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First edition: September 29, 2009

The Finance Committee will resume work today on its mark up of its health bill -- with some fireworks likely on the public plan and other wild cards.

29 Sep 2009

Covidien's acquisition of Aspect Medical Systems under investigation

Law Offices of Howard G. Smith announces that it is investigating potential claims against the board of directors of Aspect Medical Systems, Inc. (“Aspect Medical” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:ASPM), related to the Company’s agreement to be acquired by Covidien plc (“Covidien”) in a cash transaction valued at approximately $210 million, net of cash and short-term investments acquired.

29 Sep 2009

Diabetics should monitor their blood sugar levels to improve metabolic status

Diabetes patients should always control their own blood sugar values if this leads to improvements in their treatment. This is the view advocated by Michael Nauck of the Bad Lauterberg Diabetes Center and his coauthors in the current issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2009; 106[37]: 587-94), who discuss sensible approaches to blood glucose self-monitoring.

29 Sep 2009

SUNY Stony Brook implements PatientKeeper ePrescription and Pay for Performance

PatientKeeper®, Inc., the leading provider of Physician Information Technology, announced today that the physicians at State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook will be using PatientKeeper ePrescription™ and PatientKeeper Pay for Performance (P4P)™, expanding their deployment of the PatientKeeper’s physician-focused applications.

29 Sep 2009

New microchip to detect type and severity of cancer

UofT researchers have used nanomaterials to develop a microchip sensitive enough to quickly determine the type and severity of a patient's cancer so that the disease can be detected earlier for more effective treatment.

29 Sep 2009

BioClinica to demonstrate integrated eClinical technology at the SCDM conference

BioClinica, Inc., a leading global provider of clinical trial services, is helping to advance the discipline of clinical data management and will demonstrate integrated eClinical and imaging data management technology and expertise at the 2009 Society of Clinical Data Management (SCDM) Annual Conference, October 4-6, 2009 in Seattle, WA (Booth # 401).

From Clario 29 Sep 2009

Hanford Pharmaceuticals expands into new business areas

On September 24, 2009, Hanford Pharmaceuticals (“Hanford” or the “Company”) completed the sale of its Cephalosporin manufacturing facility in Syracuse, NY, an asset that had been under-performing for quite some time.l

29 Sep 2009

Sciele Pharma files NDA for glycopyrrolate oral solution

Sciele Pharma, Inc., a Shionogi company, today announced that it has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for glycopyrrolate oral solution to treat chronic, moderate-to-severe drooling in pediatric patients. This condition often results from cerebral palsy as well as from other neurological disorders.

29 Sep 2009

Biomagnetics Diagnostics to develop handheld testing platform for malaria and bovine TB

Biomagnetics Diagnostics Corp., a producer of revolutionary diagnostic systems and technology for malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and hepatitis testing today announced it has received a equity-based financing commitment up to $1 million from investors and an anonymous philanthropic source. These funds will be used to further develop the company’s unique handheld testing platform targeting the areas of malaria and bovine tuberculosis testing.

29 Sep 2009

Journal publishes Hythiam's PROMETA treatment program results

Hythiam, Inc. announced today that the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the impact of the medical component of the PROMETA® Treatment Program on alcohol dependent subjects was accepted and published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, a leading scholarly publication in psychopharmacology that features articles reporting on clinical trials and studies.

29 Sep 2009

Oculus launches Microcyn Skin & Wound HydroGel OTC

Oculus Innovative Sciences, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and markets a family of products based upon the Microcyn Technology platform, which is intended to treat chronic and acute wounds, today launched Microcyn Skin & Wound HydroGel for both the U.S. professional and over-the-counter markets. The Microcyn HydroGel received FDA 510(k) marketing clearance in May of this year.

29 Sep 2009

Benefits and harms of screening infants for hyperbilirubinemia still unclear

According to a new recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, there is insufficient evidence to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening infants for hyperbilirubinemia to prevent chronic bilirubin encephalopathy. Hyperbilirubinemia is a condition marked by a high level of bilirubin in the blood, which is often apparent as yellow-colored skin and eyes (jaundice).

29 Sep 2009

ETH Zurich researchers develop biodegradable bone implants of metallic glass

It is possible that broken bones will in the near future be fixed using metallic glass. Materials researchers at ETH Zurich have developed an alloy that could herald a new generation of biodegradable bone implants. Their results have been published in the online edition of Nature Materials.

29 Sep 2009

Campaign of nonviolent civil disobedience to end insurance abuse

Citizens and health care providers who are fed up with the state of our health care system will risk arrest at a New York Aetna health insurance office on Tuesday morning. The sit-in is the first action in part of a larger mobilization to end insurance abuse and build support for real reform – Medicare for All, a single payer plan.

29 Sep 2009

New DataBlaster JT 37x7/PCIe boundary-scan controller from JTAG Technologies

JTAG Technologies, a leading provider of IEEE Std. 1149.1 solutions for testing and programming high-density PCBs, announces a further extension of its line of high-performance boundary-scan IEEE Std. 1149.1 controllers.

29 Sep 2009

Elan begins cash tender offer for $850 million in collective principal sum of 2011 Fixed Rate Notes

Elan Corporation, plc ("Elan") today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Elan Finance public limited company and Elan Finance Corp., are commencing a cash tender offer (the “Tender Offer”) for the outstanding US$850 million in aggregate principal amount of their 7 3/4% senior fixed rate notes due 2011 (the “2011 Fixed Rate Notes”).

29 Sep 2009

Research finds novel chemical that targets drug-resistant bacteria

Eric Brown, a professor and chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, and a team of researchers from the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research have identified a novel chemical compound that targets drug-resistant bacteria in a different way from existing antibiotics. The discovery could lead to new treatments to overcome antibiotic resistance in certain types of microorganisms.

29 Sep 2009

Patheon's special meeting of shareholders to be held as announced on December 15, 2009

The Special Committee of Independent Directors of Patheon Inc. announced that Joaquin Viso and Olga Lizardi have agreed to adjourn on consent the previously disclosed Court application they commenced on September 2, 2009 seeking an order requiring that a special meeting of shareholders (the "Requisitioned Meeting") in response to their previously announced requisition be held no later than October 30, 2009.

29 Sep 2009

Also in Global Health news: News outlets explore AIDS vaccine research; chloroquine resistance unraveled; authorities contest maternal mortality report

The Associated Press examines the role of the Thai participants in the recent clinical trial of an experimental HIV vaccine which showed modest potential for preventing infection. "Nearly 16,000 Thais ignored the false rumors that they were being infected by the AIDS virus, and overcame their fears of becoming social outcasts to participate in trials of the first vaccine found to prevent infection with the deadly virus," the news service writes (Ahuja/Casey, 9/27).

29 Sep 2009

Smart Card Alliance: Cybersecurity and healthcare identity to be prioritized in upcoming year

The Smart Card Alliance Identity Council will turn its attention to cybersecurity and healthcare identity in the upcoming year, the Council said today, while continuing its work to educate and make identity credentialing recommendations for corporate enterprise, healthcare, state and local governments, and more. The Identity Council also announced new officers and steering committee, and plans to attend the Smart Card Alliance 8th Annual Smart Cards in Government Conference in Washington, DC.

29 Sep 2009