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First Edition: August 2, 2010

Today's headlines include news about a pre-recess Senate push to pass a state aid measure as well as a preview of a White House report to be issued today that predicts savings in the Medicare program.

2 Aug 2010

IRIS International closes AlliedPath acquisition

IRIS International, Inc., a leading manufacturer of automated in-vitro diagnostics systems and consumables for use in hospitals and commercial laboratories worldwide, announced today that it has closed the acquisition of AlliedPath, Inc., a private, early stage high complexity, CLIA-certified laboratory focused on oncology and molecular diagnostics.

2 Aug 2010

Healthsouth Corporation experiences positive trends in second quarter

HealthSouth Corporation, the nation's largest provider of inpatient rehabilitative healthcare services, today reported its results of operations for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. "The positive trends we experienced in the first quarter of 2010 continued into the second quarter as good volume growth, solid pricing, and disciplined expense management resulted in growth in all key, financial metrics," said Jay Grinney, President and Chief Executive Officer of HealthSouth.

2 Aug 2010

INEOS agrees to sell Global Films business to Bilcare AG

INEOS Group has today entered into a binding agreement for the sale of its Global Films business to Bilcare AG, one of the world's leading providers of research led packaging to the global pharmaceuticals industry, for approximately EUR100 million. The agreement brings together complimentary capabilities and synergy's of two leading global businesses.

2 Aug 2010

Singapore Ministry of Health awards Accenture with contract to implement NEHR system

The Singapore Ministry of Health has awarded Accenture, a contract to implement the National Electronic Health Record (NEHR) system, a key enabler of Singapore's vision toward a national, integrated health care system. The NEHR is designed to improve the quality of healthcare for citizens, lower the costs of health services, and promote more effective health policies.

2 Aug 2010

Research shows no link between CCSVI and development of multiple sclerosis

Two important new studies challenge the controversial hypothesis that venous congestion—chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI)—contributes to the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). This theory has resulted in many MS patients receiving experimental endovascular angioplasty, a treatment for MS unproven by clinical trials.

2 Aug 2010

Humana second quarter consolidated revenues rises 10% to $8.65 billion

Humana Inc. today reported diluted earnings per common share (EPS) for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 (2Q10) of $2.00, above management's guidance of $1.65 to $1.70. The 2Q10 results compared to EPS of $1.67 for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 (2Q09). For the six months ended June 30, 2010 (1H10) the company reported $3.52 in EPS compared to $2.89 for the six months ended June 30, 2009 (1H09).

2 Aug 2010

Researchers discover mechanism linking H. pylori infection and stomach cancer

Researchers have discovered a mechanism by which Helicobacter pylori, the only known cancer-causing bacterium, disables a tumor suppressor protein in host cells.The new study, in the journal Oncogene, reports the discovery of a previously unknown mechanism linking H. pylori infection and stomach cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.

2 Aug 2010

Lexicon acquires equity shares of Symphony Icon Holdings

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing breakthrough treatments for human disease, today announced that it has exercised a restructured purchase option under its drug development financing collaboration with Symphony Icon Holdings LLC and acquired all the equity of Symphony Icon, Inc., thereby reacquiring all rights to LX1031, LX1032, LX1033 and the other drug programs subject to the collaboration.

2 Aug 2010

DR Walk-in Medical Center at Union Square for quality health care

A new way to receive affordable, quality health care arrives in lower Manhattan today, as the physicians of New York Walk In Medical Group, PC, open a DR Walk-in Medical Center in the new Duane Reade at 1 Union Square.

2 Aug 2010

Inpatient rehab helps patient to regain functions lost from injury, illness

After a person receives acute care in a "regular" hospital for catastrophic illness, traumatic injury or a debilitating chronic condition, the next step in the process of recovery often involves a stay at an inpatient rehabilitation, or rehab, facility.Patients often have little warning when they're quickly moved to a rehab facility from acute care. Those who envision a long, leisurely recovery in a hospital or at home may find that the abrupt transition-and new responsibilities in rehab-leaves their heads spinning.

