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Pharma in Asia-Pacific region becomes more active in R&D, study finds

In recent years, pharmaceutical companies in the Asia-Pacific region have ramped up their clinical trial activity, patent challenges of brand name drugs and their development of new products, according to report released Tuesday by CMR International, a Thomson Reuters business, Reuters reports.

4 Nov 2010

Regulus receives $488,989 grant under QTDP program

Regulus Therapeutics Inc. announced today that it has been awarded two grants totaling $488,989 under the Federal government's Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Program.

4 Nov 2010

New simple blood test may help diagnose Niemann-Pick type C disease

A fatal genetic disorder that frequently takes years to diagnose may soon be detectable with a simple blood test, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) report this week in Simple blood test may diagnose deadly Niemann-Pick type C disease.

4 Nov 2010

Idaho seeks FDA marketing clearance for FilmArray Respiratory Panel

Idaho Technology, Inc. (ITI) announced today that it has filed a submission with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for 510(k) clearance to market its FilmArray Respiratory Panel (RP) as an in vitro diagnostic product for patients with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection.

4 Nov 2010

The GOP scores big wins in mid-term elections

The New York Times: "Republicans captured control of the House of Representatives on Tuesday and expanded their voice in the Senate, riding a wave of voter discontent as they dealt a setback to President Obama just two years after his triumphal victory. A Republican resurgence, propelled by deep economic worries and a forceful opposition to the Democratic agenda of health care and government spending, delivered defeats to House Democrats from the Northeast to the South and across the Midwest" (Zeleny, 11/2).

4 Nov 2010

New laparoscopic instrument mimics human index finger

Microline Surgical, a leading manufacturer of reposable instruments for minimally invasive surgery, today announced the launch of its LapFinger™ finger activated laparoscopic instrument. LapFinger mimics the ultimate dissection tool - the human index finger - enabling surgeons to dissect with confidence, retract with strength and palpate with feel.

4 Nov 2010

Alnylam third quarter revenue increases from $24.2 million to $27.7 million

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a leading RNAi therapeutics company, today reported its consolidated financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010, and company highlights.

4 Nov 2010

Today's Op-Eds: What the GOP can do with 'Obamacare' and more about the doctor shortage

Happily, a path back to the future exists that just might be politically actionable in a divided Washington. It involves not repealing ObamaCare but adding something to it an optional federal charter for health insurers.

4 Nov 2010

Cerebral palsy risk doubles with IVF: Study

There is now evidence that rates of cerebral palsy are higher among children born via in vitro fertilization (IVF). There has been speculation that the parents’ infertility could be a reason but this new study is the first that links the procedure to the condition.

3 Nov 2010

Collapsing with laughter: Literally

Dr. Claire Allen, 35, suffers from rare and severe form of sleeping sickness that makes her pass out 100 times in a day. She is a research scientist at the British Antarctic Survey and she said that she has suffered from cataplexy, a severe form of narcolepsy that sees her lose control of her body and collapse into a deep sleep – although she remains conscious throughout.

3 Nov 2010

Workers unwilling to disclose work related stress: Survey

According to findings from a survey by mental health charity Mind, millions of British workers have lied to their bosses about taking sick leave when they feel overwhelmed by stress. The survey showed that one in five workers (19%) have taken stress-induced sick leave, but virtually all of them (93%) say they have lied to their boss about the real reason for not turning up. The usual reasons cited are stomach upsets, housing problems or even have a sick relative, rather than admitting the truth.

3 Nov 2010

Eye implant restores some vision in retinitis pigmentosa

According to a new scientific breakthrough, a device - a tiny, three-by-three millimetre microchip, has allowed patients with inherited blindness to detect objects with their eyes, unlike a rival approach that uses an external camera. The procedure details are outlined in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

3 Nov 2010

One-third of breast cancer survivors rate breast-conserving treatments as fair

A third of breast cancer survivors who received the breast-conserving treatments lumpectomy and radiation rate the appearance of their post-treatment breast as only "fair" or "poor" in comparison to their untreated breast, according to a new University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine study that will be presented today at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in San Diego.

3 Nov 2010

Vanda third quarter total revenue increases to $7.2 million

Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of products for central nervous system disorders, today announced financial and operational results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2010.

3 Nov 2010

Bortezomib reduces inflammation and promotes bone healing in arthritis models

A new study by Greek researchers suggests that the biologic drug bortezomib (Velcade), a proteasome inhibitor used to treat multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer), may represent a promising treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, bortezomib displayed favorable effects in an animal model of inflammatory arthritis that mimics RA, in reducing disease severity and inflammation, and promoting bone healing. Full findings of this study are published in the November issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).

3 Nov 2010