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Idenix second-quarter total revenues decrease to $1.3 million

Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of human viral diseases, today reported unaudited financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010. At June 30, 2010, Idenix's cash and cash equivalents totaled $51.0 million.

27 Jul 2010

AU leaders summit kicks off, focus on maternal and child health

Heads of state from the African Union (AU) started a three-day meeting in Kampala, Uganda, on Sunday as part of the 15th AU Summit, People's Daily Online reports. Leaders will focus on maternal and child health and will discuss several other issues, including agricultural development, food security, infrastructure development and economic integration (7/26).

27 Jul 2010

Later sunset, extended daylight exposure delays bedtimes in teenagers

In the spring, later sunset and extended daylight exposure delay bedtimes in teenagers, according to researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lighting Research Center (LRC).Biologically, this increased exposure to early evening light in the spring delays the onset of nocturnal melatonin, a hormone that indicates to the body when it's nighttime, explains Mariana Figueiro, Ph.D., associate professor. This extended exposure adds to the difficulties teens have falling asleep at a reasonable hour.

27 Jul 2010

Abviva to receive patent for its new Mammastatin technology

Abviva, Inc., a biomedical company engaged in the development and commercialization of breast cancer-related applications of Mammastatin, announced that the Canadian Patent Office issued notice that it will be issuing patent application Number 2.267.095 within 12 weeks

27 Jul 2010

Johns Hopkins scientist wins $2.5M NIH Director's Pioneer Award

A Johns Hopkins scientist who proposes to design and create an all-new series of novel drugs is one of 17 winners of a special grant known as a Director's Pioneer Award from the National Institutes of Health.

27 Jul 2010

HealthStream second-quarter revenues increase 14% to $16.7M

HealthStream, Inc., a leading provider of learning and research solutions for the healthcare industry, announced today results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

27 Jul 2010

Some small businesses expect continued increases in health costs

The (Florence, Ala.) Times Daily: Some small business owners are worried about the continuing rise of health care costs. "Business owners say they offer health care benefits to attract employees and retain workers. But providing health care to employees is the second highest cost for business owners behind payroll and many owners fear costs will only increase, according to a non-scientific survey taken by the Shoals Chamber of Commerce of 33 small local businesses" (Stokes, 7/26).

27 Jul 2010

UHS second-quarter net revenues increase 3% to $1.34 billion

Universal Health Services, Inc. announced today that its reported net income attributable to UHS was $65.6 million, or $.67 per diluted share, during the second quarter of 2010 as compared to $80.9 million, or $.82 per diluted share, during the comparable prior year quarter. Net revenues increased 3% to $1.34 billion during the second quarter of 2010 as compared to $1.30 billion during the second quarter of 2009.

27 Jul 2010

Scientists find MODS technique most accurate for testing tuberculosis in children

An international team of researchers comparing recently-developed methods for diagnosing tuberculosis in children in resource-poor countries has concluded that the best test for high-risk children is the microscopic-observation drug-susceptibility (MODS) technique using two gastric aspirate specimens from each child tested. MODS detects the presence of bacteria causing tuberculosis using microscopes to detect typical growth patterns in culture broth.

27 Jul 2010

Human fat tissue can be reprogrammed to yield clinically useful stem cells: Research

Australian scientists from the Monash Institute of Medical Research have "reprogrammed" adult mouse fat cells and neural cells to become stem cells that can differentiate into a variety of different cells (pluripotency). The cells, called "induced pluripotent stem cells" are nearly identical to the naturally occurring pluripotent stems cells, such as embryonic stem cells, which are highly pluripotent, in short supply and their access restricted in the U.S.

27 Jul 2010

Lack of dental insurance a problem for millions

The Philadelphia Inquirer: Lack of dental insurance is an "endemic problem" that affects millions of people, largely those without jobs, health coverage or solid incomes. "It began with a toothache. Tori Pence, 23, could feel the hole that had suddenly developed on her tooth, and she couldn't stand either hot or cold food.

