Contraception News and Research

Latest Contraception News and Research

New feature: KHN's selection of thought-provoking magazine articles on health policy issues

Today, we begin this new weekly feature, which will provide a selection of thought-provoking articles from a variety of sources.

29 Jan 2011

Family physicians often uncomfortable in discussing IUDs with patients

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) for contraception are safe and effective, but only a small fraction of women in the United States use them.

13 Jan 2011

Hologic announces acquisition of Interlace Medical

Hologic, Inc., a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, announced today it has acquired Interlace Medical, Inc. (Interlace), the developer and manufacturer of the MyoSure hysteroscopic tissue removal system (MyoSure). Interlace's operations will be integrated within Hologic's GYN Surgical Products division.

From Hologic, Inc. 7 Jan 2011

Problems reported with Implanon contraceptive implant

Quite a few women have reported accidental and unwanted pregnancies while using Implanon, a hormone implant injected into the arm which is designed to last three years. Although the hormonal implant is described to be 99% effective, is thought to be due to problems with the initial implantation, rather than its efficacy once correctly inserted beneath the skin.

6 Jan 2011

Celgene announces regulatory submissions for blood cancer therapies REVLIMID and ISTODAX

Celgene International Sàrl announced regulatory submissions for its blood cancer therapies REVLIMID (lenalidomide) and ISTODAX (romidepsin).

5 Jan 2011

Pfizer's sublicensing of Tanaproget triggers $1 million upfront payment to Ligand

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced today that its partner Pfizer, Inc. has granted a sublicense to a multi-national pharmaceutical company for Tanaproget, also known as NSP-989. As a result, Ligand will receive an upfront payment of $1 million from Pfizer. Ligand is entitled to clinical and regulatory milestone payments from Pfizer as Tanaproget advances through the development process, as well as tiered royalties on net sales.

23 Dec 2010

Vatican issues communique to clarify Pope's statement on condoms

"The Vatican on Tuesday issued its most authoritative clarification on Pope Benedict XVI's recent remarks that condoms could sometimes be used for disease prevention, saying that the pope in no way justified their use to prevent pregnancy," the New York Times reports (Donadio, 12/21).

23 Dec 2010

FDA approves Watson's novel oral contraceptive

Watson Pharmaceuticals today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of a novel oral contraceptive product – the first and only low dose oral contraceptive to combine 0.8 mg norethindrone and 0.025 mg ethinyl estradiol in chewable form, with four 75 mg ferrous fumarate (iron) placebo tablets. Taken orally, once daily, the product is proven effective in lowering the risk of pregnancy.

22 Dec 2010

Teen birth rate at a seven decade low: Report

Figures reveal that fewer teenagers are giving birth and the numbers are a seventy year low. Reasons are not specified but two decades of public-health initiatives to curb teenage pregnancy may be paying off feel experts. Report co author Brady Hamilton, a statistician at CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics said, “One of the biggest highlights is the continuing decline in teen births -- down to record lows.”

22 Dec 2010

Parents most influence teens' decisions about sex

The teen birth rate in the United States declined 6% in 2009 and is now at a record low, according to new data released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. Rates declined among older and younger teens and among all racial and ethnic groups. For example, the birth rate among Hispanic teens declined 10% in 2009 and is now at a record low.

22 Dec 2010

Bayer's SAFYRAL oral contraceptive receives FDA approval

Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new oral contraceptive (OC), SAFYRAL™ (drospirenone 3 mg/ ethinyl estradiol 30 mcg/ levomefolate calcium 451 mcg tablets and levomefolate calcium 451 mcg tablets). In women who choose an OC for birth control, SAFYRAL raises folate levels for the purpose of reducing the risk of rare neural tube defects (NTDs) in a pregnancy conceived while taking SAFYRAL or shortly after discontinuing it.

17 Dec 2010

Neonaticide is more common than previously thought

Although rare, the true incidence of neonaticides - the unlawful killing of a baby within the first 24 hours of its life - is more than five times as common as official estimates suggest, suggests research published online in the Fetal and Neonatal edition of the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

14 Dec 2010

Data from comparative REVLIMID study in multiple myeloma presented at 52nd ASH

Celgene International Sàrl today announced that data from a randomised clinical study conducted by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) were presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology comparing REVLIMID® (lenalidomide) plus low-dose dexamethasone (Rd) to lenalidomide plus high-dose dexamethasone (RD) in both younger and older newly-diagnosed multiple myeloma patients (NDMM).

