Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Experts at Ninth International Symposium discuss health effects and safety of S-equol

The latest research into the health effects and safety of a soy-based compound called S-equol was described in talks and presentations by experts at a special session on Tuesday, Oct. 19 during the Ninth International Symposium on the Role of Soy in Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment, held Oct. 16 to 19 in Washington, D.C.

20 Oct 2010

Salix acquires rights to colon cancer screening agent from Photocure

Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. today announced that the Company has acquired rights to Lumacan™ from Photocure, a Norwegian specialty pharmaceutical company. Lumacan is a novel agent designed to assist in the detection of precancerous and cancerous lesions in the colon.

20 Oct 2010

Sysmex America enters contract agreement with Amerinet

Sysmex, a global leader in medical diagnostic testing equipment and information systems technology, today announced a three-year, dual source hematology contract agreement with Amerinet.

From Sysmex America, Inc. 20 Oct 2010

Studies explore efforts to measure, improve hospitals' surgical outcomes

Hospital Compare, an HHS website that allows patients to compare hospitals online using various indicators of quality, is intended to help them choose better facilities for their medical care. But a new report in the Archives of Surgery says the website doesn't help Medicare beneficiaries in need of certain high-risk surgeries find better facilities.

20 Oct 2010

NHLBI launches multicenter study of body cooling treatment in infants and children after cardiac arrest

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health, has launched the first large-scale, multicenter study to investigate the effectiveness of body cooling treatment in infants and children who have had cardiac arrest. The Therapeutic Hypothermia after Pediatric Cardiac Arrest (THAPCA) trials total more than $21 million over six years.

20 Oct 2010

DOJ sues Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield over pricing deals

The U.S. Justice Department is suing Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and alleging that it violated antitrust laws by forcing hospitals to charge higher prices to rival insurers.

20 Oct 2010

New 3D Body Volume Index measurement calculates obesity risk

A new obesity measurement for the 21st Century, which can help identify individuals at risk of illness such as heart disease, strokes and diabetes, has been officially launched.

20 Oct 2010

Pearl announces $69 million Series C financing round

Pearl Therapeutics Inc., a privately held company developing clinically differentiated combination therapies for the treatment of highly prevalent chronic respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), today announced a $69 million Series C financing. The financing round was led by Vatera Healthcare Partners and included existing investors, Clarus Ventures, New Leaf Venture Partners and 5AM Ventures.

20 Oct 2010

Candidates continue to clash over health care law

Candidates around the nation are increasingly focusing on what they'll do with the new health law if they're elected as clashes over the overhaul's usefulness and future continue to occur on the campaign trail.

20 Oct 2010

State Roundup: Md.'s heath info exchange; LA to cut retiree health benefits; N.Y.'s mental health building boom

The Washington Post: "A Maryland health information exchange that will allow hospitals, physicians, labs and radiology centers to share patient information within the state went live last week. Three hospitals, three radiology centers, Quest Diagnostics and the Laboratory Corp. of America are already participating in the exchange."

20 Oct 2010

HIV/AIDS status grim in Australia: Experts

Reports show that most Australians are complacent about getting AIDS. They feel that unless a person is homosexual or an injecting drug user or a sex worker, they are not at risk.

19 Oct 2010

Agendia establishes contract with Humana for coverage of MammaPrint breast cancer recurrence test

Agendia, a world leader in molecular cancer diagnostics, announced today that it has established a contract with leading insurance provider Humana to reimburse for the company's MammaPrint test. Agendia's contract with Humana expands the coverage for MammaPrint by more than 17 million lives. In November 2009, Palmetto GBA, California's Part B Medicare administrator, established coding guidelines for MammaPrint, allowing healthcare providers from across the United States to submit claims for the test.

19 Oct 2010

MED3OOO acquires Insurance Solutions Group

Today, MED3OOO announced that it has acquired Insurance Solutions Group, Inc., an insurance consulting and brokerage firm based in Wexford, PA. Carl Smollinger, President, and Tom Dean, Vice President of Insurance Solutions Group, will join MED3OOO. Mr. Smollinger will serve as a Senior Vice President over MED3OOO's managed care operations and will remain as President of MED3OOO's Insurance Solutions Group subsidiary. Mr. Dean will continue his role as Vice President of Insurance Solutions Group, Inc.

19 Oct 2010

U.S. patient monitoring market to reach $4 billion by 2017: iData Research

According to a new report by iData Research the leading global authority in medical device and pharmaceutical market research, the U.S. patient monitoring market is expected to reach almost $4 billion by 2017.

19 Oct 2010

Lilly and Novo Nordisk have the best diabetes corporate image: Study

Endocrinologists, primary care physicians (PCPs) and nurse educators perceive Lilly and Novo Nordisk to have the best diabetes corporate image, with Lilly slightly outscoring Novo among endocrinologists and Novo outscoring Lilly among PCPs and nurses. Results show that endocrinologists see wider differences among the diabetes companies in overall image and key performance dimensions more so than do PCPs and nurses, according to Market Strategies International's syndicated 2010 U.S. Diabetes MSImage® study.

From Novo Nordisk 19 Oct 2010

Accium announces new pricing for AMS measurement service

Accium BioSciences, a leading provider of bioanalytical accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) services in North America, announced today new pricing for its AMS measurement service at $99 per sample. GLP-compliant service is now available at $115 per sample. The new pricing includes sample graphitization and AMS measurement services.

19 Oct 2010

d-Wise announces opening of office in the UK

d-Wise, provider of powerful business solutions for unique challenges of Life Sciences & Healthcare industries, announced the opening of its office in the UK. The company's UK efforts are spearheaded by James McDermott, a leader and key player in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology outsourcing arena.

19 Oct 2010

Metcare enters definitive agreement to acquire assets of Delima's medical practice

Metropolitan Health Networks, Inc. a leading provider of healthcare services in Florida, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Metcare of Florida, Inc., has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets and assume certain liabilities of Selma C. Delima, M.D., P.A.

19 Oct 2010

Johnson & Johnson third quarter sales decrease 0.7% to $15.0 billion

Johnson & Johnson today announced sales of $15.0 billion for the third quarter of 2010, a decrease of 0.7% as compared to the third quarter of 2009. Operational results increased 0.1% and the negative impact of currency was 0.8%. Domestic sales declined 2.5%, while international sales increased 1.1%, reflecting operational growth of 2.6% and a negative currency impact of 1.5%.

19 Oct 2010

First Edition: October 19, 2010

Today's major health policy headlines include reports about the latest developments in Virginia's court challenge against the health law, a U.S. government lawsuit targeting Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield for anti-trust activities and a study about the Department of Health and Human Services' Hospital Compare.

19 Oct 2010