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Winner of first annual Healthcare Administrator Award announced

Deborah Friberg, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of WakeMed Health and Hospitals, Raleigh, North Carolina, has been named the recipient of the first annual Healthcare Administrator Award, presented by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). The award recognizes a healthcare facility's executive team member who has demonstrated significant support for infection prevention and control throughout their facility.

20 Oct 2009

Amylin Pharmaceuticals to present new data from its obesity program at Obesity 2009

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that new data from its obesity program will be presented at Obesity 2009, the 27th Annual Scientific Meeting of The Obesity Society, to be held in Washington, D.C. October 24-28. Phase 2 data from the pramlintide/metreleptin combination treatment clinical program will be the subject of a late-breaking oral presentation.

20 Oct 2009

Medicare officials back away from hard line stance on insurers' warning letters

The New York Times reports: "The Obama administration on Friday backed away from an order that had prohibited insurance companies from warning Medicare recipients about the possible loss of benefits under pending legislation to overhaul the health care system." A political storm storm was triggered last month when they tried to stop such communications.

20 Oct 2009

Third-quarter financial results of Boston Scientific announced

Boston Scientific Corporation today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2009, as well as guidance for net sales and earnings per share (EPS) for the fourth quarter and full year 2009.

20 Oct 2009

Boehringer Ingelheim's TWYNSTA approved by FDA for the treatment of hypertension

Boehringer Ingelheim announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved TWYNSTA®, a new highly effective single pill combination therapy of telmisartan (an angiotensin receptor blocker [ARB]) and amlodipine (a calcium-channel blocker [CCB]). TWYNSTA® is indicated for the treatment of hypertension, alone or with other antihypertensive agents, and as initial therapy in patients who are likely to need multiple drugs to achieve their blood pressure goals.

20 Oct 2009

FDA approves new oral medication for renal cell carcinoma

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Votrient (pazopanib), the sixth drug to be approved for kidney cancer since 2005.

20 Oct 2009

DC 'squanders' AIDS money on questionable groups despite urgent needs

A Washington Post investigation has found that the city with the highest AIDS rate in the United States, Washington, D.C., has awarded millions of dollars to often ineffective groups with little oversight. Officials failed to act when information about waste and abuse became available, and in the worst case one may have helped channel funding to relatives who operated an AIDS charity out of their nightclub. Meanwhile, AIDS patients waited years for treatment, faced needs legitimate agencies were unable to meet, and in one case, died alone on a park bench within a couple of miles of a dozen nonprofits meant to care for AIDS patients (Cenziper, 10/18).

20 Oct 2009

Attorney General announces marijuana guidelines for medical purposes

Attorney General Eric Holder today announced formal guidelines for federal prosecutors in states that have enacted laws authorizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

20 Oct 2009

Interim results from Phase 1 CAL-101 trial for chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Calistoga Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the leader in the development of isoform-selective phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitors for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases, today announced the presentation of interim results from the ongoing Phase 1 trial evaluating CAL-101, an oral delta-selective PI3K inhibitor, demonstrating promising clinical responses in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

20 Oct 2009

Lawmakers struggle to balance interests as sweeping health legislation negotiations proceed

Lawmakers continue to try to shape health bills as they move closer to floor votes.

20 Oct 2009

Antioxidant extracts of G.biloba leaves may protect cells from radiation damage

Antioxidant extracts of the leaves of the Gingko biloba tree may protect cells from radiation damage, according to a study published in the International Journal of Low Radiation. The discovery may one day be used to help reduce side effects in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy.

20 Oct 2009

Positive results from Transave's Phase II ARIKACE clinical trials

Transave Inc., today reported additional positive clinical trial results on its lead investigational drug, ARIKACE(TM) (liposomal amikacin for inhalation), an antibiotic that aims to treat chronic lung infections.

20 Oct 2009

Article evaluating StemEx therapy for leukemia and lymphoma to be published

Gamida Cell announced today the publication of an article evaluating carlecortemcel-l, the generic name of what is widely known as "StemEx", as a therapy for blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma.

19 Oct 2009

Children with history of diabetic ketoacidosis may have memory problems

Children who have had an episode of diabetic ketoacidosis, a common complication of diabetes, may have persistent memory problems, according to a new study from researchers at the UC Davis Center for Mind and Brain.

19 Oct 2009

UCB reports on the outcome of Cimzia and MTX treatment for rheumatoid arthritis

UCB today announced data that showed rapid and sustained improvements in ACR20, physical function, pain and fatigue of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as early as the first week, and inhibition of progression of structural joint damage (seen at week 24) following treatment with Cimzia (certolizumab pegol), together with methotrexate (MTX), was sustained up to 100 weeks.

19 Oct 2009

Current medical assessment not sufficient; clinimetric methods may improve final outcomes

In a paper published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Giovanni A. Fava (University of Bologna) and Nicoletta Sonino (University of Padova) summarize data which indicate that current medical assessment, by ignoring the psychosocial dimensions, is inadequate in most of medical encounters

19 Oct 2009

Walgreens, aVinci Media launch initiative for breast cancer awareness, raises more than $50,000

Walgreens and aVinci® Media have launched a very successful national initiative to raise vital funds and awareness for breast cancer research and support. On Oct. 7, Walgreens offered aVinci's My Personal Movie slideshow DVDs, which normally retail for $19.99, for only $1.

19 Oct 2009

Website answers questions about 'end of life'

Questions about end of life are as old as humanity, yet they can be new and overwhelming when someone we care about is dying.

19 Oct 2009

Scientists find cause for lupuslike disease in mice

Macrophages, the scavenger cells of the body's immune system, are responsible for disposing of dying cells. Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have identified one pathway in this important process in mice that, if disrupted, causes a lupuslike autoimmune disease.

19 Oct 2009

California's community hospitals launch public education and media campaign on H1N1

As preparations for the H1N1 flu season kick into high gear, California's community hospitals have launched a statewide public education and media campaign.

19 Oct 2009