Liver News and Research

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Long-term, regular acetaminophen use may be associated with lower prostate cancer risk

A new study from American Cancer Society researchers finds use of 30 tablets a month or more of acetaminophen for five or more years was associated with an estimated 38% lower risk of prostate cancer. The study appears in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention and is one of only two studies of prostate cancer to date that have examined the association with acetaminophen use that was both long-term and regular.

24 May 2011

Vertex Incivek receives FDA approval for treatment of chronic hepatitis C

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Incivek treat certain adults with chronic hepatitis C infection. Incivek is used for patients who have either not received interferon-based drug therapy for their infection or who have not responded adequately to prior therapies. Incivek is approved for use with interferon therapy made up of peginterferon alfa and ribavirin.

24 May 2011

Terminally ill missing out on palliative care: Survey reports

According to two new surveys, increased hospital admissions in the last three months of life could be of little benefit to dying people and are in contrast to the wishes of many.

23 May 2011

HIV-infected donors present novel source of organs for HIV-infected transplant candidates

A new study published in the American Journal of Transplantation reveals that HIV-infected deceased donors represent a potentially novel source of organs for HIV-infected transplant candidates that could decrease waitlist deaths and even shorten the national waitlist.

23 May 2011

Vertex receives FDA approval for INCIVEK to treat hepatitis C

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved INCIVEK™ (telaprevir) tablets for a broad group of people with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C with compensated liver disease (some level of damage to the liver but the liver still functions), including cirrhosis (scarring of the liver).

23 May 2011

New study raises doubts about benefits of ezetimibe in patients suffering from high LDL cholesterol

More than 42 million Americans suffer from high cholesterol, and 63 million more have borderline high cholesterol. Over time, high levels of LDL cholesterol, often called "bad cholesterol," build up along the walls of arteries and blood vessels, a process called atherosclerosis, which can lead to a high risk of heart disease, stroke and heart attack.

21 May 2011

Pediatric pain experts discuss safety, efficacy of pain medications in children

Can we be certain that pain medications considered safe for adults, based on extensive clinical data and experience, are equally safe for use in young children? Pediatric pain experts discussed this question today in a panel session at the American Pain Society, www.ampainsoc.org, annual scientific meeting and agreed more short term and long-term clinical data are needed to provide assurances about the safety and efficacy of several pain medications in children.

21 May 2011

Study examines long-term GI complications in childhood cancer survivors

Individuals who are treated for cancer during childhood have a significantly higher risk of developing gastrointestinal complications - from mild to severe - later in life, according to a study led by the University of California, San Francisco. The findings underscore the need for childhood cancer survivors and their physicians to be aware of these risk factors to ensure patients' ongoing health care needs are met.

21 May 2011

Most paediatric paracetamol prescriptions fails to comply with BNFc recommendations

Many of the prescriptions issued by GPs for paracetamol either give less than recommended doses to older children or exceed recommended doses in young children.

20 May 2011

Merck's VICTRELIS receives European CHMP positive opinion for treatment of chronic HCV genotype 1 infection

Merck, today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use of the European Medicines Agency has adopted a positive opinion under accelerated assessment recommending approval of the investigational medicine VICTRELIS (boceprevir) for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection, in combination with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, in adult patients with compensated liver disease who are previously untreated or who have failed previous therapy.

20 May 2011

Jennerex presents positive preliminary data from JX-594 Phase 2 trial for advanced liver cancer

Jennerex, Inc., a private clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on the design, development and commercialization of first-in-class targeted oncolytic products for cancer, today presented preliminary data from a randomized dose-ranging Phase 2 trial of JX-594 in patients with advanced liver cancer showing a benefit in overall survival for the high dose group.

20 May 2011

Medical food resolves metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors

Researchers at the University of Florida and Metagenics Inc. today announced that a program consisting of a breakthrough medical food combined with a low-glycemic, Mediterranean-style diet is almost twice as effective as one of the best diets alone for lowering risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the U.S.

