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FDA approves continuation of the fourth 6-month open label extension of PRX-03140

The FDA has approved a Physician-Sponsored IND and continuation of the fourth 6-month open label extension of PRX-03140, a novel 5HT4 partial agonist for the potential treatment of Alzheimer's Disease. The patient was enrolled initially in a two week Phase 2a study in August 2007 where she received 100 mg per day of PRX-03140 in combination with her normal daily dose of Aricept(10 mg).

19 Oct 2009

House members consider where others stand in health reform debate

As the House Democratic leadership continues to work toward moving a health overhaul measure to the floor, members continue to stake out positions - sometimes because of their personal histories or where they are from. In a few cases, the positions they have taken lead to increased attention.

19 Oct 2009

ESC comments on France preparing to authorise the sale of cigarettes on the internet

The European Society of Cardiology wishes to comment on media reports this week that France is preparing to authorise the sale of cigarettes on the internet, to conform to European rights.

19 Oct 2009

UCSC professors receive $1.8M grant under NHGRI's genome sequencing technology development programme

Oxford Nanopore Technologies congratulates our collaborators Professor Mark Akeson and Professor David Deamer of the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) on receiving a grant of $1.1 million, and Professor Jene Golovchenko of the University of Harvard on receiving $745,000 following on from a previous grant of $6.5 million.

From Oxford Nanopore Technologies 19 Oct 2009

CytoSorb human clinical trials nearing completion

TapeBeat.com, the news and research portal for the serious bio-tech investor in conjunction with the Farseers Group is proud to profile one of the most exciting up and coming biotech companies, MedaSorb Technologies (MSBT.OB), which is perfectly poised to realize exponential growth.

19 Oct 2009

Studies find frail seniors often get poor, futile care

Two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine find that some medical care, especially at the end of life, may be a poor choice for feeble seniors. They also show the importance of palliative care over aggressive treatment for certain patients.

19 Oct 2009

New chromosomal abnormality in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Researchers identified a new chromosomal abnormality in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that appears to work in concert with another mutation to give rise to cancer. This latest anomaly is particularly common in children with Down syndrome.

19 Oct 2009

Inaccurate body temperature readings can harm the entire health care system

As we head into a flu season where the 2009 H1N1 swine flu is expected to cause increased sickness, hospitalization and deaths across the U.S., something as simple as inaccurate body temperature measurements may lead to social and economic turmoil – and may cause many more deaths.

19 Oct 2009

DKC establishes link between genetic mutation affecting telomerase function and human disease

The human genetic disease dyskeratosis congenita (DKC) is an autosomal dominant disease that leads to abnormalities in tissues with a rapid cell turnover - the skin, nails, bone marrow, lungs and gut. Patients with DKC experience life-threatening symptoms. Bone marrow failure increases their risk of fatal infections and cancer. Many die before the age of 30 and management of the disease is limited to trying to treat its symptoms.

19 Oct 2009

Lawmakers seek to quickly fix Medicare payments for physicians

Both the House and the Senate are considering moving quickly to bar cuts in Medicare payments to physicians.

19 Oct 2009

Latest ad audit asks if the insurers' claims add up

In his latest ad audit, Kaiser Health News staff writer Jordan Rau explores whether insurers' claims, made in a recent advertisement, add up.

19 Oct 2009

Antibiotic resistance to be undesirable consequence of antibiotic abuse is inaccurate, reveals report

The perception that antibiotic resistance is primarily the undesirable consequence of antibiotic abuse or misuse is a view that is simplistic and inaccurate, according to a recent report by the American Academy of Microbiology. The reasons behind the spread of resistance are much more complex, including appropriate antibiotic use, lack of proper sanitation and hygiene, and even the environment.

19 Oct 2009

Study to examine the impact of LASIK procedure on patients’ quality of life

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced the launch of a collaborative study with the National Eye Institute and the U.S. Department of Defense to examine the potential impact on quality of life from Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK), a surgical procedure that uses an eximer laser to permanently change the shape of the cornea.

19 Oct 2009

Cardium Therapeutics reports positive findings from Excellarate Phase 1/2 clinical study

Cardium Therapeutics today announced the publication of positive findings from the open label multi-center Phase 1/2 clinical study of Excellarate(TM) (GAM501, Ad5PDGF-B / 2.6% collagen), its product candidate for the potential treatment of non-healing diabetic foot ulcers.

19 Oct 2009

DFG Research Centre to be funded for a further four-year period

The DFG Research Centre for Renewable Therapies at the Technical University of Dresden ("Renewable Therapies: From Cells to Tissues to Therapies - Engineering the Cellular Basis of Regeneration ", CRTD), following a very successful first funding period, is being extended and will be funded for a further four years.

19 Oct 2009

Government closely monitors swine flu vaccine

The government is closely monitoring the safety of the new H1N1 swine flu vaccine amid people's concerns.

19 Oct 2009

Legislation only modestly addresses medical errors

Health care legislation largely fails to address the issue of medical errors that were detailed in a 10-year old landmark federal study, "To Err Is Human," which proposed several key solutions.

19 Oct 2009

Wellness provisions advance in reform legislation

Employers could incentivize wellness if provisions passed by the Senate finance and health committees become law. The Washington Post reports: "By more than doubling the maximum penalties that companies can apply to employees who flunk medical evaluations, the legislation could put workers under intense financial pressure to lose weight, stop smoking or even lower their cholesterol."

19 Oct 2009

Mallinckrodt TaperGuard and TaperGuard Evac endotracheal tubes launched by Covidien

Covidien, a leading global healthcare products company and recognized innovator in mechanical ventilation and respiratory care devices, today announced the global launch of Mallinckrodt™ TaperGuard™ and TaperGuard™ Evac endotracheal tubes.

19 Oct 2009

Novel HIV drug to be studied in cell cultures and patients

A $6 million, five-year federal grant to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute will enable researchers to investigate a novel approach in treating HIV infection---a unique class of drugs focused on developing therapies for psychological and neurological effects in AIDS.

19 Oct 2009