Heart Failure News and Research

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Heart failure (HF) is a condition in which a problem with the structure or function of the heart impairs its ability to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the body's needs. It should not be confused with cardiac arrest or myocardial infarction.

Forest Laboratories' Bystolic tablets for treatment of stable CHF failed to receive FDA approval

Forest Laboratories, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration did not approve the additional indication for Bystolic® (nebivolol) tablets as a treatment for stable chronic heart failure (CHF) as requested in the company’s Supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA).

23 Feb 2010

Gross sales of Acorda Therapeutics' ZANAFLEX CAPSULES and tablets increase 9.1% to $58.3M in 2009

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2009.

23 Feb 2010

Genentech's Avastin combination Phase III study in advanced stomach cancer does not meet primary endpoint

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, today announced that a Phase III study (AVAGAST) did not meet its primary endpoint of showing Avastin® (bevacizumab) plus Xeloda® (capecitabine) or 5-FU and cisplatin chemotherapy extended the lives of people with inoperable or advanced stomach (gastric) cancer, compared to chemotherapy alone.

23 Feb 2010

Black women are more prone to peripartum cardiomyopathy around childbirth time

A study examining the incidence of peripartum cardiomyopathy in women who gave birth at a Medical College of Georgia's teaching hospital between July 2003 and July 2008, showed that while 55 percent of the women were white, 93 percent of those who developed cardiomyopathy were black, said Dr. Mindy B. Gentry, an MCG cardiologist.

23 Feb 2010

Heartware completes patient enrollment for ADVANCE clinical trial

HeartWare International, Inc., a leading innovator of less invasive, miniaturized circulatory support technologies revolutionizing the treatment of advanced heart failure, today announced the conclusion of patient enrollment under its "ADVANCE" clinical trial.

23 Feb 2010

Study shows hospitals costs vary widely and are not associated with quality of care

The costs that hospitals incur in treating patients vary widely and do not appear to be strongly associated either with the quality of care patients receive or their risk of dying within 30 days, according to a report in the February 22 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

23 Feb 2010

Senate, FDA reports increasing concerns about controversial diabetes drug

"Hundreds of people taking Avandia, a controversial diabetes medicine, needlessly suffer heart attacks and heart failure each month, according to confidential government reports that recommend the drug be removed from the market ... ," The New York Times reports. "The internal F.D.A. reports are part of a fierce debate within the agency over what to do about Avandia, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline."

23 Feb 2010

Researchers identify common gene variant associated with atrial fibrillation

An international research team has identified a common gene variant associated with a form of the irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. In their report in the journal Nature Genetics, being published online, the investigators describe finding that variations affecting a protein that may help control the heart's electrical activity appear to increase the risk of what is called lone atrial fibrillation (AF), a type seen in younger individuals with no other form of heart disease.

22 Feb 2010

Study reveals underrepresentation of women in cardiovascular clinical trials

Women are substantially underrepresented in clinical trials used to formulate women's guidelines and are affected more than men by low social support after a heart attack, according to two studies in the women-themed issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, a journal of the American Heart Association.

20 Feb 2010

El Tejano Magazine article: Medical innovation and research help many Americans live longer, healthier

An article that recently appeared in El Tejano Magazine highlighted the fact that many Americans are living longer, healthier and more productive lives because of medical innovation and research.

20 Feb 2010

Animal study shows calcineurin enzyme is critical for normal heart function

Scientists are reporting the first-ever data to show that the enzyme calcineurin is critical in controlling normal development and function of heart cells, and that loss of the protein leads to heart problems and death in genetically modified mice.

20 Feb 2010

New book explores economic, demographic and cultural aspects that threaten healthcare and AMCs

Arthur Feldman, M.D., Ph.D, Magee Professor and Chairman, Department of Medicine at Jefferson Medical College, has written a new book, Pursuing Excellence In Healthcare: Preserving America's Academic Medical Centers, one of the first textbooks since the works of Abraham Flexnor in 1910 to take a comprehensive look at the issues facing academic medicine.