19 May 2011

Isis receives $5M milestone payment from GSK for initiating ISIS-TTRRx Phase 1 study

Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has earned a $5 million milestone payment from GlaxoSmithKline related to the initiation of a Phase 1 clinical study for ISIS-TTRRx.

19 May 2011

Simple home-based colon cancer screening test can prevent many unnecessary deaths in Canada

Use of a simple, at-home screening test by Canadians can prevent many unnecessary colorectal cancer deaths, according to a special report about colorectal cancer in Canadian Cancer Statistics 2011 released today by the Canadian Cancer Society, in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada and Statistics Canada.

19 May 2011

New technique offers successful bone marrow, organ transplant for patients with autoimmune diseases

University of Minnesota Medical School researchers have discovered a method to quickly and exponentially grow regulatory T-cells - also known as "suppressor cells." The new process enables replication of the cells by tens of millions in several weeks, a dramatic increase over previous duplication methods. Historically, regulatory T-cells have been difficult to replicate.

19 May 2011

Humanized BLT mice help prevent HIV/AIDS transmission

The more than 2.7 million new HIV infections recorded per year leave little doubt that the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to spread globally. That's why there's the need for safe, inexpensive and effective drugs to successfully block HIV transmission.

19 May 2011

Silence to present new Atu027 Phase I study data in advanced solid tumors at ASCO annual meeting

Silence Therapeutics plc, a leading global RNA interference therapeutics company, announces that it will present new data from its ongoing Phase I study of Atu027, its lead internal therapeutic candidate, at the 2011 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting on 06 June 2011.

19 May 2011

Panel votes 20-0 for reformed labeling of kids’ pain & fever relieving medication

A federal advisory panel unanimously recommended that dosing for children's acetaminophen be based primarily on the child's weight rather than age. At present the dosing for children's products including acetaminophen- best known by the brand name Tylenol- is based on age, although many labels also contain information on dosing by weight as well. Acetaminophen is the most commonly used medicine meant to lower fever and relieve pain in children.

19 May 2011

Study suggests link between obesity, psoriasis and heart disease risk in children

Children who are overweight or obese have a significantly higher prevalence of psoriasis, and teens with psoriasis, regardless of their body weight, have higher cholesterol levels, according to a Kaiser Permanente study published online in the Journal of Pediatrics.

19 May 2011

Abbott RealTime PCR assay for measuring HCV viral load receives FDA marketing approval

Abbott announced today that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market its RealTime PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test for measuring the viral load of hepatitis C (HCV), the leading cause of liver cancer in the United States.

19 May 2011

Liver News and Research

Long-term, regular acetaminophen use may be associated with lower prostate cancer risk

Vertex Incivek receives FDA approval for treatment of chronic hepatitis C

Terminally ill missing out on palliative care: Survey reports

HIV-infected donors present novel source of organs for HIV-infected transplant candidates

Vertex receives FDA approval for INCIVEK to treat hepatitis C

New study raises doubts about benefits of ezetimibe in patients suffering from high LDL cholesterol

Pediatric pain experts discuss safety, efficacy of pain medications in children

Study examines long-term GI complications in childhood cancer survivors

Most paediatric paracetamol prescriptions fails to comply with BNFc recommendations

Merck's VICTRELIS receives European CHMP positive opinion for treatment of chronic HCV genotype 1 infection

Jennerex presents positive preliminary data from JX-594 Phase 2 trial for advanced liver cancer

Medical food resolves metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors

Isis receives $5M milestone payment from GSK for initiating ISIS-TTRRx Phase 1 study

Simple home-based colon cancer screening test can prevent many unnecessary deaths in Canada

New technique offers successful bone marrow, organ transplant for patients with autoimmune diseases

Humanized BLT mice help prevent HIV/AIDS transmission

Silence to present new Atu027 Phase I study data in advanced solid tumors at ASCO annual meeting

Panel votes 20-0 for reformed labeling of kids’ pain & fever relieving medication

Study suggests link between obesity, psoriasis and heart disease risk in children

Abbott RealTime PCR assay for measuring HCV viral load receives FDA marketing approval

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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