Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Health law repeal murky as groups press officials, target specific provisions

In an analysis, The New York Times, reports that while "Republicans have a big majority in the House, Democratic control of the Senate and the presidential veto power make repeal [of the health law] or major change impossible. [But] there is another reason. More than a few Republicans know that while the politics of trying to nitpick provisions and curb funding are appealing, any wholesale repeal of major provisions of the health care overhaul is likely to generate a backlash.

23 Nov 2010

Apricus files protocol of PrevOnco Phase 3 clinical trial for FDA SPA program

Apricus Biosciences, Inc., today announced that it has filed the protocol for a proposed Phase 3 clinical trial of PrevOnco, its proprietary treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer), with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

23 Nov 2010

Omega announces expiration of Senior Notes due 2020

Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. announced today that its offer to exchange any and all of its outstanding $200 million of 7½% Senior Notes due 2020 that were issued in a private placement in February 2010, for $200 million of 7½% Senior Notes due 2020 that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on Monday, November 22, 2010.

22 Nov 2010

Medtronic enters merger agreement to acquire Ardian

Medtronic, Inc. and privately-held Ardian, Inc. announced today that they have entered into a merger agreement whereby Medtronic will acquire Ardian.

22 Nov 2010

Winston announces Phase II study results of Dolorac for chronic migraine at Lazard Conference

Winston Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel pain management therapies, announced the results of its Phase II study on its patented Dolorac Nasal Solution (doxepin 0.4%) for prophylaxis of chronic migraine at the Lazard Capital Markets 7th Annual Healthcare Conference in New York.

22 Nov 2010

New simple diagnostic tool to detect dangerous viruses

Boston University researchers have developed a simple diagnostic tool that can quickly identify dangerous viruses like Ebola and Marburg. The biosensor, which is the size of a quarter and can detect viruses in a blood sample, could be used in developing nations, airports and other places where natural or man-made outbreaks could erupt.

22 Nov 2010

Is the decade long flirtation with vaccines over?

In light of increasing competition, saturation of key vaccine sectors and a lack of innovative late-stage vaccine candidates, maintaining the strong growth of the last decade will be a major challenge for the vaccines industry suggests independent market analyst, Datamonitor.

22 Nov 2010

North Sunflower Medical Center to deploy McKesson health IT solutions

As part of its mission to become the first critical access hospital in Mississippi to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health record EHR) technology, North Sunflower Medical Center plans to deploy a suite of McKesson information technology solutions. The new systems will replace paper-based records and disparate technologies and address duplicate data entry challenges with communications capabilities designed to automate outdated manual processes and better coordinate care.

22 Nov 2010

BioPharm Asia third quarter revenue increases 68% to $44.7 million

BioPharm Asia, Inc., a producer, distributor and retailer of medical products in China, today announced its financial results for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

22 Nov 2010

UAHC first quarter revenues increase 20.3% to $2.1 million

United American Healthcare Corporation today announced financial results for the Company's fiscal first quarter ended Sept. 30, 2010, which included higher revenues and improved bottom line results.

22 Nov 2010

Grifols launches Flebogamma 10% DIF intravenous immune globulin in the U.S.

Grifols today announced availability of its recently approved Flebogamma® 10% DIF intravenous immune globulin. Grifols is a global healthcare company specializing in bioscience medicines derived from human plasma. Approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Flebogamma® 10% DIF was obtained in July 2010 and final approval in Europe is expected before the end of the year. Today's announcement signals widespread product availability to the US market.

22 Nov 2010

Medworxx Bed Optimization System goes live across St. Michael's Hospital

Medworxx Inc., provider of healthcare solutions for patient flow, compliance and education, announced today that St. Michael's Hospital is now live on the Medworxx Bed Optimization System (BOS). Medworxx BOS is now live across St. Michael's Hospital, helping to manage 460 beds.

22 Nov 2010

Bacterin secures $8 million financing from WTI

Bacterin International Holdings, Inc., a creator and developer of revolutionary bone graft material and anti-infective coatings for medical applications, today announced that it has secured an asset based lending facility of up to $8.0 million from Western Technology Investment, and has received approximately $980,000 through the exercise of warrants for a total of approximately $9 million potentially available for the Company's use.

22 Nov 2010

First Edition: November 22, 2010

Today's headlines offer a range of health policy stories, including more reports on deficit reduction issues, the continuing politics swirling around the health law repeal effort and employers' soaring health care costs.

22 Nov 2010

Interim results from H.P. Acthar Gel study in patients with advanced diabetic nephropathy

On November 20 at the American Society of Nephrology 43rd Annual Meeting, interim results presented from an ongoing, randomized prospective study conducted independently by James A. Tumlin, MD, at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga indicated that 9 of 15 patients (60%) with advanced diabetic nephropathy who are currently enrolled in the study and have completed or are still undergoing a six month course of treatment with H.P. Acthar ® Gel have exhibited a clinically significant decrease in proteinuria and achieved stabilized renal function.

22 Nov 2010

Toshiba receives top ratings on IMV ServiceTrak's 2010 MRI system service report

As healthcare organizations continue to look for the best value in imaging and customer service, Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc.'s Service organization continues to deliver on the company's dedication to top-tier service and customer satisfaction. In the 2010 IMV ServiceTrak™ ratings report on MRI system service, Toshiba received more number one ratings than any other manufacturer in the categories of Service Performance, Phone Support Performance and Remote Service.

22 Nov 2010

New study links high prevalence of insomnia and poor quality of life in software engineers

Insomnia is bad news for software engineers' quality of life and deserves greater recognition and attention, according to new research by Sara Sarrafi Zadeh and Khyrunnisa Begum from the University of Mysore in India. Their work shows that poor sleep has a bearing on quality of life - affecting physical and mental health in particular - in this group with high levels of job-related stress. Their paper is published online in Springer's journal Applied Research in Quality of Life.

22 Nov 2010

SESCAM selects WeatherBug weather monitoring solution for emergency services operations

WeatherBug®, the leading provider of consumer and professional weather products and services and operator of the largest weather observing and lightning network, announced its selection by SESCAM (Servicio de Salud de Castilla-La Mancha), a regional healthcare organization in central Spain that serves more than two million living throughout the region of Castilla-La Mancha.

22 Nov 2010

AHF hails Pope Benedict's remarks on condom usage to prevent HIV transmission

AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest global AIDS organization, today hailed recent remarks by Pope Benedict XVI on the "justified" use condoms to prevent the spread of potentially deadly diseases like HIV that suggest a softening the Roman Catholic Church's absolute opposition to condom use in all circumstances.

22 Nov 2010

President of Catholics issues statement on Pope's view to prevent HIV transmission

Jon O'Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, issued the following statement after Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged that condoms have a role to play in preventing the transmission of HIV: We are delighted that the pope has acknowledged that condoms can help reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections including HIV. It is a marvelous victory for common sense and reason and a major step forward towards recognizing that condom use can play a vital role in reducing the future impact of the HIV pandemic.

22 Nov 2010