7 Dec 2010

Study: REVLIMID and dexamethasone for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma reduce risk of disease progression

Celgene International Sàrl (NASDAQ: CELG) announced that data evaluating combination therapy REVLIMID® (lenalidomide) and dexamethasone in patients with high-risk asymptomatic smoldering multiple myeloma were presented during the American Society of Hematology's annual meeting. The study reported REVLIMID and dexamethasone prolonged time to progression.

6 Dec 2010

Investigational study data of REVLIMID with rituximab or rituximab-containing regimen in CLL patients presented at ASH

Celgene International Sàrl announced that clinical data from two investigational studies evaluating the use of REVLIMID (lenalidomide) either with rituximab or following a rituximab-containing regimen in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia were presented at the 52nd American Society of Hematology annual meeting.

6 Dec 2010

Medical, socioeconomic, and gender-based factors impact global women's health issues

Access to quality reproductive healthcare for women around the globe is a fundamental aspect of a woman's human rights, freedom, equity, and right to control her own body. A Special Section on Global Women's Reproductive Health in the current issue of Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., explores the compelling medical, socioeconomic, and gender-based factors that impact global women's health issues. The Special Focus articles are available free online.

1 Dec 2010

WomanCare Global expands product portfolio to include Roselle, Optinor

WomanCare Global is pleased to announce an expansion of their global product portfolio to include Roselle, a combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill containing 150 micrograms of levonorgestrel and 30 micrograms of ethinylestradiol and Optinor, a progesterone-only emergency contraception pill (ECP) containing 750 micrograms of levonorgestrel.

29 Nov 2010

Doctors treating female epilepsy patients have to consider specific hormonal situation

Doctors treating female epilepsy patients have to take account of the specific hormonal situation in women. Such an approach can often reduce the limitations imposed by the disease. This is the conclusion reached by Sabine Weil of Munich University and her co-authors in the latest issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International

25 Nov 2010

AP reports on 'significant' clarification of Pope's comments on condoms to prevent HIV

The Associated Press/Washington Post reports that after questions arose about Pope Benedict XVI's comments on the use of condoms to prevent HIV, which one translation "implied that he was referring primarily to homosexual sex, when condoms aren't being used as a form of contraception," Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi "told reporters Tuesday that he asked the pope whether he intended his comments to only apply to male prostitutes.

24 Nov 2010

Health spending proposals, health law repeal divide lawmakers

The Wall Street Journal reports that proposals for cuts in health spending by President Barack Obama's deficit-reduction commission are drawing opposition from health companies, doctors and some consumer groups. "How to tackle health costs has become a sticking point for the 18-member committee, which last week concluded three days of meetings without a firm agreement among members.

24 Nov 2010

Contraception News and Research

Latest Contraception News and Research

New feature: KHN's selection of thought-provoking magazine articles on health policy issues

Family physicians often uncomfortable in discussing IUDs with patients

Hologic announces acquisition of Interlace Medical

Problems reported with Implanon contraceptive implant

Celgene announces regulatory submissions for blood cancer therapies REVLIMID and ISTODAX

Pfizer's sublicensing of Tanaproget triggers $1 million upfront payment to Ligand

Vatican issues communique to clarify Pope's statement on condoms

FDA approves Watson's novel oral contraceptive

Teen birth rate at a seven decade low: Report

Parents most influence teens' decisions about sex

Bayer's SAFYRAL oral contraceptive receives FDA approval

Neonaticide is more common than previously thought

Data from comparative REVLIMID study in multiple myeloma presented at 52nd ASH

Study: REVLIMID and dexamethasone for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma reduce risk of disease progression

Investigational study data of REVLIMID with rituximab or rituximab-containing regimen in CLL patients presented at ASH

Medical, socioeconomic, and gender-based factors impact global women's health issues

WomanCare Global expands product portfolio to include Roselle, Optinor

Doctors treating female epilepsy patients have to consider specific hormonal situation

AP reports on 'significant' clarification of Pope's comments on condoms to prevent HIV

Health spending proposals, health law repeal divide lawmakers

Breathing New Life into Diagnostics: Plasmion's SICRIT Technology

Discover how SciY empowers scientists

Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

Contraception News and Research

Latest Contraception News and Research

Breathing New Life into Diagnostics: Plasmion's SICRIT Technology

Discover how SciY empowers scientists

Why use light scattering to analyze proteins and viral vectors?

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