Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

FDA new approvals, antibiotic and neurological drugs

Two new drugs have gained approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – one is an antibiotic from Forest Labs and the other a first-time treatment for a neurological disorder developed by Avanir Pharmaceuticals. Another waiting for approval is Biodel's fast-acting insulin Linjeta. On the other hand seven new drugs got rejected including a diabetes drug from Amylin Pharmaceuticals and weight-loss drugs from Arena Pharmaceuticals and Vivus, respectively.

31 Oct 2010

HDMG and Heritage Health Care host over 4000 seniors at 20th anniversary of Health Expo

Dr. Richard Merkin, High Desert Medical Group and Heritage Health Care hosted over four thousand seniors at their 20th anniversary annual Senior Expo at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds. Seniors lined up prior to the 9:00 am start, eager to see celebrity Debbie Reynolds perform and get free health screenings and testing including bone density, cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, body fat, dental and vision screenings and of course, seasonal flu shots.

30 Oct 2010

Rite Aid to host flu shot clinics at nationwide pharmacies

With the holidays getting closer, Rite Aid is reminding people to get a flu shot so that the only thing they are spreading this season is good cheer. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it can take up to two weeks for flu shots to be effective and protect against the flu; those who get their flu shot now can help protect themselves by the time they sit down for Thanksgiving dinner.

30 Oct 2010

FDA approves Teflaro for treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia

Forest Laboratories, Inc. announced today that Teflaro(ceftaroline fosamil), a broad-spectrum bactericidal cephalosporin with activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP), including cases caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteremia, and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infection (ABSSSI), including cases caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

30 Oct 2010

BioMedix receives ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 certification for TRAKnet Practice Management Software

BioMedix announced today that TRAKnet Practice Management Software 2.0 is 2011/2012 compliant and was certified as a Complete EHR on October 28th, 2010 by the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT®), an ONC-ATCB, in accordance with the applicable Eligible Provider certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

30 Oct 2010

Progress update on Johnson & Johnson and Crucell's public offer

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 7 paragraph 1(a) of the Dutch Decree on Public Takeover Bids (Besluit Openbare Biedingen Wft) requiring a public announcement within four weeks following the announcement of an intended public offer to provide a status update, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and Crucell N.V. provide the following joint update.

30 Oct 2010

FDA approves NUEDEXTA capsules for pseudobulbar affect

AVANIR Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved NUEDEXTA (dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate) capsules, as the first treatment for pseudobulbar affect.

30 Oct 2010

Teflaro receives FDA approval for treatment of bacterial infections

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Teflaro (ceftaroline fosamil), an injectable antibiotic to treat adults with community acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) and acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI), including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

30 Oct 2010

New shuttlte program helps probe spaceflight-induced immune-system impairment

When the space shuttle Discovery lifts off on its final flight Nov. 2, its six astronauts will be joined by 16 rodent passengers on a historic mission of their own. Riding in special self-contained modules that automatically supply them with food and water, the mice will be part of a long-term NASA effort aimed at understanding why spaceflight makes humans more vulnerable to infection by viruses and bacteria.

30 Oct 2010

Henry Schein third quarter net sales increases 14.1% to $1.9 billion

Henry Schein, Inc. the largest provider of healthcare products and services to office-based practitioners, today reported record financial results for the quarter ended September 25, 2010.

29 Oct 2010

Phytonutrient Report says Americans do not consume enough fruits and vegetables

The majority of Americans report getting a cold or flu in the past year, and more than a third say they'll make lifestyle changes to prevent getting sick again this year. However, 40 percent of Americans don't plan to take what is arguably the easiest and tastiest step to help potentially prevent illness this cold and flu season eat more fruits and vegetables daily.

29 Oct 2010

Pneumonia vaccination increases among older Americans, but still falls short of Healthy People 2010 goal

Between 2000 and 2007, the proportion of Americans age 65 and older who were vaccinated against pneumonia increased from 53 percent to 58 percent, but the rate fell far short of the Healthy People 2010 goal of 90 percent for pneumonia vaccinations in that age group, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

29 Oct 2010

ImmuneRegen's Homspera enhances survival of animals vaccinated with experimental melanoma vaccine

ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc.®, a wholly owned subsidiary of IR BioSciences Holdings, Inc., today announced that treatment with its lead compound, Homspera®, improved the survival of animals vaccinated with an experimental melanoma vaccine.

29 Oct 2010

Nanomedicine Center for Nucleoprotein Machines receives $16.1 million NIH award

The Georgia Tech-led Nanomedicine Center for Nucleoprotein Machines has received an award of $16.1 million for five years as part of its renewal by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The eight-institution research team plans to pursue development of a clinically viable gene correction technology for single-gene disorders and demonstrate the technology's efficacy with sickle cell disease.

29 Oct 2010

Number of beta cells remains static after age 30: Research

Beta cells, which make insulin in the human body, do not replicate after the age of 30, indicating that clinicians may be closer to better treating diabetes.

29 Oct 2010

Coadministration of INTUNIV tablets with stimulant reduces ADHD symptoms

Shire plc the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today presented research results of once-daily INTUNIV (guanfacine) Extended-Release Tablets, coadministered with stimulants in children and adolescents diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) who had suboptimal response to treatment with a long-acting stimulant alone.

29 Oct 2010

SPRYCEL receives FDA approval for treating adult patients with Ph+ CML in chronic phase

After receiving a priority review, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved SPRYCEL (dasatinib) 100 mg once daily for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase.

29 Oct 2010

Forest, Almirall report topline results from aclidinium bromide comparative Phase III study in COPD

Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Almirall, S.A. today announced top-line results from ACCORD COPD II, a 12-week Phase III study comparing the efficacy and safety of inhaled aclidinium bromide, an investigative bronchodilator, to placebo in 544 patients with moderate to severe COPD.

29 Oct 2010

Scientists develop new method to analyze early detection of virus

The virus, called enterovirus 71, is closely related to poliovirus, and was first detected in California in the 1960s. Since then the virus has spread across Asia, affecting mostly children and some adults. Serious cases of the disease can include neurological disorders such as meningitis, paralysis and encephalitis.

29 Oct 2010

Prominent scientist in mitochondrial genetics joins Children's Hospital to establish CMEM

Douglas C. Wallace, Ph.D., a pioneer and internationally prominent scientist in the field of human mitochondrial genetics, has joined The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to continue his investigations into the role of mitochondrial energy in health and disease.

29 Oct 2010