Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Annual BioPartnering China conference launched at Renaissance Shanghai Pudong Hotel

The 3rd Annual BioPartnering China conference, co-produced by TVG and the Zhangjiang Biotech Pharmaceutical Base, launched today at the Renaissance Shanghai Pudong Hotel. The conference attracts a global representation of industry leaders from China, Europe and the USA.

6 Dec 2010

ConvaTec Healthcare offers $1,870,000,000 in Senior Secured Notes, Senior Notes

ConvaTec Healthcare, a world-leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of innovative medical technologies for community and hospital care, today announced that in connection with a refinancing of its debt under its existing senior secured and mezzanine facilities and in combination with new senior secured credit facilities, it is offering $1,870,000,000 (equivalent) in Senior Secured Notes and Senior Notes.

6 Dec 2010

MBH receives prestigious 2010 Healthcare IT Summit Innovation Award

Autonomy Corporation plc, a global leader in infrastructure software for the enterprise, today announced that Autonomy Meaning Based Healthcare received the prestigious 2010 Healthcare IT Summit Innovation Award for "Solution With Greatest Market Potential." Autonomy was selected for this award by attendees at the 2010 Healthcare IT Summit, including leading healthcare delivery organizations and insurance providers such as Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Johns Hopkins Healthcare, UnitedHealth Group, and CIGNA.

6 Dec 2010

Chemo101.com officially launched during ASH meeting

Chemo101.com, a new educational website for cancer patients, made its official launch during the American Society of Hematology meeting this past weekend in Orlando, FL. The brainchild of veteran healthcare consultant to the pharmaceutical industry, Kristin Gustafson, Chemo101 is an innovative and comprehensive new platform that provides those undergoing chemotherapy treatment with the most up-to-date resources and information they need, all in one easy to access place online.

6 Dec 2010

ACAAI allergist experts available to comment on new food allergy guidelines

Food allergy experts from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology are available to comment as the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases releases the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy on December 6. The ACAAI was one of more than 30 professional organizations, federal agencies and lay organizations who collaborated on the development of these recommendations.

6 Dec 2010

Health insurance news: Conn. rejects Anthem BC/BS rate increase, stock prices 'steady' despite reform law

The state Insurance Department refuted charges Friday by a nonprofit health-policy research group that Connecticut insurance regulators are understaffed and approve only minor changes to health-insurance rate hikes. Acting Insurance Commissioner Barbara C. Spear reacted to a report released this week by the Kaiser Family Foundation that said the state Department of Insurance 'has only one full-time actuary on staff' assigned to review rate filings for both the individual and small-group markets. ... 'Staffing levels do not have anything to do with the thoroughness of our rate review process,' Spear said." (Sturdevant, 12/13).

6 Dec 2010

HSS creates Center for Musculoskeletal Outcomes and Patient Oriented Research

Hospital for Special Surgery announced the creation of the Center for Musculoskeletal Outcomes and Patient Oriented Research to translate information collected from an extensive patient population into studies that will guide experts in preventing, diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders.

4 Dec 2010

Study reveals higher mortality rate among veteran status epilepticus patients

Status epilepticus (SE) is a true medical and neurologic emergency. To better understand the causes, treatment approaches and associated outcomes among SE patients, investigators at the Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System retrospectively reviewed all SE cases treated within their system over an eight year period.

4 Dec 2010

HCW, CAI invite NC employers to participate in Healthcare Benefits & Cost Survey

Hill, Chesson & Woody and Capital Associated Industries have launched their sixth annual Healthcare Benefits & Cost Survey, and all N.C.-based employers are invited to participate and strengthen the sample by visiting the surveys tab on CAI's Web site, www.capital.org.

4 Dec 2010

Pharnext receives French approval for Pleodrug Phase II clinical trial in Charcot-Marie Tooth disease type 1A

Pharnext SAS, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of innovative treatments for severe neurological diseases and other major unmet medical needs, today announced that the French Agency for Healthcare Product Safety (AFSSAPS) has authorized a Phase II clinical trial with the first drug (a Pleodrug™) generated by the company's Pleotherapy™ technology platform in patients suffering from Charcot-Marie Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A.

4 Dec 2010

HHS, CCSC establish new national awards program

The US Department of Health and Human Services and the Critical Care Societies Collaborative have established a new national awards program. The National Awards Program to Recognize Achievements in Eliminating Healthcare-Associated Infections will annually recognize teams of critical care professionals and healthcare institutions that achieve excellence and notable, sustained improvements in preventing healthcare-associated infections, specifically infections in critical care.

4 Dec 2010

Companies, media organizations join Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition to launch pledge campaign

Prostate cancer is a serious health concern in Georgia. According to the American Cancer Society, the state of Georgia ranks 11th in number of estimated deaths per capita from the disease. In an effort to raise awareness about prostate cancer and ensure more men commit to be informed and screened, several companies and media organizations have joined the Georgia Prostate Cancer Coalition in launching a pledge campaign.

4 Dec 2010

Neurostimulation effective for management of chronic pain

St. Jude Medical, Inc., a global medical device company, today announced two-year results in a post-market clinical study evaluating neurostimulation (spinal cord stimulation) for the management of chronic low back pain. Presented at the 14th annual North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) meeting in Las Vegas, the study found that 70 percent of neurostimulation patients reported overall pain relief of 50 percent or better at their final two-year visit.

4 Dec 2010

Debt panel members vote today; Some say recommendations will shape future efforts to reduce health costs

News outlets report that as the presidential debt commission plans to vote today, the final recommendations could shape the debate on how budgeteers treat Medicare, Medicaid and health care costs in the future -- regardless of the vote tally.

4 Dec 2010

Omnicell to unveil new solutions at 2010 ASHP midyear conference

Omnicell, Inc., a leading provider of medication management solutions to acute healthcare facilities, will display its latest innovations during the 45th American Society for Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition from December 6-8 in Anaheim, California.

From Omnicell, Inc. 4 Dec 2010

Information technology could improve prevention, treatment of depression

Could information technology and data mining techniques be used to improve the diagnosis and treatment of depression? That's the question scientists in Australia hope to have answered in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Functional Informatics and Personalised Medicine.

4 Dec 2010

EHSI announces acquisition of Rotary Cell Culture System

Emerging Healthcare Solutions, Inc. announced today that it has acquired a Rotary Cell Culture System, or bioreactor, developed using revolutionary NASA research in the field of microgravity.

4 Dec 2010

Administration offers new guidance to make the small business tax credit more user-friendly

The administration released guidance for the small business tax credit provision of the health law while the AMA asked for specific anti-trust treatment regarding accountable care organizations.

4 Dec 2010

Study: Some states fall short in insurance rate reviews

A new study finds that states don't always flex their muscle when it comes to regulating insurance rates. Meanwhile, there is movement at the top for WellPoint.

4 Dec 2010

GE Healthcare announces extension of tender offer for Clarient

GE Healthcare, a unit of General Electric Company, announced today that it is extending its previously announced tender offer for all of the outstanding capital stock of Clarient, Inc. until 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on Thursday, December 16, 2010.

4 Dec 2010