Pharmaceutical News

RSS

New technique to purify propolis

The healing properties of propolis a mixture of resin and wax made by honey bees to seal and sterilise their hives have been known for many years. But its use in medicine and food supplements has been limited because the sticky substance is not water soluble and has a strong, off-putting smell.

17 Nov 2010

LFA encouraged by FDA Advisory Committee vote on BENLYSTA for autoimmune disease lupus

Today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Arthritis Advisory Committee voted overwhelmingly (13 to 2) to recommend BENLYSTA® for approval as a treatment for the autoimmune disease lupus. If FDA approved, BENLYSTA would become the first new treatment for lupus in 52 years. While today's vote is a positive step, the FDA still must make a final decision to approve BENLYSTA in the coming weeks.

17 Nov 2010

Warfarin taken along with herbal, dietary supplements may be dangerous

Herbal and dietary supplements are popular. People claim they make their joints feel better, their bones stronger, and their hearts healthier. But a recent study by researchers at the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute in Salt Lake City shows that many of these people may not realize their favorite supplement, mixed with prescription medications, may be putting their lives in danger, especially if they are taking warfarin - a blood-thinning medication commonly prescribed to patients living with atrial fibrillation to lower their risk of stroke.

17 Nov 2010

TexanPlus HMO provides affordable access to cholesterol-lowering prescription drugs

TexanPlus HMO powered by CCRx, a Medicare Advantage plan offered through the Universal American's family of healthcare companies, will provide broad and affordable access to LIPITOR and CRESTOR, two popular cholesterol-lowering prescription drugs.

17 Nov 2010

NYU Langone creates new pharmacy with advanced robotic equipment

As part of its ongoing commitment to providing patient-centered care, NYU Langone Medical Center has created a state-of-the-art pharmacy to maximize efficiency and enhance patient safety. Made possible as part of a generous gift from the Tisch families, the new pharmacy features advanced robotic equipment that automatically sorts and dispenses medications with 99.99% accuracy. Located on the 3rd floor of the Medical Center's flagship Tisch Hospital, the new pharmacy is the first of its kind in New York City and the second in New York State.

17 Nov 2010

Targeted therapies could treat a broad range of cancers: Research

Targeted cancer therapies such as trastuzumab (Herceptin), gefitinib (Iressa) and erlotinib (Tarceva) could be used to treat a wider range of cancers than previously thought, according to new research presented today (Wednesday) at the 22nd EORTC-NCI-AACR [1] Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Berlin.

17 Nov 2010

Canada recognizes Nov. 18 as Antibiotic Awareness Day

Antibiotic resistance is an issue health practitioners around the world face daily. Numerous health-related organizations have partnered to mark tomorrow as the first Canadian Antibiotic Awareness Day in an effort to promote prudent use of antibiotics and fight the threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

17 Nov 2010

LRI pleased with FDA Advisory Committee's approval of Benlysta for lupus

The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) and its National Coalition of state and local lupus organizations are pleased with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory Committee's vote to recommend approval of Benlysta® for active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), offering patients new found hope for the first approved treatment option in more than 50 years.

17 Nov 2010

New inhalable dry powder antibiotic may reduce TB treatment time

New research being presented at the 2010 International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Pharmaceutical Sciences World Congress (PSWC) in association with the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) Annual Meeting and Exposition will feature an inhalable dry powder antibiotic that when used alone or with current treatments may significantly reduce treatment for tuberculosis (TB) and multi-drug resistant TB.

17 Nov 2010

FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee recommends approval of BENLYSTA for SLE

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC today announced that the Arthritis Advisory Committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has voted 13 to 2 to recommend that the FDA approve BENLYSTA (belimumab) for the treatment of autoantibody-positive patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

17 Nov 2010

Eisai enters strategic drug discovery collaboration with FORMA Therapeutics

Eisai Inc., the U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Tokyo-based Eisai Co., Ltd., and FORMA Therapeutics announced today that the two companies have signed a strategic drug discovery collaboration.

17 Nov 2010

FDA partners with CDC to kick off Get Smart about Antibiotics Week

This year, millions of antibiotics will be prescribed. Antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial infections; however, they are commonly over-prescribed. Patients sometimes ask their health care professional to prescribe antibiotic drugs for viral infections, like the common cold, despite the fact that they will not work and may lead to potentially harmful side effects. The misuse of antibiotics has contributed to one of the world's most pressing public health problems today, antibiotic resistance.

17 Nov 2010

Type 2 diabetes market in Mexico to grow to $1.22 billion in 2014: Report

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, forecasts that the type 2 diabetes market in Mexico will grow to $1.22 billion in 2014. Drivers of this growth include increasing prevalent population, expanding medical insurance coverage as well as the launch and use of new drugs in the market.

17 Nov 2010

Optivia, UCSF receive SBIR grant to develop transporter-based assay system

Optivia Biotechnology Inc., a leading provider of in vitro transporter assay services, today announced that the company and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), have received a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop an innovative system for characterizing the role transporter proteins play in the disposition of drugs by the liver.

16 Nov 2010

UCSF, Pfizer announce partnership to accelerate translation of biomedical research

UCSF and Pfizer, Inc. have formed a new partnership to accelerate the translation of biomedical research into effective new medications and therapies for patients.

16 Nov 2010

Yukon receives grant under QTDP program for SmartMix delivery platform

Yukon Medical, LLC, a medical device firm located in Research Triangle Park, NC, is proud to announce it has received a grant under the 2010 Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project (QTDP) for their SmartMix delivery platform.

16 Nov 2010

FDA grants Impax final approval for generic Allegra-D ANDA

Impax Laboratories, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted final approval of the Company's Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for the generic version of Allegra-D® (Fexofenadine Hydrochloride and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride Extended-release) 60mg/120mg tablets. The Company is preparing for product launch through Global Pharmaceuticals, Impax's generic division.

16 Nov 2010

Patrys announces capital raising of $3.2 million and share purchase plan

Patrys Limited (ASX: PAB; Company), a biotechnology company focused on the development of revolutionary new treatments for cancer, is pleased to announce a successful capital raising of approximately $3.2 million, which was conducted via a private placement.

16 Nov 2010

Can Pfizer rescue hormonal replacement therapy?

In a market still plagued with safety concerns, Pfizer has an opportunity to restore market growth for hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) with its new combination product, Aprela. To do this it must rebuild public and general practitioner confidence in the therapy area, says independent market analyst, Datamonitor.

16 Nov 2010

Color of tablet appears to be integral component for OTC product

According to recent research the color, shape, taste and even name of a tablet or pill can have an effect on how patients feel about their medication. Choose an appropriate combination and the placebo effect gives the pill a boost, improves outcomes and might even reduce side effects. Now, researchers at the University of Bombay, New Mumbai, India, have surveyed users of over-the-counter (OTC) medication to find out just how much the color of a tablet influences patient choice.

16 Nov 2010