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Wellpoint stock surges as public plan struggles

Indianapolis Star: "As the health-care reform debate boiled over this week, so did WellPoint's stock price. Shares of the Indianapolis-based health insurance giant surged to a 52-week high Thursday as the prospects for a new government-run 'public option' health plan faded amid intense Senate debate.

14 Dec 2009

Special issue focuses on cardiovascular disease prevention and outcomes

Emerging research on cardiovascular risk factors and treatment effects are helping clinicians gain a better understanding of which patients are most likely to benefit from close monitoring, lifestyle changes and/or additional therapeutic interventions.

14 Dec 2009

Study examines the association of BRCA1 gene, infertility and breast/ovarian cancer

In a study published online this week in the leading cancer journal, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Westchester Medical Center Physician Dr. Kutluk Oktay, MD, Director, Division of Reproductive Medicine & Infertility concluded that mutations in the BRCA1 gene (gene associated with early onset breast cancer) are associated with early diminishment of egg reserve.

14 Dec 2009

Researchers explore regenerative techniques to treat common neurological disorders

For more than 400 years, scientists have studied the amazing regenerative power of salamanders, trying to understand how these creatures routinely repair injuries that would usually leave humans and other mammals paralyzed -- or worse.

14 Dec 2009

Study provides new insight on teens’ addiction to drug abuse

It is common knowledge that smoking is a health risk but why do teens become addicted to smoking more easily than adults? In an evaluation for Faculty of 1000 Biology, Neil Grunberg looks into why adolescents are more prone to substance abuse.

14 Dec 2009

ImmunoGen announces the presentation of positive trastuzumab-DM1 clinical data

ImmunoGen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that develops targeted anticancer therapeutics, today announced the presentation of positive trastuzumab-DM1 (T-DM1) clinical data at the 32nd Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (Abstract #710).

14 Dec 2009

Obese patients loosing moderate amount of weight improve their cardiovascular health, says study

Obese patients who lost a moderate amount of weight by eating less and exercising more improved their cardiovascular health, says a study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

14 Dec 2009

Some Democratic Senators raise red flag on Medicare expansion idea

The possibility of allowing some 55-64 year olds to buy-in to Medicare is in the news today.

14 Dec 2009

New Hill-Rom's Advanta 2 Bed for hospitals and home care facilities

Hill-Rom today announced the introduction of Hill-Rom's Advanta(TM) 2 Bed for use in medical-surgical areas of hospitals and care facilities. The new bed brings together ease of use with key safety features and the flexibility to use a variety of care surfaces as needed.

14 Dec 2009

Some rural communities concerned reform provisions could hurt Medicare services

Newspapers in Alaska and Washington state explore how health reform provisions might affect Medicare services in rural areas, while a Colorado newspaper looks at one senator's efforts to increase the number of doctors in rural areas.

14 Dec 2009

Positive Phase 2 study results of CDX-011 reported by Celldex Therapeutics

Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. today announced the results of a positive Phase 2 study of CDX-011 (formerly CR011-vcMMAE), in patients with heavily pre-treated, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancers.

13 Dec 2009

Senators at odds about drug importation amendment

The New York Times: "Debating an overhaul of the health care system, the Senate found itself tied in knots on Thursday over a bipartisan proposal to allow people to import lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada and certain other countries."

13 Dec 2009

CAMH offers tips for holiday-related stress

The holiday season is filled with festivities and family gatherings, but for some people this season can also be very stressful. Sometimes we need help to cope or stay safe and healthy.

13 Dec 2009

Luna Innovations completes litigation settlement with Hansen Medical

Luna Innovations Incorporated announced today that it has executed a Settlement Agreement with Hansen Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: HNSN) resolving the outstanding litigation between the companies.

13 Dec 2009

Senate faces another working weekend as holiday target appears increasingly hard to reach

CongressDaily: "Senators continued to quibble over procedure Thursday, complicating Majority Leader [Harry] Reid's plans to file cloture on three pieces of his healthcare bill at once, a procedural step he hopes will allow passage before Christmas, though that appears increasingly unlikely."

13 Dec 2009

ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals and Hospira enter into exclusive agreement

ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Limited and Hospira, Inc. announced today that they have entered into an exclusive agreement to license, develop and commercialize ChemGenex’s product candidate omacetaxine mepesuccinate, a novel targeted cytotoxic pharmaceutical product, in Europe, the Middle East and parts of Africa (the Territory).

13 Dec 2009

Positive interim results of ARRY-380 in Phase 1 trial announced

Array BioPharma Inc. today announced positive interim results of its novel, small molecule HER2 (ErbB2) inhibitor, ARRY-380, in a Phase 1 trial in advanced cancer patients.

13 Dec 2009

Maxygen extends 'Dutch Auction' tender offer for share repurchase program

Maxygen, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of improved versions of protein drugs, today announced that it has extended the expiration date for its modified "Dutch Auction" tender offer to repurchase 6,557,377 shares of its common stock, which was commenced on November 13, 2009.

13 Dec 2009

Loophole in Senate bill would let insurers cap payments for costly diseases

The Associated Press: "A loophole in the Senate health care bill would let insurers place annual dollar limits on medical care for people struggling with costly illnesses such as cancer, prompting a rebuke from patient advocates." An earlier version of the bill in a Senate committee forbid the practice, but a tweak would allow limits so long as they aren't "unreasonable" (Alonso-Zaldivar, 12/11).

13 Dec 2009

Number of new medicines in development to fight diabetes, reports Nabe News in Brooklyn

Nabe News in Brooklyn, New York recently reported that 183 new medicines are in development to fight diabetes. The report details a record number of drugs for this chronic disease currently in human clinical trials and awaiting approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

13 Dec 2009