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Iowa State University researcher works on faster method to detect salmonella from contaminated foods

Using technology available through a local company, an Iowa State University researcher is working on a faster method to detect and genetically identify salmonella from contaminated foods.

5 May 2010

Teaching doctors the price of primary care

Reporting for Kaiser Health News, in collaboration with The New York Times, Susan Okie writes: "Doctors in training have traditionally been insulated from information about the cost of the tests and treatments they order for patients — in fact, for decades, the subject was virtually taboo when professors and trainees discussed treatment decisions during hospital rounds.

5 May 2010

Bristol-Myers Squibb board authorizes common stock repurchase program

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today announced its Board of Directors has authorized the repurchase of up to $3 billion of its common stock.

5 May 2010

Second fidaxomicin Phase 3 clinical study data in patients with CDI to be presented at DDW 2010

Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the presentation of new data from its second fidaxomicin Phase 3 clinical study in patients with Clostridium difficile infection. The data, presented by Stuart Johnson, M.D. during an oral session at the annual meeting of Digestive Disease Week in New Orleans, indicated that treatment with fidaxomicin significantly improved the recurrence rate and global cure rate in CDI patients requiring concomitant antibiotics, compared to vancomycin.

5 May 2010

Osiris Therapeutics' Prochymal granted FDA Orphan Drug Designation

Osiris Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that it has been granted Orphan Drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Prochymal as a treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus. The FDA instituted the Orphan Drug Act to promote the development of treatments for underserved patient populations. To be eligible for Orphan Drug designation, the treatment must target a disease that affects fewer than 200,000 new patients per year in the United States.

5 May 2010

Catalyst Health Solutions' first-quarter 2010 net income up 26%

Catalyst Health Solutions, Inc. announces its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010. The Company reports quarterly net income of $17.4 million, up 26% from $13.8 million in the prior year. Quarterly earnings per diluted share increased to $0.39. Revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, increased 18% to $832.3 million from $703.3 million in the prior year.

5 May 2010

Biotech industry reviews effects of the recession

Minneapolis Star Tribune, on the Biotechnology Industry Organization's convention in Chicago: "The biotechnology industry, hurt by the recession, is looking for inspiration from Charles Darwin. Leading executives say unless biotech companies adapt to a less-robust economy and changing industry standards, they won't survive the downturn. Biotech start-ups, seen as the lifeblood of the industry, have been among the worst hit by a decline in venture capital investments."

5 May 2010

Scientists discover key molecular mechanism in breast cancer metastasis

Scientists at the University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center have identified a key molecular mechanism in breast cancer that enables tumor cells to spread to adjacent or distant parts of the body in a process called metastasis.

5 May 2010

Eclipsys reports revenues of $128.4 million for first-quarter 2010

Eclipsys Corporation, The Outcomes Company®, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

5 May 2010

Health law program may benefit early retirees, big firms

A health law program that will go into effect next month will steer $5 billion to buttress employer-sponsored health plans for retirees who are not yet old enough to qualify for Medicare and have no other options for buying coverage, The Associated Press reports.

5 May 2010

BELLUS Health to discontinue NC-503 diabetes development program

BELLUS Health announced today that it will discontinue its NC-503 diabetes development program following the results of the recently completed Phase IIa clinical proof-of-concept study evaluating NC-503 (eprodisate disodium) as a treatment for Type 2 diabetes. The study did not meet its primary efficacy endpoint.

5 May 2010

CBO: Medicare payment 'doc fix' is more expensive than expected

The debate over what to do about Medicare payments to doctors continues. Physicans have been lobbying "to repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate formula, which triggers automatic Medicare payment cuts if spending rises above a certain level," CongressDaily reports. Those cuts have been put off for years.

5 May 2010

Cambrex first-quarter sales down 6.4% to $56.2 million

Cambrex Corporation reports first quarter results for the period ended March 31, 2010.

4 May 2010

Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreement planned by the Pharmacy Guild of Australia

According to an Australian Financial Review report the major pharmaceutical companies have agreed to reduce the Australian government’s medicine bill by AUD $2 billion over the next four years only if they are assured of price modifications in future. The details of the agreement are to be revealed next week and experts believe it will reduce the burden on the federal budget which is still considering the source of funds to pay for its health reform package.

4 May 2010

Supreme Court decides federal doctors cannot be sued for prisoner's death

The Los Angeles Times: "The family of a Los Angeles-area immigrant who languished in federal detention for nearly a year while a cancerous growth went untreated cannot sue government doctors for medical neglect, the Supreme Court ruled Monday."

4 May 2010

Derma Sciences adds XTRASORB Foam dressing to advanced wound care product portfolio

Derma Sciences, Inc., a medical device and pharmaceutical company focused on advanced wound care, announced the launch of its new XTRASORB™ Foam dressing. The dressing is the company's first novel entry in the $300 million foam wound dressing market. First sales are expected during the second quarter of 2010.

4 May 2010

Living with a dementia sufferer may affect spouse

In a new study researchers have revealed that partners of patients suffering from dementia or degeneration of memory and other mental faculties are six times more likely to develop the condition themselves.

4 May 2010

Healthy & happy lifestyle – key to touching 100 years of life, says study

In a new study the secret for a longer life is uncovered. Not surprisingly it lies more in a healthy and happy lifestyle than in just genetics. Researchers say that being a Centenarian is increasingly more common these days.

4 May 2010

Queensland Health payroll errors still not corrected fully

The payment woes of many Queensland Health care staff continue this pay cycle according to the Queensland Nurses Union. After the installation of a new computerized payroll system this March tens of thousands of health staff have been underpaid, overpaid, or not paid.

4 May 2010

Widespread support for a full flu vaccine side effects enquiry

After nearly 250 children suffered from serious side effects of the seasonal flu shots including one death the Western Australian Government’s step to suspend further vaccinations and investigate the issue has received widespread support. The enquiry will look into the Health Department's handling of the flu vaccination program as well.

4 May 2010