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Berwick's big day: Senators will grill CMS administrator

Donald Berwick, administrator of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is testifying today before the Senate Finance Committee, presenting an opportunity for Republicans on that panel to revisit their objections to the health law, CQ HealthBeat reports.

18 Nov 2010

Bioniche's achievement of fourth milestone in Urocidin Phase III trial triggers $4.0M payment from Endo

Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., a research-based, technology driven Canadian biopharmaceutical company, today announced achievement of a US$4.0 million milestone payment from its development partner, Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. This milestone is the fourth achieved by Bioniche subsequent to the parties executing their agreement in July, 2009.

18 Nov 2010

EDP Biotech introduces new blood test for detecting early-stage colon cancer at Medica trade fair

The future of colon cancer screening may be surprisingly simple. ColoMarker, an innovative blood test to detect the early stages of colon cancer is generating plenty of attention from a wide audience, including from some of the world's leading researchers in cancer biomarkers and gastrointestinal medicine.

18 Nov 2010

Idera presents data on TLR7, TLR9 antagonist candidate for hyperlipidemia at American Heart Association

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it is presenting preclinical data from a study evaluating the mechanism of action of one of its Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 and TLR9 antagonist candidates in a model of hyperlipidemia.

18 Nov 2010

Study shows end-of-life care varies widely

A new study released by the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care finds that "America's hospitals treat patients with life-ending cancers very differently in their final months, with some deploying chemotherapy and other life-prolonging efforts until the end and others directing most of their patients into hospice," reports Kaiser Health News. The aggressive care may not be best for patients, and hospice may be a "more humane way to die," the report argues. A point the report doesn't address: that aggressive treatment "also adds to the drain on Medicare's pocketbook."

18 Nov 2010

BioSante announces sale of oncolytic virus technology to Cold Genesys

BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced it sold to Cold Genesys, Inc. exclusive, worldwide rights to develop and commercialize its oncolytic virus technology. The technology includes CG0070, a replication-competent adenovirus that has completed a Phase I clinical trial for treatment of superficial bladder cancer. In exchange for the technology, BioSante received a 19.9 percent ownership position in Cold Genesys and a $95,000 upfront cash payment and is eligible to receive future milestone and royalty payments.

18 Nov 2010

Researchers are revolutionizing treatment of cardiovascular disease through regenerative stem cell therapy

Northwestern Medicine physician researchers are revolutionizing treatment of cardiovascular disease by utilizing patients' own stem cells to regenerate heart and vascular tissue.

18 Nov 2010

FDA warns manufacturers of caffeinated alcoholic beverages

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned four companies that the caffeine added to their malt alcoholic beverages is an "unsafe food additive" and said that further action, including seizure of their products, is possible under federal law.

18 Nov 2010

Administration unexpectedly expands bonus payments for Medicare advantage plans

In a surprising move, the Obama administration will extend special bonus payments meant to reward top-performing Medicare Advantage insurers to those that score only average ratings.

18 Nov 2010

Regado presents poster on REG3 at AHA Scientific Sessions meeting

Regado Biosciences, Inc., a privately held company leading the development of antithrombotic aptamers with active control agents, announced that Steven L. Zelenkofske, D.O., F.A.C.C., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, and Chris Rusconi, Ph.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, presented a poster about REG3 at the AHA Scientific Sessions meeting.

18 Nov 2010

States consider options for funding Medicaid

The Billings Gazette: Montana lawmakers questioned the state's top health official "about plans to hire a private company to manage part of Medicaid, asking why the administration hasn't had a more public discussion on the proposal." The Legislative Finance Committee also listened to "health care providers and former officials who experienced the state's 1995 foray into private management of Medicaid for the mentally ill — and how it became a disaster for its low-income patients and their providers."

18 Nov 2010

Titan Spine granted FDA clearance for Endoskeleton TO system

Titan Spine, a developer of novel interbody fusion implants, announced today that it has received FDA clearance to commercially release its Endoskeleton® TO system, which consists of a line of interbody devices placed through a Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) approach. The company plans to commercially release the product beginning in December, 2010.

18 Nov 2010

Rheonix receives U.S patent for microfluidic device

Rheonix, Inc., developer of the Rheonix CARD system to provide multiplexed endpoint analysis for a wide breadth of diagnostic applications, announced that on November 16, 2010 the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued Patent Number 7,832,429 "Microfluidic Pump and Valve Structures and Fabrication Method" to the Company.

18 Nov 2010

FDA grants three years of marketing exclusivity to ISTA's BROMDAY

ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted the Company three years of marketing exclusivity for BROMDAY (bromfenac ophthalmic solution) 0.09%, as provided under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act, commonly known as the Hatch-Waxman Act.

18 Nov 2010

VX-770 drug candidate improves lung function in people with cystic fibrosis

In a study published in this week's New England Journal of Medicine, treatment with a new drug candidate known as VX-770 resulted in improvements in lung function and markers of disease in a Phase 2 clinical trial of 39 people with cystic fibrosis (CF). There were no discontinuations due to adverse events in the study, and the frequency of adverse events was similar across the study groups.

18 Nov 2010

Hospice or hospital? Where you die depends on where you live

America's hospitals treat patients with life-ending cancers very differently in their final months, with some deploying chemotherapy and other life-prolonging efforts until the end and others directing most of their patients into hospice, a new study finds.

18 Nov 2010

Viruses lead to discovery of security system in host cells

Viruses have led scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis to the discovery of a security system in host cells.

18 Nov 2010

Selenium secures NIH grant to apply patented antimicrobial technology for ear infections

Selenium, Ltd., a biopharmaceutical company focused on unique solutions to meet antimicrobial coating and therapeutic needs, has been awarded a research grant from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, one of the National Institutes of Health. With the $155,387 NIH grant the company will apply its proprietary antimicrobial technology to researching the inhibition of biofilms on tympanostomy tubes.

18 Nov 2010

Deficit panel recommends ways to curb Medicare, Medicaid costs

Kaiser Health News / McClatchy: "Offering the latest tough-love strategy to reduce the nation's debt, a panel of high-profile Republicans and Democrats is scheduled on Wednesday to recommend that Medicare beneficiaries pick up far more of their health care costs and the government substantially curb the amount both Medicare and Medicaid programs can grow in future years." The panel will present the findings of the debt reduction task force that was created by the Bipartisan Policy Center.

18 Nov 2010

Titan Pharmaceuticals presents data on Probuphine Phase 3 clinical program for opioid addiction at Neuroscience Meeting

Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that data from its Phase 3 clinical development program for Probuphine were presented at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, being held Nov. 13-17 in San Diego.

18 Nov 2010