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ASTRO reaffirms commitment to quality, issues progress report on patient safety plan

The American Society for Radiation Oncology is continuing its commitment to Target Safely, a six-point patient protection plan developed in January 2010, to improve the safety and quality of radiation therapy treatments and reduce the chances of medical errors.

26 Jan 2011

Faked cancer lands British man in jail

A British father who faked a terminal cancer to his family and friends to ‘con’ them out of cash, is beginning a 20 month jail sentence today. Simon Swift, 39, from Rugby in Warwickshire, central England started by telling his wife and three teenage children that he only had months to live and sold tickets worth hundreds of pounds for a fake charity auction. He claimed in May that the cancer had started in his spine and had become terminal. He even shaved his hair and claimed marks on his neck were from radiotherapy.

26 Jan 2011

Weighty problem: 127kg man trying to put on weight

When Darin McCloud, 45 from Portsmouth, was told he did not qualify for a gastric bypass, he planned to get fatter to tip the scales at more than 133kg - the weight deemed necessary by his local NHS primary care trust. At present he is eating three-quarters of a loaf of bread, four packets of crisps and bacon rolls each day to put on the weight. He also has diabetes ad he believes that the surgery could get him off the insulin injections.

26 Jan 2011

Traffic noise and stroke risk: Study

A new study shows that traffic noise may increase the risk of stroke, particularly for older individuals. The study looked at the association between road traffic noise and stroke in more than 51,000 Danish people and found that for every 10-decibel increase in noise level, the risk of stroke increased by 14 percent. In those over 65, the risk of stroke increased 27 percent.

26 Jan 2011

Alcohol-related liver disease rising among young Britons

According to latest National Health Service (NHS) figures the number of people under 30 admitted to hospital in the past decade has risen by more than 50 per cent. 351 people aged 30 and under were admitted to an English hospital with alcohol related liver disease in 2009/10, up from 230 in 2000/01. That is still only a small fraction of the 14,500 people aged 31 or over who were admitted for alcohol-related liver problems in the last year.

26 Jan 2011

Measles warnings for Australia and New Zealand

In a flight from Brisbane that arrived in Auckland two weeks ago, a child was confirmed to have measles and has been taken to hospital. Five other cases of the virus have been confirmed. At present a further 100 cases are being investigated by the Auckland Regional Public Health Service.

26 Jan 2011

Mental health laws delayed to take into account public opinion

The Victorian government has extended the closing date for public comment on changes to the state’s Mental Health Act. The deadline has been extended to February 28. Submissions on the Exposure Draft Mental Health Bill 2010 can be lodged online.

26 Jan 2011

Spine surgeon successfully treated with RNL Bio's stem cell therapy for Autoimmune Arthritis

RNL BIO CO., LTD, a leading biopharmaceutical company specialized in adult stem cell therapeutics, announced on January 21, 2011 another successful patient report utilizing stem cell therapy on a leading US orthopedic spine surgeon who suffered from Autoimmune Arthritis.

26 Jan 2011

Pill for multiple sclerosis in the pipeline

Multiple Sclerosis or MS is a severely disabling disease that affects 100,000 in the UK. Now a new pill has been developed to treat multiple sclerosis which means there would be no need for injections. European health experts - European Medicines Agency (EMA) have given the new drug Gilenya, the brand name for the drug fingolimod, approval which would grant it EU wide acceptance.

25 Jan 2011

Survival following transplant surgery for liver cancer not impacted by HIV-positive status

French researchers determined that infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) impaired results of transplant surgery for liver cancer, with more HIV infected patients dropping off the transplantation wait list. The team found that overall survival and recurrence-free survival was not impacted following liver transplantation in patients with controlled HIV disease.

25 Jan 2011

Evaluating patients for genetic variations impacts adherence to antiviral therapy

In two recent studies, researchers have identified two functional variants in the inosine triphosphatase (ITPA) gene that protect patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) against anemia brought on by antiviral treatment. The ability to identify those patients protected against treatment-induced anemia will ensure completion of antiviral therapy and successful elimination of the virus.

25 Jan 2011

Quest Diagnostics fourth quarter revenues decrease 1.3% to $1.8 billion

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, announced that for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2010, income from continuing operations was $167 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, compared to $182 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2009.

From Quest Diagnostics 25 Jan 2011

Nordion and Sterigenics sign five year contract for Cobalt-60 supply

Nordion Inc., a leading provider of products and services to the global health science market, today announced it has signed a five-year contract with Sterigenics International, a global leader in contract sterilization and ionization services, for the supply of Cobalt-60. Under the terms of the agreement, this contract extends until October 31, 2015.

25 Jan 2011

Mylan enters settlement agreement with Pfizer for Caduet Tablets litigation

Mylan Inc. today announced that it has entered into a settlement agreement with Pfizer Inc. resolving litigation related to Caduet® Tablets, 2.5 mg/10, 2.5 mg/20 mg, 2.5 mg/40 mg, 5 mg/10 mg, 5 mg/20 mg, 5 mg/40 mg, 5 mg/80 mg, 10 mg/10 mg, 10 mg/20 mg, 10 mg/40 mg and 10 mg/80 mg, known generically as Amlodipine Besylate/Atorvastatin Calcium Tablets.

25 Jan 2011

Johnson & Johnson fourth quarter sales decreases 5.5% to $15.6 billion

Johnson & Johnson today announced sales of $15.6 billion for the fourth quarter of 2010, a decrease of 5.5% as compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. Operational sales declined 5.1% and the negative impact of currency was 0.4%. Domestic sales declined 8.1%, while international sales declined 3.1%, reflecting an operational decline of 2.3% and a negative currency impact of 0.8%.

25 Jan 2011

FDA grants BioSante Orphan Drug designation for Melanoma Cancer Vaccine

BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the receipt of Orphan Drug designation for its Melanoma Cancer Vaccine in the treatment of stage IIb to IV melanoma, from the FDA's Office of Orphan Products Development. Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer.

25 Jan 2011

First Edition: January 25, 2011

Today's health policy headlines include speculation about what President Barack Obama will say during tonight's State of The Union address and how the GOP will respond to it.

25 Jan 2011

NanoString Technologies launches nCounter Mouse miRNA Expression Assay Kit

NanoString Technologies, Inc., a privately held life sciences company marketing a complete solution for detecting and counting large sets of target molecules in biological samples, today announced the expansion of its microRNA (miRNA) product line with a multiplexed assay for profiling the mouse miRNA transcriptome.

From NanoString Technologies 25 Jan 2011

Corning fourth quarter sales increase 15% to $1.77 billion

Corning Incorporated today announced its results for the fourth quarter of 2010.

25 Jan 2011

Emergent BioSolutions initiates TRU-016 Phase Ib/II study for chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. today announced the initiation of a Phase Ib/II study (16201) of TRU-016 for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). TRU-016 is a CD37-directed Small Modular ImmunoPharmaceutical (SMIP™) protein therapeutic in development for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. TRU-016 is being developed in collaboration with Abbott.

25 Jan 2011