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MeCP2 protein regulates properties of psychostimulant drugs: Research

When a certain protein is mutated or missing, symptoms of the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome arise, causing a gradual loss of brain function during early development.This fact led Duke University Medical Center researchers to test a theory that the protein might also contribute to nerve-cell connection (synapse) changes in a fully formed adult mouse brain when exposed to psychostimulant use.

16 Aug 2010

Insurers defend limited-benefit health policies in fight over proposed restrictions

Kaiser Health News staff writer Julie Appleby, in collaboration with USA Today, writes: "A few months into a new job as a contract engineer, Jim Arey was stunned by an $8,000 bill he received for two doctor-administered infusions of an expensive drug he needs regularly. That's when the Columbia, Md., man learned that the insurance provided through his placement firm capped doctor office care at $2,000 a year.

16 Aug 2010

Avenue to Access provides free prescription-size tube of ZITHRANOL-RR to stable plaque psoriasis patients

During the month of August, people with a certain type of psoriasis have the chance to access free medicine through Avenue to Access. The program is designed to help individuals with mild-to-moderate stable plaque psoriasis access to a free prescription-size tube of ZITHRANOL-RR (anthralin, 1.2%) rapid release microcrystalline encapsulated cream.

16 Aug 2010

FDA approves ellaOne for emergency contraception

HRA Pharma announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for ella(R) (ulipristal acetate) as a prescription-only emergency contraceptive indicated for use within 120 hours (five days) of unprotected intercourse or a known or suspected contraceptive failure. ella is not intended for routine use as a contraceptive.

16 Aug 2010

Daily dose of aspirin may reduce prostate cancer risk: US Study

A US study has found that a daily dose of aspirin may reduce the risk of prostate cancer, but Cancer Research UK has noted that regular use of aspirin can cause serious side-effects and should not be undertaken unless recommended by a doctor.Several previous studies have looked at the possibility of an association between aspirin use and a reduced risk of prostate cancer.In the latest study, scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, led by Dr Janet Stanford, looked at data on 1,001 prostate cancer patients and a similar number of cancer-free volunteers.

16 Aug 2010

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, OCNA urge FDA to allow use of Avastin

Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance today urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to continue to allow the use of the drug bevacizumab, commonly known as Avastin, for metastatic breast cancer patients, noting that it is effective for some patients and warning of a chilling effect on new drug development if approval is withdrawn.

13 Aug 2010

Pro-Pharmaceuticals second-quarter net loss applicable to common stock decreases to $2.5 million

Pro-Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a developer of therapeutics that target Galectin receptors to treat cancer and fibrosis, today reported its financial results for the second quarter and the first six months ended June 30, 2010. These results are included in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which has been filed with the SEC.

13 Aug 2010

Lamictal can cause aseptic meningitis: FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned that the drug Lamictal (lamotrigine), approved to treat seizures and bipolar disorder, can cause aseptic meningitis, an inflammation of the protective membranes (meninges) that cover the brain and spinal cord not caused by bacterial infection.The agency is working with the drug's manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, to update the prescribing information and patient medication guide to include this risk.

13 Aug 2010

Eli Lilly to appeal against U.S. District Court ruling in Strattera patent litigation

Eli Lilly and Company today announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey has ruled against the company in its patent litigation for Strattera. In the case of Eli Lilly and Company v. Actavis Elizabeth LLC, et al, the court ruled that Lilly's '590 patent, or method-of-use patent, for Strattera is invalid. The patent had been set to expire in May of 2017.

13 Aug 2010

UMass Memorial selects McKesson's CytoCare robot to automate compounding of hazardous IV drugs

UMass Memorial Medical Center in Massachusetts has selected the CytoCare™ robot from McKesson to automate the compounding of intravenous (IV) drugs. The robotic technology will enable the 830-bed facility to more safely prepare hazardous IVs, protecting both their patients and their staff from exposure risks.

13 Aug 2010

Study identifies use of acetaminophen may increase asthma symptoms in adults

New evidence linking the use of acetaminophen to development of asthma and eczema suggests that even monthly use of the drug in adolescents may more than double risk of asthma in adolescents compared to those who used none at all; yearly use was associated with a 50 percent increase in the risk of asthma.

