Heart Disease News and Research

Latest Heart Disease News and Research

Boston Scientific reports two-year data from SYNTAX clinical trial

Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANPI, TSX: ANP) today announced that its corporate partner, Boston Scientific (NYSE: BSX), has reported two-year data from its SYNTAX clinical trial comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using the Taxus(R) Express(R) Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stent System to coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

3 Sep 2009

Low HDL-cholesterol and high triglycerides linked to increased risk of CHD

Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and raised triglycerides, affecting millions of patients worldwide, are strongly linked to significantly increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) even in patients who achieve or surpass current low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) targets.

3 Sep 2009

Pfizer pleads guilty of defrauding Medicare, Medicaid and other government-funded health care programs

Pfizer, Inc. announced today it has agreed to plead guilty to criminal conduct and to pay more than $2 billion in criminal and civil fines, penalties and damages to settle allegations made in multiple whistleblower lawsuits that the pharmaceutical giant defrauded Medicare, Medicaid and other government-funded health care programs in connection with its market practices for four of its drugs. The settlement is the largest qui tam settlement in U.S. history.

3 Sep 2009

SYNTAX clinical trial results announced

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced two-year data from its SYNTAX clinical trial comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using the TAXUS((R)) Express((R)) Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stent System to coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

3 Sep 2009

CRT-D implants for treating sudden cardiac death

Electrophysiologists Robert Stevenson, MD, and Jeffrey L. Williams, MD, MS, FACC, are safely implanting cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators in the Good Samaritan Hospital (GSH) Cardiology (Heart Failure) Program.

3 Sep 2009

TAHU recommends revision of proposed healthcare plan

The Texas Association of Health Underwriters (TAHU) released a statement on behalf of more than 1700 insurance agents from across the state of Texas outlining their recommendation for a revision to the proposed healthcare plan.

3 Sep 2009

New Technology Showcase highlighting life science technologies to be featured

LifeScience Alley announced today that eight life science organizations from around the United States and Canada will be exhibiting cutting-edge technologies at the association’s Annual Conference on Dec. 9 as part of the New Technology Showcase.

3 Sep 2009

FDA extends review period for Endo Pharmaceuticals' testosterone undecanoate

Endo Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has been informed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the agency has extended its review period for its long-acting testosterone undecanoate injection for men diagnosed with hypogonadism, from Sept. 2, 2009 to Dec. 2, 2009.

3 Sep 2009

MIPI to sub-license the Onalta brand 90-Y edotreotide radiotherapeutic

Molecular Insight Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has completed an agreement to sub-license its Onalta™ brand 90-Y edotreotide radiotherapeutic in certain countries in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Russia and Turkey to BioMedica Life Sciences, S.A., Athens, Greece.

3 Sep 2009

Bio-Reference Laboratories reports third-quarter fiscal 2009 revenues

Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRLI) (Except for Per Share Data or where otherwise noted, numbers are in thousands) announced that the Company recorded current quarter revenues of $97,424, the best ever quarter in terms of revenues in corporate history and an increase of more than 25% over the $77,776 recorded in the third quarter, fiscal year 2008.

3 Sep 2009

Millennium's sNDA to be reviewed by the FDA

The Takeda Oncology Company today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the Company’s supplemental new drug application (sNDA) based on long- term overall survival (OS) data from the landmark VISTA1 trial examining the use of VELCADE based therapy in patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma (MM).

3 Sep 2009

Thermo Fisher Scientific to acquire B.R.A.H.M.S. for $470 million

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire B.R.A.H.M.S. AG for €330 million (approximately $470 million USD). B.R.A.H.M.S. is a leading provider of specialty in-vitro diagnostic tests based on its patented biomarkers for sepsis, cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, as well as intensive care treatments and prenatal screening.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 3 Sep 2009

New device for treating hypoglycemia launched globally

At this year’s annual meeting of the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Medtronic, Inc. announced the global launch of a novel technology designed to provide additional protection against the risks associated with hypoglycemia.

3 Sep 2009

m.pulse system for MCP therapy installed in ten hospitals

Cardiola AG announced today that it has placed its patented m.pulse system in 10 hospitals located in Germany and Switzerland, on the heels of the system’s CE-Mark approval. MCP was previously only available in a clinical setting. Now, m.pulse is the world’s first and only device enabling CAD patients to receive MCP therapy at home.

3 Sep 2009

Sepracor to be acquired by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma for $2.6 billion

Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. (“DSP”, TSE: 4506) and Sepracor Inc. (“Sepracor”, Nasdaq: SEPR) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which DSP will acquire Sepracor for approximately $2.6 billion through a cash tender offer of $23.00 per share, followed by a merger to acquire all remaining outstanding Sepracor shares at the same price paid in the tender offer.

3 Sep 2009

CIF launches campaign by distributing a "Ten Tips "card to help parents easily identify potential life threatening injuries

As high school student-athletes begin the academic year and participate in double-day sports practices statewide, the California Interscholastic Federation is drawing attention to the health risks associated with concussions, heat stroke and dehydration.

3 Sep 2009

Bextra qui tam lawsuit leads to Pfizer's whopping $2.3 billion settlement

The decision by a Pfizer sales representative in Florida to file a whistleblower ("qui tam") lawsuit in 2003 kicked off the federal and state investigations that led to Pfizer's record-breaking $2.3 billion settlement today.

3 Sep 2009

Avastin increases survival rates in recurrent glioblastoma affected patients

The targeted therapy Avastin, alone and in combination with the chemotherapy drug CPT-11, significantly increased response rates, progression-free survival times and survival rates in patients with a deadly form of brain cancer that had recurred.

3 Sep 2009

Also in global health news: Vietnam PEPFAR funding; remote village health care; HIV in India; UNICEF budget; mapping drug shortages

PEPFAR will continue to fund HIV/AIDS programs in Vietnam, Hoang Thanh Hai, a spokesperson, said on Tuesday at a memorial for 100 people who died as a result of complications from the disease, Bernama reports. "Since 2004, PEPFAR has provided $320 million to help Vietnam provide comprehensive services on taking precautionary measures against the disease and care and treatment of HIV" patients, the news service writes (9/2).

3 Sep 2009

Scientists demonstrate the link between cancer and diesel fumes

Scientists here are the first to demonstrate that the link between diesel fume exposure and cancer lies in the ability of diesel exhaust to induce the growth of new blood vessels that serve as a food supply for solid tumors.

2 Sep 2009