2 Aug 2010

Screening tool kit to measure public facilities

Denis Anson, M.S., O.T.R., director of research and development for the Assistive Technology Research Institute (ATRI) at Misericordia University, has worn a lot of different hats in his professional career.By utilizing the expertise he's acquired during his 30 years of practice and application of assistive technology and occupational therapy strategies, Anson has devised and brought to market the Americans with Disabilities Act — Compliance Assessment Toolkit or ADA-CAT to measure whether public facilities are in compliance with the federal law that was enacted 20 years ago.

2 Aug 2010

Jenkins wins three man weight loss challenge by Dr. Siegal's Cookie Diet weight-loss regimen

New York Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins has won the three-man weight-loss challenge proposed by Head Coach Rex Ryan back in May, defeating Ryan and teammate Damien Woody. Jenkins lost 33 pounds compared to 26 pounds for Woody and 20 pounds for Ryan. A four-time NFL Pro Bowl athlete, Jenkins weighed 390 pounds at the start of the competition and now weighs in at a lean 359 pounds. To help insure his victory, Jenkins had recruited renowned physician, author, and weight-loss expert Dr. Sanford Siegal and followed the Miami physician's popular Dr. Siegal's Cookie Diet weight-loss regimen.

2 Aug 2010

GRS announces Martin as European General Manager, Executive Vice President of Global Development

Global Research Services, LLC (GRS), an international cardiovascular clinical research organization (CRO) serving pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies with comprehensive clinical trial management services, announced today that Benoît Martin, a seasoned executive with more than a decade of leading international CRO business units, has been named as the European General Manager and Executive Vice President of Global Development.

2 Aug 2010

Scientists identify genetic basis for prostate cancer susceptibility in non-European population

A genome-wide study on Japanese subjects has identified 5 new genetic variations associated with prostate cancer and revealed differences and similarities between Europeans and Asians in susceptibility to the disease. Reported in Nature Genetics, the findings offer a first-ever glimpse of the genetic basis for prostate cancer susceptibility in a non-European population.

2 Aug 2010

Financial shortcomings in healthcare industry declines DR, CR purchase

Widespread capital freezes and financial shortcomings in the healthcare industry have caused a significant decline in the number of Digital Radiography (DR) and Computed Radiography (CR) purchases. One key challenge faced by the industry has been the lack of capital available for technologies which require high initial investments, such as digital solutions. However, with the economy recovering and funds becoming available to potential buyers, the unit shipment volume is expected to gain momentum in 2011.

2 Aug 2010

Nutritional labeling, point-of-purchase signs influence healthy food choices: Study

Poor diet and physical inactivity leading to obesity are poised to overtake tobacco use as the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. With over 30% of U.S. adults obese, the significant adverse health effects of obesity (including heart disease and diabetes) are widespread throughout the country. Two studies published in the August issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association shed light on behaviors regarding food choices and good nutrition and report on how nutritional labeling and point-of-purchase signs are influencing healthy food choices.

2 Aug 2010

Merck reports strong bottom-line performance in second quarter

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2010. The company reported non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) earnings per share (EPS) for the second quarter of $0.86, which excludes purchase accounting adjustments, merger-related expenses, restructuring costs and the gain on AstraZeneca's asset option exercise. Second-quarter GAAP EPS was $0.24.

2 Aug 2010

Health Care Politics: parties dispute tax reporting requirement; administration woos seniors with new Ad

The Associated Press "Tucked into the new health care law is a requirement that could become a paperwork nightmare for nearly 40 million businesses. They must file tax forms for every vendor that sells them more than $600 in goods. The goal is to prevent vendors from underreporting their income to the Internal Revenue Service.

2 Aug 2010

Almac's solutions to support biopharma companies by adopting biomarker strategies

Almac today announced the launch of Biomarkers for biopharma a range of solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of the biopharma industry.Almac's solutions are to support biopharma companies in adopting biomarker strategies to enable them to better understand their drug, improve their drug's success rate, improve the drug's value and ultimately maximise their drug's potential.

2 Aug 2010