27 Jul 2010

Ampio finalizes negotiations to acquire DMI BioSciences

Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced it has finalized negotiations with the directors of DMI BioSciences, Inc. (DMI) to acquire DMI BioSciences, Inc. This acquisition will give Ampio access to all rights, royalties and patents associated with DMI's major assets, drugs for male sexual dysfunction including premature ejaculation (PE) and combination drugs to treat premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction (ED).

27 Jul 2010

Parents can boost story-telling skills by engaging children in narratives: Study

Children with brain injuries have difficulty developing story-telling skills even though other language abilities, such as vocabulary, tend to catch up with other children as they mature, research at the University of Chicago shows. Our findings suggest that there may be limitations to the remarkable flexibility for language functions displayed by children with brain injuries.

27 Jul 2010

NIH awards BU $1.6M grant to target protein-protein interactions with synthetic organic drugs

An interdisciplinary team of Boston University professors is launching a project to develop new ways to target protein-protein interactions with synthetic organic drugs. Financed by a four-year $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, the goal is to develop new approaches for discovering "drug-like" small molecule inhibitors against challenging protein-protein interaction (PPI) interfaces.

27 Jul 2010

NIH issues SBIR grant to Titan Pharmaceutical for PD treatment development

Titan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the National Institutes of Health has awarded the company a grant under the Small Business Innovation Research program supporting the development of a long-term, non-fluctuating dopamine agonist treatment for Parkinson's disease. The first year award in the amount of $300,000 will be available to Titan starting August 1, 2010, and an additional $195,000 for the second year starting August 1, 2011 has been recommended subject to availability of funds and satisfactory progress of the project. The grant will be administered by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

27 Jul 2010

Consumers struggle to sort out many stem cell claims

NPR reports on the confusion among consumers about stem cell therapy. It's easy to find on websites and other advertisements claims of cures for practically every medical condition, but traditional American medical doctors say that so far stem cell therapy has been proven to work in only a few blood disorders.

27 Jul 2010

Alcon second-quarter global sales increase 12.5% to $1.89 billion

Alcon, Inc. reported that global sales rose 12.5 percent to $1.89 billion for the second quarter of 2010, or 11.3 percent excluding the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations and acquisitions. Revenue from acquisitions added 40 basis points to sales growth in the quarter, while foreign currency fluctuations added 80 basis points of growth.

27 Jul 2010

Scientists develop obesity drug without neurological side effects

The drug rimonabant was developed as a treatment for obesity and its myriad of serious health consequences. Despite having its desired effects on weight, which it decreased, and on levels of glucose and fats in the blood, rimonabant was never approved for use in the US because of serious neurological side effects including depression and anxiety. Now, a team of researchers, led by George Kunos, at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, and Alexandros Makriyannis, at Northeastern University, Boston, have developed a drug that has the same positive effects in mice on levels of glucose and fats in the blood as rimonabant but none of the neurological side effects.

27 Jul 2010

'Ultra Rice' piloted as way to tackle malnutrition

Ultra Rice, a rice-shaped pasta fortified with vitamins and minerals is "being produced and tested around the world as a potential solution to malnutrition," according to the Seattle Times. Produced by the nonprofit PATH, Ultra Rice is currently being piloted by the Indian and Brazilian governments in lunch programs and by the U.N. World Food Program in Cambodia. Each grain of Ultra Rice is combined with approximately 100 grains of ordinary rice.

27 Jul 2010

Quidel recommences shipments of QuickVue+ lateral flow diagnostic test for infectious mononucleosis

Quidel Corporation, a leading provider of rapid diagnostic testing solutions, announced today that it has begun taking orders for its QuickVue®+ lateral flow diagnostic test for infectious mononucleosis. Due to strong customer demand, the Company has restarted manufacturing its previous mononucleosis product with shipments to customers expected during the first week of August.

27 Jul 2010