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis and classified it as a Class 2 resubmission. With the Class 2 designation, the FDA set a corresponding Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of July 25, 2010.

20 Feb 2010

NBCH's annual report: How America's health plans are doing to improve care and control costs for diabetes

Today the National Business Coalition on Health issued its annual report on how America's health plans are doing to improve care and control costs for diabetes. The analysis is based on health plan survey data from NBCH's eValue8™ program, the nation's leading Request for Information (RFI) tool used by employers, coalitions and their purchaser members to set expectations and measure health plan performance.

19 Feb 2010

FDA's proposed label changes for LABA asthma medications: GSK reviews

GlaxoSmithKline is reviewing label changes proposed today by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for asthma medications containing long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs), such as GSK's Advair (salmeterol / fluticasone propionate). GSK and makers of the other affected medicines containing LABAs have 30 days to agree with the proposed changes or state why they are not warranted.

19 Feb 2010

Asthma: LABAs should not be used alone

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced that drugs in the class of long-acting beta agonists (LABAs) should never be used alone in the treatment of asthma in children or adults. Manufacturers will be required to include this warning in the product labels of these drugs, along with taking other steps to reduce the overall use of these medications.

19 Feb 2010

Latino parents with asthmatic child more likely to quit smoking: Study

Asthma is the most common chronic illness affecting Latino children in the United States, and secondhand smoke is a serious contributing factor. Now a new study from The Miriam Hospital's Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine and Brown University suggests that clinically-based smoking cessation programs may not be enough to help Latino smokers with asthmatic children kick the habit.

18 Feb 2010

Healthy immune response depends on TRPV2 protein

If bad bacteria lurk in your system, chances are they will bump into the immune system's protective cells whose job is gobbling germs.

18 Feb 2010

AAFA launches national PSA on "Two Main Causes of Asthma"

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is launching a national public service announcement (PSA) supported by GlaxoSmithKline titled "Two Main Causes of Asthma." The PSA goal is to communicate an important message to the millions of Americans with asthma: that treating the two main causes of asthma symptoms may help prevent symptoms before they begin. Asthma symptoms include coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and chest tightness.

17 Feb 2010

Rate of chronic health conditions among children in the U.S. increased from 12.8% to 26.6%

The rate of chronic health conditions among children in the U.S. increased from 12.8 percent in 1994 to 26.6 percent in 2006, for conditions such as obesity, asthma and behavior/learning problems, according to a study in the February 17 issue of JAMA.

17 Feb 2010

CalciMedica granted U.S. composition patent concerning key component of CRAC channel

CalciMedica today announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office has issued to CalciMedica US Patent No. 7,645,588, a composition patent involving STIM1, a key component of the calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel. The patent, entitled "Composition comprising a cell comprising a STIM1 protein and an agent that modulates intracellular calcium and methods of use," has a priority date of March 4, 2003 and was issued on January 12, 2010.

17 Feb 2010

Merck announces global sales of $27.4 billion for full-year 2009

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year of 2009 which include the results of legacy Schering-Plough operations from the close of the merger on Nov. 3, 2009 through Dec. 31, 2009.

16 Feb 2010

Meda publishes 2009 year-end report

“The Meda Group expects to achieve sales of about SEK 13,000 million and an EBITDA of about SEK 4,200 million for full-year 2009.”

16 Feb 2010

Lack of comprehensive insurance coverage is barrier for smoking cessation: Study

As a new year and decade begin, many Pennsylvanians have made an important resolution to quit smoking. Wanting to quit is a good first step, but it's not nearly enough. Smoking, we now know, is not just a "habit"; it's a true physical addiction, and, on average, most smokers try at least five times to quit.

16 Feb 2010

AstraZeneca, Rigel Pharmaceuticals announce exclusive worldwide license agreement for R788

AstraZeneca and Rigel Pharmaceuticals today announced an exclusive worldwide license agreement for the global development and commercialization of fostamatinib disodium (R788), Rigel's late-stage investigational product for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and additional indications.

16 Feb 2010

People can take simple steps to minimize risk of exposure to allergens during gardening, AAAAI

The beauty of budding plants and bouquet of aromas are sources of satisfaction for many gardeners. For allergy sufferers, though, gardening can be as much a chore as pursuit of passion.

15 Feb 2010

Effective smoking cessation treatments

With the national trend toward quitting smoking flat, psychologists are finding some success with treatments aimed at helping smokers from underserved groups, including racial and ethnic minorities and those with psychiatric disorders.

15 Feb 2010

Hypnosis has potential therapeutic value in children with respiratory disorders

Hypnosis has potential therapeutic value in children with respiratory disorders for alleviating symptoms such as habit cough or unexplained sensations of difficulty breathing and for lessening a child's discomfort during medical procedures.

15 Feb 2010

Ragweed pollen allergy: SLIT safe and effective alternative to injections

An oral allergy treatment administered in drops under the tongue is a safe and effective alternative to injections for adults who are allergic to ragweed pollen, according to a study published today in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology by allergic disease specialist at Allegheny General Hospital.

15 Feb 2010

Antibodies also contribute to severe dengue virus-induced disease, confirms La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology

A leading immunology research institute has validated the long-held and controversial hypothesis that antibodies - usually the "good guys" in the body's fight against viruses - instead contribute to severe dengue virus-induced disease, the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology announced today. The finding has major implications for the development of a first-ever vaccine against dengue virus, a growing public health threat which annually infects 50 to 100 million people worldwide, causing a half million cases of the severest form.

12 Feb 2010

Parents often recognize signs of asthma in their children but delay home treatment: Report

Parents of young children with asthma often recognize signs that their child is about to have an asthma attack but delay home treatment until the attack occurs, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report.

12 Feb 2010

Measures to tackle school avoidance in children

Children and adolescents who refuse to attend school should not be given doctors' sick notes. In the current issue of Deutsches -rzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2010; 107[4]), child and adolescent psychiatrist Martin Knollmann and colleagues explain the causes of school avoidance and describe measures to tackle the problem.

12 Feb 2010

Asthma News and Research

Further Reading

Amgen's Prolia Complete Response submission: FDA classifies and sets PDUFA date

NBCH's annual report: How America's health plans are doing to improve care and control costs for diabetes

FDA's proposed label changes for LABA asthma medications: GSK reviews

Asthma: LABAs should not be used alone

Latino parents with asthmatic child more likely to quit smoking: Study

Healthy immune response depends on TRPV2 protein

AAFA launches national PSA on "Two Main Causes of Asthma"

Rate of chronic health conditions among children in the U.S. increased from 12.8% to 26.6%

CalciMedica granted U.S. composition patent concerning key component of CRAC channel

Merck announces global sales of $27.4 billion for full-year 2009

Meda publishes 2009 year-end report

Lack of comprehensive insurance coverage is barrier for smoking cessation: Study

AstraZeneca, Rigel Pharmaceuticals announce exclusive worldwide license agreement for R788

People can take simple steps to minimize risk of exposure to allergens during gardening, AAAAI

Effective smoking cessation treatments

Hypnosis has potential therapeutic value in children with respiratory disorders

Ragweed pollen allergy: SLIT safe and effective alternative to injections

Antibodies also contribute to severe dengue virus-induced disease, confirms La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology

Parents often recognize signs of asthma in their children but delay home treatment: Report

Measures to tackle school avoidance in children

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

Latest News