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Study demonstrates rufinamide therapy is effective in reducing partial seizure frequency

Researchers from the Arkansas Epilepsy Program found treatment with rufinamide results in a significant reduction in seizure frequency compared with placebo, for patients with uncontrolled partial-onset seizures (POS).

1 Oct 2010

APhA urges consumers to discuss proper medication usage with pharmacists

In honor of American Pharmacists Month, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) encourages consumers to hold an open dialogue with their pharmacists about a growing problem in the United States, the proper usage of and adherence to medications.

1 Oct 2010

Study indicates neurotransmitters are abnormal in people with psychotic illness

There is growing evidence that two neurotransmitters - dopamine and glutamate - are abnormal in people with psychotic illness, including schizophrenia. Among many other things, these chemicals play a role in cognitive functions, such as memory, learning, and problem-solving.

1 Oct 2010

Biologics can achieve great success - but at great cost

The Wall Street Journal's Health Blog: Insurers want to know why biologic drugs are so expensive. "UnitedHealth Group's Prescription Solutions unit hosted a roundtable this morning in midtown Manhattan focusing on a topic that's hot right now: the rocketing growth of spending on biologic drugs.

1 Oct 2010

Neurologic Clinics journal publishes latest advances in neurologic disorders

The latest advances in treating neurologic disorders such as stroke, headache, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and sleep disorders are detailed in a special issue of the journal Neurologic Clinics.

1 Oct 2010

Breast cancer breakthrough

New research on gene expression provides a breakthrough in breast cancer treatment. Women who have triple-negative breast cancer are a small proportion of breast cancer cases, but it is difficult to treat and might have a more aggressive clinical course than other forms of the disease.

30 Sep 2010

Sleeping with baby raises SIDS risk

South Australian Coroner Mark Johns ruled against parents sleeping with their babies as he was conducting an inquest into the deaths of five babies in 2007 and 2008 who had slept with a parent or grandparent.

30 Sep 2010

NIH awards Polymedix $986,000 to develop defensin mimetic antimicrobial compounds for oral candidiasis

PolyMedix, Inc., an emerging biotechnology company focused on developing new therapeutic drugs to treat acute cardiovascular disorders and infectious diseases, has received a Phase 2 grant in the amount of $986,000 from the National Institute of Health (NIH) to support the development of defensin mimetic antimicrobial compounds for the treatment of oral candidiasis. This grant will fund this research project through August 31, 2012. This award represents the 14th grant or research contract received to date by PolyMedix.

30 Sep 2010

Avila commences AVL-292 Phase 1 clinical study for B cell cancers and autoimmune diseases

Avila Therapeutics™, Inc., a biotechnology company developing targeted covalent drugs, announced today that it has initiated a phase 1 clinical trial to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile of AVL-292, a novel, orally available, covalent drug that targets Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk). AVL-292 is the first product candidate to enter clinical evaluation from Avila's proprietary covalent drug platform, Avilomics™.

30 Sep 2010

Progressive Medical updates 2010 Drug Spend Analysis

Progressive Medical, Inc. announced today the release of a mid-year update to its 2010 Drug Spend Analysis. This report, which supplements the report released in April, provides clients with an update in workers' compensation medication spending from January 2010 through June 2010 and key factors that affect future expenditures, including inflation, utilization and product mix.

30 Sep 2010

Prix Galien USA committee honors life saving innovations

The Prix Galien USA committee honored innovations that are saving lives last night during the Prix Galien Awards Gala. The Pro Bono Humanum Award, the Prix Galien USA 2010 and the Prix Galien International were presented and related accomplishments celebrated.

30 Sep 2010

Jiangbo fourth-quarter revenues decrease 5.9% to $29.3M

Jiangbo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company with its principal operations in the People's Republic of China, today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2010. The Company's annual report on Form 10-K has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and is available on the Company's website.

30 Sep 2010

sanofi-aventis announces top-line results from lixisenatide Phase III GETGOAL-L-ASIA trial for Type-2 Diabetes

Zealand Pharma A/S, the biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative peptide-based drugs, is pleased to note that its partner, sanofi-aventis, has today announced positive top-line results of the Phase III GETGOAL-L-ASIA trial which assessed the efficacy and safety of lixisenatide, a once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist discovered by Zealand Pharma, in combination with basal insulin.

30 Sep 2010

New approach to prevent psychotic symptoms

New research has linked psychosis with an abnormal relationship between two signalling chemicals in the brain. The findings, published in tomorrow's edition of the journal Biological Psychiatry, suggest a new approach to preventing psychotic symptoms, which could lead to better drugs for schizophrenia.

30 Sep 2010

Universitat Jaume I evaluates ruthenium compounds for neurodegenerative disease treatment

The pharmaceutical division of the company Neuron BPh and the research group of Organometallic Chemistry and Homogeneous Catalysis of the Universitat Jaume I, have evaluated the possible applications of a series of ruthenium compounds for their future use in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer.

30 Sep 2010

Multi-disciplinary approach increases breast cancer survival rate: Study

Advances in screening for disease detection, better surgical techniques available to more women, and an increased number of therapies that reduce the risk of relapse in patients with both locally advanced and early stage disease, have collectively contributed to dramatic improvements in breast cancer's survival rates, according to a review of 60 years of patient records at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

30 Sep 2010

Canadian Cancer Society alarmed by government inaction to establish national catastrophic drug insurance program

A large majority of Canadians - 85 per cent - say if they were diagnosed with cancer the cost of drugs would have a negative impact on their personal finances, according to poll results released today by the Canadian Cancer Society.

30 Sep 2010

Two new techniques to identify dissolved cocaine in bottles of wine or rum

In two landmark studies published today in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis (DTA), UK and Swiss research teams reveal two techniques proven to identify dissolved cocaine in bottles of wine or rum. These tools will allow customs officials to quickly identify bottles being used to smuggle cocaine, without the need to open or disturb the container.

30 Sep 2010

Study suggests drugs targeting glutamatergic transmission may help treat psychotic illness

There is growing evidence that two neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate are abnormal in people with psychotic illness, including schizophrenia. Among many other things, these chemicals play a role in cognitive functions, such as memory, learning, and problem solving.

30 Sep 2010

Genotoxic impurities in prescription drugs

Drug manufacturers have been adjusting to strict new government standards that limit the amount of potentially harmful impurities in medicine, according to the cover story of the current issue of Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), ACS' weekly newsmagazine. The impurities are "genotoxic," capable of damaging the DNA in genes.

30 Sep 2010