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Officials focus on inequalities in medical research

"After years of individual cancer centers exploring ways to recruit more people from minority populations for cancer studies, $3.8 million in federal stimulus money has been awarded to five institutions — including M.D. Anderson (Cancer Center at the University of Texas) — to work on the issue together for the next two years. The National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, part of the National Institutes of Health, funded the project."

6 Apr 2010

Exposure to certain chemicals may lead to early pubertal development

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that exposure to three common chemical classes-phenols, phthalates and phytoestrogens-in young girls may disrupt the timing of pubertal development, and put girls at risk for health complications later in life.

6 Apr 2010

Unilife's Unitract 1mL Insulin Syringes receive 510(k) market clearance

Unilife Corporation today announced it has received from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 510(k) market clearance for the Unitract™ 1mL Insulin Syringes assembled at its Lewisberry, PA manufacturing facility.

6 Apr 2010

World Health Day to focus on making cities healthier

As part of this year's World Health Day, the WHO on Wednesday will launch a program to encourage cities to become more healthy to help mitigate the health risks associated with rapid urbanization, Agence France Presse/Inquirer.net Global Nation reports.

6 Apr 2010

Rice University's nano-bio-chip 93% specific in detecting patients with premalignant lesions

The gentle touch of a lesion on the tongue or cheek with a brush can help detect oral cancer with success rates comparable to more invasive techniques, according to preliminary studies by researchers at Rice University, the University of Texas Health Science Centers at Houston and San Antonio and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

6 Apr 2010

Ardea Biosciences proposes underwritten public offering of common stock

Ardea Biosciences, Inc. today announced that it is offering to sell shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering. Jefferies & Company, Inc. is acting as sole book-running manager in this offering.

6 Apr 2010

Some Democrats facing resistance at home - from both sides - for health reform votes

Rep. Betsy Markey, D-Colo., "a first-term Democrat in a Republican district, was one of just eight House members who switched their votes from 'no' to 'yes' when President Obama's health-care bill finally passed Congress.

6 Apr 2010

APHA survey: 85% Americans are taking steps towards healthier living

Eighty-five percent of Americans characterize their lifestyle as somewhat or very healthy, according to a survey released today by the American Public Health Association.

6 Apr 2010

Cephalon acquires biotechnology company, Ception Therapeutics

Cephalon, Inc. announced today that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of biotechnology company Ception Therapeutics, Inc. and that Ception is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cephalon.

6 Apr 2010

Barrow Neurological Institute scientist receives grant to study myasthenia gravis

A scientist at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix has been awarded a major grant from the Muscular Dystrophy Association to continue his groundbreaking work in the disease of myasthenia gravis.

6 Apr 2010

Dalfampridine drug for multiple sclerosis now available in the U.S.

A drug whose clinical benefit in treating multiple sclerosis was discovered at Rush University Medical Center was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on January 22 and is now available in the U.S.

6 Apr 2010

New formulation of controlled-release drug OxyContin approved

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved a new formulation of the controlled-release drug OxyContin that has been designed to help discourage misuse and abuse of the medication.

6 Apr 2010

Health IT funding raises security concerns; Some hospitals face barrier to funding

"Two big questions yet to be answered with electronic health records are: Do they save money? And can they be made 100 percent secure? The verdict is still out on both. The thought of one's personal medical information being just a computer click away does not sit well with many consumers." The paper reviews several surveys from last year to note that "security is on everyone's mind" (Smith, 4/5).

6 Apr 2010

Chinese SFDA approves Erye Pharmaceutical to manufacture generic Cloxapen

NeoStem, Inc., an international biopharmaceutical company with operations in the U.S. and China, announced that its Suzhou Erye Pharmaceutical subsidiary ("Erye") recently received approval from the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) in China to manufacture the sterile active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of the anti-infective cloxacillin sodium.

5 Apr 2010

60 Minutes examines PEPFAR in Uganda

CBS News' 60 Minutes reports from Uganda about how PEPFAR has helped people living with HIV/AIDS throughout the country and the challenges Uganda still faces in fighting the spread of the virus. The show includes interviews with Peter Mugyenyi of the Joint Clinical Research Center in Kampala, Uganda, and other doctors on the ground, who discuss how HIV-positive children and adults are alive today as a result of PEPFAR and how the program has helped to improve the way Africans view the United States.

5 Apr 2010

Mass. municipalities could be hard hit by Cadillac tax

The Boston Globe: "Massachusetts municipalities that offer employees, retirees, and elected officials the most generous and costly health insurance plans will feel the squeeze of the new national health care law's tax on 'Cadillac' insurance plans. A family health plan that costs more than $27,500 would be subject to a 40 percent tax on every dollar spent above that threshold.

5 Apr 2010

Traces of many medicines found in fish swimming in treated waste water

Researchers at Ume- University and the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, have discovered that traces of many medicines can be found in fish that have been swimming in treated waste water. One such medicine, the hormone levonorgestrel, was found in higher concentrations in the blood of fish than in women who take the contraceptive pill. Elevated levels of this hormone can lead to infertility in fish.

5 Apr 2010

ASN, Autism South Africa partner to promote autism education and support

Autism Support Network and Autism South Africa today announced a partnership to foster autism education and support across South Africa and internationally. Autism Support Network will promote Autism South Africa's ongoing informational programs across the nine South African provinces and highlight its resources.

5 Apr 2010

Isis Pharmaceuticals to lease new 176,000 square foot research facility from BioMed Realty Trust

BioMed Realty Trust, Inc. today announced that it has expanded its strategic real estate partnership with Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. BioMed extended its lease for Isis' current facility at Faraday Avenue in Carlsbad, California and added a lease for a new build-to-suit project, increasing the total leased space to approximately 204,700 square feet.

5 Apr 2010

Ameritas Group adds over 22,000 access points to dental network

Ameritas Group announced today it has added more than 22,000 access points to the Ameritas dental network, bringing the total network size to more than 130,000 access points.

5 Apr 2010