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Epizyme publishes two new review papers on epigenetics

Epizyme, Inc., a company leading the discovery and development of first-in-class, targeted cancer therapeutics against epigenetic targets, announced today the publication of two new review papers in the area of epigenetics. Together, the articles provide an overview of the major epigenetic enzyme classes, as well as chemical biology approaches for discovering small molecule inhibitors of these epigenetic enzymes, and demonstrate Epizyme's scientific leadership in the area of epigenetics.

17 Jul 2010

ArmaGen uses BBB molecular Trojan horse platform technology to create brain penetrating form of human EPO

Human erythropoietin (EPO) is a potent neuroprotective agent for multiple brain disorders, including stroke, brain and spinal cord injury, and Parkinson's disease. However, EPO drug development for the brain is limited, because EPO does not cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In acute stroke or brain injury, the BBB is intact in the early hours after the insult when neuroprotection is still possible. Therefore, large molecule biopharmaceuticals such as EPO must be re-engineered to enable BBB transport.

17 Jul 2010

Millipore Corporation exchanges common stock with Merck

Millipore Corporation, a leading provider of technologies, tools and services for the global life science industry, today announced that Merck KGaA ("Merck") has completed its acquisition of Millipore (the "Acquisition") as of July 14, 2010. As part of the transaction, all issued and outstanding shares of Millipore common stock were exchanged for $107 per share in cash.

17 Jul 2010

Cleveland Clinic to provide heart care in Chicago; Johns Hopkins increases primary care in D.C. area

Chicago Tribune: "In a move likely to shake up the market for heart care in the Chicago area, the Cleveland Clinic's cardiac surgery program has signed an affiliation agreement with Central DuPage Hospital in west suburban Winfield. The deal, announced Thursday, is designed to enhance the heart care provided at the 313-bed hospital and potentially bring Cleveland Clinic patient referrals at a time when fewer heart surgeries are needed than were a decade ago.

17 Jul 2010

Epocrates announces filing of registration statement for proposed initial common stock public offering

Epocrates, Inc., a leading provider of mobile drug reference tools and interactive services to healthcare professionals and the healthcare industry, today announced it has filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the proposed initial public offering of its common stock.

17 Jul 2010

HTA acquires $8.14M medical office building in Stockbridge, Georgia

Healthcare Trust of America, Inc., a self-managed, non-traded, real estate investment trust, announced the acquisition of a medical office building located in Stockbridge, Georgia for approximately $8,140,000.

17 Jul 2010

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center ranks first: U.S. News & World Report survey

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center ranks as one of the top five American hospitals -- and the best hospital in the western United States for the 21st consecutive year -- according to a U.S. News & World Report survey that reviewed patient-outcomes data, reputation among physicians and other care-

17 Jul 2010

Hospitals fight for primary care docs as bad nurses allowed to continue work

Orlando Sentinel: For primary care specialties, residency programs fight to capture the attention of potential residents who are in high demand.

17 Jul 2010

Personal injury lawsuit filed against Zimmer over defective hip implant

Kent L. Klaudt, a partner in the national plaintiffs' law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, announced that James Cabral today filed a personal injury lawsuit against Zimmer Inc., the nation's largest producer of orthopedic devices. Cabral has suffered constant and devastating pain for over 18 months and will have to undergo a second hip replacement surgery due to an allegedly defective hip implant manufactured and sold by Zimmer under the brand name Durom Cup.

17 Jul 2010

CDC director gives health system failing grade on prevention

Memphis Commercial Appeal: "The American health care system gets an 'F' when it comes to acting on a handful of prevention methods that have the potential to save the most lives. That failing grade came from Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a Wednesday speech to members of the National Association of County and City Health Officials gathered here for their annual conference at Cook Convention Center."

17 Jul 2010

Amgen granted FDA priority review designation for denosumab BLA

Amgen today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted priority review designation to denosumab, a subcutaneous RANK Ligand inhibitor, for the treatment of bone metastases to reduce skeletal related events (SREs) in patients with cancer.

17 Jul 2010

Researchers discover potential way to stop tumor growth

Washington State University researchers have discovered a way to help cancer cells age and die, creating a promising avenue for slowing and even stopping the growth of tumors. "Hopefully, we can make cancer cells die like normal cells," says Weihang Chai, an assistant professor in the WSU School of Molecular Biosciences and WWAMI medical education program in Spokane. "Basically, you make the cancer cell go from immortal to mortal."

17 Jul 2010

NEOP receives stockholder approval to increase company shares to 205 milliion

Neoprobe Corporation (OTCBB: NEOP), a diversified developer of innovative oncology surgical and diagnostic products, announced at its 2010 Annual Meeting of Stockholders that it received the approval of its stockholders to increase the number of authorized shares of the Company from 155 million to 205 million. In addition, stockholders re-elected Neoprobe President and CEO David C. Bupp, and elected for the first time, Brendan A. Ford and Eric K. Rowinsky, M.D. as Directors of the Company for terms ending at the 2013 Annual Meeting. Stockholders also approved the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP to act as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for 2010.

17 Jul 2010

Meet the actuary who unwound Anthem's big rate increase request

The Los Angeles Times delivers the inside story of David Axene, a California actuary who, working from home and a hospital bed, unwound the mistaken math behind Anthem Blue Cross's request to raise rates by up to 39 percent earlier this year. "Axene Health Partners is off the beaten path, but it was well known to senior managers from the California Department of Insurance as a top-flight actuarial firm with a reputation for deft work.

17 Jul 2010

No abortion coverage in high risk pools, HHS says

"Elective abortion services will not be covered in state high-risk pools set up to provide coverage for sick people who can't get insurance, according to Obama administration officials," CQ HealthBeat reports.

17 Jul 2010

Alliance HealthCare commences $190 million registered exchange offer

Alliance HealthCare Services, Inc. announced today that it has commenced a registered exchange offer to exchange up to $190 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.00% series B senior notes due 2016 which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for any and all of its outstanding 8.00% senior notes due 2016 which were issued in a private placement.

17 Jul 2010

FDA can promote personalized medicine by identying gaps in laboratory operations: ACLA

The Food and Drug Administration can promote progress toward personalized medicine by approaching the oversight of laboratory developed tests (LDTs) in a focused, flexible, and balanced way according to the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA). ACLA, which represents the nation's leading clinical laboratories, says that the factors supporting this approach include the growing role that such tests play in clinical decision making, especially in the area of new advanced diagnostics that derive from the mapping of the human genome and help fulfill the promise of personalized medicine.

17 Jul 2010

Grossman Burn Center moves to West Hills Hospital & Medical Center in West Hills

On Saturday, July 17, 2010, the Grossman Burn Center will relocate to West Hills Hospital & Medical Center in West Hills, CA.

17 Jul 2010

Capitol Hill hearing examines health, social consequences of child marriage

VOA News covered a hearing on Capitol Hill Thursday, which addressed child marriage in the developing world and its impact on girls and communities (Presto, 7/15).

17 Jul 2010

Health law backers say most small businesses will get tax credits

More than 85 percent of Utah small businesses - those with less than 25 employees - will be eligible for federal tax credits to help pay for employee health coverage according to two lobbying groups that favored the health overhaul, The Salt Lake Tribune reports. "The two organizations said 37,800 companies will qualify for the credit, worth up to 35 percent of a small business's premium costs in 2010. The credit increases to 50 percent in January" (Beebe, 7/15).

17 Jul 2010