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Duane Reade offers H1N1 vaccines for New York residents

Duane Reade, the largest drug store chain in New York City, today announced that H1N1 vaccines are now available. As previously announced, Duane Reade pharmacies are providing New Yorkers with the H1N1 vaccine as part of the Company's commitment to servicing the health and wellness needs of the City's residents.

22 Dec 2009

AADA lauds indoor tanning tax in the health system reform legislation

The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) applauds the decision of the U.S. Senate to substitute a 10 percent federal excise tax on indoor tanning services for the proposed tax on cosmetic procedures in the Senate's health system reform legislation (H.R. 3590, the Patient Protection and Affordability Act of 2009). The indoor tanning tax, as proposed to Senate leadership by the AADA, furthers its goal of promoting wellness and prevention, and removes the harmful unintended consequences associated with a tax on cosmetic surgery procedures.

22 Dec 2009

Seniors concerned over cost and coverage in 2010 Medicare enrollment plans

The 2010 annual enrollment period for individuals with Medicare plans ends Thursday, December 31. According to customer service specialists at Health Plan One, an online insurance brokerage and Medicare information portal, while seniors have been inquiring about plans' physician networks, changes to drug formularies, and plan eliminations and introductions in their states, the top three most discussed topics surround plan cancellations, premium increases and Medicare supplement alternatives.

22 Dec 2009

Cell Therapeutics supports Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals

Cell Therapeutics, Inc. announced today its support of the Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers of America's (PhRMA) "Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals, revised July 2008" (PhRMA Code). Adherence to the Code is voluntary for commercial biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

22 Dec 2009

Rifampicin resistant tuberculosis

Scientists have identified a strain of antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis that thrives in the presence of rifampin, a front-line drug in the treatment of tuberculosis. The bacterium was identified in a patient in China and is described in a study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Chongqing Pulmonary Hospital, Lanzhou University and Fudan University.

22 Dec 2009

Researchers use hydrogels to induce significant vasculature growth in areas of damaged tissue

Regenerative medicine therapies often require the growth of functional, stable blood vessels at the site of an injury. Using synthetic polymers called hydrogels, researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology have been able to induce significant vasculature growth in areas of damaged tissue.

22 Dec 2009

Health care reform legislation will increase premiums for New Yorkers

Mark Wagar, President and CEO of Empire BlueCross BlueShield urged further improvement to the federal health care reform legislation that today does little to control the rising costs of health care and will increase premiums for too many New Yorkers and too many across the nation.

22 Dec 2009

2010 financial guidance from HealthGrades

HealthGrades expects its operating margin for 2010 to be in the range of 19% to 22%. The Company is currently adding a significant number of sales team members.

22 Dec 2009

Emisphere's oral salmon calcitonin product addresses persistent musculoskeletal pain

Emisphere Technologies, Inc. today announced a meta-analysis published in the December 2009 edition of Rheumatology Reports examining independent evidence of the analgesic action of the hormone calcitonin. This publication restates the potential of calcitonin in filling a significant unmet need for alternative treatments for persistent musculoskeletal pain.

22 Dec 2009

SenoRx wins patent infringement case

Hologic, Inc. (Hologic or the Company), a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostics, medical imaging systems and surgical products dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of women, today announced that the jury in the patent infringement lawsuit against SenoRx brought by Hologic, Cytyc Corp., and Hologic L.P., Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has returned a verdict in favor of SenoRx.

22 Dec 2009

Cinergy Health expresses concern over Senate healthcare vote

Cinergy Health, a nationwide provider of guaranteed issue health insurance benefit programs for the consumer market, expressed its concern for the ongoing healthcare debate and vote in the Senate, which passed early this morning.

22 Dec 2009

US Family Health Plan achieves 2009 member satisfaction

One might call it “the little healthcare plan that could.” While the debate over healthcare reform rages, the US Family Health Plan, a Department of Defense-sponsored healthcare plan administered by CHRISTUS Health of Houston for about 11,000 military family members in southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana, has achieved a 2009 member satisfaction rating 44.5 percent above the national average.

22 Dec 2009

School intervention programs may promote psychological well-being among adolescents

A new study which has been conducted at the University of Bologna shows that brief psychological interventions in school may increase well-being among adolescents and these results persist after 6 months

22 Dec 2009

ZEGERID OTC approval triggers $20M milestone payment to Santarus

Santarus, Inc., a specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced that it has received the $20 million milestone payment previously announced on December 1, 2009 relating to the approval of ZEGERID OTC™ (omeprazole 20 mg/sodium bicarbonate 1100 mg capsules) under its over-the-counter (OTC) licensing agreement with Schering-Plough HealthCare Products, Inc., the consumer healthcare division of Merck & Co., Inc. Schering-Plough and Merck merged on November 3, 2009.

22 Dec 2009

ONE launches clinical software and business services for medical billing companies and physician groups

The Power of One (ONE) today announced simple but powerful clinical software and business services for radiology, anesthesiology, cardiology, pathology and multi-specialty physician groups. ONE offers its software and services to medical billing companies, academic hospitals, and an array of hospital and office-based practices, including individual and group practices in the Northeast. ONE's purpose is to allow physicians, practices and medical billing companies to take control of their increasingly adverse environment.

22 Dec 2009

New data shows more number of women are attending breast screening program

The number of women attending breast screening has risen, with nearly two million accepting invitations from the NHS Breast Screening Programme in 2007/08, new figures show.

22 Dec 2009

DMC launches Dental Optimizer, a free online application connected to Microsoft HealthVault

While politicians and pundits continue to arm wrestle the minutiae of health reform, more and more Americans are stepping up to take charge of their own health.

22 Dec 2009

Persistent disparities exist in melanoma diagnosis

White and Hispanic individuals are being diagnosed with melanoma more frequently in recent years, whereas Hispanic and black patients continue to have advanced skin cancer at diagnosis, according to a report in the December issue of Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

22 Dec 2009

Paul Capital Healthcare leads investment to provide more than $100 million to UCB S.A.

Paul Capital Healthcare today announced that it has led an investment to provide more than $100 million to UCB S.A. in exchange for certain payments relating to the sales of products marketed by third parties. The underlying third party products (which are non-core to UCB) are leading brands in their therapeutic fields.

22 Dec 2009

Albany College of Pharmacy Project bonds upgraded to 'BBB+'

Fitch Ratings has upgraded its long-term rating to 'BBB+' from 'BBB-' on $14 million of the Albany Industrial Development Agency civic facility revenue bonds (Albany College of Pharmacy Project). The Rating Outlook is Stable.

22 Dec 2009