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Pfizer, Protalix team up to develop and market plant-based enzyme for Gaucher’s disease treatment

Pfizer and Protalix (NYSE-Amex: PLX) today announced that they have entered into an agreement to develop and commercialize taliglucerase alfa, a plant-cell expressed form of glucocerebrosidase (GCD) in development for the potential treatment of Gaucher’s disease.

1 Dec 2009

Bayer Schering Pharma to develop new BiTE antibody for treatment of solid tumors

Micromet, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases today announced that Bayer Schering Pharma AG has exercised its option under the option, collaboration and license agreement entered into on January 12, 2009 to develop a new BiTE antibody for the treatment of solid tumors.

1 Dec 2009

AHF lauds WHO for its crucial HIV treatment recommendations

On the eve of World AIDS Day 2009, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) praised the World Health Organization (WHO) for its new HIV treatment recommendations which include starting lifesaving antiretroviral treatment (ART) earlier (at a t-cell count of <350 cells/mm3 instead of <200) for all HIV-positive adults and adolescents and earlier treatment initiation for HIV-positive pregnant women who should now begin treatment at 14 weeks into pregnancy, rather than 28 weeks as previously recommended, and continue until the end of breastfeeding.

1 Dec 2009

Russian hepatitis C virus drug market to reach $327M by 2013: Decision Resources

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms focusing on pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, forecasts that the hepatitis C virus drug market in Russia will grow nine percent annually over the 2008 - 2013 study period, reaching $327 million by 2013.

1 Dec 2009

Cannabis as a substitute for heavy alcohol usage?

Substituting cannabis in place of more harmful drugs may be a winning strategy in the fight against substance misuse. Research published in BioMed Central' open access Harm Reduction Journal features a poll of 350 cannabis users, finding that 40% used cannabis to control their alcohol cravings, 66% as a replacement for prescription drugs and 26% for other, more potent, illegal drugs.

1 Dec 2009

HTDS finalizes contract details with Indian pharmaceutical company

Hard to Treat Diseases' (HTDS; http://www.htdsmedical.com/) operating subsidiary Mellow Hope finalized contract details with one of the largest manufacturer of intravenous medication in India.

1 Dec 2009

Changda International Holdings receives first commercial order for Thiophene from Sanofi Aventis

Changda International Holdings, the Weifang based specialty chemicals manufacturer has received a first commercial order for it product Thiophene from Sanofi Aventis (NYSE: SNY), the French pharmaceutical multinational.

1 Dec 2009

European Commission and the EMEA approve Angiox in primary PCI for STEMI

The Medicines Company announced today that it has received European approval for the use of Angiox® (bivalirudin) as an anticoagulant in patients with heart attacks (so-called ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)) undergoing emergency heart procedures called primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

1 Dec 2009

Article on TYSABRI for treating patients with multiple sclerosis published

Best-practice recommendations for the selection and management of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who may benefit from, or are receiving treatment with TYSABRI- (natalizumab) were published today in a supplement to the medical journal Multiple Sclerosis.

1 Dec 2009

European Patent Office grants patent EP1392642 for 4SC AG's lead auto-immune compound

4SC AG, a drug discovery and development company, today announced that the European Patent Office has granted patent EP1392642, which covers its lead auto-immune compound 4SC-101.

1 Dec 2009

Refuse to file letter on NDA for Cladribine Tablets issued to EMD Serono

EMD Serono, an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced today that it received a refuse to file letter from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the New Drug Application (NDA) for Cladribine Tablets, EMD Serono's proprietary investigational oral formulation of cladribine, as a therapy for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

1 Dec 2009

Members of priority groups to receive H1N1 vaccines from Department of Health

The Department of Health reminded Pennsylvanians they can begin making appointments today to be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus.

1 Dec 2009

CCII capsules offer safe and effective treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

Chicken collagen can provide relief from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms. A randomised, controlled trial, published in BioMed Central's open access journal Arthritis Research & Therapy, has found that Chicken type II collagen (CCII), a protein extracted from the cartilage of chicken breast, is a safe and effective treatment for RA.

1 Dec 2009

Phase 1 study of preventive HIV vaccine testing a novel delivery mechanism completed

A Phase 1 study of a preventive HIV vaccine testing a novel delivery mechanism known as electroporation – the use of electrical pulses to increase the immune responses elicited by DNA vaccines – was recently completed in New York City.

1 Dec 2009

Research shows many factors can impact people's decisions on getting vaccinated

Just because a vaccine is available doesn't mean people will choose to be inoculated, according to new UofT research published amid widespread public confusion around the merit of H1N1 flu shots.

1 Dec 2009

PanGenex plans to expand its retail product line with the addition of spirulla

PanGenex Corporation, a global nutraceutical and dietary supplement manufacturer and marketer, announced today that it has solidified plans to expand its retail product line with the addition of spirulla.

1 Dec 2009

Neurotoxic heavy metal can slow the progression of Lou Gehrig's disease

New discoveries have been made about how an elevated level of lead, which is a neurotoxic heavy metal, can slow the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease - findings that could point the way to a new type of therapy.

1 Dec 2009

GLUMETZA patent infringement lawsuit against Lupin

Depomed, Inc. today announced that it has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Lupin Limited and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., for infringement of the patents listed in the Orange Book for GLUMETZA® (metformin hydrochloride extended release tablets).

30 Nov 2009

Pharmacists could play important role in reform

Pharmacists may play an important role in the health care system by filling in health care gaps and advising patients, according to a series of articles in The Los Angeles Times, which reports on one clinical pharmacist Steven Chen and the "Patient Safety and Clinical Pharmacy Services Collaborative, a national project under the Health Resources and Services Administration that is working to integrate clinical pharmacy services into the care of patients with chronic diseases.

30 Nov 2009

BioMarin Pharmaceutical receives FDA orphan drug designation for 3,4-DAP

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. announced today that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation for 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP), amifampridine phosphate, for the rare autoimmune disease Lambert Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS). 3,4-DAP has previously received orphan drug designation in the E.U.

30 Nov 2009