Pain News and Research

Latest Pain News and Research

Continuous wound infusion with local anesthetic reduces pain after hip surgery

In patients undergoing hip replacement surgery, using a special wound catheter to infuse local anesthetic directly into the hip joint provides significant and lasting improvements in postoperative pain control, reports a study in the February issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society.

1 Feb 2012

Early retirement due to back problems reduces long-term financial capacity

Back problems are a highly prevalent health issue, and people with the condition have a significantly greater chance of retiring early from the workforce, much more so than for any other health condition. A group of Australian researchers reports that not only does early retirement limit the immediate income available to these individuals, but it also reduces their long-term financial capacity, by reducing their ability to accumulate wealth to a significant degree.

1 Feb 2012

Preliminary results from CINJ's Celebrex and Lipitor Phase II combination trial on prostrate cancer

Research from The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) on the FDA-approved drugs Celebrex and Lipitor -- used respectively for arthritis pain and lowering cholesterol -- shows that these drugs are well tolerated in the treatment of recurrent prostate cancer.

1 Feb 2012

CartiHeal secures $5M in venture funding

CartiHeal (2009), Ltd, a privately held medical device company, focused on developing and bringing to market a proprietary, off-the-shelf, and cell-free cartilage regeneration technology, announced that it raised $5 million in venture funding from two US-Israeli venture capital firms, Accelmed and Access Medical Ventures. The financing will be used to prepare its first product launch early 2013 in Europe.

1 Feb 2012

Study finds sharp increase in BMP use for spinal fusion surgery

The use of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) for spinal fusion surgery has risen sharply over the past decade, increasing costs with no evidence of improved outcomes, reports study in the February 1 issue of Spine.

1 Feb 2012

Novartis' Gleevec receives FDA approval for use in patients with CD117-positive GIST

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today granted Gleevec (imatinib) regular approval for use in adult patients following surgical removal of CD117-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

1 Feb 2012

New combination clinical trial may improve outcome for cancer surgery patients

The week before and two weeks after surgery are a critical period for the long-term survival rate of cancer patients. Physiological and psychological stresses caused by the surgery itself can inhibit the body's immune responses, heightening vulnerability to tumor progression and spreading.

1 Feb 2012

FDA approves Lannett's supplemental ANDA for Phentermine HCl to treat obesity

Lannett Company, Inc. today announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its supplemental Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Phentermine HCl Capsules, 15 mg.

1 Feb 2012

Roundtable discusses importance and potential benefits of palliative care in the ICU

If you think palliative care and the ICU don't go together, think again. The importance and potential benefits of palliative care to ease suffering and improve quality of life for patients being treated in hospital intensive care units (ICUs) has received increasing recognition but is not without significant challenges, as discussed in a Roundtable discussion in Journal of Palliative Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

1 Feb 2012

Major effort to tackle neglected tropical diseases

Thirteen drug companies, the governments of the United States, Britain and the United Arab Emirates, the World Bank, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Lions Club and other smaller charitable organizations on Monday announced a joint effort to tackle 10 neglected tropical diseases in a coordinated fashion.

31 Jan 2012

Indoco, DSM sign agreement for commercial cooperation for eight APIs

Royal DSM N.V., today announced the signing of an agreement with Indoco Remedies Limited, Mumbai, India, for commercial cooperation for eight Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). The alliance came into effect in January 2012.

31 Jan 2012

Takeda returns POSIDUR development and commercialization rights to DURECT

DURECT Corporation today reported that Takeda has given notice that it is returning its development and commercialization rights to POSIDUR in Europe and their other licensed territories.

31 Jan 2012

Janssen, Orexo to end OX-CLI/OX-ESI research collaboration and license agreement

Orexo AB and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., formerly Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, have decided to end their research collaboration and license agreement regarding the OX-CLI and OX-ESI programs and a third, undisclosed Janssen program.

31 Jan 2012

Colo. dispute over Medicaid patient 'shared responsibility' simmers and other state Medicaid news

Colorado policymakers are wrestling to bring the burgeoning Medicaid budget under control, as critics fear health insurance for the poor will consume the state budget. But even the smallest cuts or cost-shares raise protests from patient advocates and objections that such measures will prove more expensive in the long run.

31 Jan 2012

Array second quarter revenue increases to $23.2 million

Array BioPharma Inc. today reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2012.

31 Jan 2012

Psychosocial interventions can reduce cancer patients' pain severity

Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center, who teamed with colleagues at five universities around the United States, analyzed past studies of cancer-related pain reduction and found that psychosocial interventions can have a beneficial effect on cancer patients' pain severity. They also found that certain psychosocial interventions provide better pain management and are effective in reducing the degree to which pain related to cancer and its treatment interferes with patients' lives.

31 Jan 2012

FDA approves Medtronic DF4 High-Voltage Connector System for ICDs and CRT-Ds

Medtronic, Inc. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval and launch of the DF4 High-Voltage Connector System, a right ventricular lead and connector used with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds) to detect and accurately treat potentially life-threatening heart rhythms.

From Medtronic 30 Jan 2012

Report highlights gaps in health IT implementation

A report from the Bipartisan Policy Center noted that gaps persist in the nation's efforts to transition from a paper-based to a computer-based health records system.

30 Jan 2012

AMAG completes enrollment in Feraheme Phase III program for iron-deficiency anemia

AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the completion of patient enrollment in the second of the company's two phase III studies that comprise its global registrational program for Feraheme (ferumoxytol) in patients with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) who are not candidates for oral iron, regardless of the underlying cause.

30 Jan 2012

MRI shows elevated BMI linked to greater extent and severity of degenerative disc disease

One of the largest studies to investigate lumbar spine disc degeneration found that adults who are overweight or obese were significantly more likely to have disc degeneration than those with a normal body mass index (BMI).

30 Jan 2012