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Potential new target for treating HCV infection

A team of scientists including University of Utah researchers has discovered that binding of a potent inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus to the genetic material of the virus causes a major conformational change that may adversely affect the ability of the virus to replicate.

30 Mar 2010

Royal Philips Electronics introduces InnerCool RTx Endovascular System

Royal Philips Electronics announced today its launch of the Philips InnerCool RTx Endovascular System for cooling and warming, which provides advanced whole body temperature modulation therapy in a closed-loop system from the inside out. The InnerCool RTx is a high-performance system that can rapidly raise and lower the body temperature of certain non-paralyzed, awake patients of all sizes in the intensive care setting.

From Philips Healthcare 30 Mar 2010

Polls show Dems face uphill climb in selling health votes to electorate

USA Today On Politics Blog: A USA Today/Gallup Poll that will be published in Tuesday's USA Today "shows an uphill selling job ahead for President Obama and congressional Democrats to convince most Americans that the health care overhaul passed last week will help them and their families. In the poll, 50% call passage of the bill 'a bad thing' and 47% say it was 'a good thing.'" These findings are less favorable than a one-day poll taken a week earlier-- a day after the health overhaul measure was approved by the House of Representatives.

30 Mar 2010

Intellikine, Tragara Pharmaceuticals awarded $1M each for developing new multiple myeloma therapies

The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) today announced that two San Diego area biotech firms, Intellikine and Tragara Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will receive funding via its MMRF Biotech Investment Award program. The MMRF Biotech Investment Awards represent a multi-year research grant commitment to fund the early-stage drug development of novel compounds and approaches that show potential in treating multiple myeloma. Based on the companies' achievement of clearly defined milestones, the MMRF will commit a total of $1,000,000 to each company by the end of 2011.

30 Mar 2010

Adoption of healthcare IT is on steady incline in small physician practice: NaviNet survey

Adoption of healthcare IT is on a steady incline in the small physician practice, reveals a survey by NaviNet, America's largest real-time healthcare communications network. In early March 2010, NaviNet conducted a survey of IT and electronic medical record adoption trends in small practices and compared results to a similar survey the company issued to small practices in August 2009.

30 Mar 2010

Enrollment complete in Paradigm Spine's comparative study of coflex interlaminar technology

Paradigm Spine, LLC, a developer of innovative non-fusion and fusion spinal implant solutions, announced today that it has completed patient enrollment in an Investigational Device Exemption pivotal clinical study comparing the coflex® interlaminar technology to instrumented posterolateral fusion in the surgical treatment of spinal stenosis.

30 Mar 2010

Devereux Florida's Viera Campus secures $100,000 in federal funds

Devereux Florida's Viera Campus has secured $100,000 in federal funds to renovate a 21,000 square foot facility that serves over 500 children each year who are in need of improved physical, social and emotional health.

30 Mar 2010

Obama's calm demeanor, Pelosi's firm stand helped push health care law

President Barack Obama and Democrats missed repeated deadlines, fought back cries of 'death panels' and watched healthcare reform nearly die more than dozen times. Through it all, Obama was the steady captain of the ship, his top aides say, a role the president has played since the early days of the 2008 presidential campaign.

30 Mar 2010

Gene expression in breast tissue may help explain pregnancy-associated breast cancer

Expression of inflammatory-related genes in breast tissue of women who have previously given birth may explain the aggressiveness and frequency of pregnancy-associated breast cancer, according to new research at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

30 Mar 2010

LeAnn Rimes encourages psoriasis patients to take Make a Change Pledge

Grammy Award-winning multi-platinum recording artist and psoriasis patient LeAnn Rimes is calling for people with psoriasis to pledge to better manage their disease as part of the awareness campaign "Stop Hiding from Psoriasis." In partnership with the American Academy of Dermatology and National Psoriasis Foundation, LeAnn is encouraging people to take a stand against psoriasis by taking the Make a Change Pledge online at StopHiding.org.

30 Mar 2010

GEMI announces addition of newest member, MedImmune

"We are pleased to welcome MedImmune to GEMI," said GEMI Chair, Moe Bechard, Diversey, Inc., "MedImmune is an innovative, growing company whose mission, values and goals make them a leader in their business sector. Working collaboratively with other GEMI members, they will provide our organization with valuable insight, and be an excellent addition to GEMI."

30 Mar 2010

Political ripples of overhaul remain uncertain

Lawmakers received mixed receptions at home after last week's vote, and speculation continues to swirl about how the health overhaul will play out in November's midterm elections.

30 Mar 2010

Enobia Pharma unveils findings from first HPP self-reported patient survey at ACMG 2010

Enobia Pharma Inc. unveiled findings from the first hypophosphatasia self-reported patient survey intended to evaluate the burden of illness associated with HPP at the 2010 American College of Medical Genetics Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting.

30 Mar 2010

LCT receives approval for New Zealand Phase II human trial of DIABECELL

Living Cell Technologies Limited, a global company pioneering the development of a cell implant to treat diabetes, today announced that it has received approval to advance to the next phase of its New Zealand Phase II human clinical trial with its groundbreaking DIABECELL®. The approval follows a positive assessment from the New Zealand Data Safety and Monitoring Board of the first four patients to receive its DIABACELL® implants.

30 Mar 2010

Massachusetts governor's race focuses on national health question: Cost control

The Massachusetts governor's race "is focused on the question that now confronts the nation: how to keep spiraling costs from bankrupting the experiment," The New York Times reports.

30 Mar 2010

DIATHERIX GI test panel can detect nine types of GI infections

DIATHERIX Laboratories adds a gastrointestinal panel to its lineup of highly sensitive, rapid response diagnostic tests. In a single result, the DIATHERIX GI panel can detect and differentiate nine types of GI infections so physicians can quickly identify patients who have severe, life-threatening infections.

30 Mar 2010

Cangene extends botulism antitoxin contract with BARDA

Cangene Corporation today reports that it has signed a no-cost modification to extend its botulism antitoxin contract with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ("BARDA"). BARDA is the department within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that manages the two biodefence-related, stockpiling contracts Cangene has with HHS.

30 Mar 2010

How the health legislation will affect consumers

The Los Angeles Times explores some key questions: Will insurers continue to raise premiums; when will the Medicare "doughnut hole" close; and, "how do I sign up for my new insurance?" In answer to the last one, the Times writes, "Although there are some provisions that take effect this year, such as bans on lifetime limits and the denial of coverage to children with pre-existing conditions, the part of the bill that provides new insurance options does not take effect until 2014" (Geiger, 3/28).

30 Mar 2010

GenVec announces discontinuation of TNFerade PACT trial for pancreatic cancer

GenVec, Inc. announced today that it is discontinuing its Phase 3 clinical trial of TNFerade™ in patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer based on results of an interim analysis. This interim analysis of overall survival, conducted after the 184th death (two-thirds of total expected events), was designed to determine whether the study should continue.

30 Mar 2010

Conference on the actions of Vitamin D on human health

An important conference on the actions of Vitamin D on human health is being hosted by Barts and The London Medical School and the MRC Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma.

30 Mar 2010