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New, flexible scaffold for multi-level posterolateral fusion procedures

Medtronic, Inc. today announced the full U.S. market release of MASTERGRAFT® Strip – a new, highly flexible ceramic scaffold intended for use in combination with a patient’s own bone for fusing multiple levels of the posterolateral spine.

11 Nov 2009

New biopharmaceutical business intelligence tool from Deloitte Recap

Deloitte Recap LLC (Recap) has launched "Development Optimizer," the third product in the Recap IQ Series by Deloitte. The series of biopharmaceutical business intelligence tools are part of a new subscription service tailored toward business development, corporate strategy, financial, clinical development, legal, academic and R&D professionals.

11 Nov 2009

Hoyer: House could be in session until late December

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) today said "he is prepared to extend the House healthcare schedule into late December in order to pass healthcare reform," The Hill reports. "Two weeks ago, Hoyer said that the House could work as late as Nov. 24 in order to pass healthcare reform. Now he says that the House could be in session as late as Dec. 22 to vote on a final bill should it emerge from conference" (Fabian, 11/11)

11 Nov 2009

Endo Pharmaceuticals reaches patent litigation settlement with LecTec

Endo Pharmaceuticals announced today that it has reached a settlement with LecTec Corporation on outstanding patent litigation related to LecTec's U.S. Patent Nos. 5,536,263 and 5,741,510.

11 Nov 2009

Report predicts Africa's tobacco use will double within 12 years without intervention

"Africa faces a surge in cancer deaths unless action is taken in the next decade to stem rising smoking levels in a continent where anti-tobacco laws remain rare, U.S. scientists said Wednesday," Reuters reports (Kelland, 11/11).

11 Nov 2009

Post-traumatic stress disorder among veterans on the rise, reveals survey

Recent survey results reveal that the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has increased 4 to 7 times following the invasion of Iraq.

11 Nov 2009

OPKO Health acquires NK-1 compounds from Schering

OPKO Health, Inc. today announced that it has completed the acquisition of rolapitant and a related compound from Schering Corporation, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. ("Schering").

11 Nov 2009

Health debate breaks uneasy peace on abortion policy

Politico: "After months of dodging high-profile confrontations over abortion, Democrats — including President Barack Obama — find themselves faced with a stark set of alternatives: Support a bill that imposes limits on access to abortion or demand one that might, however indirectly, fund the procedure with taxpayer money. It's the kind of decision point the White House and Democratic leaders have consistently attempted to avoid.

11 Nov 2009

CHF commends the passage of health reform bill; disapproves move to eliminate CHIP

Children's Health Fund (CHF), a national organization that advocates for and provides clinical care to disadvantaged and medically underserved children, today issued a Report Card that graded the child health provisions in the Congressional Health Reform bill that was passed in the House of Representatives on November 7.

11 Nov 2009

New robotic surgical systems from El Camino Hospital

El Camino Hospital, the hospital of Silicon Valley, expands its minimally invasive surgical program to three da Vinci® Si HD Surgical Systems. Physicians performed more than 500 robotic surgeries over the past year and expect the number to increase in 2010 as more physicians undergo training with the enhanced equipment that allows for more minimally invasive procedures.

11 Nov 2009

Health care sector leaves small environmental footprint

The Associated Press reports that the first estimate of health care's carbon footprint has found that the industry "emits less than its share of the gases that promote global warming, compared to its size in the economy."

11 Nov 2009

Young adults don't welcome health insurance mandate

Young people who don't view health insurance as a priority are wary of health-overhaul legislation now in Congress that would require them to buy it or face a penalty. For instance, "Poor and bludgeoned by debt accrued over four years of college - but otherwise healthy - medical insurance just isn't in the cards for aspiring-artist Joanna Zobjeck," the Oshkosh (Wis.) Northwestern reports.

11 Nov 2009

Adamis Labs secures orders from three major wholesale distributers in U.S.

Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (OTCBB: ADMP), announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Adamis Labs has now secured distribution contracts and initial stocking orders from the three major wholesalers of prescription drugs in the U.S.

11 Nov 2009

Online patient support program for ADHD patients taking Vyvanse Capsules CII medication

Shire plc (LSE: SHP, Nasdaq: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, today announced the re-launch of FOCUS (http://www.vyvanseFOCUS.com), a free, online patient support program for adults taking once-daily Vyvanse® (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) Capsules CII for the treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and the only online, branded personalized patient support program providing tips and tools for adults diagnosed with ADHD taking a prescription medication.

11 Nov 2009

Disability plan could be another roadblock to health reform bill

The Washington Times reports that an "insurance plan championed by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy that would help elderly or disabled people avoid nursing homes ironically adds yet another sticking point to the comprehensive health care reform plans" in Congress.

11 Nov 2009

TGA approves OrthoAccel Technologies' application to market AcceleDent System in Australia

OrthoAccel Technologies, Inc., developers of the AcceleDent System, which is an acceleration device to enhance orthodontics, announced that its application to market and distribute the product for sale was approved by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). AcceleDent is classified as an, "orthodontic appliance system," in Australia.

11 Nov 2009

Athletes on performance-enhancing substances face increase risk of alcohol and drug related problems

College athletes who use performance-enhancing substances may be at heightened risk of misusing alcohol and using recreational drugs as well, according to new research in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

11 Nov 2009

CVS settles with NY over expired product sales; NC gets high-risk pool payment help

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that CVS, the drug story chain, has agreed to pay $875,000 to settle charges that it sold products years after their expiration dates, Reuters reports. The out-dated products, sold at 142 different stores, included "over-the-counter drugs, baby formula, eggs and milk," and in some cases items were sold more than two years after expiring (Stempel, 11/10).

11 Nov 2009

UK research funders announce support for a series of H1N1 2009 research projects

Leading UK research funders today announce -7.5 million of funding for a series of projects aimed at understanding the development and spread of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009 - or 'swine flu'. The research will look at every aspect of the virus, on pig farms, in pig and human populations, and in hospital intensive care units.

11 Nov 2009

Bend Memorial Clinic to begin Phase III lung cancer trial

The Bend Memorial Clinic is recruiting patients for a Phase III lung cancer trial aimed at preventing the disease’s recurrence in previously treated patients. Specifically, the trial is evaluating the potential of an immunotherapy called Antigen-Specific Cancer Immunotherapeutic (ASCI) for the treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC).

11 Nov 2009