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AIDS advocates call for African Governments to spend more of their own funds on health

Doctors and AIDS activists on Friday urged African governments to fulfill a decade-old pledge to spend more of their own money on health if they want international help in fighting AIDS.

14 Sep 2010

AskBio enters patent license agreement with Pfizer for HCV therapy

Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc., a privately-owned clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced today it has entered into a patent license agreement with Pfizer, Inc. granting Pfizer access to certain proprietary gene-delivery platform technologies developed by AskBio, for use in developing novel therapies for patients with Hepatitis C virus (HCV).

14 Sep 2010

African Green Revolution Forum concludes with 'Green Revolution' action plan

Participants at the first meeting of the African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) - which wrapped up recently in Accra, Ghana - drew up a "Green Revolution" action plan aimed at ensuring food security in Africa, SciDev.Net reports. The forum is the result of a challenge, issued by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, which calls on the private and public sectors to work together to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

14 Sep 2010

Sanofi Pasteur files Fluzone Intradermal influenza virus vaccine sBLA with FDA

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group, announced today that it has filed a Supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Fluzone® Intradermal (Influenza Virus Vaccine). The file has been accepted by the FDA and an action date is anticipated in the first half of 2011.

From BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) 14 Sep 2010

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation helps to regain motor function in partially paralyzed patients

Stroke patients who were left partially paralysed found that their condition improved after they received a simple and non-invasive method of brain stimulation, according to research in the September issue of the European Journal of Neurology.

14 Sep 2010

St. John Hospital commences enrollment in CONNECT trial for peripheral artery disease

St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit and Avinger, Inc., a medical device company focused on the development of innovative devices to combat peripheral artery disease, announced today the enrollment of the first patient in the CONNECT (Chronic TOtal OcclusioN CrossiNg with thE WildCat CatheTer) clinical trial.

14 Sep 2010

Potassium salt intake can improve blood pressure: Study

An increased intake of 'good' potassium salts could contribute significantly to improving blood pressure at the population level. The favourable effect brought about by potassium is even estimated to be comparable with the blood pressure reduction achievable by halving the intake of 'bad' sodium salts (mostly from table salt).

14 Sep 2010

Arno Therapeutics closes private placement to advance cancer treatment

Arno Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing oncology therapeutics, today announced that it has closed a private placement of its securities resulting in gross proceeds to the company of over $15 million.

14 Sep 2010

Study finds new therapeutic target for polycystic kidney disease

In work suggesting a new approach to treating polycystic kidney disease (PKD), a leading cause of kidney failure, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston were able to block the formation of fluid-filled cysts, the hallmark of the disease, in a mouse model. Their findings, using a compound that inhibits a receptor known as c-Met, will be published in the September 13th online edition of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

14 Sep 2010

Ironwood, Forest Laboratories announce positive results for linaclotide Phase 3 clinical trials in IBS-C patients

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) today announced positive top-line results from the first of two Phase 3 clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of the investigational drug, linaclotide, in patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C).

14 Sep 2010

Capstone Therapeutics reaches overall progress in AZX100 Phase 2a clinical trials for keloid scarring

Capstone Therapeutics announced today that participating subjects have reached the planned twelve-month timepoint in the first of its two ongoing AZX100 Phase 2a clinical trials in keloid scarring. Data analysis for these subjects is underway. Per protocol and the original clinical development plan, results of the two keloid scarring trials will be pooled for analytical purposes and are scheduled for release during 4Q2010.

14 Sep 2010

Arthritis Foundation, Takeda launch Gout Living educational campaign

The Arthritis Foundation and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc., announced the launch of a new educational campaign, Gout Living, to help increase understanding and encourage better management of gout.

14 Sep 2010

Advantec announces partnership with Teladoc for telehealth consultations

Advantec, an innovative provider of HR, Payroll and Benefits services to small and mid-sized businesses, announced today a new partnership with Teladoc, the nation's leading provider of telehealth medical consultations.

14 Sep 2010

Pharmacyclics reports $9.3 million increase in total revenue for 2010 fiscal year

Pharmacyclics, Inc. today reported financial results for its fiscal year and fourth quarter which ended June 30, 2010.

14 Sep 2010

Queensland health staff threaten to strike

According to a union some Queensland Health professionals are ready to strike over a government wage offer. The Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMWU) and Queensland Public Sector Union (QPSU) (that includes radiographers, scientists and pharmacists) started this campaign across Queensland on Monday. They are protesting even on radio and print ads for a 2.5 per cent rise a year, over three years.

13 Sep 2010

Complementary medicine to save millions: Report

According to a new report substituting pharmaceutical antidepressants with St John’s Wort could save the health system $50 million a year. This research was conducted by Access Economics for the National Institute of Complementary Medicine (NICM) at the University of Western Sydney. It showed that cost effectiveness of complementary and alternative therapies have the potential to cut costs without compromising patient outcomes.

13 Sep 2010

Myopia and Glaucoma genes identified

In global studies of more than 40,000 people from countries around the world, including Australia, researchers have found the genes responsible for two of the most common eye disorders - short-sightedness or myopia and glaucoma. The scientists believe this could open new diagnostic and management options.

13 Sep 2010

Minister for Indigenous Health reinstated

As Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced her ministry this weekend, surprises came forth. Australian Medical Association and Aboriginal medical groups initially were dismayed when she decided to axe the Indigenous Health portfolio. Federal Labor MP Warren Snowdon was moved into Veterans' Affairs initially from where he was reinstated to his earlier position as Indigenous Health Minister. He assured that this reinstatement is not in response to the reaction from Indigenous and rural health groups.

13 Sep 2010

Victorian health system falters

In the latest annual report from Your Hospitals, that rates the efficiency of hospitals, Victorian hospitals have fared badly. It shows that more than 250,000 emergency department patients were not treated on time in the past year - an increase on four years ago.

13 Sep 2010

Laser acupuncture a plausible treatment for depression

Acupuncture produces significant changes in parts of the brain that regulate emotional states and is a biologically plausible treatment for depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders, Australian researchers have shown for the first time.

13 Sep 2010