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Roche receives FDA approval for Zelboraf to treat BRAF mutation-positive metastatic melanoma

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zelboraf (vemurafenib) for the treatment of BRAF V600E mutation-positive, inoperable or metastatic melanoma, as determined by an FDA-approved test.

18 Aug 2011

Roundup: Rx discounts for Medicaid programs are increasing; deadline extended for Mich. Medigap verifications

Governors have complained repeatedly in recent months that spiraling Medicaid costs are crushing their budgets. But there's good news on at least one line item in the $370 billion program — prescription drug discounts are getting more generous. According to a new report from the Inspector General of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, discounts under the federal-state Medicaid program have been growing since 2006, adding up to a 45 percent rebate for most brand name drugs by 2009.

18 Aug 2011

Radioiodine being overused in thyroid cancer: Study

According to the latest research the use of radioactive iodine to treat thyroid cancer increased 40 percent from 1990 to 2008 even though the risks may outweigh the benefits for some patients, particularly those with early-stage tumors.

17 Aug 2011

New gout drug may help severely affected: Study

A new drug for gout could help very sick gout patients who don't get better with usual treatment, according to a new study. The research was designed and funded by the pharmaceutical company Savient, which markets the drug, called Krystexxa (pegloticase).

17 Aug 2011

Autism risk in siblings of autistic children is higher: Study

A new study reveals that parents with an autistic child have a 19% increased chance of getting another one with a similar disorder. Experts said the study, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, is the most comprehensive of its kind and should be used to counsel families.

17 Aug 2011

Inherited genetic links to prostate cancer discovered

Researchers from the U.S. and Sweden have linked five inherited genetic mutations to the development of a particularly aggressive and deadly form of prostate cancer. They suggest that these findings could someday lead to development of an easy-to-administer blood test to screen for such mutations to help physicians assess the long-term risk faced by newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients.

17 Aug 2011

Harmless bacteria re-engineered to fight a deadly strain

Scientists in Singapore have re-engineered a harmless strain of bacteria to fight another common, drug-resistant microbe that spreads in hospitals and is deadly to patients with weak immune systems.

17 Aug 2011

Just 15 minutes of exercise per day prolongs life

Taiwanese researchers reported Monday in the journal The Lancet that exercising for just 15 minutes most days of the week appears to provide health benefits by prolonging life.

17 Aug 2011

Addiction – a brain disorder say experts

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is a chronic brain disorder like any other chronic brain disease such as obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder. Neurological abnormalities like disruptions in neurotransmission and the reward system drive addiction, the group said in a statement.

17 Aug 2011

Zelboraf receives FDA approval for treatment of metastatic melanoma

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Zelboraf (vemurafenib), a drug to treat patients with late-stage (metastatic) or unresectable (cannot be removed by surgery) melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.

17 Aug 2011

First Edition: August 17, 2011

In today's headlines, a report about how the timing of the Supreme Court's health law review is in play -- will it happen before or after the 2012 election?

17 Aug 2011

FDA accepts Protalix taliglucerase alfa NDA resubmission for review

Protalix BioTherapeutics, Inc., announced today that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the resubmission of the taliglucerase alfa New Drug Application (NDA) following the Company's receipt of a Complete Response Letter (CRL) in February 2011.

17 Aug 2011

Centrify closes Series D round of financing

Centrify Corporation, the leading provider of security and compliance solutions that centrally control, secure and audit both on-premise and cloud-based systems and applications, today announced that it has closed its Series D round of financing.

17 Aug 2011

Emergent commences TRU-016 Phase 1b/2 combination trial in relapsed indolent NHL

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. today announced the initiation of a Phase 1b/2 study (16011) of TRU-016 in combination with rituximab and bendamustine for patients with relapsed indolent non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphomas, including follicular lymphoma, small lymphocytic lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma.

17 Aug 2011

Mylan confirms Frova patent challenge

Mylan Inc. today confirmed that the company and its subsidiary Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. have been sued by Endo Pharmaceuticals in connection with the filing of an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Frovatriptan Succinate EQ, 2.5 mg base tablets.

17 Aug 2011

Health Canada grants medical device license to Gen-Probe's PROGENSA PCA3 assay

Gen-Probe announced today that Health Canada has granted the Company a medical device license for the PROGENSA(R) PCA3 assay, a new molecular urine test that helps determine the need for repeat biopsies in men suspected of having prostate cancer.

17 Aug 2011

BestLifeRewarded, Dietitians of Canada partner to raise awareness on healthy food, better nutrition

Dietitians of Canada announces its partnership with BestLifeRewarded to advance the health of Canadians in adding incentives to the ongoing education and awareness of healthy food and better nutrition.

17 Aug 2011

Neovasc completes previously announced non-brokered private placement

Neovasc Inc. today announced that it has completed a previously announced non-brokered private placement of 4,720,500 equity units at the price of $1.00 per unit for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $4,720,500.

17 Aug 2011

FDA, USP co-sponsors OTC drug products workshop

Updated public standards incorporating new tests for impurities as well as more modern technologies to help ensure the quality of over-the-counter (OTC) ingredients and products will be key areas of focus for a September 8-9, 2011, workshop co-sponsored by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention.

17 Aug 2011

Researchers document how immune system can counteract advancement of Alzheimer's

For the first time a research team at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Universitätsklinik Freiburg succeeded in documenting how the immune system can counteract the advancement of Alzheimer's disease.

17 Aug 2011