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Sen. Rockefeller casts 'a watchful eye' on insurers' accounting practices

Dow Jones Newswires/ NASDAQ: "A report released Thursday by the chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee cautioned against health insurers using 'creative accounting' to meet new requirements for the amount of premium dollars they spend on patient care." The requirement is that insurers spend 80 percent of the premiums they collect on patient care for small group and individual plans, and 85 percent for large group plans (Brin, 4/15).

17 Apr 2010

Strativa Pharmaceuticals: Oravig buccal tablets receive FDA approval for OPC

Strativa Pharmaceuticals today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Oravig (miconazole) buccal tablets for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis, more commonly known as thrush, in adults and children age 16 and older.

17 Apr 2010

NPS Pharmaceuticals prices 9,000,000 shares of common stock at $5.50 per share

NPS Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has priced an underwritten public offering of 9,000,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $5.50 per share. Net proceeds, after estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated expenses, will be approximately $46.2 million.

17 Apr 2010

Knopp Neurosciences to initiate Phase 3 studies of KNS-760704 in AL

In an invited presentation today before the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, Knopp Neurosciences Inc. described further encouraging trends observed in a previously reported Phase 2 study of KNS-760704 (dexpramipexole) in ALS.

17 Apr 2010

Health law help for those with preexisting conditions; IRS to enforce individual mandate through refunds

"Starting in July, a special high-risk pool will offer coverage to uninsured people with pre-existing health conditions at a cost similar to what everyone else pays. It's the first test of whether the administration can deliver on Obama's vision within the budget Congress set. But some vulnerable patients are probably going to feel a little cheated."

17 Apr 2010

Health sciences professionals meet to discuss public health care issues

Members of the Health Sciences Association, the health care union that represents health sciences professionals who deliver diagnosis, treatment and recovery in BC's hospitals and communities, is meeting this weekend at its 39th annual convention in Vancouver.

17 Apr 2010

States gear up for implementation, others continue to fight overhaul

Chillicothe Gazette/Gannett: "The spotlight on health care has shifted from the federal government, which wrote the recently passed overhaul legislation, to states, which will be in charge of much of the implementation. States will oversee the expansion of Medicaid, enforce the new insurance reforms and set up and run the new insurance 'exchanges' for small businesses and people who aren't offered coverage through an employer.

17 Apr 2010

RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals proposes common stock public offering

RegeneRx Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of a novel therapeutic peptide, Thymosin beta 4, for tissue and organ protection, repair and regeneration in cardiovascular diseases, central nervous system injuries, ophthalmic indications and dermal wounds, announced today that it intends to offer units consisting of shares of its common stock and warrants to purchase shares of its common stock in a public offering.

17 Apr 2010

Researchers study effectiveness of TeleCare in keeping individuals healthy

Like the bleeps of an alarm clock, TeleCare, a home monitoring device, gives the chronically ill a wake-up call: "It's time to take your vitals."

17 Apr 2010

Akela to terminate lease payment agreement

Akela a leader in the development of therapeutics for the treatment of pain and its wholly owned subsidiary, PharmaForm, a leader in the contract pharmaceutical development and manufacturing business, today announced that it has reached agreement with HEP Davis Spring, L.P. to terminate its lease located at 9825 Spectrum Drive, Austin, Texas, eliminating $14,500,000 in future lease payment obligations to the Company.

17 Apr 2010

Federal cancer research is 'at a breaking point,' IOM study finds

Bloomberg: "The government's cancer research network is 'approaching a state of crisis' as waste and inefficiency cause 40 percent of late-stage trials it funds to be abandoned before completion, according to a report released yesterday. The government-funded National Cancer Institute's clinical trials group isn't able to effectively study the benefits of new and current treatments, according to the analysis by the Institute of Medicine.

17 Apr 2010

Genentech's Tarceva receives FDA approval as maintenance therapy for advanced NSCLC

Genentech, Inc., a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the daily pill Tarceva® (erlotinib) as a maintenance treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease has not progressed after four cycles of platinum-based first-line chemotherapy.

17 Apr 2010

Coburn casts doubt on health repeal this year; Health groups lobbying on implementation

The Hill reports Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., said Friday that "Republicans can only 'nip at' the law until healthcare opponents take back the White House and gain majorities in Congress, or gain veto-proof majorities in both the House and Senate. … Many conservative activists and Republican lawmakers have argued for full repeal right away, but others have said that won't be possible."

17 Apr 2010

COBRA subsidies continued, Medicare cuts delayed

President Barack Obama signed legislation Thursday night extending extra unemployment benefits through May, including subsidies to help the laid-off buy health insurance under so-called COBRA rules, The New York Times reports. "The measure, which would continue added unemployment benefits and other expired federal programs through May, will restore aid to thousands of Americans who had exhausted their benefits or whose eligibility was expiring. "

17 Apr 2010

FDA approves BioAlliance Pharma's Oravig for OPC

BioAlliance Pharma SA, a company dedicated to the treatment and supportive care of cancer and AIDS patients, announces today the approval by the US FDA of Oravig® (miconazole Lauriad®, known as Loramyc® in Europe) for the treatment of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis (OPC) in adults.

17 Apr 2010

BioMers launches SimpliClear braces system and ASTICS Color retainers for orthodontic treatment

BioMers today announced the launch of two new aesthetic products for orthodontic treatment, the SimpliClear™ braces system and the ASTICS® Color retainers.

16 Apr 2010

U.S. Patent Office issues Notices of Allowance covering PLC Systems's RenalGuard technology

PLC Systems Inc., a company focused on innovative cardiac and vascular medical device-based technologies, today reported that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office had issued Notices of Allowance for two of PLC's patent applications associated with its RenalGuard® technology.

16 Apr 2010

Endra Life Sciences launches Nexus 128 preclinical photoacoustic CT scanner

Endra Life Sciences today announced the launch of the Nexus 128, a preclinical photoacoustic computed tomography (CT) scanner for small animal imaging. The system is used for simple, fast, non-invasive quantification of tumor vasculature and other physiological parameters for preclinical research.

16 Apr 2010

Emdeon achieves compliance with CAQH CORE Phase II rules

Emdeon Inc., a leading provider of healthcare revenue and payment cycle management solutions, today announced it has achieved compliance with the CAQH® Committee on Operating Rules for Information Exchange (CORE) Phase II rules. CAQH, a nonprofit alliance of health plans and trade associations, is a catalyst for industry collaboration on initiatives that simplify healthcare administration for health plans and providers, resulting in a better care experience for patients and caregivers. Emdeon achieved CORE Phase I compliance in March 2007.

16 Apr 2010

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals resolves stockholders' equity continued listing deficiencies

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has resolved the stockholders' equity continued listing deficiencies originally identified by the NYSE Amex in a June 2009 letter to the Company. In part to address the NYSE Amex's requirement that the Company address its low stock price, ADVENTRX also announced that its Board of Directors has approved a 1-for-25 reverse split of its common stock, which was authorized by its stockholders at a special meeting held in August 2009.

16 Apr 2010