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CMS to withdraw provisions of Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement formula under AMP rule: NACDS, NCPA

We are pleased that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed a rule that would withdraw provisions of what is known as the Medicaid average manufacturer price rule. The proposed rule calls for the withdrawal of existing provisions that define AMP, that determine the calculation of federal upper limits, and that define 'multiple source drug.'

4 Sep 2010

VOA News examines U.S. Global Health Initiative

VOA News examines President Barack Obama's $63 billion Global Health Initiative (GHI), noting the initiative's emphasis on cost-effective strategies to improve child- and maternal-health as well as programs to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. The article includes recent comments by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on the role the GHI will play in strengthening health systems and the administration's on-going commitment to global HIV/AIDS programs.

4 Sep 2010

AVAC calls for economic and political support for CAPRISA 004 microbicide trial's critical follow-up studies

AVAC today issues a call to action to donors, policy-makers, researchers and advocates to ensure that critical follow-up studies to the landmark CAPRISA 004 microbicide trial receive the economic and political support needed to move forward as quickly as possible. The call comes as a group of microbicide and public health experts have agreed upon a plan for further studies, which are expected to cost $100 million over three years, of which only $58 million has been committed.

4 Sep 2010

Fatty plaque in arteries increase risk for life-threatening cardiovascular events

An international study of clinical data led by a Department of Veterans Affairs-Harvard University cardiologist found that patients with deposits of fatty plaque in their arteries are at especially high risk for life-threatening cardiovascular events if they have diabetes, disease in multiple arteries or a history of heart attack or stroke.

4 Sep 2010

State News: Ohio, Florida take advantage of federal health funds; Mass. psychiatrists win court case

The Columbus Dispatch: "Gov. Ted Strickland's administration announced today that nearly $200 million in recently freed up state funds will go to Ohio hospitals, community mental health services, and a program which provides medication to low-income residents with HIV/AIDS. … The state money became available after Congress agreed to continue paying a higher share of the cost of state Medicaid programs that provide insurance coverage to the poor.

3 Sep 2010

Researchers complete INX-189 clinical trials for Hepatitis C virus

The first clinical trials on a new investigational drug being developed to treat infections caused by Hepatitis C virus have been successfully completed.

3 Sep 2010

TNS therapy improves depression: Study

Major depression is a common and disabling brain condition marked not only by the presence of depressed mood but also by its effects on sleep, energy, decision-making, memory and thoughts of death or of suicide.

3 Sep 2010

Study finds acupuncture can control side effects of cancer treatment

Recent studies have shown that acupuncture can help control a number of symptoms and side effects such as pain, fatigue, dry mouth, nausea, and vomiting associated with a variety of cancers and their treatments.

3 Sep 2010

More support needed for erectile dysfunction says sexologist

According to sexologist Bettina Arndt, there are thousands of Australian men with erectile dysfunction who are sexually impotent because of their condition and the lack of affordable treatments. Arndt said that funds distribution for breast prostheses for female cancer patients is one of the examples of mismatches in funding.

3 Sep 2010

UB symposium to discuss in silico molecular design, high-throughput screening to treat diseases

Twenty-first-century pharmaceutical breakthroughs require 21st-century drug discovery tools, such as computational or in silico molecular design and high-throughput screening of effective, new compounds. That's the theme of a University at Buffalo symposium to be held Sept. 11 on "Twenty-first Century Bioscience: In Silico Methods and High-Throughput Screening," which will feature a variety of cutting-edge advances in the field developed by researchers in Western New York and throughout the US.

3 Sep 2010

Research Roundup: Heart disease and disability; Medicaid and health reform, mental illness

Urban Institute/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: The Health Status Of New Medicaid Enrollees Under Health Reform - Using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, authors of this paper found "strong evidence that those who will enroll [in Medicaid after 2014] are likely to be healthier than nondisabled adults currently enrolled in Medicaid ... There is, however, a high likelihood of adverse selection - the least healthy and older among the new eligibles will be more likely to enroll.

3 Sep 2010

Report finds foreclosures harm people's health in California; Wash. small business health insurance program starts to sign up members

"A report released Wednesday found foreclosures have not only economic consequences, but create health problems for the people and families involved -- and those effects can ripple throughout a community. In a survey of nearly 400 residents in two Oakland neighborhoods particularly hard hit by the foreclosure crisis, the Alameda County Public Health Department and Causa Justa/Just Cause, a housing rights group, teamed up to look at how people undergoing foreclosure experience higher levels of stress and increased medical" (Colliver, 9/2).

