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FDA grants orphan-drug designation to Catalyst's CPP-115 investigational drug

Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc. today announced that its investigational drug, CPP-115, a novel GABA aminotransferase inhibitor, has been granted orphan-drug designation for the treatment of infantile spasms (West Syndrome) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

22 Sep 2010

HIV infection mystery revealed

In a new discovery, Melbourne researchers have found a mechanism by which the HIV virus can affect people. According to co-head of the Burnet Institute's Centre for Virology, Sharon Lewin, scientists have found out how HIV entered a group of cells in which the virus tends to persist in spite of antiviral treatment that reduces the virus to undetectable levels.

22 Sep 2010

Sinobiopharma fiscal 2010 total revenue increases 101% YoY to $7.7 million

Sinobiopharma, Inc., a fully integrated and highly innovative specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of biopharmaceutical products in China, announced financial results for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2010.

22 Sep 2010

Few insurers provide coverage for weight loss treatment

Reporting for Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with The Washington Post, Sandra G. Boodman writes: "After her weight hit the obese range, her cholesterol level nudged the danger zone and her doctor urged her to lose weight, Melissa Moss, veteran of a decade of failed diets, decided she needed intensive help.

22 Sep 2010

FDA grants Phadia 510(k) clearance for CLIA Moderate Complexity, EliA autoimmune antibody assays

Today Phadia announced that it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for two new, CLIA Moderate Complexity, EliA autoimmune antibody assays. The new assays will provide physicians with additional tools needed to aid in the diagnosis of Celiac disease. The newly available assays, EliA GliadinDP IgA and EliA GliadinDP IgG (deamidated peptides), have proven to be essential, sensitive and specific markers to aid in the diagnosis of celiac disease.

22 Sep 2010

Health overhaul details trigger uncertainty, debate

The Orlando Sentinel: "It's one of the most overlooked pieces of health-care overhaul, but a plan to help companies pay health-care costs for early retirees has proved popular in Florida, where 69 companies and government agencies have applied for federal help.

22 Sep 2010

Brown grants exclusive intellectual property license to Tivorsan Pharmaceuticals

Development of a potential treatment for the most common form of muscular dystrophy is moving into a new phase at Brown University. Brown has granted an exclusive license for the intellectual property to Tivorsan Pharmaceuticals, a startup firm that will strive to see it through human trials.

22 Sep 2010

AIG Co. caught selling 'bogus' health plans

Minneapolis Star Tribune: A subsidiary of American International Group — known as AIG — has been fined $100,000 by Minnesota regulators for selling "bogus" health policies and is now ordered to repay its customers.

22 Sep 2010

High dose aspirin effective for treatment of severe headache and migraine

An inexpensive, hundred-year-old therapy for pain - aspirin - is effective in high doses for the treatment of severe headache and migraine caused by drug withdrawal, according to a new study by researchers with the UCSF Headache Center. Study participants were administered aspirin through an IV and 25 percent of the time they reported a significant reduction in pain - three points on the 10-point pain scale.

22 Sep 2010

A slow, steady move to health IT

Reuters: More physicians are using health IT. "U.S. doctors increasingly are ditching pen and paper and sending prescriptions to pharmacies electronically, lured by up to $27 billion in government funds aimed at speeding the switch to electronic medical records. There are now 200,000 doctors who use e-prescribing, or roughly one in three office-based doctors." E-prescribing is only one piece of the health IT puzzle doctors must solve to get their share of the funds (Steenhuysen, 9/21).

22 Sep 2010

AMA launches new online tool to strengthen the financial health of physician practices

The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced a new online tool designed to help physician practices prepare for billing and payment audits by insurers and federal contractors. The AMA’s Practice Analysis Tools for Healthcare (AMA PATH™) puts self-auditing tools in the hands of physicians, allowing them to develop and evaluate fee schedules and billing safeguards without hiring an expensive consultant.

21 Sep 2010

Addicts, hackers stealing identifications and more on the internet

The annual National Identity Crime Symposium is being held this week in Brisbane, Australia. The symposium heard evidence of some drug addicts stealing people's identities and selling them to make money.

21 Sep 2010

Jayant Patel appeal delayed on account of funds shortage

The former surgeon Jayant Patel, at the centre of a 2005 scandal in which he was accused of gross incompetence while working at Bundaberg Base Hospital in Queensland, Australia faces a delay in his appeal against his criminal convictions.

21 Sep 2010

Drowning deaths rise in Australia

The Royal Life Saving Society, Australia is alarmed at the rise in drownings in waterways around the country. With 314 people dying in a year the figures are at a seven year high. 80% of these were males. The Society noted a 27% rise in the numbers since 2002.

21 Sep 2010

Rising Medicare premiums and no cost-of-living adjustment can reduce Social Security payments

The combination of rising Medicare premiums and no annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) would reduce Social Security payments for about 23 million of the nation's seniors in 2011, according to The Senior Citizens League. This figure represents two-thirds of the 37 million seniors who receive Social Security benefits.

21 Sep 2010

Bioconnect's Optiflow Vascular Anastomotic System granted CE mark approval

Bioconnect Systems, Inc. today announced CE mark approval for the Optiflow™ Vascular Anastomotic System. The Optiflow™ enhances a surgeon's ability to create precise vascular connections. The initial indication is the creation of an arteriovenous fistula needed for vascular access in hemodialysis patients.

21 Sep 2010

Access enters $30M supply agreement for MuGard with RHEI

Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company specializing in products for cancer and supportive care signed a $30 million supply agreement for MuGard with RHEI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on bringing proprietary medicines to the China market. Access will ensure manufacturing capacity of up to a minimum of $30 million of product in the licensed territories.

21 Sep 2010

Echo commences development of new transdermal biosensor for continuous lactate monitoring

Echo Therapeutics, Inc., a company developing its needle-free Symphony™ tCGM System as a non-invasive, wireless, transdermal continuous glucose monitoring system and its Prelude™ SkinPrep System for transdermal drug delivery, today announced that it is beginning a development program designed to create a new transdermal biosensor for continuous lactate monitoring to be used in critical care and sports medicine.

21 Sep 2010

Biodegradable polymers represent future of stent design

Three-year data demonstrated that satisfactory clinical and safety outcomes of sirolimus eluting stents with a biodegradable polymer were sustained in a real world setting. The results were presented at the 22nd annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) scientific symposium, sponsored by the Cardiovascular Research Foundation.

21 Sep 2010

Greenway announces advanced allergy module in integrated EHR solution

Greenway Medical Technologies, Inc. today announced the most advanced allergy module available in an integrated electronic health record (EHR) solution for ear, nose and throat (ENT) and allergy physician practices. Developed in conjunction with a leading ENT and allergy testing and treatment practice, the Greenway® Allergy Module for PrimeSuite® provides unmatched allergy testing, serum creation, allergy shot record, lot maintenance and reporting functionality for today's ENT and allergy practice groups.

21 Sep 2010