Heart Disease News and Research

Latest Heart Disease News and Research

US Phase 2 clinical trial of RVX-208 commenced by Resverlogix

Resverlogix Corp. ("Resverlogix" or the "Company") announced today that it has begun dosing patients in its US Phase 2 clinical trial lead by Cleveland Clinic. This trial will examine RVX-208, Resverlogix's oral small molecule therapy for the treatment of atherosclerosis, in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

23 Dec 2009

Heart and Stroke Foundation urges government to regulate trans fats in Canada's food supply

The Heart and Stroke Foundation calls on the federal government to live up to the commitment made two years ago to regulate trans fats in Canada's food supply, based on Health Canada's final set of monitoring results released today.

23 Dec 2009

Viron Therapeutics' three drug candidates granted U.S. patents

Viron Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering the development of virally-derived protein therapeutics, today announced that it has been granted U.S. patents related to three of its drug candidates, VT-111, VT-346 and VT-384.

23 Dec 2009

Cardiac rehabilitation improves survival rate in heart attack patients

Medicare beneficiaries with heart disease who attended more cardiac rehabilitation sessions had fewer heart attacks and were less likely to die within four years than those who went to rehab less, researchers report in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

23 Dec 2009

Niacin may not be beneficial for type 2 diabetic patients

High-density lipoprotein (HDL), known as "good" cholesterol, isn't as protective for people with type 2 diabetes, according to research reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

22 Dec 2009

Bacterial cellulose: An alternative for artificial blood vessels

The cellulose produced by bacteria could be used for artificial blood vessels in the future as it carries a lower risk of blood clots than the synthetic materials currently used for bypass operations, reveals a thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

22 Dec 2009

LA BioMed physician-researchers named Super Doctors in the Los Angeles Magazine

Los Angeles Magazine, in its January issue, will name 37 of the physician-researchers at Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed) to be among Southern California Super Doctors.

22 Dec 2009

Darbepoetin alfa does not reduce cardiovascular problem in anemic patients on dialysis

An international study authored by a UT Southwestern Medical Center researcher has concluded that the anemia drug darbepoetin alfa works no better than a placebo in several other applications previously thought to be promising.

22 Dec 2009

Eritoran well tolerated in Phase II trial for severe sepsis

The investigational compound, eritoran tetrasodium ("eritoran," also known as E5564) appeared to be well tolerated in patients with severe sepsis in a Phase II trial published in the January issue of Critical Care Medicine, the official journal of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the largest multiprofessional organization dedicated to ensuring excellence and consistency in the practice of critical care.

22 Dec 2009

GI Dynamics' EndoBarrier non-surgical type 2 diabetes therapy receives European CE mark approval

GI Dynamics, a leader in non-surgical, endoscopic treatments for type 2 diabetes and obesity, today announced that it has received European CE mark approval for the EndoBarrier™, a non-surgical therapy to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. The CE marking (an acronym for the French "Conformite Europeenne") certifies that a product has met EU requirements for marketing in Europe. Clinical trials involving more than 270 patients have demonstrated the significant weight loss and diabetes improvement achieved with the EndoBarrier Gastrointestinal Liner.

22 Dec 2009

PGxHealth, DHZ announce collaboration in genetic variant study with response to clopidogrel

PGxHealth, a division of Clinical Data, Inc., today announced that it has established a research collaboration with Deutsches Herzzentrum (DHZ), Munich, Germany, to evaluate the predictive value of genetic markers, including PGxHealth proprietary markers, for response to clopidogrel (Plavix®).

22 Dec 2009

Shire submits REPLAGAL BLA with the FDA

Shire plc , the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has submitted a BLA with the FDA for REPLAGAL(R) (agalsidase alfa), its enzyme replacement therapy for Fabry disease. REPLAGAL first received marketing authorization in the European Union in 2001, and is approved for the treatment of Fabry disease in 45 countries.

22 Dec 2009

First Edition: December 22, 2009

The big news today follows two main themes -- the Senate's march toward Democrats' Christmas eve deadline for passing a health reform bill; and, the challenges that will be involved when the House and Senate versions of the overhaul are reconciled.

22 Dec 2009

PROXY Governance recommends vote against re-election of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries' board

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced that PROXY Governance, Inc., a leading independent proxy advisory firm, recommended that shareholders of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. withhold their votes for the re-election of the existing board of directors of Taro and vote against the board's two nominees for external director and against both of the board's indemnification proposals in the upcoming Annual General Meeting of Taro's shareholders scheduled for December 31, 2009.

22 Dec 2009

Health and education leaders commend school for promoting physical activity among students

During a visit today to Conrad Weiser Middle School, Department of Health Secretary Everette James and Secretary of Education Gerald Zahorchak commended the school for its efforts to increase physical activity among students.

22 Dec 2009

Nation's leading fitness facility to open its second location in Texas

Texas will once again be able to indulge in the five-star service they have come to expect from Equinox Fitness Clubs. The Nation's leading fitness facility will open its second Texas location in Preston Hollow, today, December 21, 2009.

22 Dec 2009

Halifax Health Systems receives 2009 InfoWorld 100 Award

Meru Networks, Inc., a pioneer in 802.11n enterprise networking, announced today that its customer Halifax Health Systems, a facilitator of specialized healthcare services in East Central Florida, received an InfoWorld 100 Award for deploying one of the 100 best information technology (IT) projects of 2009. Halifax’s wireless LAN (WLAN) infrastructure employs Meru Networks high-performance 802.11n technology as the foundation for wireless connectivity in their new 500,000 square foot state-of-the-art medical facility in Daytona Beach, Florida.

22 Dec 2009

Scripps Health $100M series 2010 revenue bonds rated 'AA-'

Fitch Ratings assigns an 'AA-' rating to the following California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA), CA revenue bonds: --$100 million series 2010 revenue bonds (Scripps Health); --$50 million series 2010B variable-rate revenue bonds (Scripps Health);

22 Dec 2009

Cell Therapeutics supports Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. announced today its support of the Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers of America's (PhRMA) "Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals, revised July 2008" (PhRMA Code). Adherence to the Code is voluntary for commercial biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

22 Dec 2009

Researchers use hydrogels to induce significant vasculature growth in areas of damaged tissue

Regenerative medicine therapies often require the growth of functional, stable blood vessels at the site of an injury. Using synthetic polymers called hydrogels, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have been able to induce significant vasculature growth in areas of damaged tissue.

22 Dec 2009