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Medication used to treat heart arrhythmias also reduces myotonic dystrophy: Researchers

A medication most often used to treat heart arrhythmias also reduces a central symptom of myotonic dystrophy, the most common type of muscular dystrophy in adults.

5 May 2010

Increase in spending for AIDS drugs validates price cuts offered to ADAPs

On the heels of a report released by the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD) yesterday regarding the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) noted that new data contained in the report validates recent drug company price cuts offered to the program.

5 May 2010

Osiris Therapeutics' Prochymal granted FDA Orphan Drug Designation

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has been granted Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Prochymal as a treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus. The FDA instituted the Orphan Drug Act to promote the development of treatments for underserved patient populations. To be eligible for Orphan Drug designation, the treatment must target a disease that affects fewer than 200,000 new patients per year in the United States.

5 May 2010

Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement planned by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia

According to an Australian Financial Review report the major pharmaceutical companies have agreed to reduce the Australian government’s medicine bill by AUD $2 billion over the next four years only if they are assured of price modifications in future. The details of the agreement are to be revealed next week and experts believe it will reduce the burden on the federal budget which is still considering the source of funds to pay for its health reform package.

4 May 2010

Derma Sciences adds XTRASORB Foam dressing to advanced wound care product portfolio

Derma Sciences, Inc., a medical device and pharmaceutical company focused on advanced wound care, announced the launch of its new XTRASORB™ Foam dressing. The dressing is the company's first novel entry in the $300 million foam wound dressing market. First sales are expected during the second quarter of 2010.

4 May 2010

Widespread support for a full flu vaccine side effects enquiry

After nearly 250 children suffered from serious side effects of the seasonal flu shots including one death the Western Australian Government’s step to suspend further vaccinations and investigate the issue has received widespread support. The enquiry will look into the Health Department's handling of the flu vaccination program as well.

4 May 2010

Roche announces Health Canada approval for ACTEMRA to treat RA

Roche today announced that Health Canada has approved ACTEMRA(TM) (tocilizumab) to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic, progressive inflammatory disease of the joints and surrounding tissues that is associated with intense pain, irreversible joint destruction and systemic complications, such as fatigue and anemia.

4 May 2010

Generic Flomax launch drives Impax Laboratories first-quarter total revenue to $323.3 million

Impax Laboratories, Inc. today reported significant growth in the first quarter of 2010 due to an increase in sales from its Global product sales channel. Total revenue increased $264.4 million to $323.3 million driven by the successful March 2 exclusive launch of generic Flomax® ($176.2 million of revenue and $167.9 million of gross profit) and continued strong sales of generic Adderall XR® for which there were no comparable amounts in the first quarter 2009, as well as increased sales of the Company's fenofibrate products.

4 May 2010

Par Pharmaceutical reports total revenues of $291.9 million for first-quarter 2010

Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

4 May 2010

Clinical development of RG7128 is on track: Pharmasset

Pharmasset, Inc., in response to certain inaccuracies in an article published by PharmaWire on May 3, 2010 about its development program for treatment of hepatitis C virus in collaboration with Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, stated today that the development of RG7128 is on track, and that no safety or other concerns have delayed the program.

4 May 2010

Mylan Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval for Bupropion HCl ER Tablets

Mylan Inc. today announced that its subsidiary Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Abbreviated New Drug Application for Bupropion Hydrochloride Extended-release Tablets USP, 150 mg, the generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's smoking cessation aid, Zyban.

4 May 2010

Merck reports non-GAAP EPS of $0.83 for first-quarter 2010

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2010. The company reported non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) earnings per share (EPS) for the first quarter of $0.83, which excludes purchase accounting adjustments, merger-related expenses and restructuring costs, as well as a tax charge related to the recently enacted health care reform legislation. First-quarter GAAP EPS was $0.09.

4 May 2010

Vanda reports total revenue of $12.4 million for first-quarter 2010

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of clinical-stage products for central nervous system disorders, today announced financial and operational results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

4 May 2010

HGH improves athletic performance: Study

A study released today in Annals of Internal Medicine, the flagship journal of the American College of Physicians, finds that human growth hormone improves sprint capacity in healthy recreational athletes. This is the first trial to demonstrate that HGH improves athletic performance.

4 May 2010

Research makes progress in ending guesswork involved in prescribing effective ADHD medications

Children with ADHD who carry a specific type of dopamine receptor gene respond better to the drug methylphenidate than those without the genotype, according to new research from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

4 May 2010

LA BioMed receives $1.5M in grant to study contraceptive for men

As the birth control pill marks its 50th birthday this month, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute announced today that it has received $1.5 million in grant funding to study a contraceptive for men that uses a combination of two hormonal gels applied to the skin of the arm and abdomen.

4 May 2010

Algal DHA improves memory function in healthy aging adults: MIDAS

The Memory Improvement with Docosahexaenoic acid Study published online this week in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association showed that algal DHA improved memory function in healthy aging adults, providing a benefit roughly equivalent to having the learning and memory skills of someone three years younger.

4 May 2010

Doctors often treat IBS patients with narcotics: Researchers

Doctors often unnecessarily treat irritable bowel syndrome with narcotics, according to a study led by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers.

4 May 2010

tPA drug effective in treating stroke symptoms

When Ruth Mitchell arrived at Loyola University Hospital's emergency room, her face was drooping, her left arm was weak, she couldn't walk and she was slurring her words.

4 May 2010

Conservative therapies need to be recommended over routine use of OTC cough/cold products in children

Despite their widespread use by parents and caregivers, over-the-counter (OTC) cold and cough medicines have carried a warning by the FDA since 2008, and still have the potential to cause serious adverse events in infants and children. Conservative therapies, including nasal suctioning, humidification, and nasal saline, should be recommended over routine use of OTC cough/cold products in infants and children, according to a new commentary published in the May 2010 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.

4 May 2010