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New oral drug is safe and effective to combat clotting disorder

A new study provides welcome news for patients with a common clotting disorder known as venous thromboembolism (VTE).

7 Dec 2009

Computer search algorithms identify FDA-approved drugs that could be the basis for new medicines

A massive, data-crunching computer search program that matches fragments of potential drug molecules to the known shapes of viral surface proteins has identified several FDA-approved drugs that could be the basis for new medicines -- if emerging viruses such as the H5N1(avian flu) or H1N1/09 (swine flu) develop resistance to current antiviral therapies -- according to a presentation at the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) 49th Annual Meeting, Dec. 5-9, 2009 in San Diego.

7 Dec 2009

Anticoagulants used to prevent clots in placental blood vessels ineffective, reveals research

Blood clotting, or coagulation, is an important process that prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured. Sometimes, however, clots form on the inside of vessels without an obvious injury or do not dissolve naturally, a potentially life-threatening situation requiring treatment.

7 Dec 2009

New three-drug combination may be effective for treating patients with bone cancer

A new three-drug combination has shown in a phase 1/2 clinical trial that it is a "highly effective regimen" in the treatment of patients newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of white blood cells in bone marrow, say researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

7 Dec 2009

Study finds substantial variation in hydroxyurea utilization for sickle cell disease

A new study by researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee, found a substantial variation in hydroxyurea utilization for pain and other sickle cell disease complications in children.

7 Dec 2009

Bortezomib can improve control of GVHD and immune system recovery

A drug that has become a mainstay of multiple myeloma treatment may outperform alternative therapies in re-establishing the immune system of patients who have received stem cell transplants from unrelated, partially matched donors, according to early clinical trial results to be presented by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute investigators at the American Society of Hematology's (ASH) annual meeting on Sunday, Dec. 6 (Abstract 48, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, Room 243-245, 5:45 pm CT).

6 Dec 2009

New treatment options for leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders introduced

Leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders are serious and often deadly blood cancers. Research presented today at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology introduces potential new treatment options and improved diagnostic methods for patients suffering from acute promyelocytic leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and myelofibrosis that are based on a better understanding of the underlying genetic causes of these conditions.

6 Dec 2009

Chicken pox vaccine also reduces risk of herpes zoster in children

Herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is very rare among children who have been vaccinated against chicken pox, according to a Kaiser Permanente study in the December issue of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Journal.

5 Dec 2009

97 new drugs and vaccines in development for HIV/AIDS treatment, finds report

Chemistry World recently highlighted a new report published by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) that identifies 97 new drugs and vaccines in development for HIV/AIDS and related conditions.

5 Dec 2009

RetireSafe calls for the Senate to oppose the Dorgan Importation plan

Today, the senior advocacy group RetireSafe urged the Senate to defeat the Dorgan Importation plan encompassed in SA 2793. RetireSafe President Thair Phillips said, "Senator Dorgan's importation amendment is poised to open our borders, allowing our safe, closed drug system to be breached, and our health to be endangered. We could soon be getting drugs that were stored in tin containers and car trunks. This could literally be a 'killer' amendment, it puts all Americans and especially seniors at risk, and it should be soundly defeated."

5 Dec 2009

Patients new to chronic disease medication face risk of medication discontinuation, finds study

In a new study published online today by Clinical Therapeutics, researchers from Adheris, Inc., an inVentiv Health company, found that patients new to chronic disease medication face the greatest risk of medication discontinuation during the first 30 days of treatment—with rates of discontinuation ranging from 29.6% to 78.1%.

5 Dec 2009

Statins may protect against GVHD complications

Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins are among the most prescribed medicines in the U.S. Now a new study by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center indicates that statins may protect stem cell transplant patients from one of the most serious complications of the life-saving cancer therapy: graft-versus-host disease, or GVHD.

5 Dec 2009

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries' non-sedating barbiturate compound study granted FDA IND exemption

Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced that it has been granted an Investigational New Drug (“IND”) exemption by the United States Food and Drug Administration, (“FDA”), to permit clinical studies on T2000 (1,3-dimethoxymethyl-5,5-diphenyl-barbituric acid), one of a class of non-sedating barbiturate compounds currently in development by the Company.

5 Dec 2009

FDA approves Santarus’ NDA for immediate-release prescription tablet product

Santarus, Inc., a specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company’s New Drug Application (NDA) for immediate-release omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate/ magnesium hydroxide tablets in 40 mg and 20 mg dosage strengths of omeprazole.

5 Dec 2009

Scientists report cervarix vaccine offers protection against cervical cancer

The Cervarix vaccine provides protection against two types of human papillomavirus (HPV) for more than six years, US scientists have reported.

5 Dec 2009

New data from PharmAthene's anthrax vaccine program presented

PharmAthene, Inc., a biodefense company developing medical countermeasures against biological and chemical threats, announced today the presentation of new data from the Company's anthrax vaccine program showing that its lyophilized recombinant Protective Antigen (rPA) based anthrax vaccine is structurally stable and potent after 16 months at various temperatures up to and including 55 degrees C.

5 Dec 2009

Janssen-Cilag submits MAA to the European Medicines Agency for paliperidone palmitate

Elan Drug Technologies, a business unit of Elan Corporation, plc announced that Janssen-Cilag has submitted a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency for paliperidone palmitate for the treatment of Schizophrenia.

4 Dec 2009

FDA approves Zyprexa in tablet form for schizophrenia and manic treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved Zyprexa® (olanzapine) in tablet form as an option for the treatment of schizophrenia and manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder in adolescents aged 13-17 years old.

4 Dec 2009

Rituximab drug may reduce long-term complications of type 1 diabetes

New findings by UT Southwestern researchers suggest that a drug already used to treat autoimmune disorders might also help slow the destruction of insulin-producing cells in patients recently diagnosed with insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetes.

4 Dec 2009

Application for regulatory approval of apixaban in Europe to be submitted

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Pfizer today announced that the companies are planning to submit an application for regulatory approval of apixaban in Europe for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after orthopedic surgery in the first half of 2010.

4 Dec 2009