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Eyes turn to Lieberman, Reid, Snowe as most crucial health reform players

Bloomberg reports that Sen. Joe Lieberman's "independence (is hindering) Democrats' health-care end game."

16 Nov 2009

Brookstone Pharmaceuticals changes its name to Acella Pharmaceuticals

Brookstone Pharmaceuticals, an emerging specialty pharmaceutical company, announced today its decision to change the name of the company to Acella Pharmaceuticals, LLC. This decision has been made to create a company image and brand that more accurately mirrors our commitment to "Accelerating the Health Care Solution" by bringing quality affordable products to customers and patients. Mark Pugh, CEO states, "As we have grown over the last few years, we have evolved into a more integrated pharmaceutical company.

16 Nov 2009

Third-quarter fiscal 2009 results announced by GeneLink

GeneLink, Inc., a leading consumer genomics biotech company, today reported financial results for the fiscal 2009 three-month period ended September 30, 2009.

16 Nov 2009

New mobile yoga class app for iPhone and iPod Touch iPractice 2.0 released

Yoga Journal magazine today announced the release of iPractice 2.0, a new mobile yoga class app for iPhone and iPod Touch. Yoga Journal iPractice features 15 complete yoga classes designed specifically to take advantage of the iPhone's capabilities and interface.

16 Nov 2009

Electronic health records not yet making impact, patients turn to web for advice

As the United States launches "an ambitious program, backed by $19 billion in government incentives, to accelerate the adoption of computerized patient records in doctors' offices and hospitals," a new study of 3,000 hospitals "has found little difference in the cost and quality of care," The New York Times reports.

16 Nov 2009

Interim data from Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals' Apoptone Phase I/II clinical trial presented

Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today reported preliminary results of its ongoing Phase I/II clinical trial with Apoptone® (HE3235) for hormone-resistant prostate cancer (also called castrate-resistant prostate cancer or CRPC). Presented at the Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics Conference, which is co-sponsored by the AACR, NCI and EORTC, the poster is titled: "Results of preclinical and clinical Phase I/II open-label dose-ranging trial with HE3235, a synthetic adrenal hormone, in Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC)."

16 Nov 2009

4SC raises funds for further development of its current product pipeline

4SC AG, a drug discovery and development company, today announced the successful completion of a capital increase, after the Management Board, with the approval of the Supervisory Board, passed a resolution to authorise an increase of share capital on 23 October, 2009.

16 Nov 2009

Health lobbying ranges from below the radar to high profile

A Charlotte, N.C., law firm is operating a secretive group called Americans for Quality and Affordable Healthcare to attempt to shape lawmakers' and the public's opinions on health reform, the Associated Press reports.

16 Nov 2009

Drug makers hike prices, lobby hard as reform efforts progress

Drug makers are bracing for reform by raising their prices - by 9 percent in the last year, perhaps the fastest rate since 1992, The New York Times reports. This happened "even as drug makers promise to support Washington's health care overhaul by shaving $8 billion a year off the nation's drug costs after the legislation takes effect." The increases "will add more than $10 billion to the nation's drug bill, which is on track to exceed $300 billion this year."

16 Nov 2009

Onyx Pharmaceuticals acquires Proteolix

Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the company has completed its acquisition of Proteolix, Inc., a privately held biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing novel therapies that target the proteasome for the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumors.

16 Nov 2009

Coming this week: New law to prevent discrimination based on genes

"The most important new antidiscrimination law in two decades — the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act — will take effect in the nation's workplaces next weekend, prohibiting employers from requesting genetic testing or considering someone's genetic background in hiring, firing or promotions," The New York Times reports.

16 Nov 2009

Insuring immigrants a sticking point between House, Senate health reform bills

The Washington Post reports that the question of how and if some immigrants will have access to care under health care reform remains one of the sticking points between the chambers as the Congressional debate unfolds.

16 Nov 2009

Both sides puzzle over abortion amendment in House health bill

Newspapers continue to report on the Stupak amendment to the House health bill and how it will affect access to abortion.

16 Nov 2009

Today's opinions and editorials

Many liberals remain angry and disappointed that single-payer legislation never stood a chance in Washington. To them, a government-run health-care system seemed an obvious way to put patients ahead of profits. But a single-payer system would have put us at the mercy of whomever happened to take control of Washington (Maggie Mahar, 11/15).

16 Nov 2009

2009 report: False Medicare claims cost government more than $47 billion

The Associated Press: "The government paid more than $47 billion in questionable Medicare claims including medical treatment showing little relation to a patient's condition, wasting taxpayer dollars at a rate nearly three times the previous year.

16 Nov 2009

Cord Blood reports its 10Q filing with the U.S. SEC for the three and nine-month period ended September 30, 2009

Cord Blood America, Inc., the umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company (http://www.cordblood-america.com ) focused on bringing the life saving potential of stem cells, a biological insurance policy, to families nationwide and internationally, announced today that its 10Q filing with the U.S. SEC for the three and nine-month period ended September 30, 2009, confirmed its announcements throughout 2009 that it is significantly reducing debt.

16 Nov 2009

Gentium to present Defibrotide trial data at the ASH meeting

Gentium S.p.A. announced today that results from the Company’s Phase II/III Pediatric Prevention trial and Phase III Treatment trial for Defibrotide of Hepatic Veno-Occlusive Disease will be presented at American Society of Hematology Conference (ASH), December 5-8 in New Orleans.

16 Nov 2009

Lotus Pharmaceuticals reports $5.4 million net earnings for third-quarter 2009

Lotus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a growing developer and producer of prescriptions drugs and licensed national seller of pharmaceutical products in the People's Republic of China, today reported third-quarter 2009 net earnings were $5.4 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, compared with $3.2 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, in 2008. Net revenues were $14.5 million during the third quarter of 2009, compared with $16.7 million in the third quarter of 2008.

16 Nov 2009

Eclipsys’ Sunrise Patient Flow solution activated successfully at Singapore General Hospital

Eclipsys Corporation®, The Outcomes Company®, today announced that Singapore General Hospital (SGH), Singapore's oldest and largest acute tertiary hospital and national referral center, has successfully activated Eclipsys’ Sunrise Patient Flow™ solution.

16 Nov 2009

Erbitux recognized as one of the major clinical cancer advances of 2009

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has once again recognized Erbitux® (cetuximab) as one of the major clinical cancer advances of 2009. This year Erbitux was selected by ASCO for providing the first significant increase in survival for 30 years in the treatment of patients with 1st-line recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

16 Nov 2009