Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

ACO defenders emerge as comment period ends

Deadline day arrived Monday for comments on Medicare's much-abused proposal for accountable care organizations. And supporters of the Obama administration championed its pro-patient provisions in the face of criticism from the health industry. Early industry feedback on the ACO rule focused on the expense and complexity it posed for hospitals, doctors and health organizations interested in teaming up to achieve higher quality, better patient care and lower costs.

8 Jun 2011

AHF criticizes HHS Secretary announcement on 'expanded' AIDS funds

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today criticized an announcement by Health and Human services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius yesterday regarding so-called "expanded" funding for cash-strapped state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs).

8 Jun 2011

As health care technology advances, costs increase

The device industry has launched an aggressive campaign to avoid tighter Food and Drug Administration rules that would help generate the information needed to show whether newer devices are actually superior to the ones they replace.

8 Jun 2011

State roundup: Texas legislator seeks to force vote on 'health care compact'

Two Atlanta gatherings Monday showed that health care isn't waiting around for whatever happens to the 2010 reform law. Gov. Nathan Deal's committee on health exchanges met at the state Capitol for introductions and background on their task. ... Ryan Teague, deputy executive counsel for the governor, said the health reform law is "a heavyhanded approach to expanding Medicaid."

8 Jun 2011

The NY Times: A community hospital closes

A railroad bridge separates Huron Hospital, one of the last remaining institutions in the impoverished neighborhood of East Cleveland, from the city's downtown and its two major hospitals.

8 Jun 2011

Ximedica opens regional office at UEL Center, Minneapolis

Ximedica, a full-service medical device product development firm, announced the opening of its regional office at the University Enterprise Laboratories (UEL) Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

7 Jun 2011

Merck, Roche partner to develop cancer diagnostic assays

Merck, known outside the United States and Canada as MSD, and Roche today announced that they have entered into a collaboration focused on the application and development of diagnostic assays for use with Merck's investigational cancer therapy portfolio.

From Roche Sequencing and Life Science 7 Jun 2011

LUMEDX releases new Webinar, The Power of Analytics: Managing Cath Lab Growth in Real Time

LUMEDX Corporation, a leading provider of integrated cardiovascular information systems (CVIS), today announced the release of a new and complimentary educational Webinar on CD, The Power of Analytics: Managing Cath Lab Growth in Real Time.

7 Jun 2011

Proteus, Avery Dennison partner for patch-based wearable sensors

Avery Dennison Medical Solutions, a division of Avery Dennison Corporation and a global leader in pressure-sensitive adhesive technologies for medical applications, in cooperation with Proteus Biomedical, Inc., a leader in intelligent medicine and mobile health products, today announced a partnership focusing on patch-based wearable sensors for consumer, home health care and remote medical applications.

7 Jun 2011

AMPYRA ER Tablets improve walking ability in patients with multiple sclerosis

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. today announced an analysis of pooled clinical trial results showed patients who were responders to AMPYRA (dalfampridine) Extended Release Tablets, 10 mg demonstrated clinically relevant improvements in walking ability as measured by patient self-report on the 12-Item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12), regardless of either their baseline Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score or baseline walking speed.

7 Jun 2011

Bayer HealthCare seeks EU marketing authorization of VEGF Trap-Eye for treatment of wet AMD

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Bayer HealthCare announced that Bayer HealthCare has submitted an application for marketing authorization in Europe for VEGF Trap-Eye for the treatment of the neovascular form of age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD).

7 Jun 2011

Jindal's Medicaid plan questioned; Wash. lawmakers enact fee on nursing homes to increase federal match

Calling it a "dubious privatization venture," a Baton Rouge good-government group last week questioned Gov. Bobby Jindal's plan to turn over large chunks of the state Medicaid program to private insurers and praised the Louisiana House of Representatives for trying to slow the process.

7 Jun 2011

3M introduces Kind Removal Silicone Tape for patients with sensitive, at-risk skin

3M Skin and Wound Care introduces 3M Kind Removal Silicone Tape with a new, silicone-based, adhesive technology that provides an optimal balance of securement and gentleness.

7 Jun 2011

Regenesis Biomedical closes $5.3M Series C equity financing

Regenesis Biomedical, Inc., a medical technology company that markets the Provant Therapy System, announced today the closing of a $5.3 million Series C equity financing.

7 Jun 2011

AstraZeneca receives AmeriCares' Power of Partnership Award for global health programs

AmeriCares has awarded its annual Power of Partnership Award to AstraZeneca for its outstanding commitment to increasing access to health care for people in need both here at home and throughout the developing world.

7 Jun 2011

Brainlab enters into definitive agreement to acquire Voyant Health

Brainlab announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Voyant Health.

7 Jun 2011

Trifunctional antibody Catumaxomab triggers vaccination effect against cancer

TRION Pharma GmbH has announced that the results from two different studies demonstrate catumaxomab’s capacity to activate the immune system in a way that can otherwise only be achieved through vaccination. The data were obtained by two independent research teams using catumaxomab in malignant ascites and gastric cancer, respectively. The results were recently presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

6 Jun 2011

Who’s pushing Granny over the cliff?

The latest Mediscare ad shows Congressman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) pushing an old woman in a wheelchair off a cliff. The Republicans are allegedly killing “Medicare as we know it.” But this is a diversion from the real question: What will “healthcare reform” or ObamaCare do to Granny? Democrats may hope to keep Americans from figuring that out until after the 2012 election.

6 Jun 2011

Gleevec shows significant overall survival benefit for patients w/ GIST after 3 years of adjuvant treatment vs. 1 year

Novartis announced new data today showing a significant improvement in both recurrence-free survival and overall survival for patients taking Gleevec® (imatinib mesylate)* tablets for three years after surgery to remove KIT (CD117)-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumors (KIT+ GIST) compared to one year of treatment. These data will be presented at the 47th American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) plenary session on Sunday, June 5.

6 Jun 2011

GOP presidential hopefuls take stabs at health law, offer views on fiscal policies

Political activity continues to swirl around the health law. Congressional Republicans say they are still pressing forward with repeal plans, and possible presidential hopefuls take on the measure and offer specific policy positions.

6 Jun 2011