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First Edition: April 23, 2012

Today's headlines feature advance information about what the trustees who oversee Medicare and Social Security will say about the financial well-being of these massive programs when they release their annual report later today.

23 Apr 2012

FDA extends review period for linaclotide NDA to treat constipation

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Forest Laboratories, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notified the companies that it will require a three-month extension to complete its review of the data supporting the New Drug Application (NDA) for linaclotide for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic constipation (CC).

23 Apr 2012

APCR honors PAREXEL COO with Special Recognition Award

PAREXEL International Corporation, a leading global biopharmaceutical services organization, today announced that its Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mark A. Goldberg, M.D., was honored by the Academy of Physicians in Clinical Research.

From Parexel 23 Apr 2012

Delcath closes $20M credit facility

Delcath Systems, Inc. today announced it has closed a $20 million working capital line of credit revolver with Silicon Valley Bank, a leading provider of banking services in the life sciences. The credit facility is available for general corporate purposes supporting the overall growth and development of the Company.

23 Apr 2012

Herpes zoster vaccine safe and well tolerated: Study

The herpes zoster vaccine, also known as the shingles vaccine, is generally safe and well tolerated according to a Vaccine Safety Datalink study of 193,083 adults published online in the Journal of Internal Medicine.

23 Apr 2012

MEDMIX develops new biomaterial delivery system

MEDMIX Systems has developed a delivery system for the use with standard single syringes to handle multi-component biomaterials such as tissue-adhesives, fibrin-glues for tissue sealing and materials for wound treatment, as well as stem-cell or PRP preparation.

23 Apr 2012

Neutra announces clinical trials for Pure Plus Weight Loss supplement

Neutra Corp., an emerging nutraceuticals provider, is pleased to announce that clinical trials are now underway on its new and improved weight-loss supplement, Pure Plus Weight Loss.

23 Apr 2012

RaySearch receives order for its RayStation treatment planning system from HUMC

RaySearch Laboratories has received an order for its RayStation treatment planning system from Hallym University Medical Center in Seoul, South Korea.

23 Apr 2012

Canadian Solar receives OHSAS 18001 certification for occupational health and safety

Canadian Solar Inc., one of the world's largest solar companies, today announced that it has passed the OHSAS 18001 international standards for occupational health and safety after auditing by TUV Rheinland.

23 Apr 2012

MicuRx completes MRX-I Phase 1 trial on MRSA and VRE infection

MicuRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company developing next-generation antibiotics, today announced the completion of its Phase 1 clinical trial for MRX-I, its first development-stage antibiotic drug candidate.

23 Apr 2012

Mod5 yeast prion contributes to cell survival under environmental stress

One of the greatest mysterious in cellular biology has been given a new twist thanks to findings reported in Science. Researchers at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute show that prions, proteins that transmit heritable information without DNA or RNA, can contribute to drug resistance and cellular adaptation. Their discovery of a yeast prion with these properties demonstrates the active role of the prion conversion in cellular fitness adaptation, providing new insights into the potentially broader function of prions in living organisms.

23 Apr 2012

Sports medicine expert to present ‘Models of Injury Prevention’ at AMSSM conference

Roald Bahr, MD, PhD, will be presenting "Models of Injury Prevention" at the 21st American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA on Saturday, April 21, 2012.

23 Apr 2012

AMSSM addresses strategies for injury prevention in young throwers

Tracy R. Ray, MD, delivered the Hough Memorial Lecture entitled "Pitch Counts: Can we prevent youth throwing injuries" at the 21st American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Ga. on Saturday, April 21, 2012.

23 Apr 2012

FDA strengthens and modernizes postmarket drug safety program

A strengthened and modernized postmarket drug safety program has resulted in a substantial improvement in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's oversight of drugs once they reach the American public, according to a new report released today by the agency's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

23 Apr 2012

South African sports medicine expert to present at AMSSM annual meeting

South African sports medicine expert Martin Schwellnus, MD, PhD will be presenting "Born to Break Down? Genetics in Soft Tissue Injuries" at the 21st American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting in Atlanta, GA on April 22, 2012.

23 Apr 2012

India's most-renowned homeopath receives Padma Shri award

Dr. Mukesh Batra, India's most-renowned homeopath, was conferred with the Padma Shri today, the country's fourth highest civilian award, by the President, Smt. Pratibha Patel for his exceptional and distinguished service in the field of medicine.

23 Apr 2012

Pfizer enters agreement to divest Nutrition business to Nestlé for $11.85B

Pfizer today announced that it has entered into an agreement to divest its Nutrition business to Nestlé for $11.85 billion in cash. Pfizer's Nutrition business recorded revenues of approximately $2.1 billion in 2011, an increase of 15% versus 2010.

23 Apr 2012

BAMC/SAMMC researcher develops microemulsion vaccine carrier

A researcher at the Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC)/San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC) will present findings this week on a new potential vaccine carrier that he hopes will extend the shelf life of and aid in the stockpiling of critical vaccines.

23 Apr 2012

Moxonidine drug can improve heart function and reduce blood pressure

Heart failure is the most common cause of death throughout the world, typically the result of chronic high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. As a result, research efforts have focused on an array of approaches aimed at preventing and treating high blood pressure. Recently, Japanese researchers examined the utility of an anti-hypertensive drug, moxonidine, which acts on the imidazoline receptors in the cardiovascular center of the brainstem.

23 Apr 2012

Study finds survival advantage for Hispanic lung cancer patients

A new analysis has found that Hispanic lung cancer patients seem to live longer than white or black patients. Published early online in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study suggests that, as with several other types of cancer, certain yet-to-be-defined genetic and/or environmental factors put Hispanic patients at a survival advantage.

23 Apr 2012