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FDA awards $2.9 million to support tuberculosis research projects

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the award of $2.9 million to support six research projects that will help with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of tuberculosis (TB).

5 Oct 2010

NIH awards contract to develop nanotechnology tools for atherosclerosis treatment

Georgia Tech and Emory University have received a five-year $14.6 million contract from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue the development of nanotechnology and biomolecular engineering tools and methodologies for detecting and treating atherosclerosis.

5 Oct 2010

Terminal metastatic cancer effectively treated in mice

Terminal metastatic cancer - the presently untreatable cause of the great majority of all cancer deaths - has now been effectively treated in three common fatal cancers in mice, announced Genomic Systems, citing research published online today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS).

5 Oct 2010

Opinions: MDGs; Obama's development policy; PEPFAR in Uganda

In a SciDev.Net editorial, David Dickson, director of SciDev.Net, examines progress towards the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets, highlighting their usefulness as well as their shortcomings. "The value of the MDGs lies in the way they have acted as both a carrot and a stick to focus the efforts of both development agencies and governments of developing countries," according to Dickson, who writes that "the curse of the MDGs is that they focus on relatively short-term, concrete objectives, and lack sufficient 'buy-in' from the very countries they are intended to help.

5 Oct 2010

NIEHS awards grant to study environmental impact on genetic information

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has awarded $2.27 million to Indiana University researcher Joseph Shaw for a five-year study of how the environment alters genetic information through mutation and natural selection.

5 Oct 2010

Estech adds COBRA Revolution Bipolar Clamp to ablation product line

Estech, a leading provider of minimally invasive cardiac surgery devices, today announced the launch of its COBRA Revolution™ Bipolar Clamp for use in surgical ablation procedures. The new instrument enables deep transmural lesion formation after a single application and is the only clamp to feature reversible jaws, which uniquely allows surgeons to follow anatomic contours, for unprecedented ease of use and efficiency.

5 Oct 2010

Onconova announces agreement with FDA for Estybon- MDS Phase 3 trial

Onconova Therapeutics, Inc. announced agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) for the design of a pivotal Phase 3 trial for Estybon- (ON 01910.Na) as monotherapy in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), diseases affecting the production of healthy blood cells in the bone marrow.

5 Oct 2010

Australian reimbursement committee is set to consider Novo Nordisk's type 2 diabetes treatment

In its November meeting, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) will consider Novo Nordisk's second-to-market glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonist Victoza for reimbursement, which would be essential in order for the drug to compete effectively with Eli Lilly's Byetta. However, its chances of success are uncertain, considering that it took three years to get Byetta on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

4 Oct 2010

Happiness linked to healthy lifestyle, religion and working hours: Study

Earlier belief that happiness is a genetic trait influenced by early life experiences has been contradicted by new research from Germany. This new study found that feelings of happiness and wellbeing respond to external factors such as healthy lifestyle, religion and working hours. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

4 Oct 2010

Autism coal link study unable to move forward

There have been studies in the United States that have shown that there is a higher rate of autism among children living close to power stations. An Australian researcher following up on the possible link between coal-fired power stations and autism claims to have been denied access to data.

4 Oct 2010

Second pathway to brain’s memory function uncovered

Australian and US scientists have successfully identified a new mechanism by which the brain learns and stores memories. This could spell hope for brain injuries and diseases like Alzheimer’s disease.

4 Oct 2010

Egg allergies may be prevented by early introduction: Study

Contrary to popular belief that eggs should not be introduced into the diet before the first birthday of the baby, a new study shows that parents who do not want their newborn babies to develop an egg allergy ought to feed them eggs in the first six months of life.

4 Oct 2010

Father of IVF acknowledged with a Nobel prize

Professor Robert Edwards who came to be known as the “father of In Vitro fertilization” (IVF) has won this year's Nobel prize in medicine. He is 85 and has won the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine for his pioneering work on the in vitro fertilisation of human eggs that led to the birth of the world's first IVF baby, Louise Brown, in 1978. When he had started off initially his funding request for IVF research was turned down by Britain’s Medical Research Council (MRC) in the 1970s. His co-worker the gynaecologist Patrick Steptoe, died in 1988. Professor Edwards becomes the sole recipient of this award since it cannot be awarded posthumously.

4 Oct 2010

Depression treatment guidelines updated

There has been an update in the treatment of clinical depression. This includes suggestions on the use of medication, talk therapy, exercise, and alternative treatments and puts more emphasis on tailor made treatments for patients.

4 Oct 2010

Healthcare system does not take girls with autism or ADHD symptoms seriously

When girls with symptoms of autism or ADHD seek professional medical help, their problems are often played down or misinterpreted, and there is a real risk that they will not get the help or support they need. As such, more training is needed in this area, particularly in the public sector, reveals a thesis from the University of Gothenburg.

4 Oct 2010

NY Times: DEA crackdown means delays for some patients in need of pain meds

The New York Times: Increased scrutiny by the Drug Enforcement Administration may be causing painful delays for patients who need narcotic drugs. "Roland Lorenz has surgical screws in his back and neck and a pin in his upper leg, and when his pain reared up one recent weekend, he knew he needed something strong.

4 Oct 2010

Celgene announces senior unsecured notes offering

Celgene Corporation today announced its intention to offer, subject to market and other conditions, senior unsecured notes under a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The interest rate, the maturity dates and other key terms of the offering are to be determined at the time of pricing.

4 Oct 2010

Health law's insurance plans for pre-existing conditions are slow to enroll; 3M to drop early retiree coverage

The Associated Press: "It's a centerpiece of President Barack Obama's health care remake, a lifeline available right now to vulnerable people whose medical problems have made them uninsurable. But the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan started this summer isn't living up to expectations. Enrollment lags in many parts of the country. People who could benefit may not be able to afford the premiums. Some state officials who run their own "high-risk pools" have pointed out potential problems" (Alonso-Zaldivar, 10/3).

4 Oct 2010

BioRelix, Merck enter research collaboration to identify new antibacterial drug candidates

BioRelix, Inc. today announced that it has entered into a research collaboration agreement with a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. to identify new antibacterial drug candidates.

4 Oct 2010

Seniors face new choices with approach of first open enrollment since health overhaul

Provisions of the health overhaul will reshape many aspects of the Medicare program, but in the meantime, have left consumers in a state of confusion.

4 Oct 2010