Folic Acid News and Research

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Folic acid is a B vitamin. It helps the body make healthy new cells. Everyone needs folic acid. For women who may get pregnant, it is really important. When a woman has enough folic acid in her body before and during pregnancy, it can prevent major birth defects of her baby's brain or spine.

Foods with folic acid in them include leafy green vegetables, fruits, dried beans, peas and nuts. Enriched breads, cereals and other grain products also contain folic acid. If you don't get enough folic acid from the foods you eat, you can also take it as a dietary supplement.

New data from Allos Therapeutics' FOLOTYN trial for PTCL

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. today reported a new analysis of data from the Company’s pivotal PROPEL trial of FOLOTYN™ (pralatrexate injection) in patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). This indication is based on overall response rate. Clinical benefit such as improvement in progression free survival or overall survival has not been demonstrated.

7 Dec 2009

New analyses of data from Allos Therapeutics’ pivotal PROPEL trial of FOLOTYN reported

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. today reported new analyses of data from the Company’s pivotal PROPEL trial of FOLOTYN™ (pralatrexate injection) in patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).

7 Dec 2009

Allos Therapeutics, Idis collaborate in named patient program for FOLOTYN

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the execution of a collaborative agreement with Idis, a UK-based global company, to manage the named patient program for FOLOTYN™ (pralatrexate injection) outside of the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval for FOLOTYN for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).

4 Dec 2009

Home visits to educate children with asthma can lead to fewer flare-ups and less frequent trips to ER

A few home visits by a health care specialist to educate children with asthma about basic strategies for earlier symptom recognition and improving medication use can lead to fewer flare-ups and less frequent trips to the ER, according to research from Johns Hopkins Children's Center published in the December issue of Pediatrics.

1 Dec 2009

Allos Therapeutics granted U.S. patent for FOLOTYN

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent for the use of FOLOTYN™ (pralatrexate injection) for the treatment of T-cell lymphoma. U.S. Patent No. 7,622,470 was issued to Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, SRI International and Southern Research Institute, and expires on November 24, 2025.

30 Nov 2009

Study examines link between folic acid and cancer incidence

Patients with heart disease in Norway, a country with no fortification of foods with folic acid, had an associated increased risk of cancer and death from any cause if they had received treatment with folic acid and vitamin B12, according to a study in the November 18 issue of JAMA.

18 Nov 2009

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals reports consolidated revenues of $7.1M for the third quarter of 2009

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a commercial-stage biotechnology company with a primary focus in oncology, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009.

12 Nov 2009

Updated efficacy results from Allos Therapeutics' FOLOTYN study to be presented at the ASH meeting

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that abstracts from studies of FOLOTYN™ (pralatrexate injection) were accepted for presentation at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) to be held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, La., from December 5-8, 2009.

12 Nov 2009

Study sheds light on the rise in childhood asthma in developed countries

A University of Adelaide study may have shed light on the rise in childhood asthma in developed countries like Australia in recent decades.

4 Nov 2009

Iron-folic acid supplements during pregnancy can reduce offspring’s mortality rate

Offspring whose mothers had been supplemented with iron-folic acid during pregnancy had dramatically reduced mortality through age 7, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

29 Oct 2009

Study links low maternal folate levels with attention-deficit/hyperactivity problems in children

It has long been suggested that healthy folate (the natural form of folic acid) levels in expectant mothers goes hand in hand with healthy nervous system development in their children. A study published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry finds that low maternal folate levels is linked to the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity problems in children at age seven to nine years.

29 Oct 2009

Blocking folic acid action during early pregnancy leads to increased risk of abnormalities in growing baby

Using medication that reduces or blocks the actions of folic acid during the first trimester of pregnancy (weeks 1-12), increases the risk that the growing baby will develop abnormalities. This conclusion was reached by a team of Epidemiologists, Paediatricians, Clinical Pharmacologists, Obstetricians and Gynaecologists who examined birth and abortion data collected in Israel between 1998 and 2007.

15 Oct 2009

Medications to reduce folic acid during pregnancy increase the risk of abnormalities in fetus

Pregnant women are advised to take vitamin supplements containing folic acid as part of their routine pre-natal care. Now, a new study warns that taking medications that reduce or block the actions of folic acid during the first trimester of pregnancy increase the risk that the growing baby will develop abnormalities.

14 Oct 2009

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals receives Complete Response letter from the FDA for FUSILEV

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, a commercial-stage biotechnology company with a primary focus in oncology, today announced that it received a Complete Response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for FUSILEV (levoleucovorin) for injection for treatment of patients with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer.

13 Oct 2009

Inflammation markers not involved with the chemopreventative effect of aspirin on colorectal adenomas

Unexpectedly, inflammation markers do not appear to be involved with the chemopreventative effect of aspirin on colorectal adenomas, according to a brief communication published online October 12 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

13 Oct 2009

Rice consumption improves overall diet and reduces obesity and Type II diabetes

According to recent research published in the October issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (JADA), eating rice helps improve overall diet and potentially reduces the risk for many chronic diseases, including obesity, cardiovascular disease and Type II diabetes.

12 Oct 2009

B-vitamin supplements do not prevent heart attack

B-vitamin supplements should not be recommended for prevention of heart disease, say scientists. A Cochrane Systematic Review has shown these supplements do not reduce the risk of developing or dying from the disease.

7 Oct 2009

FOLOTYN available for commercial sale in the United States

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that FOLOTYN (pralatrexate injection) is now available for commercial sale in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for FOLOTYN for use as a single agent for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) on September 24, 2009. This indication is based on overall response rate.

6 Oct 2009

FDA grants accelerated approval for Allos Therapeutics’ FOLOTYN

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:ALTH) today announced that last night the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval for FOLOTYNTM (pralatrexate injection) for use as a single agent for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).

28 Sep 2009

Study reveals that patients with NSCLC who received maintenance therapy with ALIMTA showed survival benefit

Data published today in The Lancet showed a survival benefit in nonsquamous patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received maintenance therapy with ALIMTA(R) (pemetrexed for injection) plus best supportive care as compared to placebo plus best supportive care.

21 Sep 2009