3 Sep 2010

Forbion Capital Partners announces final closing of FCF I, FCF II fund

Forbion Capital Partners, a leading investment firm dedicated to the life science sector, today announces the final closings of both FCF I Co-Invest Fund and of FCF II, raising a total of more than €190m ($240m). Forbion's €54m Co-Invest Fund aims to invest alongside FCF I in a select number of late-stage FCF I portfolio companies.

3 Sep 2010

European Menopause and Andropause Society's position statements on post-reproductive health of women

Elsevier announced today the publication of four important position statements from the European Menopause and Andropause Society (EMAS) in the journal Maturitas on common management problems in the post-reproductive health of women. The statements cover the management of the menopause in the context of obesity, epilepsy, endometriosis and premature ovarian failure. Each statement has summary recommendations as a quick aid for the busy clinician.

3 Sep 2010

'Gateway effect' of marijuana overblown

New research from the University of New Hampshire shows that the "gateway effect" of marijuana - that teenagers who use marijuana are more likely to move on to harder illicit drugs as young adults - is overblown.

3 Sep 2010

Cetero Research launches series of scientific seminars to help researchers on clinical trial design

Cetero Research, the leading early-stage contract research organization (CRO), is launching a series of scientific seminars, "An Accelerated Path to Proof-of-Concept in Drug Development," designed to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology researchers learn the latest innovations in Phase I and IIa clinical trial designs.

3 Sep 2010

Scientists discover how omega-3 fatty acids shut down inflammation and reverse diabetes

Fish oil is touted for its anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic benefits, but scientist weren't sure how the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil work. Now, according to a report in the September 3rd issue of the journal Cell, scientists have nailed how omega-3 fatty acids both shut down inflammation and reverse diabetes in obese mice.

3 Sep 2010

First direct evidence that X-linked TLR7 gene promotes lupus in humans

Lupus Research Institute-funded researcher Betty Tsao, PhD, at the University of California Los Angeles has discovered that humans-males in particular-with a variant form of the immune receptor gene "Toll Like Receptor 7 (TLR7)" are at increased risk of developing the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus). This breakthrough finding offers renewed hope for developing more targeted treatments.

3 Sep 2010

Research finds immune system mechanism to minimize collateral damage

A study published today in the journal Science shows how our bodies try to minimise potential 'collateral damage' caused by our immune system when fighting infection. The research may also provide new clues to why cigarette smoke is a significant risk factor for developing diseases of the lung such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

3 Sep 2010

ASIPP announces educational campaign to improve chronic pain patients’ quality of life

In recognition of September's designation as National Pain Awareness Month, the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP) today announced that it is planning a month-long educational campaign to improve the quality of life for the approximately 75 million Americans suffering from acute and chronic pain.

3 Sep 2010

Drugs News and Research

CMS to withdraw provisions of Medicaid pharmacy reimbursement formula under AMP rule: NACDS, NCPA

VOA News examines U.S. Global Health Initiative

AVAC calls for economic and political support for CAPRISA 004 microbicide trial's critical follow-up studies

Fatty plaque in arteries increase risk for life-threatening cardiovascular events

State News: Ohio, Florida take advantage of federal health funds; Mass. psychiatrists win court case

Researchers complete INX-189 clinical trials for Hepatitis C virus

TNS therapy improves depression: Study

Study finds acupuncture can control side effects of cancer treatment

More support needed for erectile dysfunction says sexologist

UB symposium to discuss in silico molecular design, high-throughput screening to treat diseases

Research Roundup: Heart disease and disability; Medicaid and health reform, mental illness

Report finds foreclosures harm people's health in California; Wash. small business health insurance program starts to sign up members

Forbion Capital Partners announces final closing of FCF I, FCF II fund

European Menopause and Andropause Society's position statements on post-reproductive health of women

'Gateway effect' of marijuana overblown

Cetero Research launches series of scientific seminars to help researchers on clinical trial design

Scientists discover how omega-3 fatty acids shut down inflammation and reverse diabetes

First direct evidence that X-linked TLR7 gene promotes lupus in humans

Research finds immune system mechanism to minimize collateral damage

ASIPP announces educational campaign to improve chronic pain patients’ quality of life

Drug Discovery - Second Edition eBook

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

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