Narcolepsy News and Research

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Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder, or dyssomnia. The condition is characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in which a person experiences extreme fatigue and possibly falls asleep at inappropriate times, such as while at work or at school.

Severe sleep apnea increases risk of gestational diabetes and preterm birth in pregnant women

Sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, suggests a research abstract that will be presented Monday, June 13, in Minneapolis, Minn., at SLEEP 2011, the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC (APSS).

13 Jun 2011

Daytime sleepiness influences brain's response to food and affects eating behavior

Daytime sleepiness may affect inhibitory control in the brain when viewing tantalizing, high-calorie foods, suggests a research abstract that will be presented Monday, June 13, in Minneapolis, Minn., at SLEEP 2011, the 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC (APSS).

13 Jun 2011

Researchers to present latest findings about sleep disorders at Minneapolis Convention Center

Recent studies have linked sleep loss and sleep disorders to health problems such as depression, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke. The latest findings in sleep research will be presented and discussed by more than 5,000 scientists and sleep specialists when the SLEEP 2011 25th Anniversary Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC convenes at the Minneapolis Convention Center from June 13 to 15.

17 Mar 2011

Arena fourth quarter net loss decreases to $28.2 million

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2010, and reviewed recent developments.

11 Mar 2011

Amphetamine linked to development of Parkinson’s disease

New research suggests that taking prescription amphetamines may raise the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease later. But, the researchers noted that the study did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship and further investigation is warranted. The research was released Feb. 19, and is scheduled to be presented in April at the American Academy of Neurology’s annual meeting in Honolulu.

21 Feb 2011

Amphetamines appear to increase risk of developing Parkinson's disease: New research

New research shows people who have used amphetamines such as benzedrine and dexedrine appear to be at an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to a study released today that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 63rd Annual Meeting in Honolulu April 9 to April 16, 2011.

20 Feb 2011

Flu vaccine update

This new vaccine which could become available in the United States in the next few years, is made by growing the influenza virus in cultures of animal cells rather than in the chicken eggs that have been used for more than five decades. This shortens the process by six months. Using animal cells, which are grown in enclosed steel tanks, also reduces the risk of bacterial contamination, which has led to shortages of seasonal vaccines in some years. The study was reported in The Lancet this Tuesday.

16 Feb 2011

Rhabdomyolysis episode at University of Iowa signals a public health crisis

On January 26, 2011, it was reported that 13 University of Iowa football players were affected so severely by rhabdomyolysis that they were hospitalized. Occurrences of rhabdomyolysis—muscle breakdown—are so rare that it suggests an additional causal factor, such as a drug.

10 Feb 2011

Swine flu shots linked to narcolepsy: Investigation continues

The vaccine used against swine flu has been linked to a disorder called narcolepsy among those aged four to 19. Narcolepsy involves people falling asleep without warning or sleeping excessively in the daytime. A preliminary study also “observed [an] increase in incidence of narcolepsy” among those given the vaccine.

2 Feb 2011

Apple Valley Medical Clinic inaugurates new Sleep Center to provide quality care

The Apple Valley Medical Clinic has opened a new Sleep Center, located at 15100 Galaxie Avenue in Apple Valley. The center, under the medical direction of Scott Benson, M.D., a family medicine physician with the Apple Valley Medical Clinic, offers preventive care, diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders.

28 Jan 2011

Health, social and economical consequences of sleep disorders: A controlled national study

"Snoring, sleep apnoea, and obesity-related respiratory difficulties are fairly common disorders that affect a large proportion of the population," according to Poul Jennum, Professor of Clinical Neurophysiology at the Center for Healthy Ageing at the University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health Sciences. He is head of the Danish Centre for Sleep Medicine, Glostrup Hospital, which treats patients from all over the country.

13 Jan 2011

Cephalon receives second FDA Complete Response Letter for NUVIGIL sNDA

Cephalon, Inc. today announced that the company received a second Complete Response Letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for NUVIGIL(R) (armodafinil) Tablets [C-IV] for the treatment of patients with excessive sleepiness associated with jet lag disorder resulting from eastbound travel. In its letter to the company, the FDA reiterated its previously stated concerns regarding the NUVIGIL sNDA.

28 Dec 2010

Jazz Pharmaceutical receives USPTO patent for Xyrem oral solution

Jazz Pharmaceuticals, today announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent related to Xyrem oral solution titled "Microbiologically Sound and Stable Solutions of Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate Salt for the Treatment of Narcolepsy."

22 Dec 2010

Researchers examine socio-economic consequences of hypersomnia

Danish sleep researchers at the University of Copenhagen and the Danish Institute for Health Services Research have examined the socio-economic consequences of the sleep disorder hypersomnia in one of the largest studies of its kind.

20 Dec 2010

Arena third quarter net loss increases to $36.3 million

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010. Arena also reported earlier today top-line results from its lorcaserin Phase 3 BLOOM-DM (Behavioral modification and Lorcaserin for Overweight and Obesity Management in Diabetes Mellitus) trial.

9 Nov 2010

Collapsing with laughter: Literally

Dr. Claire Allen, 35, suffers from rare and severe form of sleeping sickness that makes her pass out 100 times in a day. She is a research scientist at the British Antarctic Survey and she said that she has suffered from cataplexy, a severe form of narcolepsy that sees her lose control of her body and collapse into a deep sleep – although she remains conscious throughout.

3 Nov 2010

People hospitalized after stroke on a weekend more likely to die: Study

People admitted to the hospital on a weekend after a stroke are more likely to die compared to people admitted on a weekday, regardless of the severity of the stroke they experience, according to new research published in the November 2, 2010, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

3 Nov 2010

Study on gene variant associated with narcolepsy

Ever wonder why some people breeze along on four hours of sleep when others can barely function? It may be in our genes, according to new research and an accompanying editorial published in the October 26, 2010, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

26 Oct 2010

FDA approves REMS for NUVIGIL and PROVIGIL tablets

Cephalon, Inc. today announced that Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) for its medications NUVIGIL (armodafinil) Tablets [C-IV] and PROVIGIL (modafinil) Tablets [C-IV] have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

25 Oct 2010

Arena reports results of APD916 Phase 1 clinical trial for narcolepsy with cataplexy

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today results from a Phase 1 clinical trial of APD916, a novel drug candidate discovered by Arena that targets the histamine H3 receptor for the treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy.

20 Oct 2010