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'WHPA Prague Call to Action' fights against falsified medicines

In a first for the Central European region, national health professions organisations have discussed and endorsed the WHPA Prague Call to Action, to reduce the harmful impact of falsified medical products on patients and the public.

22 Nov 2011

Researchers identify EGFR protein as therapeutic target for Cushing disease

Cushing disease is a hormone disorder that causes a diverse array of symptoms, including fat accumulation, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, muscle wasting, and ultimately death. It is caused by a tumor in the anterior pituitary gland that results in the secretion of excess amounts of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). Treatment options are essentially limited to surgical resection. However, tumors commonly recur, meaning that new treatment options are needed.

22 Nov 2011

Oral delivery of PYY hormone can help obese people lose weight

Most people understand that serious weight loss requires changing attitudes toward what they eat and how often they exercise. But, what if the process could be aided by simply chewing a stick of gum after meals? That's the question a team of scientists, led by Syracuse University chemist Robert Doyle, is trying to answer. In a groundbreaking new study, Doyle's team demonstrated, for the first time, that a critical hormone that helps people feel "full" after eating can be delivered into the bloodstream orally.

22 Nov 2011

Older home health care patients are prescribed PIMs three times higher than others

Older adults receiving home health care may be taking a drug that is unsafe or ineffective for someone their age. In fact, nearly 40 percent of seniors receiving medical care from a home health agency are taking at least one prescription medication that is considered potentially inappropriate to seniors, a new study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine has revealed.

22 Nov 2011

Cisplatin anti-cancer drug binds pervasively to RNA

An anti-cancer drug used extensively in chemotherapy binds pervasively to RNA -- up to 20-fold more than it does to DNA, a surprise finding that suggests new targeting approaches might be useful, according to University of Oregon researchers.

21 Nov 2011

USPTO to issue patent for CU's DCA to treat cancer

Viral Genetics reports that a patent under which it is exclusively licensed will be granted for using a compound known as DCA to treat cancer.

21 Nov 2011

Regeneron’s Eylea for treating age related macular degeneration gets FDA nod

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has received marketing approval for their eye drug - Eylea, an injection meant to treat a common cause of blindness in older people. Eylea can be used to treat “wet” age-related macular degeneration. The only other drug approved for the condition is Lucentis from Roche, which was approved in 2006.

21 Nov 2011

Breast cancer drug Avastin loses FDA support

According to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcement last Friday, the cancer drug Avastin should not be used to treat breast cancer that has spread to other organs because it doesn't help patients enough to justify its risky side effects.

21 Nov 2011

Despite market constraints, the drug market for key hospital-treated infections will increase: Report

Decision Resources finds that the drug market for key hospital-treated infections that are of high interest to drug developers—most notably nosocomial pneumonia, bloodstream infections, skin and skin structure/surgical site infections and urinary tract infections—will increase from $3.3 billion in 2010 to just over $4 billion in 2020 in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Japan.

21 Nov 2011

Viewpoints: Finding savings in Medicare; The Avastin saga; Changes in health care business

There is no way to wrestle down the deficit without reining in Medicare costs. Ensuring that the program provides quality health care coverage to millions of older and disabled Americans is essential. These goals are not incompatible, but they require a judicious approach to policy making that is depressingly absent in Washington.

21 Nov 2011

The Chinese acute coronary syndrome drug market to grow from $326M in 2010 to $448M in 2015

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) drug market in China will grow from $326 million in 2010 to $448 million in 2015.

21 Nov 2011

ChanRx to evaluate AFIB drug, vanoxerine with closed Series A funding

ChanRx is developing a superior drug for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AFIB), and has closed its Series A funding with investments from Sante Ventures and company founder, Dr. Arthur "Buzz" Brown. The company, a spin out of Cleveland-based ChanTest, will use the funding to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of its proprietary AFIB drug, vanoxerine.

21 Nov 2011

SAFC commences process validation activities for Oncolytics' REOLYSIN

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. today announced that SAFC, a Division of Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, has commenced validation activities designed to demonstrate the manufacturing process for the commercial production of REOLYSIN, Oncolytics' proprietary formulation of reovirus, is robust and reproducible.

21 Nov 2011

Australia's TGA grants market authorisation for Pierre Fabre Médicament's milnacipran to treat fibromyalgia

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia's regulatory body for therapeutic products, granted Pierre Fabre Médicament's milnacipran market authorisation for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

21 Nov 2011

PLoS ONE publishes study on darinaparsin, a multivalent chemotherapeutic

ZIOPHARM Oncology, Inc. announced today the publication of a darinaparsin (Zinapar or ZIO-101) study in the PLoS ONE, an international, peer-reviewed, open-access, online publication of the Public Library of Science.

21 Nov 2011

Impax initiates patent challenge related to Fentora

Impax Laboratories, Inc. today confirms that it has initiated a challenge of the patents listed in the Orange Book in connection with Fentora® (fentanyl buccal tablets, 100 mcg, 200 mcg, 400 mcg, 600 mcg and 800 mcg).

21 Nov 2011

IGI develops and submits two more ANDAs to the FDA

IGI Laboratories, Inc., a New Jersey based formulation and manufacturing company, today announced that it has submitted two more abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) to the US FDA.

21 Nov 2011

Swissmedic approves REVLIMID for treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes

Celgene International Sàrl, a subsidiary of Celgene Corporation, today announced that REVLIMID (lenalidomide) has been granted approval by the Swiss agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic) for use in patients with transfusion-dependent anemia due to low-or intermediate-1-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) associated with a deletion 5q cytogenic abnormality with or without additional cytogenic abnormalities.

21 Nov 2011

Cambridge Theranostics' liquidators set deadline for offers

Cambridge Theranostics' liquidators have set a deadline of 9 December for offers for the company's business, which includes the intellectual property of its principal product, Ateronon.

21 Nov 2011

Mylan settles Vivelle-Dot patent litigation lawsuit with Novartis

Mylan Inc. today announced that it has settled a patent litigation lawsuit with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation related to Vivelle-Dot® (Estradiol Transdermal System USP, Twice-Weekly, 0.025 mg/day, 0.0375 mg/day, 0.05 mg/day and 0.075 mg/day and 0.1 mg/day).

21 Nov 2011