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WHO says Asian states too slow in reporting bird flu

The regional director for the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the Western Pacific has complained that Asian countries take too long to report some human cases of bird flu and this could hamper any efforts to contain a possible pandemic.

24 Jan 2006

New research helps in war against international drugs trade

An increased demand for meat in Afghanistan could play an important role in stemming the international flow of heroin, according to a new study led by the Macaulay Institute, Aberdeen.

24 Jan 2006

Breakthrough in brain injury study at University of Leicester

A breakthrough by scientists at the University of Leicester in understanding mechanisms within the brain which cause injury could lead to better treatments in the future for conditions such as as cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.

24 Jan 2006

FDA panel gives weight-loss drug the thumbs up

An FDA advisory panel has declared that an over-the-counter weight-loss drug appears to be safe and effective for a six month period of use.

24 Jan 2006

Concern over decision that new Alzheimer drugs only available for advanced disease

The recommendation by the National Institute of Clinical Evidence (NICE), that Alzheimer's drugs should be used in a minority of people with the degenerative brain disease, has created both rage and disbelief from charities and drug companies alike.

24 Jan 2006

French defend drug after patients develop liver problems

Health authorities in the U.S. are recommending that doctors keep a close eye on patients taking Ketek for signs of liver problems and to stop treatment if symptoms develop.

24 Jan 2006

Cannabis use does not cause schizophrenia

According to a new report by a British government advisory body, the regular use of cannabis though it can have real and significant mental health effects it is unlikely to cause schizophrenia.

24 Jan 2006

WHO accused of exaggerating bird flu pandemic threat

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has disputed claims that it has exaggerated the risk of a human influenza pandemic.

23 Jan 2006

Injection of EU funds for a microdose project

A new EU-funded project kicked off this month which aims to bridge the gap between the laboratory and the clinic. The EU Microdose AMS Partnership Programme (EUMAPP) aims to boost Europe’s expertise in micodosing and its application of AMS, or accelerator mass spectrometry, to developing new candidate drugs for treating diseases the world over.

23 Jan 2006

Statins account for 81% of first-line therapies for dyslipidemia treatment

Decision Resources, Inc., finds that despite the dominant market position of statins in the treatment of dyslipidemia, only 81% of patients receive a statin as a first-line therapy for the disease.

23 Jan 2006

Bristol-Myers Squibb agrees to record securities litigation settlement with sweeping drug disclosure requirements announces Labaton Sucharow

After prosecuting the securities litigation claims against Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMS) for over five years, Labaton Sucharow, Lead Counsel representing the class and Lead Plaintiff, the LongView Collective Investment Fund of the Amalgamated Bank, reached an agreement in principle to settle the claims for $185 million in addition to meaningful corporate governance reforms that will affect future consumers and investors alike.

23 Jan 2006

New insights into tube size morphogenesis

The function of tubular organs like the kidneys, lungs, and vessels of the vascular system is critically dependent on the length and diameter of the tubular branches of which they are composed.

23 Jan 2006

New method to find new metabolites

Ever since penicillin, a byproduct of a fungal mold, was discovered in 1929, scientists have scrutinized fungi for other breakthrough drugs. As reported Jan. 20 in the Journal of Chemistry and Biology, a team led by a University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher has developed a new method that may speed the ongoing quest for medically useful compounds in fungi.

23 Jan 2006

Chemical warfare agent detection technology used to treat lung disease

A new technique based on the same technology used to detect chemical warfare agents and explosives is being employed by scientists at The University of Manchester to treat hospital patients with lung disease.

From The University of Manchester 23 Jan 2006

FDA fast track status for Alfimeprase

Nuvelo Inc. today announced that it has been granted fast track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its lead product candidate, alfimeprase, for the treatment of acute peripheral arterial occlusion (PAO), or "leg attack."

23 Jan 2006

New version of diet drug not suitable for some

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration a version of the diet drug Xenical, which will be available without a prescription, may be not be suitable for some people.

23 Jan 2006

SSRI antidepressants may also affect human immune system

Drugs that treat depression by manipulating the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain may also affect the user's immune system in ways that are not yet understood, say scientists from Georgetown University Medical Center and a Canadian research institute.

23 Jan 2006

Vitamin D helps prevent bone loss during osteoporosis

The risk of bone fracture resulting from falls increases as we age due to bone loss and osteoporosis. Physicians have routinely prescribed vitamin D and vitamin D- related drugs to retard bone loss, but until now, little was known about the specific targets of vitamin D in bone.

22 Jan 2006

Black box warnings for two eczema creams

Food and Drug Administration officials in the U.S. have announced that two prescription creams to treat eczema will now carry strong warnings about the possible risk of skin cancer, lymphoma and other cancers.

22 Jan 2006

Bacteria in soil may show how superbugs develop resistance

According to Canadian researchers bacteria in dirt may be "born" with a resistance to antibiotics, and studying bacteria in the soil may provide key clues to understanding how the superbugs develop resistance to antibiotics.

22 Jan 2006