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Link between heavy methamphetamine use and schizophrenia

In the first worldwide study of its kind, scientists from Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) found evidence that heavy methamphetamine users might have a higher risk of developing schizophrenia.

8 Nov 2011

Bristol-Myers Squibb receives FDA approval for Erbitux to treat head and neck cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Erbitux (cetuximab) for use with chemotherapy to treat patients with late-stage (metastatic) head and neck cancer.

8 Nov 2011

A prescription for prevention

Medicine-related hospital admissions could be reduced by a simple initiative designed and implemented by researchers at the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Pharmacy.

7 Nov 2011

DSM and Svelte Medical Systems enter into license and supply agreement

DSM, and Svelte® Medical Systems, Inc., a privately held company developing next generation endovascular therapies, today announced they have entered into a license and supply agreement granting Svelte the right to use DSM’s proprietary bioerodible amino acid based drug carrier in the design of their All In One non-thrombogenic, non-inflammatory drug-eluting stent system.

7 Nov 2011

Perrigo and Synthon commence shipping generic Xyzal Oral Solution

Perrigo Company and its partner Synthon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that Perrigo has begun shipping Levocetirizine Solution, 2.5 mg/5ml, a generic version of UCB's Xyzal Oral Solution.

7 Nov 2011

Prostate cancer drug market forecast to grow from $3.6 billion in 2010 to $10.1 billion in 2020

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that, driven by the launches of several promising emerging therapies, the prostate cancer drug market will experience robust growth over the next decade, increasing from $3.6 billion in 2010 to $10.1 billion in 2020 in the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and Japan.

7 Nov 2011

DuoCort Pharma granted marketing authorization for adrenal insufficiency drug, Plenadren in Europe

The Swedish specialty pharma company, DuoCort Pharma, announced today that the European Commission has granted a European Marketing Authorisation for Plenadren (hydrocortisone, modified release tablet), an orphan drug for treatment of adrenal insufficiency in adults, bringing these patients their first pharmaceutical innovation in over 50 years.

7 Nov 2011

MILV subsidiary acquires formula to restore proper kidney function

Nature's Bioceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mistral Ventures Inc. announced that it has executed the formal closing documents and acquired the chronic kidney disease formula. This formula was developed to restore proper kidney function.

7 Nov 2011

Study: Young adults in the north west of England consume illegal drugs after mephedrone ban

Young adults in the north west of England have turned to unidentified white powders following the ban on former 'legal high' mephedrone and the falling purity of popular street drugs such as cocaine, according to new research published today in the journal Drug and Alcohol Today.

7 Nov 2011

Scientists achieve major step toward goal of producing synthetic Taxol

Taxanes are a family of compounds that includes one of the most important cancer drugs ever discovered, Taxol, among other cancer treatments. But the difficulty producing these complex molecules in the lab has hampered or blocked exploration of the family for further drug leads. Now, a group of Scripps Research Institute scientists has successfully achieved a major step toward the goal of synthetically producing Taxol and other complex taxanes on a quest to harness chemical reactions that could enable research on previously unavailable potential drugs.

7 Nov 2011

Study evaluates JIA disease activity after treatment with etanercept

Among patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who initiated treatment with the drug etanercept, one-third achieved an excellent response, and this response was associated with low measures of disability at study entry, younger age at the onset of JIA, and fewer disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs used before initiating etanercept, according to a study appearing in JAMA.

7 Nov 2011

PKM2 enzyme has important non-metabolic functions in cancer formation

The embryonic enzyme pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) has a well-established role in metabolism and is highly expressed in human cancers. Now, a team led by researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center reports in advance online publication of the journal Nature that PKM2 has important non-metabolic functions in cancer formation.

7 Nov 2011

$Narcotic analgesics increase risk of falls and fractures among elderly$

Narcotic analgesics increase risk of falls and fractures among elderly

Falls and fractures among senior citizens have increased since rofecoxib was removed from the market in 2004, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

7 Nov 2011

Anti-TNFs, methotrexate may reduce risk of cardiovascular disease in people with RA

Taking methotrexate or anti-TNFs is associated with a reduction in risk of cardiovascular disease in people with rheumatoid arthritis, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

7 Nov 2011

Biologics reduce fatigue in people with RA

Treatment with a biologic agent reduces fatigue in people with rheumatoid arthritis, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

7 Nov 2011

IFNa-kinoid shows promise against lupus

The first study to show results using active immunotherapy against the signaling protein interferon alpha in the treatment of lupus will be presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

7 Nov 2011

Link between use of anti-TNF therapy and malignant melanoma in RA patients

According to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, people taking anti-tumor necrosis factor therapies to treat rheumatoid arthritis have a higher risk of developing malignant melanoma.

7 Nov 2011

Doctors may stop anti-TNF medications for RA patients before surgery to reduce disease flares

As guidelines recommend, doctors appear to be stopping anti-TNF medications before surgery, but may be doing so far sooner than is necessary, according to a new study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery. These medications are used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, and better timing of withdrawal prior to surgery might minimize the risk of disease flares.

6 Nov 2011

Supplemental dose of pneumonia vaccine recommended for age-eligible patients

In a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare providers are being urged to administer a supplemental dose of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to age-eligible patients as they come in for visits.

5 Nov 2011

APF launches new online educational module on safe use of CAM

The American Pain Foundation (APF) announced the launch of a new online educational module focusing on safe use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as part of its PainSAFE initiative.

5 Nov 2011