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House moves to block doctors' Medicare pay cuts

The House voted largely along party lines Thursday to permanently end annual cuts in doctors' Medicare payments, which the Congress has temporarily averted from year to year, the Associated Press reports. The legislation would add more than $200 billion to the deficit, and Republicans "contended that Democrats supported the bill to thank the [American Medical Association] for backing President Barack Obama's health care overhaul."

20 Nov 2009

CVS/pharmacy kicks off its fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital's annual campaign

CVS/pharmacy kicks off its annual in store fundraiser for the sixth year to support the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Thanks and Giving campaign, beginning this Sunday and running through December 12. CVS/pharmacy store colleagues will encourage customers to add $1 to their purchase at the register to support the lifesaving research of St. Jude, one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases.

20 Nov 2009

'Botax' on cosmetic surgery questioned

The Associated Press: "The White House and Senate Democrats have turned to a proposal to tax breast implants, tummy tucks, wrinkle-smoothing injections and other procedures as they search for ways to pay for costly health care overhaul plans." The Senate health bill, which was unveiled Wednesday by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada "would slap a 5 percent excise tax on elective cosmetic surgeries and procedures to help pay for expanding coverage to the uninsured."

20 Nov 2009

Smartfish Technologies' patented ErgoMotion technology unveiled

Today, Smartfish Technologies launched its long-awaited ErgoMotion(TM) technology, the first ever design that combines the science of ergonomics with the technology of motion, resulting in a dramatic change and improvement in the way comfort is integrated into devices like mice and keyboards. Unveiled yesterday at Pepcom’s annual Wine, Dine and Demo event, ErgoMotion is the industry’s most advanced computer peripheral solution designed to relieve discomfort and repetitive stress injuries (RSI) related to extended computer usage.

20 Nov 2009

Olbermann ties free clinics to health reform

"A nonprofit group's campaign to hold free medical clinics for the uninsured in three states is turning into a not-so-subtle jab at moderate Democrats to support their party's efforts to reform health care," The Associated Press reports. "More than 800 people have signed up for free care Saturday at a downtown convention center in Little Rock at an event organized by the National Association of Free Clinics — the Virginia-based association's second free event in the past month under a campaign promoted by MSNBC's Keith Olbermann."

20 Nov 2009

GOP and industry groups quick to decry Senate health bill

When Senate Democrats unveiled a bill meant to expand health coverage and restrain spending growth, "Republicans saw little to like," The Associated Press reports. GOP senators characterized the package Thursday "as a collection of tax increases, Medicare cuts and heavy new burdens for deficit-ridden states." Meanwhile, Republican governors fretted that the bill would expand Medicaid, a program that insures the poor, and relies on states for a portion of its funding. "We all know a sucker play when we see one," said Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniel (Espo, 11/20).

20 Nov 2009

Quest Diagnostics announces final results of its cash tender offer

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, announced today the final results for its previously announced cash tender offer (the "Tender Offer") to purchase any and all of its 5.125% Senior Notes due 2010 and any and all of its 7.50% Senior Notes due 2011 (collectively, the "Notes").

From Quest Diagnostics 20 Nov 2009

Antigenics to withdraw its MAA for Oncophage following CHMP’s negative opinion

Antigenics Inc. today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), the scientific committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA), has formally adopted a negative opinion on the marketing authorization application (MAA) for Oncophage (vitespen) as a treatment in earlier-stage, localized renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer).

20 Nov 2009

FDA acknowledges Dendreon's amended BLA for PROVENGE as a complete response

Dendreon Corporation today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provided written acknowledgement that the Company's amended Biologics License Application (BLA) for PROVENGE® (sipuleucel-T) is a complete response. The FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date of May 1, 2010, by which time it will respond to Dendreon's amended BLA. Dendreon is seeking licensure for PROVENGE for men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

20 Nov 2009

Pfizer’s Revatio Injection receives FDA approval

Pfizer announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Revatio® (sildenafil) Injection, an intravenous formulation of Revatio. Revatio is the only FDA-approved phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor available in both tablet and intravenous formulations.

