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Novel genome-analysis strategy to speed search for gene-disease links

University of Washington (UW) researchers have successfully developed a novel genome-analysis strategy for more rapid, lower cost discovery of possible gene-disease links. By saving time and lowering expenses, the approach makes it feasible for scientists to search for disease-causing genes in people with the same inherited disorder but without any family ties to each other.

18 Aug 2009

Par Pharmaceutical wins in Ultram ER litigation

Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. today announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware has ruled in favor of Par in its challenge of Purdue's patents relating to extended-release tramadol, which are listed in the Orange Book for Ortho-McNeil's Ultram(R) ER product.

18 Aug 2009

4SC starts phase 2 trial in hepatocellular carcinoma with 4SC-201 (resminostat)

4SC AG, the German drug discovery and development company, today announced the dosing of the first patient in its Phase II trial with 4SC-201 (resminostat), a pan-histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, as a new potential treatment option for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most frequent form of liver cancer.

18 Aug 2009

Synco Bio to manufacture Versartis type 2 diabetes drug candidate

SynCo Bio Partners, a Netherlands based biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer, and Versartis, Inc. today announced a strategic partnership to produce Versartis' lead drug candidate VRS-859, a novel GLP-1 analog for monthly dosing to treat type 2 diabetes Under the agreement, SynCo will further develop the Versartis existing production process for VRS-859 and optimize the manufacturing process to increase yields for the forthcoming cGMP production.

18 Aug 2009

Ormco Corporation and Align Technology agree to collaborate and settle patent litigation

Ormco Corporation, a subsidiary of Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR) today announced that Ormco and Align Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALGN) have agreed to enter into an exclusive collaboration arrangement to jointly develop and market an orthodontic product offering that will provide orthodontic patients a treatment solution that involves a combination of Align's Invisalign(R) system and Ormco's Insignia(R) custom orthodontic bracket and arch wire system.

From Danaher 18 Aug 2009

DNA evidence found at crime scenes can easily be falsified

Nucleix, Ltd., an emerging life science company specializing in forensic DNA analysis, announced that company researchers have proven DNA evidence found at crime scenes can easily be falsified using basic equipment, know-how and access to DNA or a DNA database.

18 Aug 2009

H1N1 pandemic: no time for complacency

Prevention of H1N1 influenza virus through vaccination must be our top priority if disease patterns in the northern hemisphere follow those in the southern hemisphere this fall, writes Paul Hébert, Editor-in-Chief of CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) in an editorial.

18 Aug 2009

New technology for measuring heart rate via a conventional wrist watch

SPO Medical Inc. (SPOM) announced today that it has successfully demonstrated to several leading sports and fitness watch manufacturers its vital sign technology for measurement of the heart rate via a conventional wrist watch, negating the need of the traditional chest strap currently used by most sports watch manufacturers.

18 Aug 2009

Consumer driven health plans overtake HMO plans in popularity with employees

Consumer Driven Health Plans (CDHPs) in the U.S. have surpassed HMO plans in covered employees, according to preliminary results released by United Benefit Advisors (UBA) from its 2009 UBA Health Plan Survey, the nation's largest health plan benchmarking survey with 17,655 plans from 12,316 employers reporting.

18 Aug 2009

Sebelius to discuss health care fraud prevention

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will give the keynote address at the U.S. Administration on Aging’s Annual SMP (formerly called Senior Medicare Patrol) Conference taking place August 18-20 in Washington, D.C.

18 Aug 2009

Signs of racism occur in the midst of health care reform debate

NPR and Georgia Public Broadcasting report that Georgia congressman David Scott is dealing with signals of racism and heated passions in the midst of this summer's efforts toward health care reform.

18 Aug 2009

Genentech announces Phase III study results for Avastin (bevacizumab) in combination with chemo in HER2-negative breast cancer

Genentech, Inc. today announced that a Phase III study (RIBBON 2) of Avastin (bevacizumab) in combination with chemotherapy increased the time women with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer whose initial chemotherapy had stopped working lived without the disease worsening (progression-free survival or PFS), compared to chemotherapy alone.

18 Aug 2009

New colon cancer target

New research led by scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine have found a drug target that suggests a potent way to kill colon cancers that resist current drugs aimed at blocking a molecule found on the surface of cells.

18 Aug 2009

Tiny magnetic particles guide stem cells to damaged tissue

Microscopic magnetic particles have been used to bring stem cells to sites of cardiovascular injury in a new method designed to increase the capacity of cells to repair damaged tissue, UCL scientists announced today.

18 Aug 2009

Prion found to be a biomarker for pancreatic cancer

Mad cow disease is caused by the accumulation of an abnormal protein, the prion, in the brain of an affected patient. Outside of the brain, very little is known about prions.

18 Aug 2009

New findings on how hepatitis C survives for so long in the body

Researchers at the University of Leeds have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that allows the hepatitis C virus (HCV) to remain in the body for decades.

18 Aug 2009

Obama pledges reform won't change veterans' health care

During his speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Phoenix, Ariz., on Monday, President Barack Obama "noted that his administration was committed to increased spending on VA health care," The Associated Press reports.

18 Aug 2009

Shire starts two adult ADHD outreach programs

Shire plc today announced two initiatives reinforcing their commitment to the care of adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a psychiatric behavioral disorder that affects an estimated 10 million adults across the country.

18 Aug 2009

Aspirin improves survival after colorectal cancer diagnosis

Men and women who were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and began regular use of aspirin had a lower risk of overall and colorectal cancer death compared to patients not using aspirin, according to a study in the August 12 issue of JAMA.

18 Aug 2009

Opinion: Chronic disease in Africa; education can help combat disease; climate change and health; TB vaccine

"An epidemic of chronic, non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, mental illness, cancer, diabetes, and obesity is growing in Africa, a continent still struggling with infectious and nutritional diseases," according to a Boston Globe opinion piece by Michelle Holmes and Shona Dalal.

18 Aug 2009