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Lobbyists have long wish list for new health rules

Kaiser Health News staff writers Julie Appleby, Mary Agnes Carey and Phil Galewitz, working in collaboration with The Washington Post, write: "Now that the health care bill is law, an array of groups -- representing doctors, insurers, small businesses and others -- have switched to their post-passage game plans.

15 May 2010

Agronomic practices can increase cancer-preventive phytochemicals in broccoli and tomatoes

A University of Illinois study has demonstrated that agronomic practices can greatly increase the cancer-preventive phytochemicals in broccoli and tomatoes.

15 May 2010

National study of factors related to unmet health needs among homeless people

The vast majority of homeless adults surveyed in a national study had trouble accessing at least one type of needed health care service in the preceding year, according to a study that will appear in the July American Journal of Public Health and is now available online.

15 May 2010

Amgen submits BLA for denosumab subcutaneous RANK Ligand inhibitor

Amgen Inc. today announced the submission of a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for denosumab, a subcutaneous RANK Ligand inhibitor. The BLA submission summarizes clinical experience from nearly 6,900 patients across 18 clinical studies, including approximately 5,700 patients with advanced cancer in the three, pivotal, Phase 3, head-to-head trials versus Zometa® (zoledronic acid).

15 May 2010

Lobbyists turn focus to how health law will be regulated

"Now that the health care bill is law, an array of groups -- representing doctors, insurers, small businesses and others -- have switched to their post-passage game plans. Among their top goals: Helping shape the all-important regulations being written by the Obama administration," according to Kaiser Health News/The Washington Post.

15 May 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

As the 193 WHO member states gather at next week's World Health Assembly (WHA) "a draft global code of practice on the international recruitment of health personnel will be on the agenda. Negotiation and adoption of a WHO code of practice is an unprecedented opportunity to advance global consensus to address the critical challenges of migration of health workers and its effect on health systems worldwide," the authors of a Lancet Comment write.

15 May 2010

U.S. healthcare practitioners can resume use of Rotarix, says FDA

GlaxoSmithKline announced that the Food and Drug Administration has determined that U.S. healthcare practitioners can resume the use of Rotarix (Rotavirus Vaccine, Live, Oral), effective immediately. This action supersedes the FDA's recommendation from March 22, 2010 and reflects the agency's assessment that the presence of porcine circovirus type 1 in the vaccine poses no safety risk.

15 May 2010

FDA assigns Cadence Pharmaceuticals' OFIRMEV NDA new PDUFA action date

Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified the OFIRMEV™ (acetaminophen) injection New Drug Application (NDA) resubmission as a complete Class 2 response to the FDA's February 10, 2010 action letter and assigned a new Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of November 4, 2010.

15 May 2010

EES launches two surgical staplers to optimize efficiencies and compression during open surgery

Ethicon Endo-Surgery today announced the launch of two new surgical staplers designed to optimize efficiencies and compression during open surgery. The Ethicon Endo-Surgery Linear Cutter 55/75, engineered with novel staple technology and selectable staple heights in one cartridge, provides superior hemostasis for patients and improved efficiencies to surgeons, nurses and facility administrations. The Ethicon Endo-Surgery Intraluminal Stapler, designed with a new tissue compression scale, provides surgeons improved flexibility and control so that they can address the individual needs of each patient.

15 May 2010

GOP launches new challenge to health law with coordinated messaging

Republicans are starting a new bid to undermine Democratic attempts at touting a new health law. The GOP effort includes attacks on both President Barack Obama's pick to run Medicare and on claims that implementation is going smoothly.

15 May 2010

FDA grants tentative approval for Teva's Cinacalcet HCl Tablets ANDA

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted tentative approval for the Company's Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Cinacalcet HCl Tablets 30, 60 & 90 mg.

15 May 2010

Democrats weary of health changes, mull new health bills, 'doc fix'

Democrats are feeling health care "fatigue" and are doubting that Congress will consider any more health-related legislation this year. "Measures in jeopardy include bills that would require more information on healthcare prices, empower federal regulators to sign off on premium increases and strip insurers of their exemption from anti-trust laws."

15 May 2010

BioMS reports consolidated net income of $6.5M for first-quarter 2010 compared to net loss of $3.8M in 2009

BioMS Medical Corp., today announced financial and operational results for the three months ended March 31, 2010.

15 May 2010

NFIB to join lawsuit against health law

"The nation's most influential small business lobby is joining a court challenge to President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, arguing that Americans cannot be required under the Constitution to obtain insurance coverage," The Associated Press reports.

14 May 2010

Nymox attributes increase in first-quarter net losses to higher clinical trial expenditures

Nymox Pharmaceutical Corporation announced today its financial results for the first quarter of 2010. Nymox reported a net loss of $1,269,550, or $0.04 per share for the quarter ending March 31, 2010, compared to $1,004,259, or $0.03 per share for same period in 2009. Net losses include stock compensation charges of $195,220 in 2010 and $309,650 in 2009.

14 May 2010

Obama administration cracks down on health care fraud

Modern Healthcare: "The government's efforts to rein in Medicare fraud and abuse recovered $2.5 billion for the program in fiscal 2009, up 29% from $1.9 billion the previous year, according to a new annual report. ... The $2.5 billion collected in fiscal 2009 is attributed to judgments and settlements in previous years as well as 2009, according to the report of the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program.

14 May 2010

Heart defibrillators complicate end-of-life care

Heart defibrillators, "small implants that save lives by sending an electrical jolt to interrupt a potentially fatal heart rhythm and restore normal beating," can pose a "challenge near life's end, for both patients and their families," The New York Times reports.

14 May 2010

Hospitals plan joint efforts to increase efficiency

An association of California hospitals has proposed creating a foundation to supply doctors to at least 20 of its 160 members, with more likely to join if the project takes off, The Wall Street Journal reports. The foundation "would own clinics and centralize administrative matters including billing and electronic medical records," and it shows another step in efforts to align "doctors and hospitals, a trend expected to be accelerated by the health overhaul."

14 May 2010

Oxygen levels induce X chromosome inactivation in female cells: Study

Oxygen levels in the lab can permanently alter human embryonic stem (ES) cells, specifically inducing X chromosome inactivation in female cells, according to Whitehead Institute researchers. Human ES cells have been routinely created and maintained at atmospheric levels of oxygen, which is about 20%. Cells in the body are usually exposed to only 1-9% oxygen.

14 May 2010

New research shows healthy retirees face higher total health care costs

Healthy retirees actually face higher total health care costs over their remaining lifetime than the unhealthy, according to new research conducted by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College and underwritten by Prudential Financial.

14 May 2010