Healthcare News and Research

Latest Healthcare News and Research

Perrigo signs definitive merger agreement to acquire PBM Holdings for $808M in cash

Perrigo Company today announced that it has signed a definitive merger agreement to acquire PBM Holdings, Inc. (PBM), the leading store-brand infant formula manufacturer, for approximately $808 million in cash. Based in Gordonsville, Virginia, privately-held PBM manufactures and distributes over-the-counter store brand infant formula and baby foods sold by leading retailers in the mass, club, grocery and drug channels in the United States, Canada, Mexico and China. The acquisition is expected to close in the Company's fiscal 2010 fourth quarter pending regulatory approval.

23 Mar 2010

School-based program raises awareness about preventing type 2 diabetes

It is well known that type 2 diabetes is largely a preventable chronic disease with proper nutrition, regular physical activity and the maintenance of a healthy body weight. Yet despite growing awareness, the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) reports that more than three million Canadians currently have diabetes, with an overwhelming 90% of cases reflecting type 2 diabetes. The CDA also suggests that a child born in the year 2000 has a frightening 1 in 3 chance of developing diabetes.

23 Mar 2010

Infections from Clostridium difficile on the rise in community hospitals

While prevention methods appear to be helping to lower hospital infection rates from MRSA, a deadly antibiotic-resistant bacterium, a new superbug is on the rise, according to research from the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network.

23 Mar 2010

Freedom to choose healthcare taken away, and stepping towards a socialist system

The Democrats may be celebrating in Washington, but the party may be premature, according to David Larsen, Republican candidate for the 7th Congressional District in NJ.

23 Mar 2010

Labeling calories on menus mandatory – unhealthy eating discouraged further

With the newly passed healthcare bill calorie counts at fast food and chain restaurants become mandatory. More than 200,000 fast food and other chain restaurants will have to include calorie counts on menus, menu boards, buffets, vending machines, alcoholic drink menus and even drive-throughs.

23 Mar 2010

AF Stat launch "AFib Educator" smartphone app and desktop widget

AF Stat- - a collaboration of healthcare leaders and organizations working to improve the health and well-being of people affected by atrial fibrillation (AFib) - today unveiled the "AFib Educator," a smartphone app and desktop widget to help healthcare practitioners better explain the risks and consequences of the disease to their patients.

23 Mar 2010

Pfizer's Neurontin to earn 50% patient share in treatment of postherpetic neuralgia: Survey

Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that a novel formulation of Pfizer's Neurontin that is dosed once a day would earn a 50 percent patient share in the treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, according to surveyed U.S. neurologists.

23 Mar 2010

Cinergy Health expresses concern for house healthcare bill

Cinergy Health, a nationwide provider of health insurance benefit programs for the consumer market, expressed its concern for the house healthcare bill that passed Sunday, March 21st.

23 Mar 2010

Covidien subsidiary wins patent infringement suit against Applied Medical Resources

Covidien, a leading global provider of healthcare products, today announced that a subsidiary of the Company won a patent infringement suit against Applied Medical Resources Corporation relating to certain of Applied Medical’s Kii™ and Universal® laparoscopic trocars.

23 Mar 2010

Most sweeping healthcare legislation in over 45 years passed, says NBCSL

Representative Calvin Smyre (GA), President of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL), applauds the passage of the Health Care Reform Act and issues the following statement. “Late yesterday evening, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the most sweeping healthcare legislation in over 45 years.”

23 Mar 2010

Short of specialists and cancer care

Associate Professor Bogda Koczwara, from the Medical Oncology Group of Australia, conducted the survey which found just 19 per cent of all those diagnosed with cancer were receiving chemotherapy.

23 Mar 2010

States ponder impacts of health bill

News outlets examine how lawmakers from different states voted and what states have to gain and loss from the national overhaul.

23 Mar 2010

Some industry groups see boon in health bill

The New York Times reports that the 32 million additional Americans who would be covered by health insurance by 2019 "would mean millions more Americans buying private health insurance and better able to pay for their hospital stays, doctors' visits, prescription drugs and medical devices. And some analysts said as the vote neared that the final legislation was shaping up as much kinder to the industry than many initially feared.

23 Mar 2010

What's next? Senate prepares to consider House-passed reconciliation fixes

The Washington Post: "The year-long battle over reshaping more than one-sixth of the U.S. economy will now move across the Capitol. The House's approval of the Senate's version of health-care legislation ... also will send to the Senate a 153-page package of amendments to that legislation." Democrats there will use the "reconciliation rule to try to pass the revisions based on a simple majority."

23 Mar 2010

Pelosi, Emanuel, Clyburn among those Dems who played pivotal role in House health bill passage

The Hill: "Nancy Pelosi showed Sunday why she is one of the most powerful Speakers in history. In shepherding one of the most controversial bills through the House, Pelosi achieved what some thought what was impossible after Scott Brown's victory in Massachusetts two months ago.

23 Mar 2010

Omnyx launches Global Collaborators Program to advance Digital Pathology products

Omnyx, a joint venture of GE Healthcare and The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, today announced the launch of a Global Collaborators Program to advance Digital Pathology products, technology, and use for clinical applications.

23 Mar 2010

NPAF applauds Congressional Democrats for supporting health insurance reform

The National Patient Advocate Foundation -- a national, non-profit organization dedicated to the mission of creating avenues of improved patient access to health care through public policy reform at the state and federal levels -- today praised Congressional Democrats for their courageous support of health insurance reform that will expand health insurance coverage and restrict the ability of insurance companies to deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions.

23 Mar 2010

GSK notifies regulatory authorities of the presence of PCV-1 in Rotarix vaccine

GlaxoSmithKline today confirmed that it has notified regulatory authorities of the presence of material from a virus called PCV-1 in its oral rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix™. PCV-1 does not multiply in humans and is not known to cause illness in humans.

23 Mar 2010

Health bill's passage rested on White House executive order on abortion

"Abortion was one of the most contentious issues in this debate from the very beginning, more than a year ago. A longstanding law — the Hyde Amendment — bars federal funds from being used to pay for elective abortions. It's an agreement between anti-abortion and pro-abortion rights lawmakers that is so delicate it could balance on a pin."

23 Mar 2010

Obama savors health care victory, prepares for tough road ahead

President Barack Obama is planning to "begin an immediate public relations blitz aimed at turning around Americans' opinion of the health-care bill. … Reshaping the legislation's image will take place in three phases, White House aides said: the immediate aftermath; the seven months until the November midterm elections; and the several years that follow, during which many provisions in the measure will gradually take effect."

22 Mar 2010