13 Aug 2010

Mass. docs will soon track patients who abuse prescription drugs; Wis. Catholic Church employees now eligible for birth control

The Boston Globe: "With a few computer keystrokes, Massachusetts physicians will soon be able to identify patients who travel from clinic to clinic in pursuit of potent prescription drugs that feed lethal addictions. State health regulators yesterday unanimously approved the new detection system designed to stop 'doctor shopping' by addicted patients who try to dupe doctors into prescribing narcotics. The practice, specialists said, has fueled a surge in drug-related deaths in Massachusetts" (Smith, 8/12).

13 Aug 2010

Prices drop for PBMs; Pharmacy lobby opposes survey regarding Medicaid prices

Prices are falling for major pharmacy benefit managers, such as Medco and CVS Caremark, as the firms compete for clients, but the falling rates "don't appear to be sliding into a frenzy of unreasonable pricing," The Wall Street Journal reports. "In the current 'selling season,' when PBMs look to sign customers for the following year, discounts on new contracts have deepened by one or two percentage points, on average, from a year ago.

13 Aug 2010

Cancer Research Technology grants Valirx global rights to develop VAL 201 for cancer treatment

Cancer Research Technology has signed a deal to provide biotech company ValiRx plc with the global rights to develop a promising compound to treat hormone-resistant prostate cancer.The compound, now called VAL 201, has been shown in pre-clinical tests in mice to stop growth of tumours which have been unresponsive to hormone treatments. VAL 201 blocks genes which can cause prostate cancer to develop. The compound has been shown to be effective in treating mice with breast and prostate cancer and is now rapidly progressing towards the first clinical trials in patients.

13 Aug 2010

Tracking heart rate can provide important marker of health issues: Research

An elevated resting heart rate that develops or persists during follow-up is associated with a significantly increased risk of death, whether from heart disease or other causes, researchers from the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center found studying outcomes in more than 9,000 patients.

13 Aug 2010

Study examines comparative value of different blood pressure lowering medications

Expensive brand-name medications to lower blood pressure are no better at preventing cardiovascular disease than older, generic diuretics, according to new long-term data from a landmark study.Paul Whelton, MB, MD, MSc, reported the results on Aug. 13 at the plenary session of the China Heart Congress and International Heart Forum in Beijing. Whelton is president and CEO of Loyola University Health System and chairman of the Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heat Attack Trial (ALLHAT), which has examined the comparative value of different blood pressure-lowering medications.

13 Aug 2010

Pharmaceutical News

MeCP2 protein regulates properties of psychostimulant drugs: Research

Insurers defend limited-benefit health policies in fight over proposed restrictions

Avenue to Access provides free prescription-size tube of ZITHRANOL-RR to stable plaque psoriasis patients

FDA approves ellaOne for emergency contraception

Daily dose of aspirin may reduce prostate cancer risk: US Study

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, OCNA urge FDA to allow use of Avastin

Pro-Pharmaceuticals second-quarter net loss applicable to common stock decreases to $2.5 million

Lamictal can cause aseptic meningitis: FDA

Eli Lilly to appeal against U.S. District Court ruling in Strattera patent litigation

UMass Memorial selects McKesson's CytoCare robot to automate compounding of hazardous IV drugs

Study identifies use of acetaminophen may increase asthma symptoms in adults

Mass. docs will soon track patients who abuse prescription drugs; Wis. Catholic Church employees now eligible for birth control

Prices drop for PBMs; Pharmacy lobby opposes survey regarding Medicaid prices

Cancer Research Technology grants Valirx global rights to develop VAL 201 for cancer treatment

Tracking heart rate can provide important marker of health issues: Research

Study examines comparative value of different blood pressure lowering medications

Antares Pharma second-quarter total revenue increases 78% to $3.1 million

Fast food outlets can provide statin drugs to help customers neutralise heart disease: Researchers

Aeterna Zentaris second-quarter revenues decrease to $5.6 million

Amorfix first-quarter fiscal 2011 net loss from operations increases to $1,724,745

Real-time Raman monitoring for pharmaceutical hot melt extrusion

Synthetic Psychedelics: A Growing Public Health Concern

How the Vutara VXL simplifies single-molecule imaging

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