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Queensland authorities try to contain Hendra virus outbreak

The Queensland authorities have stepped up their efforts to contain an outbreak of the deadly Hendra virus on a farm near Beaudesert, south of Brisbane.

29 Jun 2011

Novel use of duct tape in infection prevention saves $110,000 annually

The Trinity Infection Prevention team from Iowa/Illinois Trinity Medical Center has come up with the novel idea of using duct tape to reduce infections and save up to $110,000. For this they received the Blue Ribbon Abstract Award. They presented their work, “The Red Box Strategy: An Innovative Method to Improve Isolation Precaution Compliance and Reduce Costs” which received the designation at the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology's 2011 Annual Conference and International Meeting June27-29 in Baltimore.

29 Jun 2011

FDA looks at Avastin risks

The US Food and Drug Administration is holding a two-day hearing that pits the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research against Genentech, that manufactures breast cancer drug Avastin. A handful of breast cancer patients testified Tuesday that Avastin helped in treating their metastatic breast cancer but a review of studies conducted by the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research suggests the risks outweigh the benefits of Avastin for treating breast cancer, FDA officials said at the hearing.

29 Jun 2011

Gene overexpression linked with Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome

Chronic stress has long been linked with neurodegeneration. Scientists at USC now think they may know why.

29 Jun 2011

Patients, scientists in different corners for cancer drug fight

The drug, Avastin, will be the subject of an unusual Food and Drug Administration hearing to revisit a panel vote last July that steered many doctors away from prescribing the drug for the treatment of breast cancer.

29 Jun 2011

Interest, uncertainty surround health exchanges, ACOs

In other news related to health law implementation, Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., has co-sponsored legislation to allow states to opt out of the health law until legal challenges related to it are resolved.

29 Jun 2011

China Health first quarter gross revenues increase 52% to $6.759 million

China Health Labs & Diagnostics Ltd. is pleased to announce the financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011.

29 Jun 2011

Exciton enters distribution agreement with Marathon Medical

Exciton Technologies Inc. today announced the Company has signed a distribution agreement with Marathon Medical, adding them to the existing Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract, administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs on behalf of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), effective July 1st.

29 Jun 2011

Cipher grants Vertical exclusive U.S. distribution rights to CIP-TRAMADOL ER

Cipher Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced that it has entered into a definitive distribution and supply agreement with Vertical Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a U.S.-based specialty pharmaceutical company, under which Cipher has granted Vertical the exclusive right to market, sell and distribute CIP-TRAMADOL ER in the United States.

29 Jun 2011

Newly revised and expanded editions of CRA's and CRC's guides released

CenterWatch, a leading publisher in the clinical trials industry, announced today the release of newly revised and expanded editions of two of its top-selling training resources—The CRA's Guide to Monitoring Clinical Trials, 3rd Edition, and The CRC's Guide to Coordinating Clinical Trials, 2nd Edition.

29 Jun 2011

Cayenne Medical introduces second generation device for treatment of traumatic meniscal tears

Cayenne Medical, Inc., a private sports medicine device company, announces the launch of CrossFix II Meniscal Repair System, its second generation device for treatment of traumatic meniscal tears.

29 Jun 2011

Acetylon to advance ACY-1215 drug candidate with $27M Series B Preferred equity investment round of financing

Acetylon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has completed a $27 million Series B Preferred equity investment round of financing.

29 Jun 2011

Humans experience the Motion Aftereffect even if the motion is brief

Scientists have come up with new insight into the brain processes that cause the following optical illusion: Focus your eyes directly on the "X" in the center of the image in this short video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXnUckHbPqM&feature=player_embedded)

29 Jun 2011

LVAD therapy an 'attractive option' for heart failure patients 70 years of age or older

Results of a clinical research study at Sharp Memorial Hospital indicate that patients 70 years of age or older have good functional recovery, survival and quality of life at two years when undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy for heart failure.

29 Jun 2011

First Edition: June 29, 2011

In today's news, two senators offer a new plan for Medicare cuts -- which includes increasing the eligibility age -- but top Democrats lined up against it.

29 Jun 2011

RxMD and GlycoRegImmune enter drug development collaboration

RxMD, Inc., a privately-held, global therapeutics development company, today announced a collaboration agreement with GlycoRegImmune Inc. (GRI) to develop new treatments for inflammatory, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative conditions based on GRI's novel natural killer (NK) T cell targeted technologies.

29 Jun 2011

South African circumcision program moving forward with support from Zulu king

NPR's Morning Edition on Monday examined how a circumcision program in South Africa's Kwa-Zulu Natal, run by the Society for Family Health at the Boom Street Community Health Clinic, "is gaining momentum" because of a decree issued last year by King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu about the importance of circumcision in helping to reduce the risk of HIV infection.

29 Jun 2011

Zalicus commences Synavive SYNERGY Phase 2b clinical trial for rheumatoid arthritis

Zalicus Inc. a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops novel treatments for patients suffering from pain and immuno-inflammatory diseases today announced the initiation of the SYNERGY trial, a Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating Synavive, a low-dose glucocorticoid with the potential for amplified immuno-inflammatory benefits, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

29 Jun 2011

A.P. Pharma enters into definitive agreements for $24M private placement of common stock and warrants

A.P. Pharma, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements with certain new and existing accredited investors providing for a private placement of common stock and warrants in which the Company will receive $24 million in gross proceeds.

29 Jun 2011

NPR examines maternal, child health in Mozambique

NPR's All Things Considered reports on efforts to improve maternal health in Mozambique. The piece, which is part of a summer series, looks at the challenges involved with getting pregnant women to hospitals and shortages of trained health worker (Block, 6/27).

29 Jun 2011