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MenAfriVac to help health workers eliminate meningococcal A epidemics

The West African nation of Burkina Faso today became the first country to begin a nationwide campaign to introduce a new meningitis vaccine that promises to rid the entire region of the primary cause of epidemic meningitis. The first vaccine designed specifically for Africa, MenAfriVac is expected to help health workers eliminate meningococcal A epidemics in the 25 countries of the meningitis belt, stretching from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east.

6 Dec 2010

HP, mPedigree Network introduce life-saving service to fight counterfeit drugs in Africa

HP and African social enterprise mPedigree Network have introduced a potentially life-saving service that targets counterfeit pharmaceuticals by enabling people in Nigeria and Ghana to easily check the authenticity of their malaria medication.

6 Dec 2010

Oral levetiracetam may be effective in stopping neonatal seizures

Seizures that occur in the first few weeks of life are a major predictor of future adverse neurological outcomes. Currently approved antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are effective in stopping seizures in less than 50% of these neonatal cases. The approved therapies can also have undesirable side effects.

6 Dec 2010

UNICEF spearheads polio immunization campaign across Abkhazia

UNICEF, the Abkhaz authorities and the European Union have left no stone unturned in their efforts to keep the region polio-free. In the first round of the polio immunization campaign that began here in November, 98 percent of all children up to 17 years of age were vaccinated.

4 Dec 2010

Access adds patient experience testimonial video to MuGard website

ACCESS PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a biopharmaceutical company leveraging its proprietary drug-delivery platforms to develop treatments in areas of oncology, cancer supportive care and diabetes, announced it has updated its lead product website, www.MuGard.com, with its first patient MuGard experience testimonial video and additional clinician feedback.

4 Dec 2010

Wide-scale study of flu vaccine's effectiveness in European children needed

A wide-scale study of the effectiveness of flu vaccine in children is needed in Europe to fully assess the benefits, not only in keeping the kids from getting sick, but limiting the spread of flu to adults.

4 Dec 2010

IOM releases new dietary recommendations for calcium, vitamin D intakes

The Institute of Medicine recently released new dietary recommendations for calcium and vitamin D intakes, known as Dietary Reference Intakes, used broadly by health professionals and policy makers to guide consumers' dietary patterns. Citing a strong body of new scientific evidence, the IOM based their recommendations on bone health outcomes, confirming the importance of vitamin D and calcium in promoting bone growth and maintenance through various stages of life.

4 Dec 2010

Sermo releases report on potential replacements for warfarin

Sermo, the world's largest online community for physicians, today announced a free Sermo Report titled, "Potential Replacements for Coumadin (warfarin)." The report gathered feedback from physicians about awareness and understanding of these products and potential barriers to prescribing.

4 Dec 2010

IDRI awarded $1.8M contract to develop adjuvant formulations for pandemic influenza

The Infectious Disease Research Institute has been awarded an $1.8 million contract from the Biomedical Advance Research and Development Authority. IDRI's work will focus on development of adjuvant formulations with options up to $8.5 million over three years when further development and manufacture of priority candidates are approved by the agency.

4 Dec 2010

NFID supports CDC's National Influenza Vaccination Week

The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual observance of National Influenza Vaccination Week to communicate the importance and availability of influenza vaccination into the winter months and beyond. It is critical that physicians and patients, especially parents of pediatric patients, remain vigilant about flu protection this and every year.

4 Dec 2010

Health experts discuss how to prepare for future dengue immunization programs

AsiaOne examines how groups are working to prepare policy makers for the availability of a dengue vaccine in the future, following a three-day meeting on the virus held in Singapore this week (Chan, 12/3).

4 Dec 2010

New standard treatment for early stage breast cancer

Spanish Oncology has established a new standard treatment for Breast Cancer at early stages thanks to the results of the study 9805/Target 0 funded by Spanish Breast Cancer Research Group and sponsored by Sanofi Aventis.

4 Dec 2010

ProPublica: Drug Co. used ghostwriters to pen work bylined by academics

An investigative news piece finds that ghostwriters write medical studies, editorials and other works for a major drug company.

4 Dec 2010

Impax confirms challenge of patents in connection with INTUNIV

Impax Laboratories, Inc. today confirms that it has initiated a challenge of patents listed by Shire Development Inc. in connection with INTUNIVTM (guanfacine hydrochloride), 4 mg.

3 Dec 2010

FDA Advisory Panel recommends approval of Solesta for bowel incontinence

Oceana Therapeutics, a global company focused on acquiring, developing and commercializing best-in-class specialty therapeutics, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Gastroenterology and Urology Devices Panel recommended approval of Solesta™ as a treatment for fecal (bowel) incontinence, a condition afflicting many Americans, primarily women.

3 Dec 2010

Cell Therapeutics submits pixantrone NDA application to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has submitted a formal appeal to the Office of New Drugs in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research regarding the agency's decision from earlier this year on the pixantrone New Drug Application to treat relapsed/refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

3 Dec 2010

IP-K signs agreement to continue NITD research deal for new drug candidates

Institut Pasteur Korea (IP-K) has signed an agreements to continue to mine the chemical compound collection of Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD) of Singapore for new drug candidates.

3 Dec 2010

Sagent launches chemotherapy agent topotecan hydrochloride for injection

Sagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced U.S. FDA approval and launch of its topotecan hydrochloride for injection, a chemotherapy agent, in conjunction with the innovator's patent expiry. Sagent's topotecan is available in 4 mg single-dose latex-free vials.

3 Dec 2010

IP-K signs agreement with sanofi-aventis to identify new medicines

Institut Pasteur Korea (IP-K) has signed an agreement with sanofi-aventis Research & Development of Toulouse, France to continue research on the identification of new medicines.

3 Dec 2010

More Coloradans lose Medicare Advantage plans, Missouri lawmakers push for doctor's order to buy common cold and allergy meds

The Denver Post: "Nearly 14,000 Coloradans are losing their form of Medicare Advantage plans next year and will need to choose new options, creating a hardship for 1,700 rural Medicare members who won't find similar plans left on the table. Medicare Advantage carriers such as Humana, Anthem, Secure Horizons and MVP dropped some Medicare Advantage plans in Colorado. … The dropped carriers affect 13,936 beneficiaries in Colorado, including 3,832 in the Denver metro area" (Booth, 12/2).

3 Dec 2010