Pain News and Research

Latest Pain News and Research

Research identifies molecular trigger of fibroid uterine tumors

Fibroid uterine tumors affect an estimated 15 million women in the United States, causing irregular bleeding, anemia, pain and infertility. Despite the high prevalence of the tumors, which occur in 60 percent of women by age 45, the molecular cause has been unknown.

5 May 2012

American Anesthesiology acquires BAA

American Anesthesiology, a division of MEDNAX, Inc., today announced the acquisition of Brazos Anesthesiology Associates, P.A. (BAA), a physician group practice based in Bryan, Texas that provides anesthesia services, including cardiac, pediatric, obstetric, regional anesthesia and chronic pain management, throughout the Brazos Valley.

5 May 2012

Pfizer terminates Lyrica Phase 3 trial on neuropathic pain associated with HIV neuropathy

Pfizer Inc. announced today that it has stopped a Phase 3 clinical trial of Lyrica (pregabalin) in patients with neuropathic pain associated with HIV neuropathy, a form of nerve damage characterized by burning pain usually beginning in the feet. The decision follows review of a planned interim analysis of the study by the trial's external Data Monitoring Committee.

5 May 2012

New research about why people forego colorectal cancer screening

New research about why people forego colorectal cancer (CRC) screening suggests that three fears play a significant role; fear of embarrassment, fear of getting AIDS and fear of pain may make some seniors skip the potentially lifesaving tests.

5 May 2012

MAP Pharmaceuticals first quarter net loss increases to $17.8 million

MAP Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012.

5 May 2012

Pfizer’s Lyrica Phase 3 study on pDPN fails to meet primary endpoint

Pfizer Inc. announced today that a Phase 3 randomized withdrawal design study for Lyrica (pregabalin) in patients with inadequately treated painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (pDPN) did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint, change in endpoint mean pain score relative to baseline.

5 May 2012

Researchers develop new kind of hip implant

Hip replacement is one of the most frequent operations carried out in Germany. Each year, doctors implant some 200,000 artificial hip joints. Often the artificial hips need to be replaced just ten years later. In the future, a new implant currently being developed using high technology materials could help prevent premature revision surgeries.

5 May 2012

CSL Behring commences C1-INH phase I/II study in hereditary angioedema

CSL Behring announced today that it has initiated an international phase I/II study of a volume-reduced, subcutaneous formulation of C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) concentrate in patients with hereditary angioedema.

4 May 2012

NHPCO to develop and launch ‘Reaffirming Hospice Campaign’

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization has contracted with Hill + Knowlton Strategies to develop and launch a "Reaffirming Hospice Campaign." This national campaign will reinforce the vital importance and quality of hospice to policy makers, healthcare professionals, and baby boomers.

4 May 2012

Scientists address mental health and well-being at Association for Psychological Science's annual meeting

Are our existing treatments for mental health issues working? Can we design new and better approaches to intervention? Can we even tell which factors promote mental health? Clinical psychological scientists will be addressing these and many other questions related to mental health and well-being at the Association for Psychological Science's 24th annual meeting in Chicago, May 24-27, 2012.

3 May 2012

FDA recommended to continue monitoring drugs' safety after approval

Pharmaceutical drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) but later re-called from the market-such as the antidiabetic drug Avandia and pain-reliever Vioxx-were the impetus for an Institute of Medicine committee report released yesterday, recommending that the FDA take proactive steps to continue monitoring drugs' safety after initial approval and throughout their time on the market.

3 May 2012

Pacira secures $27.5 million debt financing facility

Pacira Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has secured a $27.5 million debt financing facility through Oxford Finance. Pacira will use the proceeds from this financing to refinance the remaining principal of its outstanding term loan and for general corporate purposes.

3 May 2012

Georgia bans most late-term abortions

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed a bill Tuesday banning most late-term abortions -- those after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The law was pushed after controversial research found a fetus can feel pain at that stage of the pregnancy.

3 May 2012

Study explains beneficial fat-fighting effects of black pepper

A new study provides a long-sought explanation for the beneficial fat-fighting effects of black pepper. The research, published in ACS' Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, pinpoints piperine - the pungent-tasting substance that gives black pepper its characteristic taste, concluding that piperine also can block the formation of new fat cells.

3 May 2012

Viewpoints: The health law's double count on Medicare funding; Pa. budget endangering health safety net; A doctor's call for more texting

One of the enduring mysteries of President Obama's health law is how its spending constraints and payroll tax hikes on high earners can be used to shore up Medicare finances and at the same time pay for a massive new entitlement program. Isn't this double counting?

3 May 2012

SC formulation of Genentech’s ACTEMRA shows promise against RA

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, today announced that the SUMMACTA study met its primary endpoint, showing comparable efficacy (non-inferiority) of the subcutaneous (SC) formulation of ACTEMRA (tocilizumab) 162mg weekly compared to 8 mg/kg ACTEMRA intravenous (IV) formulation every four weeks.

3 May 2012

First Edition: May 2, 2012

Today's headlines include a report that House Republican lawmakers want to cut bonuses to states for enrolling low-income kids in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

3 May 2012

CSI third quarter revenues increase 5% to $21.2 million

Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSI), a medical device company developing and commercializing innovative interventional treatment systems for vascular disease, today reported financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2012.

3 May 2012

Physician Therapeutics publishes results from Sentra PM clinical trial

Physician Therapeutics, Inc., a division of Targeted Medical Pharma, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company that manufactures and distributes specialty pharmaceuticals to physicians, pharmacies and skilled nursing facilities, published results from a clinical trial of the proprietary medical food Sentra PM.

3 May 2012

Study confirms that COX-2 inhibitors predispose people to cardiovascular disease

After nearly 13 years of study and intense debate, a pair of new papers from the Perelman School of Medicine, at the University of Pennsylvania have confirmed exactly how a once-popular class of anti-inflammatory drugs leads to cardiovascular risk for people taking it.

3 May 2012