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A day in the life of a 'mega' free clinic

This Kaiser Health News slideshow details a one-day free clinic held in Washington, D.C., at the city's convention center. "Mega clinics are a last-resort safety net and seek to connect patients with local community resources including other free clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers and safety-net hospitals" (Marcy, 8/11).

12 Aug 2010

Amgen reports top-line results from Vectibix Phase 3 trial for head and neck cancer

Amgen today announced top-line results from a randomized Phase 3 trial evaluating Vectibix as a first-line treatment in patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell head and neck cancer. The data showed the addition of Vectibix to platinum-based chemotherapy did not result in a statistically significant improvement in overall survival, the primary endpoint, compared to chemotherapy alone.

12 Aug 2010

BMI indicates breast cancer risk in women using postmenopausal hormone therapy

Using postmenopausal hormone therapy for more than 15 years increases a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, particularly among leaner women according to research at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC).

12 Aug 2010

Swift Biosciences completes $3 million Series A financing

Swift Biosciences Inc., a Michigan-based life sciences company, today announced the recent completion of a $3 million Series A financing led by the venture firm DFJ Mercury. DFJ Mercury was joined in the Series A by several Michigan-based individual investors who also helped launch the Company with seed funding in January 2010. Daniel Watkins of DFJ Mercury will join the company's Board of Directors.

12 Aug 2010

Critics question Berwick's ties to think-tank donors

Donald Berwick, who was recently appointed as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services without a Senate hearing, did not list donors who contributed up to $5 million to the think tank he ran before his appointment on ethics disclosure forms, the Washington Times reports.

12 Aug 2010

Sage Science introduces Pippin Prep DNA size selection system in US markets

Sage Science, Inc. announced today the release of the Pippin Prep DNA size selection system to the United States market. This device automates the collection of DNA fragments for next generation sequencing library preparations, and replaces manual gel purification techniques that typically require hours of effort.

12 Aug 2010

Chimpanzee adenoviruses can be used as vaccine vectors: Research

In recent years, scientists have studied the possibility of using engineered human adenoviruses as vaccines against diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. In this approach, adenoviruses, which commonly cause respiratory-tract infections, are rendered relatively harmless before they are used as vectors to deliver genes from pathogens, which in turn stimulate the body to generate a protective immune response.

12 Aug 2010

Furiex second-quarter 2010 revenues increase to $8.1M from $0.2M in second-quarter 2009

Furiex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported its financial and operating results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. Furiex was spun off from PPD, Inc. effective June 14, 2010. The financial information included in the financial and operating results does not reflect the consolidated results of operations or cash flows of the company had it been a separate, stand-alone entity during the periods presented as the information through June 14, 2010, was derived from PPD's discovery sciences segment.

12 Aug 2010

Health on the Hill - August 11, 2010

Kaiser Health News staff writer Mary Agnes Carey talks with KFF's Jackie Judd about the latest health-related news, including the congressional approval of a state aid package that includes $16 billion in federal Medicaid assistance (8/11).

12 Aug 2010

Needle-free natural vaccine against malaria: Research

A study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine proposes that preventative treatment with affordable and safe antibiotics in people living in areas with intense malaria transmission has the potential to act as a 'needle-free' natural vaccine against malaria and may likely provide an additional valuable tool for controlling and/or eliminating malaria in resource-poor settings.

12 Aug 2010

Today's Opinions and Editorials: The importance of following health reform's plan and more about 'death panels'

Within a few years, 6 million uninsured California residents will finally get medical coverage as part of the newly passed federal health care reforms. But what will they pay? And who will regulate premiums as insurers angle for customers? (8/11).

12 Aug 2010

Smoking rates continue to fall in Japan

Japan has set a world record with the 15th consecutive year of low smoking rates according to a nationwide survey released Wednesday by Japan Tobacco Inc.

11 Aug 2010

Rural health suffering in Australia

A report looking into the state of Australia's rural health system has found severe disparities in rural health care. The report shows that more than 52 percent of rural Australians are waiting one or more weeks for a routine appointment with their GP and some are forced to wait up to six months to see specialists.

11 Aug 2010

Mental health bill for 2008 was $5.3 billion: Report

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the country is spending more and more to deal with its mental ailment burden. This emerged from a report from the AIHW saying that finances spent on mental health services between 2007 to 2008 were $5.3 billion. Of this around 60 per cent came from state and territory governments, 36 per cent from the Commonwealth, and the rest from private health funds.

11 Aug 2010

HemaQuest commences HQK-1004 global Phase 2 clinical trial in EBV-related malignancies

HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has initiated the Company's Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating its proprietary HQK-1004 therapy for the treatment of lymphomas and related cancers associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. These EBV-related cancers have poor prognoses and short patient survival. Currently available cancer therapies are typically much less effective in patients with EBV-related lymphoid malignancies than in patients who have similar cancers not infected with the virus.

11 Aug 2010

Advanced Life Sciences second-quarter net loss decreases to $2.1 million

Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs in the therapeutic areas of infection, oncology and respiratory diseases, today announced its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

11 Aug 2010

Elsevier launches Global Malaria Resource

Elsevier, the world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, today announced the launch of Malaria Nexus, Elsevier's Global Malaria Resource, http://www.malarianexus.com.

11 Aug 2010

Anesthesia Business Consultants launch F1RSTAccess mobile application

Anesthesia Business Consultants, LLC is singly focused on servicing their clients. ABC exploits the latest technological advancements to maximize information sharing with their clients. In line with this philosophy, ABC proudly announces the launch of their mobile application, F1RSTAccessTM.

11 Aug 2010

Canadian Olympic figure skater's struggle with clear vision

Canadian figure skater, and Olympic bronze medalist Joannie Rochette - who captured the hearts of people worldwide with her stunning performance at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics - is offering fans a rare glimpse into her past and her struggle with clear vision.

11 Aug 2010

Shire announces divestiture of Daytrana to Noven Pharmaceuticals

Shire plc, the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announced the divestiture of Daytrana (methylphenidate transdermal system) to Noven Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Daytrana, which is approved and marketed in the US for the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children and adolescents, will continue to be available for patients through Noven.

11 Aug 2010