20 Nov 2009

Boston Scientific's WallFlex Fully Covered Esophageal Stent receives FDA clearance and CE Mark approval

Boston Scientific Corporation today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CE Mark approval to market its WallFlex® Fully Covered Esophageal Stent for the treatment of malignant esophageal strictures (obstructions) caused by tumors in patients with resectable or non-resectable esophageal cancer.

20 Nov 2009

POZEN commences enrollment in PA32540 phase 3 study

POZEN Inc. announced today the start of enrollment for the phase 3 studies for PA32540. PA32540 is a fixed-dose combination of 325 mg of enteric coated aspirin and 40 mg of immediate release omeprazole, under investigation for use in the secondary prevention of heart attacks and strokes in patients at risk for associated gastric ulcers.

20 Nov 2009

Health policy research roundup

Urban Institute: Progress Enrolling Children in Medicaid/CHIP: Who Is Left And What Are The Prospects For Covering More Children? - This policy brief examines the characteristics of the estimated 5 million uninsured children who are eligible for CHIP/Medicaid in 2007 (64 percent of all uninsured children; 88 percent of all low-income uninsured children), but not enrolled.

20 Nov 2009

Genta announces preliminary results from study of Genasense Injection for advanced melanoma

Genta Incorporated announced preliminary results that show a high objective response rate in a pilot study of patients with advanced melanoma that incorporates the Company’s lead oncology product, Genasense® (oblimersen sodium) Injection, administered for the first time as a 1-hour high-dose intravenous (IV) infusion.

20 Nov 2009

EMEA's CHMP recommends approval of Merck's ELONVA

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has recommended approval of ELONVA® (corifollitropin alfa injection) as a treatment in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) in combination with a GnRH antagonist for the development of multiple follicles in women participating in an assisted reproductive technology (ART) program.

20 Nov 2009

Exclusive distribution agreement for the SurgiCount Safety-Sponge System signed

Cardinal Health and Patient Safety Technologies today announced that they have entered into a five-year exclusive distribution agreement to co-market the SurgiCount Safety-Sponge(TM) System, which helps prevent retention of sponges and towels unintentionally left in patients during surgical procedures.

20 Nov 2009

RBC Life Sciences reports net sales of $6.49M for third-quarter 2009

RBC Life Sciences, Inc., a provider of proprietary nutritional supplements, wound care and pain management products, reported today company-wide net sales of $6.49 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, compared to net sales of $9.93 million for the same quarter last year.

20 Nov 2009

Ligand Pharmaceuticals' SARM LGD-4033 study data presented at the Gerontology Society of America meeting

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced that data from a preclinical study on its selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) LGD-4033 was featured in a poster presentation at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Gerontology Society of America in Atlanta. LGD-4033 exhibited desirable in vivo efficacy on skeletal muscle and bone measurements in animal models of male hypogonadism and postmenopausal osteoporosis.

20 Nov 2009

First USA IBRA Symposium and Workshop at Miami to be sponsored by Medartis

Medartis, Inc. will serve as the sole sponsor of the first USA International Bone Research Association (IBRA) Symposium and Workshop. The focus of the workshop and symposium is the upper extremity, trauma and reconstruction of the wrist and hand. The event will be held in Miami, Florida at the DaVinci Center and begins today, Friday, November 20 and will conclude on Saturday, November 21.

20 Nov 2009

Mede International Ltd., U.K renamed as MedeAnalytics International Ltd.

In a move to consolidate corporate brand identity, MedeAnalytics, a leading provider of healthcare performance management solutions, today announced that the name of its London-based U.K. subsidiary Mede International Ltd. has been changed to MedeAnalytics International Ltd., with MedeAnalytics to serve as its brand.

20 Nov 2009