19 Feb 2010

Novartis' Tasigna capsules granted priority review by FDA for treatment of adult patients with Ph+ CML

Novartis announced today that Tasigna® (nilotinib) 200 mg capsules has been granted priority review by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase.

19 Feb 2010

Blood transfusions based on single low hematocrit measurement questioned

A comparison study of nearly 1,900 patients published in Perfusion, a peer-reviewed academic journal, questions the long-standing practice of basing blood transfusion decisions on a single low hematocrit measurement result. In the study, titled Is it the Patient or the Physician who Cannot Tolerate Anemia?, researchers showed that a single measure of hematocrit is not a reliable indicator of transfusion need and that lower-than-normal hemoglobin levels have no adverse impact on patients.

19 Feb 2010

Lower dose of avosentan drug may provide more favorable results in diabetes patients

The drug avosentan substantially reduces urinary protein loss in people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, but the drug causes serious side effects, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN).

18 Feb 2010

Pediatric patients face number of cardiac conditions that can impact their health

While heart disease is traditionally associated with adults, pediatric patients face a number of cardiac conditions that can impact their health.

18 Feb 2010

Low RVEF increases risk of death in patients with systolic heart failure

New research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) suggests that the ability of right side of the heart to pump blood may be an indication of the risk of death to heart-failure patients whose condition is caused by low function by the left side of their heart.

17 Feb 2010

Picis launches LYNX CareBridge software to help hospitals address medical necessity challenges

To admit or not to admit? That’s the question being asked by many emergency department (ED) physicians and hospital administrators hundreds of times a day. Hospitals often place patients into observation who might otherwise be admitted, because intensity of service and medical necessity for these patients are not clearly defined or documented.

17 Feb 2010

USPTO issues two new patents for EKR Therapeutics' RTU Cardene I.V. Premixed Injection

EKR Therapeutics, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on commercializing acute-care hospital products, today announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office has issued two new patents covering methods of treatment and methods of preparation for the Company’s Ready-to-Use (RTU) Cardene® I.V. (nicardipine hydrochloride) Premixed Injection.

17 Feb 2010

Right-ventricular impairment increases risk of death in heart-failure patients

17 Feb 2010

Heart Failure News and Research

Further Reading

Forest Laboratories' Bystolic tablets for treatment of stable CHF failed to receive FDA approval

Gross sales of Acorda Therapeutics' ZANAFLEX CAPSULES and tablets increase 9.1% to $58.3M in 2009

Genentech's Avastin combination Phase III study in advanced stomach cancer does not meet primary endpoint

Black women are more prone to peripartum cardiomyopathy around childbirth time

Heartware completes patient enrollment for ADVANCE clinical trial

Study shows hospitals costs vary widely and are not associated with quality of care

Senate, FDA reports increasing concerns about controversial diabetes drug

Researchers identify common gene variant associated with atrial fibrillation

Study reveals underrepresentation of women in cardiovascular clinical trials

El Tejano Magazine article: Medical innovation and research help many Americans live longer, healthier

Animal study shows calcineurin enzyme is critical for normal heart function

New book explores economic, demographic and cultural aspects that threaten healthcare and AMCs

Novartis' Tasigna capsules granted priority review by FDA for treatment of adult patients with Ph+ CML

Blood transfusions based on single low hematocrit measurement questioned

Lower dose of avosentan drug may provide more favorable results in diabetes patients

Pediatric patients face number of cardiac conditions that can impact their health

Low RVEF increases risk of death in patients with systolic heart failure

Picis launches LYNX CareBridge software to help hospitals address medical necessity challenges

USPTO issues two new patents for EKR Therapeutics' RTU Cardene I.V. Premixed Injection

Right-ventricular impairment increases risk of death in heart-failure patients

Achieving and maintaining ISO 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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