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FDA grants Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Fast Track designation for perifosine

Æterna Zentaris Inc., a late-stage drug development company specialized in oncology and endocrine therapy, today announced that its partner, Keryx Biopharmaceuticals, was granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for perifosine (KRX-0401), the Company's novel, potentially first-in-class, oral anti-cancer agent that inhibits the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, for the treatment of refractory advanced colorectal cancer.

5 Apr 2010

Individualized therapies for treating type 2 diabetes recommended

Chevy Chase, MD-Patients with type 2 diabetes are generally treated similarly despite the fact that they may have underlying differences that could affect their therapeutic response. Seeking to address this critical health issue, an international multidisciplinary group of experts just issued recommendations for individualized treatment in a consensus statement to be published in the April 2010 issue of the Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM).

5 Apr 2010

Economic burden associated with HAE treatment: First-ever comprehensive examination

Dyax Corp. announced the publication of a first-ever comprehensive examination of the economic burden associated with the treatment of acute attacks and chronic management of hereditary angioedema (HAE). The results, published today in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, bring to light the substantial direct and indirect medical costs of the disease on patients, payers and society. The economic study is one component of a larger survey-based Burden of Illness (BOI) study which assessed both the economic and humanistic burden of HAE.

5 Apr 2010

LCA-Vision reports 19,066 procedures performed during first-quarter 2010

LCA-Vision Inc., a leading provider of laser vision correction services under the LasikPlus® brand, today reported that 19,066 procedures were performed during the first quarter of 2010. This compares with 27,859 procedures (75 vision centers) and 25,232 same-store procedures (62 vision centers) performed during the first quarter of 2009.

5 Apr 2010

Halozyme Therapeutics secures multiple commercial supply agreements for rHuPH20

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing products targeting the extracellular matrix, today announced the execution of multiple commercial supply agreements with its existing manufacturing partners. Halozyme amended an existing commercial supply agreement with Avid Bioservices, Inc., entered into a new commercial supply agreement with Avid and entered into a new commercial supply agreement with Cook Pharmica LLC.

5 Apr 2010

Tiens Biotech Group's revenues for 2009 decline

Tiens Biotech Group (USA), Inc., http://www.tiens-bio.com , today announced financial results for the year ended December 31, 2009.

5 Apr 2010

Rosetta Genomics' Philadelphia lab commences FNA cell block sample analysis with miRview squamous test

Rosetta Genomics, Ltd., a leading developer and provider of microRNA-based molecular diagnostics, announced today that starting April 1, 2010 physicians are able to send FNA cell block samples to Rosetta Genomics' CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory in Philadelphia for analysis using Rosetta's miRview squamous test. FNA is a less invasive method to obtain tumor cells compared with tumor resections or biopsies.

5 Apr 2010

Request for lift of full clinical hold on Proellex program

Repros Therapeutics Inc. today announced that the Company has requested a lift of the full clinical hold on its oral drug Proellex® being developed for the treatment of uterine fibroids and endometriosis. On August 4, 2009, the FDA noted that further testing of Proellex® was placed on full clinical hold due to findings of serious adverse events associated with liver toxicity.

5 Apr 2010

Warner Chilcott, sanofi-aventis amend Actonel global collaboration agreement

Warner Chilcott plc and sanofi-aventis announced today an amendment to the Actonel® global collaboration agreement with respect to the parties' arrangement in the United States and Puerto Rico. Under the terms of the amendment, Warner Chilcott will take full operational control over the promotion, marketing and R&D decisions for Actonel in the United States and Puerto Rico, and will assume responsibility for all associated costs relating to those activities.

5 Apr 2010

Patheon to commence private placement of $280M senior secured notes due 2017

Patheon Inc., a global provider of drug development and manufacturing services to the international pharmaceutical industry, announced today that it intends to commence a private placement of $280 million in aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2017. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used to repay all of the outstanding indebtedness under the company's existing senior secured term loan and asset-based revolving credit facility, to repay certain other indebtedness and to pay related fees and expenses.

5 Apr 2010

Study: Reduced birth weight may lower risk of obesity later in life

According to a new study accepted for publication in The Endocrine Society's Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, regular moderate-intensity aerobic exercise led to a modest reduction in offspring birth weight without restricting the development of maternal insulin resistance.

5 Apr 2010

LHC Group acquires Salem Hospital Home Care

LHC Group, Inc., one of the largest providers of home health services in the United States, announced that on April 1, 2010, it completed its previously announced acquisition of 100% of the assets of Salem Hospital Home Care located in Salem, Oregon.

5 Apr 2010

Amedisys announces acquisition of Alabama hospice agency from Bluewater Healthcare

Amedisys, Inc., one of America's leading home health and hospice companies, today announced that it has acquired a hospice agency located in Killen, Alabama, a Certificate of Need state, from Bluewater Healthcare Inc.

5 Apr 2010

Selecta Biosciences raises $15M in new Series C financing round

Selecta Biosciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing synthetic nanoparticle vaccines, today announced that it has raised $15 million in a Series C financing round. OrbiMed Advisors LLC led the round, with participation from existing investors Polaris Venture Partners, Flagship Ventures, NanoDimension and Leukon Investments. The Series C financing brings the total capital raised by Selecta over the past 15 months to more than $30 million.

5 Apr 2010

First Edition: April 5, 2010

Both the politics and policies of health reform continue to grab headlines, with reports highlighting how lawmakers are faring in their districts during this congressional recess. News outlets also are exploring how specific provisions of the new law will work.

5 Apr 2010

SIGVARIS introduces Athletic Recovery Sock Line for athletes

Medically endorsed SIGVARIS created the Athletic Recovery Sock Line for competitive athletes and weekend warriors as compression garments have become highly visible in all major sports. Whether it's during the actual event, after the event, or even while traveling, athletes are making graduated compression socks part of their everyday attire.

5 Apr 2010

Free online training program for saving individuals with disabilities during fire emergencies

United Spinal Association has developed a free online training program designed to save the lives of individuals with disabilities and mobility impairments during fire emergencies.

5 Apr 2010

Scientists show carbon nanotubes can be broken down by MPO

A team of Swedish and American scientists has shown for the first time that carbon nanotubes can be broken down by an enzyme - myeloperoxidase - found in white blood cells. Their discoveries are presented in Nature Nanotechnology and contradict what was previously believed, that carbon nanotubes are not broken down in the body or in nature.

5 Apr 2010

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals reports $15.7M revenue from ZEVALIN sales in 2009

Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a commercial-stage biotechnology company with a primary focus in oncology, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2009.

5 Apr 2010

Disability Leadership and Policy Summit to be hosted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

United Spinal Association will host its inaugural Disability Leadership and Policy Summit on April 15th in Philadelphia, commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which was signed into law on July 26, 1990 and prohibits discrimination based on disability. The law was amended in 2008 to offer more protection to disabled workers.

5 Apr 2010