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BioMarin provides update on PEG-PAL Phase 2 clinical study for phenylketonuria

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. announced today an update in the Phase 2 clinical study of PEG-PAL (PEGylated recombinant phenylalanine ammonia lyase) for the treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU). Data reported in this announcement reflect preliminary results as of July 23, 2010. Complete top-line results are expected in the fourth quarter of 2010.

3 Aug 2010

East Africa declared polio-free again after outbreak

"Eastern Africa is free of polio again, with four countries - Ethiopia , Kenya, Sudan and Uganda - having reported no cases of the crippling disease for more than a year, U.N. and other aid agencies said on Friday," Reuters reports (7/30). The WHO "said the region had responded fast to the outbreak," according to the Daily Monitor. The article reports that the four countries now "join neighbouring Somalia which has been polio free for the last three years" (Lirri, 8/2).

3 Aug 2010

Neuroglobin may protect against Alzheimer's disease: Study

A team of scientists at the University of California, Davis and the University of Auckland has discovered that neuroglobin may protect against Alzheimer's disease by preventing brain neurons from dying in response to natural stress. The team published the results of their study in the April, 2010 issue of Apoptosis.

3 Aug 2010

BioMarin reports $0.5 million GAAP net loss for second-quarter 2010

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2010. GAAP net loss was $0.5 million ($0.01 per diluted share) for the second quarter of 2010, compared to GAAP net income of $1.3 million ($0.01 per diluted share) for the second quarter of 2009. Non-GAAP net income was $8.6 million ($0.08 per diluted share) for the second quarter of 2010, compared to non-GAAP net income of $9.0 million ($0.09 per diluted share) for the second quarter of 2009.

3 Aug 2010

Percutaneous heart valve replacement may be an alternative for open heart surgery

A newer, less invasive method of heart valve replacement shows promise and may be appropriate for patients who cannot tolerate traditional open heart surgery, but research is needed to understand its potential risks and benefits, according to a new study funded by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

3 Aug 2010

OECD approves new, non-animal testing guideline for skin irritation

After more than a decade of scientific research and lobbying by animal protection groups, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has approved a new, non-animal testing guideline for skin irritation. The guideline was adopted on July 22 and it is now available for use by companies and governments worldwide.

3 Aug 2010

Tongue piercing can result in serious injury: Research

First, your child gets her tongue pierced. Then, as if you needed something else, she starts "playing" with the tiny barbell-shaped stud, pushing it against her upper front teeth. And before you know it, she forces a gap between those teeth -- a fraction-of-an-inch gap that may cost thousands of dollars in orthodontic bills to straighten.

3 Aug 2010

'Medical homes' bolster primary care and cut emergency costs

Several news outlets look at efforts to manage care for Medicaid patients and the uninsured better.

3 Aug 2010

Orthovita second-quarter operating income improves to $0.4 million

Orthovita, Inc., an orthobiologics and biosurgery company, reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Product sales for the second quarter of 2010 were $23.9 million compared to $24.5 million for the second quarter of 2009. Product sales for the second quarter of 2009 included $0.6 million from the sale of Vitomatrix™, a bone graft material used in dental products. There were no Vitomatrix sales in the second quarter of 2010 and no further sales of Vitomatrix are currently expected.

3 Aug 2010

Research links body weight to glaucoma risk

This month's Ophthalmology journal includes surprising research from the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary on the relation of body weight to the risk for glaucoma. Also, from researchers at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University, comes the first specific map of how the development of myopic maculopathy, an illness that afflicts many severely nearsighted people, predicts which patients will be most susceptible to vision loss.

3 Aug 2010

Doctor discounts for the asking

Reporting for Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with the Los Angeles Times, Lisa Zamosky writes: "Looking to save money on healthcare? Consider asking your doctor for a discount.

3 Aug 2010

Alphavirus vaccine blocks tumor growth in advanced cancer: Research

An experimental vaccine based on a virus that causes encephalitis in the wild appears to block tumor growth in some cases of advanced cancer, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center. Scientists say the vaccine is able to stimulate an immune response, even in the face of profound immune system suppression, a condition most patients with advanced cancer experience.

3 Aug 2010

BioMarin completes BMN 195 Phase 1 clinical trial for Duchenne muscular dystrophy

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. announced today that it has completed the Phase 1 clinical study of BMN 195, a small molecule utrophin up-regulator, for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The Phase 1 clinical trial was a single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-dose escalation study followed by a multiple-dose escalation study in healthy volunteers.

3 Aug 2010

Allergan second-quarter diluted EPS increases to $0.78

Allergan, Inc. today announced operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Allergan also announced that its Board of Directors has declared a second quarter dividend of $0.05 per share, payable on September 7, 2010 to stockholders of record on August 17, 2010.

3 Aug 2010

Color red makes men more alluring to women: Study

It's a symbol of courage and sacrifice, of sin and sexuality, of power and passion - and now new research demonstrates that the color red makes men more alluring to women.In the United States, England, Germany and China, women found men more appealing when they were either pictured wearing red or framed in red, compared with other colors. The finding is reported in the August issue of the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, published by the American Psychological Association.

3 Aug 2010

As e-prescribing becomes more popular, hurdles to adoption persist

The [Gary, IN] Post-Tribune: "While the trend toward e-prescribing has picked up steam in recent years, some doctors "said there continue to be barriers to widespread acceptance of a technology that could save thousands of lives.

3 Aug 2010

VertiFlex enrolls 150 patients in Superion Interspinous Spacer IDE clinical trial

VertiFlex, Inc., a leading innovator of minimally invasive and motion preserving spinal surgery technologies, today announced that 150 patients have been enrolled in its pivotal IDE clinical trial of the Superion Interspinous Spacer (ISS).

3 Aug 2010

Researchers develop techniques to identify evolution of drug resistance strains of malaria

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University developed techniques to quickly identify evolution of drug resistance in strains of malaria. Their goal is to enable the medical community to react quickly to inevitable resistance and thereby save lives while increasing the lifespan of drugs used against the disease.Currently, disease monitoring requires months of clinical trials. The new methods can provide more information in just days, and far cheaper.

3 Aug 2010

Patrys secures funding of up to A$15 million to support advancement of clinical products

Patrys Limited (ASX: PAB), a company focused on the development of natural human antibodies for the treatment of cancer, announced today that it has secured up to A$15 million in funding.

3 Aug 2010

Severe swine flu cases on the rise

Severe cases of swine flu requiring intensive care are on the rise this week. This has prompted a warning for the vulnerable to be vaccinated. NSW Health Communicable Diseases Branch director Dr Jeremy McAnulty said that the cases appear to be caused by the flu strain that caused the 2009 pandemic.

3 Aug 2010