Transplant News and Research

RSS

Double-lung transplant donation saves life

Kurt Penner, who in 2002, was days away from dying of emphysema received a life-saving double-lung transplant through the Trillium Gift of Life Network (TGLN). On December 27, he'll be carrying the 2010 Olympic torch for 300 metres through the streets of Woodstock, Ontario, thanks to that donation.

24 Dec 2009

TGLN responds to CIHI report on organ donation

The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) report that was issued this afternoon, understandably, takes a national perspective, and uses a conventional 10 year time frame.

23 Dec 2009

New CIHI study highlights that Canada needs to retrieve more organs for transplants

The availability of donated organs in Canada rose by more than one-quarter (28%) over the past decade, but this increase is not keeping pace with demand. More than 1,000 Canadians donated organs in 2008, up from 812 in 1999, according to a new study released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).

23 Dec 2009

Enzyme dCK plays a profound role in normal lymphocyte development

Mice without the deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) enzyme have defects in their adaptive immune system, producing very low levels of both T and B lymphocytes, the major players involved in immune response, according to a study by researchers with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

23 Dec 2009

UMHC activates Philips VISICU eICU Program to care for critically ill patients

University of Mississippi Health Care (UMHC) announced today its activation of the Philips VISICU eICU® Program to enhance care of the critically ill in rural communities of Mississippi. As the first health system in the region to implement the eICU Program, UMHC will serve as the lead resource for critical care across Mississippi.

23 Dec 2009

Viron Therapeutics' three drug candidates granted U.S. patents

Viron Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering the development of virally-derived protein therapeutics, today announced that it has been granted U.S. patents related to three of its drug candidates, VT-111, VT-346 and VT-384.

23 Dec 2009

Cardiac rehabilitation improves survival rate in heart attack patients

Medicare beneficiaries with heart disease who attended more cardiac rehabilitation sessions had fewer heart attacks and were less likely to die within four years than those who went to rehab less, researchers report in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

23 Dec 2009

QLT Ophthalmics to distribute Visudyne in the U.S. market

QLT Inc. ("QLT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the establishment of its commercial presence in the United States through a newly formed U.S. subsidiary, QLT Ophthalmics, Inc. ("QOI"). QOI will take on the sales and marketing of Visudyne(R) in the U.S.

22 Dec 2009

Cell Medica receives second grant for development of adenovirus infection therapy

Cell Medica, a clinical stage cellular therapeutics company engaged in the development and delivery of cellular immunotherapy treatment strategies for infectious disease and cancer, has announced that is has appointed four key staff to drive forwards the Company’s activities in the commercialisation of cell therapy treatments.

22 Dec 2009

Discovery suggests how toxin-filtering cells go awry

Researchers from Children's Hospital Boston and Brigham and Women's Hospital have identified an important genetic cause of a devastating kidney disease that is the second leading cause of kidney failure in children, according to The NephCure Foundation.

22 Dec 2009

SynergEyes wins the 22nd annual Most Innovative New Product Award for 2009

CONNECT(R), one of the nation's most successful organizations dedicated to creating and sustaining the growth of innovative technology and life science businesses, announced SynergEyes, Inc., the high Dk hybrid contact lens manufacturer, as the winner of its 22nd annual Most Innovative New Product (MIP) Award for 2009.

22 Dec 2009

Heart transplant patients face increased risk for skin cancers

Many heart transplant patients develop multiple skin cancers, with increased risk for some skin cancers among patients with other cancers and with increasing age, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

22 Dec 2009

U.S. Census Bureau highlights pioneering transplant procedures

The first successful organ transplant in the U.S. was performed this week in 1954 in Boston by Harvard Dr. Joseph Murray. He transplanted a kidney from one identical twin to another, who lived just over eight years. For his pioneering work on organ transplants, Dr. Murray received the Nobel Prize in medicine in 1990.

21 Dec 2009

Tackle Cancer Foundation calls attention to REVLIMID for myeloma patients

The TACKLE CANCER FOUNDATION wants to call attention to important news for patients with the blood cancer multiple myeloma. A new study shows patients benefit from daily medical treatments to keep their cancer in check after they have had a stem cell (bone marrow) transplant. The current standard of care is to give patients the transplant and then hold off on additional treatment until they relapse. The new study shows continuous treatment with the oral drug REVLIMID following the transplant significantly prolongs remission, increasing time to disease progression.

18 Dec 2009

Initial data from REVLIMID Phase III trial in multiple myeloma patients announced

Celgene Corporation today announced the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a part of the National Institutes of Health, reported initial data from a Phase III, randomized, double-blind, multi-center clinical study led by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB).

18 Dec 2009

Safe living guidelines for transplant recipients

Keeping pets healthy can reduce infection risks for people who have received solid organ transplants and veterinarians should be seen as an integral part of the healthcare team. That's just one of the key pieces of advice from a safe living article published in an infectious diseases supplement in the American Journal of Transplantation.

18 Dec 2009

Ambit Biosciences and Astellas Pharma to jointly develop and commercialize FLT3 kinase inhibitors

Ambit Biosciences Corporation and Astellas Pharma Inc. today announced that they have entered into a worldwide agreement to jointly develop and commercialize FLT3 kinase inhibitors in oncology and non-oncology indications.

18 Dec 2009

Cubist Pharmaceuticals acquires Calixa Therapeutics

Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading acute care therapeutics company has completed its previously announced acquisition of Calixa Therapeutics Inc.,

17 Dec 2009

Walgreens offers H1N1 vaccine in 27 states

Walgreens, the nation’s largest drugstore chain and an industry leader with more than 17,000 certified or licensed immunizers, today announced it is offering H1N1 vaccine at more than 1,500 Walgreens pharmacies and select Take Care Clinics in 27 states, as well as the District of Columbia.

16 Dec 2009

Patient who received Total Artificial Heart and dual transplant celebrates Christmas

Last December, there were only two things 46-year-old Chuck Besen wanted for Christmas… a matching donor heart and kidney. This year, thanks to the SynCardia temporary CardioWest™ Total Artificial Heart and the dual transplant he received at University Medical Center (UMC) in March, Besen will celebrate his first Christmas at home with his 2-year-old son Dylan and his fiancée Jennifer Hokanson.

16 Dec 2009