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VELCADE based regimens are cost-effective for payers and patients, finds study

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company today announced that two studies presented at the 51st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting found that VELCADE based regimens are more cost-effective for payers and reduced out-of-pocket costs for patients than other commonly used multiple myeloma treatments.

7 Dec 2009

Neuroscientists show how brain waves can be used to perform certain tasks

Neuroscientists at the Mayo Clinic campus in Jacksonville, Fla., have demonstrated how brain waves can be used to type alphanumerical characters on a computer screen. By merely focusing on the "q" in a matrix of letters, for example, that "q" appears on the monitor.

7 Dec 2009

TGFb growth factor controls spread of cancer cells

The spread, or metastasis, of individual breast cancer cells from the main tumor into the blood circulation to the lungs and other body tissues and organs is under the control of a growth factor abbreviated TGFb, according to a study with laboratory mice that will be presented at the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) 49th Annual Meeting, Dec. 5-9, 2009 in San Diego.

7 Dec 2009

DBS therapy offers hope for epilepsy patients

Long-term data from an investigational study of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Therapy for Epilepsy was released this week by Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) at the American Epilepsy Society Meeting (AES) in Boston.

7 Dec 2009

McKesson to introduce PROmanager-Rx system at the 44th Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition

McKesson today will introduce the PROmanager-Rx™ system, an innovative solution that enables hospitals for the first time to fully automate the dispensing of tablets, capsules, and other oral solid medications that come pre-packaged from drug manufacturers in unit-dose, bar-coded form.

7 Dec 2009

New analyses of data from Allos Therapeutics’ pivotal PROPEL trial of FOLOTYN reported

Allos Therapeutics, Inc. today reported new analyses of data from the Company’s pivotal PROPEL trial of FOLOTYN™ (pralatrexate injection) in patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL).

7 Dec 2009

Alexion Pharmaceuticals announces positive data from AEGIS study of Soliris

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced positive data from the 26-week extension of the AEGIS study, an open-label registration study examining Soliris® (eculizumab) for the treatment of Japanese patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH).

7 Dec 2009

New data shows patients with Type II PNH cells experience platelet consumption and increased thrombosis risk

Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced presentation of data showing that the presence of Type II paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) cells is correlated with thrombocytopenia, potentially indicating that patients with Type II cells experience ongoing platelet consumption and increased thrombosis risk.

7 Dec 2009

China life science companies receive 'Most Promising Company' awards

The 7th ChinaBio® Investor Forum, held December 2-3, 2009 in Tianjin, concluded a successful meeting by giving “Most Promising Company” awards to two young China life science companies.

7 Dec 2009

New approach to protein misfolding may lead to novel therapies for a number of diseases

In an encouraging new development, a team led by Scripps Research Institute scientists has restored partial function to lung cells collected from patients with cystic fibrosis. While there is still much work to be done before the therapy can be tested in humans, the discovery opens the door to a new class of therapies for this and a host of other chronic diseases.

7 Dec 2009

Amgen announces results from three studies on the safety and efficacy of Nplate

Amgen Inc. today announced results from three studies on the safety and efficacy of Nplate® (romiplostim) in adult patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).

7 Dec 2009

Vitamin D supplements may aid in treating cancer

The findings support the growing association between vitamin D and cancer risk and outcomes, and suggest that vitamin D supplements might help even those patients already diagnosed with some forms of cancer, says Dr. Drake.

7 Dec 2009

Updated safety data from Phase 2b 003-A1 study of carfilzomib announced

Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced updated safety data from the pivotal Phase 2b 003-A1 study, known as the 003 trial, demonstrating that carfilzomib is well-tolerated in heavily pre-treated relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients.

7 Dec 2009

Study finds substantial variation in hydroxyurea utilization for sickle cell disease

A new study by researchers from the Medical College of Wisconsin, in Milwaukee, found a substantial variation in hydroxyurea utilization for pain and other sickle cell disease complications in children.

7 Dec 2009

Norovirus-related illnesses linked to eating oysters, reveals report

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers to avoid eating oysters harvested from the San Antonio Bay on or after Nov. 16 due to reports of norovirus-associated illnesses in some people who had consumed oysters harvested from this area, which is located on the Gulf of Texas.

7 Dec 2009

New findings may yield more effective therapies for infants with blood cancer

Pediatric oncologists have identified specific genes, dubbed partner genes, that fuse with another gene to drive an often-fatal form of leukemia in infants. By more accurately defining specific partner genes, researchers expect to better predict which infants may benefit from particular treatments.

7 Dec 2009

ImmunoGen reports encouraging clinical data of IMGN901

ImmunoGen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that develops targeted anticancer therapeutics, today reported encouraging clinical data with its IMGN901 product candidate in the treatment of relapsed and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM), including prolonged benefit in patients whose disease had progressed on multiple prior treatment regimens.

6 Dec 2009

Study explains how circadian rhythms can drive feeding and metabolism behaviors

One of the pioneers in research on sleep:wake circadian genes, Amita Sehgal, Ph.D., has discovered that fruit flies' appetite and consumption are controlled by two rival sets of clocks, one in neurons and the other in the fly fat body, which is analogous to the liver.

6 Dec 2009

Deal time? Key Senate Dems meet on public option in health bill

Politico: "President Barack Obama will meet Sunday with Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill, as a group of moderate and liberal senators weighed a new public option compromise in hopes of striking a deal by early in the week.

6 Dec 2009

Positive final data from Phase 2 study of ISTODAX presented

Gloucester Pharmaceuticals announced today the presentation of positive final data from a Phase 2 study of ISTODAX® (romidepsin) in peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the 51st American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting being held in New Orleans, LA.

6 Dec 2009