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Judge in Va. to rule on health law's mandate by year's end

A federal judge will rule by the end of the year on a Virginia challenge to the federal health law provision requiring people to buy insurance, The New York Times reports.

20 Oct 2010

Study shows impaired insulin sensitivity may serve as mediator between obesity and cognitive decline

Because of impairments in their insulin sensitivity, obese individuals demonstrate different brain responses than their normal-weight peers while completing a challenging cognitive task, according to new research by psychologists at The University of Texas at Austin.

20 Oct 2010

OncoGenex announces pricing of public offering

OncoGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has priced a public offering of 3,174,602 units, with each unit consisting of one share of the Company's common stock and one-half (1/2) of one warrant, at a purchase price of $15.75 per unit for an aggreate offering amount of $50 million.

20 Oct 2010

When hospital checklists don't tell the whole story

Kaiser Health News staff writer Aimee Miles reports: "The whole idea behind HHS' Hospital Compare is simple: patients can shop around by putting in their zip codes and the website churns out a list of nearby hospitals, with detail on available services, care outcomes, patient satisfaction ratings and more.

20 Oct 2010

New book focuses on clinical importance of online HDF technique

Hemodiafiltration (HDF) for the treatment of end-stage renal disease patients is predominantly performed in European countries and in Japan, with some differences in technique such as rate of blood flow and dialysis fluid delivery systems.

20 Oct 2010

AMP's automated IMA tube filling line receives commercial approval

Alliance Medical Products, Inc. ("AMP") announced today it has received commercial approval of its automated IMA tube filling line. The line will be put to use immediately for the commercial manufacture of a sterile ophthalmic ointment recently approved by the FDA.

20 Oct 2010

Pradaxa capsules receive FDA approval for reducing stroke and systemic embolism risk in AFib patients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Pradaxa (dabigatran etexilate) capsules to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AFib).

20 Oct 2010

Adamis acquires prostrate drug candidates from Colby Pharmaceuticals

Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corporation today announced the completion of the acquisition from Colby Pharmaceuticals of the remaining exclusive license agreements relating to two drug product candidates for the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa).

20 Oct 2010

DOJ sues Michigan Blue Cross Blue Shield over pricing deals

The U.S. Justice Department is suing Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and alleging that it violated antitrust laws by forcing hospitals to charge higher prices to rival insurers.

20 Oct 2010

MannKind begins MKC1106-MT Phase 2 trial for advanced melanoma

MannKind Corporation today announced the first patient has been dosed in a phase 2 clinical trial of the novel, investigational cancer vaccine MKC1106-MT. As a part of MannKind's cancer immunotherapy program, this phase 2 study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, immune response and clinical response of MKC1106-MT in patients with advanced melanoma.

20 Oct 2010

Jefferson researchers progress in understanding mechanism behind systemic fibrotic disorder

Scientists from the Jefferson Institute of Molecular Medicine of Thomas Jefferson University are now several steps closer to understanding the mechanism behind a novel systemic fibrotic disorder that affects some patients with renal insufficiency who receive imaging contrast agents for MRI. Two of their studies on the disorder appear together in the November issue of the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

20 Oct 2010

Health IT sector may face workforce shortage

A top federal health IT official said there is a workforce shortage in the sector that could hinder the widespread adoption of electronic medical records, but federal aide is on the way, for that, too. David Blumenthal, the national health IT coordinator, said federal training programs would meet 85 percent of the demand, which he estimated as a shortage of about 50,000 workers.

20 Oct 2010

Research paves way to understand the mechanism of leptin therapy to improve type 1 diabetes

New findings by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers suggest a novel role for the brain in mediating beneficial actions of the hormone leptin in type 1 diabetes.

20 Oct 2010

BIOTRONIK EHR DataSync software offers advanced patient management capabilities

BIOTRONIK SE Co. & KG, a leading manufacturer of implantable cardiac devices, has announced the European release of BIOTRONIK EHR DataSync. The software supports physicians, hospitals and clinics by integrating routine follow-up details, BIOTRONIK Home Monitoring remote follow-up information and data from the company's cardiac device programmers - ICS 3000 and the new programmer, Renamic, soon to be launched across Europe.

20 Oct 2010

Reports examine drug company payments to doctors

ProPublica: "Drug companies say the millions of dollars they pay physicians for speaking and consulting justly compensates them for the laudable work of educating their colleagues. But a series of lawsuits brought by former employees of those companies allege the money often was used for illegal purposes — financially rewarding doctors for prescribing their brand-name medications.

20 Oct 2010

Feds ask Connecticut to reconsider rate hike approval, other health law implementation news

The Hartford Courant reports that a high-ranking health official in the Obama administration has asked Connecticut insurance regulators to reconsider allowing Blue Cross Blue Shield in Connecticut to raise health insurance rates by as much as 47 percent.

20 Oct 2010

New 3D Body Volume Index measurement calculates obesity risk

A new obesity measurement for the 21st Century, which can help identify individuals at risk of illness such as heart disease, strokes and diabetes, has been officially launched.

20 Oct 2010

Pearl announces $69 million Series C financing round

Pearl Therapeutics Inc., a privately held company developing clinically differentiated combination therapies for the treatment of highly prevalent chronic respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), today announced a $69 million Series C financing. The financing round was led by Vatera Healthcare Partners and included existing investors, Clarus Ventures, New Leaf Venture Partners and 5AM Ventures.

20 Oct 2010

Spectral commences pivotal Toraymyxin trial for severe sepsis

Spectral Diagnostics Inc., a Phase III company seeking FDA approval for its lead theranostics product for the treatment severe sepsis and septic shock, today announced initiation of its U.S. pivotal trial of Toraymyxin™, a therapeutic hemoperfusion device that removes endotoxin from the bloodstream, for patients with severe sepsis.

20 Oct 2010

ASBP reviews current rules of prescription medication to treat obesity in Kansas

In response to the alarming increase in the overweight and obese population in Kansas, a representative of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP) recently testified to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts. ASBP is America's oldest and most experienced society devoted to the medical treatment of overweight and obesity and associated health conditions and risks.

20 Oct 2010