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2 Seattle doctors accused of Medicare fraud; CNN offers advice for patients on checking out their doctors

Two Seattle-area doctors are accused of stealing millions from Medicare through fraudulent billing. "In separate grand jury indictments filed in U.S. District Court, federal authorities contend both men followed identical schemes in setting up shell companies designed to defraud the Medicare system."

14 Feb 2010

COBRA extension out of revised Senate jobs bill

"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is rewriting a jobs bill after Democrats complained of too many concessions to Republicans," The Hill reports. Unlike the bill unveiled hours earlier by Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., Reid's measure "does not extend unemployment and COBRA benefits that many in both parties want." Some Democrats are concerned by the change.

14 Feb 2010

Transition through hemogenic endothelial intermediate necessary for hematopoietic stem cell formation

Biologists at UC San Diego have identified the specific region in vertebrates where adult blood stem cells arise during embryonic development.

14 Feb 2010

Diabetic retinopathy: 5.3M U.S adults suffer

Despite major progress in diagnosis and treatment, diabetic retinopathy remains the major cause of blindness in adults under 60 in the U.S., said Thomas C. Lee, director, Retina Institute in The Vision Center at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, associate professor of clinical ophthalmology at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and attending physician at Doheny Eye Institute.

12 Feb 2010

Debiopharm receives AFSSAPS approval of CTA for Debio 0932 inhibitor, triggers milestone payment to Curis

Curis, Inc., announced today that its licensee Debiopharm S.A. has received approval from France's regulatory authority Agence Française de Securité Sanitaire des Produits de Santé (AFSSAPS) of a Clinical Trial Application (CTA) for small molecule heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor Debio 0932, formerly called CUDC-305. Under the terms of Curis’ and Debiopharm’s August 2009 license agreement, Curis will receive an $8 million milestone payment from Debiopharm for the achievement of this development objective.

12 Feb 2010

U.S. Court rules in favor of Perrigo over Mucinex patent litigation

Perrigo Company announced today that a federal court has granted summary judgment in its favor in patent litigation involving Guaifenesin Extended-Release Tablets, 600 mg, a generic version of Mucinex® tablets. Perrigo had been sued by Adams Respiratory Therapeutics, Inc., (a subsidiary of Reckitt Benckiser Group plc.) the New Drug Application holder and patent owner. The United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan ruled today that Perrigo does not infringe the patent in the suit. Perrigo's ANDA is awaiting FDA approval.

12 Feb 2010

First-quarter fiscal 2010 results announced by Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. today reported revenues of $1.21 billion for the first fiscal quarter ended Jan. 31, 2010, 4 percent above one year ago. First quarter GAAP net income was $79 million, or $0.22 per diluted share. Last year’s first quarter GAAP net income was $64 million, or $0.18 per share.

12 Feb 2010

Critical Conditions wins Mom's Choice Awards for best health/safety book of 2010

Critical Conditions: The Essential Hospital Guide To Get Your Loved One Out Alive by author Martine Ehrenclou, MA, has been awarded its 14th book award by Mom's Choice Awards for best health/safety book of 2010. http://www.momschoiceawards.com/celebrate09.php

12 Feb 2010

Spanish-language media campaign increases number of QuitLine callers

It pays to advertise. It especially pays to advertise in Spanish if you want Spanish speakers to use a telephone helpline to quit smoking.

12 Feb 2010

Euthymics Bioscience signs LOI to acquire DOV Pharmaceutical

Euthymics Bioscience, Inc., a privately held Delaware corporation, today announced that it has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) to merge into and acquire DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc. (DOV), a Delaware corporation currently traded on the Pink Sheets, for $2.0 million in cash plus payment of certain of DOV's expenses. DOV believes that the contemplated $2.0 million cash payment to shareholders represents approximately $0.015 per share of DOV common stock. If the transaction is consummated, it is anticipated that DOV will be renamed Euthymics Bioscience, Inc.

12 Feb 2010

Pacific Biomarkers announces second-quarter fiscal 2010 results

Pacific Biomarkers, Inc., a leading provider of specialized biomarker and contract research services, today announced its operating results for the second quarter and first half of FY2010.

12 Feb 2010

U.S. SEC declares Unilife's Form 10 registration statement effective

Unilife Corporation today announced that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) declared the Company's Form 10 registration statement effective, clearing the path for Unilife Corporation's listing on the NASDAQ.

12 Feb 2010

IntegraMed America prices common stock offering at $7.50 per share

IntegraMed America, Inc. today announced that it has priced a public offering of 2,500,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the public of $7.50 per share, of which 2,000,000 shares are being offered through the underwriters named below and 500,000 shares are being offered directly by IntegraMed to IAT Reinsurance Company Ltd., IntegraMed’s largest stockholder.

12 Feb 2010

BSC extends agreement for MedeAnalytics' Claims Transparency solution

MedeAnalytics, a leading provider of healthcare performance management solutions, announced that Blue Shield of California (BSC) has extended its agreement for MedeAnalytics’ Claims Transparency solution, which powers BSC’s successful Partnership in Operational Excellence and Transparency (POET) program. BSC has partnered with nearly 100 California hospitals to improve claims performance metrics, streamline business processes and accelerate revenue cycles. The POET program has resulted in a significant decrease in the number of claims denials and appeals.

12 Feb 2010

New book on hospitalist recruitment and retention

Recruitment and retention of physicians in all specialties is a national challenge, and it is expected to become even more difficult due to an impending physician shortage. As relative newcomers to the long line of medical specialists, hospitalists pose special challenges. What will convince a hospitalist to join one organization over another? What might prevent a hospitalist from considering a certain assignment?

12 Feb 2010

"Goin' Bald for Bucks" program: RPCI CEO to shave head and mustache in honor of cancer patients

Dr. Donald L. Trump, President and CEO of Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), America's first cancer center, will have his head shaved by a Roswell Park cancer patient on March 3, 2010 to honor the Institute's 26,292 patients, and to encourage others to participate in the "Goin' Bald for Bucks" program.

12 Feb 2010

Bluewater Health licenses Medworxx LMS and PDMS

Medworxx Inc., provider of healthcare solutions for patient flow, compliance and education, announced that Bluewater Health has licensed the Medworxx Learning Management System and Policy and Document Management System. With the addition of Bluewater Health, every hospital within the Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network (ESC LHIN) is a Medworxx customer.

12 Feb 2010

Merck returns worldwide development and commercialization rights for AN2690 to Anacor Pharmaceuticals

Anacor Pharmaceuticals announced today that Merck has returned full worldwide development and commercialization rights for AN2690 to Anacor. AN2690 is a topical anti-fungal therapy being developed for onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nail and nail bed. It is estimated that onychomycosis affects approximately 35 million people in the United States.

12 Feb 2010

New research finds sensory cortex develops late in fragile X syndrome defect

Why do people with fragile X syndrome, a genetic defect that is the best-known cause of autism and inherited mental retardation, recoil from hugs and physical touch - even from their parents?

12 Feb 2010

Adult stem cell transplant therapy may help prevent amputations from PAD

Grant Medical Center recently completed the nation's first published study of a new procedure that may give hope to millions of patients facing lower limb amputations from peripheral arterial disease (PAD). PAD is a painful circulatory problem in the legs that affects 10 million Americans. If left untreated, it can lead to serious complications such as stroke, amputation and death.

12 Feb 2010