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Physician-owned hospitals gear up to fight health law restrictions

Doctors are challenging provisions of the new health law that seemed to spell the demise of physician-owned specialty hospitals, a fast-growing phenomenon in states such as Texas where hospital growth is largely unregulated.

15 Nov 2010

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals to present ZEVALIN data at ASH Meeting

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company with fully integrated commercial and drug development operations with a primary focus in oncology, today announced a total of 11 ZEVALIN related data presentations (five oral, six posters) at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, December 4-7, 2010.

15 Nov 2010

Researchers find additional work of oxytocin hormone

New human research suggests the chemical oxytocin dubbed the "cuddle hormone" because of its importance in bonding between romantic partners and mothers and children also influences feelings of well-being and sensitivity to advertising.

15 Nov 2010

Teva presents QNAZE Phase III study results for SAR at ACAAI Meeting

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced results from a Phase III study of QNAZE (beclomethasone dipropionate [BDP]) HFA, a nasal aerosol corticosteroid in development for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), that demonstrated significantly greater symptom relief compared with placebo.

15 Nov 2010

Cholera deaths in Haiti top 900; U.N. appeals for $164m to deal with outbreak that could affect 200,000

Haiti's Health Ministry on Sunday said 917 cholera deaths had been reported in the country as of Friday and more than 14,600 people had been hospitalized, according to an update on the ministry's website, Reuters reports.

15 Nov 2010

Sangart's MP4CO receives orphan drug designation for acute pain in sickle cell disease

Sangart, Inc., a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing life-saving medicines specifically designed to enhance the perfusion and oxygenation of ischemic (oxygen deprived) tissues through targeted oxygen and other gas delivery, today announced that its investigational biopharmaceutical product, MP4CO, has been awarded orphan drug designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treating acute painful sickling crises in patients with sickle cell disease.

15 Nov 2010

New investigational drug is well tolerated in children with nmCF

PTC Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the publication of data from a Phase 2a clinical trial of ataluren in children with nonsense mutation cystic fibrosis (nmCF) in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

15 Nov 2010

State roundup: Colorado high-risk insurance pool; Ariz. and Mich. medical marijuana issues; high-deductible insurance

Nearly 500 people in Colorado have applied for the new high-risk health-insurance pool since the program started in the state 10 weeks ago. About 430 people who already have health problems that make it difficult to get private insurance have been enrolled; 43 applications are pending.

15 Nov 2010

Celladon’s Phase 2 CUPID trial shows improved clinical outcomes in advanced heart failure patients

Celladon Corp., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative treatments for cardiovascular diseases, today announced that 12-month data from its Phase 2 CUPID clinical trial of MYDICAR demonstrated significant improvements in clinical outcomes and key disease markers in advanced heart failure patients treated with the genetically-targeted enzyme replacement therapy.

15 Nov 2010

Cyplasin selects Aurobindo Pharma to supply API component for Ribavirin drug

Cyplasin Biomedical is a product-oriented, specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing products for the multi-billion dollar hepatitis C virus (HCV) market. The Company is pleased to announce that it has selected Aurobindo Pharma located in Hyderabad , India to supply the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) component for its Ribavirin drug product called C-Virin.

15 Nov 2010

KHN column: For health overhaul, implementation is now job one

In his latest Kaiser Health News column, Timothy Jost writes, The foremost concern of many of us who fought for health care reform is what its fate will be in the post-midterm-election world.

15 Nov 2010

diaDexus third quarter revenue increases 26% to $3.2 million

diaDexus, Inc., a diagnostics company focused on the development and commercialization of patent-protected in vitro diagnostic products addressing unmet needs in cardiovascular disease, today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2010.

15 Nov 2010

National health disparities conference wraps up with creative approaches, expectations for new healthcare reform

Focusing on the disparities in the quality of health care across demographic groups, the Fourth Annual National Conference on Health Disparities brought together White House officials and national and local healthcare executives to address a series of key questions about non-medical determinants of health quality and to recommend strategies to bring more equitable healthcare access to the underserved. The determinants discussed at the four-day-long conference, which began November 10, 2010 and concluded Saturday, November 13, 2010, included education levels, health literacy, poverty, public safety, community design, access to care, environmental quality and personal, government and corporate responsibility.

15 Nov 2010

Novel heart attack treatment results presented at premier USA cardiology forum

Regenerative medicine company Mesoblast Limited (ASX:MSB; USADR:MBLTY) has announced that positive preclinical trial results were presented at the American Heart Association’s annual conference in Chicago showing that the company’s proprietary “off-the-shelf” stem cells can be injected simply, safely, and effectively into the coronary arteries after a heart attack to prevent heart failure.

15 Nov 2010

Erroneous defibrillators: FDA new initiative to check safety

More problems are being reported in external defibrillators, the life-saving medical devices located in emergency rooms, airports and other public places. These Automated external defibrillators, or AEDs are generally used in patients who have suffered sudden cardiac arrest if used in the first few minutes after their collapse. They deliver electrical energy to the heart to restore its normal rhythm.

15 Nov 2010

Emerging blood thinners to prevent stroke

As blood thinners emerge in the market for stroke prevention many experts believe is still too early to predict how they will stack up in the $15 billion a year market.

15 Nov 2010

Young marijuana users suffer most cognitive damage: Study

Many marijuana smokers begin early. A new study shows that these people did much worse on tests of executive brain function than those who started smoking when they were older. Researchers highlight the danger posed by marijuana and the need to develop effective strategies to reduce marijuana use, especially among young people in their study.

15 Nov 2010

Too many Ozzie kids can’t swim: 2010 National Drowning Report

Much to the concern of the Royal Life Saving Society, more and more Australian children do not know how to swim, or lack the skills to keep themselves alive in the water. It is estimated that up to 20 per cent of children finish primary school without the ability to swim the length of an Olympic-sized swimming pool. For example more than 50,000 or a fifth of NSW students will start high school next year unable to swim 50 meters.

15 Nov 2010

WaferGen third quarter revenue increases to $633,000

WaferGen Biosystems, Inc., a leading developer of state-of-the-art genomic analysis systems, today reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

15 Nov 2010

High-dose prescription omega-3 does not reduce recurrence of atrial fibrillation

Although some data have suggested that omega-3 fatty acid supplements, such as from fish oil, may improve treatment of atrial fibrillation, a randomized trial with more than 600 patients finds that treatment with high-dose prescription omega-3 did not reduce the recurrence of atrial fibrillation over six months, according to a study that will appear in the December 1 issue of JAMA. The study is being released early online because it will be presented at the American Heart Association's annual meeting.

15 Nov 2010