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Higher mortality rates may be linked to the influx of newly qualified doctors

People admitted to English hospitals in an emergency on the first Wednesday in August have, on average, a six percent higher mortality rate than people admitted on the previous Wednesday, according to research published in PLoS One today.

23 Sep 2009

Preclinical data on Protalix Biotherapeutics' antiTNF released

Protalix Biotherapeutics, Inc., reported today preclinical data on pr-antiTNF, a biosimilar version of etanercept (Enbrel). Produced using the Company’s proprietary ProCellEx technology, pr-antiTNF is a plant cell expressed recombinant fusion protein made from the soluble form of the human TNF receptor (TNFR), fused to the Fc component of a human antibody IgG1 domain. Pr-antiTNF has an identical amino acid sequence to Enbrel.

23 Sep 2009

Ninety per cent of older persons in rural Bangladesh malnourished: Study

Ninety per cent of older persons in rural Bangladesh displayed either overt or risk for malnutrition in a collaborative study presented in a dissertation by Tamanna Ferdous from Uppsala University Sept 22, 2009. The results, which are part of a larger international study, challenge the Millenium Development Goals.

23 Sep 2009

Drug trial for OSI-906 begins

TGen Clinical Research Services at Scottsdale Healthcare today announced the start of a clinical trial for a drug designed to combat adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), a rare but deadly cancer that attacks the adrenal glands.

23 Sep 2009

State Round-Up: Michigan wrestles with Medicaid cuts

News outlets examine state health issues, including potential Medicaid cuts in Michigan and the effect of swine flu on Louisiana's Medicaid budget.

23 Sep 2009

EGFR-targeted therapy improves survival rates in metastatic colorectal cancer patients

Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, today announced that Erbitux® (cetuximab) demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival (OS) when added to standard 1st-line chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with KRAS wild-type tumors.

23 Sep 2009

Partnership between HealthStream and Quorum Health Resources

HealthStream, Inc., a leading provider of learning and research solutions for the healthcare industry, and Quorum Health Resources (QHR), the nation’s largest hospital management company and one of the top 10 healthcare consulting firms in the United States, announced today a partnership that enables both HealthStream and QHR to deliver a wider range of best-in-class solutions to the hospital market.

23 Sep 2009

Preventing nerve cell death in diabetics

Dennis Paul, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, and Harry Gould, MD, PhD, the Tom Benson Professor of Neurology at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, have been awarded one of two scientific research grants made in 2009 by The Neuropathy Association. The $80,000 grant will fund research to learn how to prevent nerve cell death in people with uncontrolled or untreated diabetes resulting in neuropathy.

23 Sep 2009

Protica obtains exclusive distribution rights for aseptic dispensing device

Protica, Inc., the makers of the first protein shot, Profect®, and dozens of the world’s most compact protein and energy drinks, has now set its sights on bulk packaging, thanks to International Dispensing Corporation’s (IDC) (IDND.PK) patented aseptic tap The Answer™.

23 Sep 2009

Breast cancer awareness campaign launched by Samsung Electronics Europe

Samsung Electronics Europe has launched ‘Everybody’s Doing It’, an online campaign and website which is a call to action encouraging women in Europe to check for breast cancer and prevent the disease from spreading. By visiting www.morethantalk.eu women can find an instant community of support, a place to make pledges to raise further awareness and a place to view or forward a short viral movie called ‘Everybody’s Doing It’; containing footage of eight women whose lives have been affected by breast cancer. The viral is intended to reach over 400,000 women - more than the number who are diagnosed with breast cancer in Europe every year.

23 Sep 2009

Practice Fusion’s EHR offered to BioReference physicians

Practice Fusion Inc., the fastest growing electronic health record community for physicians in the United States, today announced a partnership with BioReference Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ:BRLI), the third largest full service laboratory in the country. The companies will collaborate to distribute Practice Fusion’s EHR to interested BioReference physicians and will integrate BioReference lab results into the Practice Fusion’s system.

23 Sep 2009

FDA committees to review Neuromed’s NDA for Exalgo

CombinatoRx, Incorporated (NASDAQ: CRXX) and Neuromed Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has posted on its website briefing documents for the September 23, 2009 joint meeting of its Anesthetics and Life Support Advisory Committee and its Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee.

23 Sep 2009

Exercise counseling and fitness center training effective for type 2 diabetic patients

Physical therapist-directed exercise counseling combined with fitness center-based exercise training can improve muscular strength and exercise capacity in people with type 2 diabetes, with outcomes similar to those of supervised exercise, according to a randomized clinical trial published in the September issue of Physical Therapy, the scientific journal of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

23 Sep 2009

Making ACOs a permanent part of health reform will help control costs: CAPG

Leaders from California’s physicians groups are in Washington DC this week meeting with key members of Congress to offer their experience at the forefront of a key health care reform element – Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).

23 Sep 2009

Report outlining global weaknesses in preventing deadly diseases

Significant weaknesses undermine the global community's abilities to prevent, detect early, and respond efficiently to potentially deadly species-crossing microbes, such as the pandemic H1N1 influenza virus sweeping the globe, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council. The report provides a detailed plan for establishing and funding a comprehensive, globally coordinated system to identify novel zoonotic disease threats as early as possible wherever they arise so appropriate measures can be taken to prevent significant numbers of human illnesses and deaths, and livestock losses.

23 Sep 2009

Celebrities perform for children's fundraising project

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter John Legend and artist/designer Noah G POP joined forces last night at NYC's Nikki Beach Midtown for Project Sunshine's fall fundraiser to benefit children facing medical challenges.

23 Sep 2009

Automated software solution for H1N1 preparation

San Diego-based Concerro, Inc., the market leader in enterprise-wide hospital shift and emergency workforce management software, is pleased to announce the launch of PanFluAware™, an automated software solution and decision making system for H1N1 preparation and response. A free webcast demonstration will be held on Friday, September 25th at 1:00 PM eastern standard time.

23 Sep 2009

CPS expands business, adds a remote order entry services division

Comprehensive Pharmacy Services (CPS) announced today a significant expansion of its business, adding a remote order entry services division. CPS’ new division will offer remote prescription approval and order entry to the healthcare industry and will be branded as RemoteSolutions, a CPS company.

23 Sep 2009

Results of IES presented at ECCO

Pfizer Inc today announced new, longer-term data from the Intergroup Exemestane Study (IES) showing that women who switched to AROMASIN® (exemestane tablets) after taking tamoxifen for two to three years experienced a significant reduction (18%) in the risk of disease-free survival (DFS) events. In addition, IES showed that AROMASIN prolonged overall survival (OS) in the ER+/unknown population with a 14% reduction in the risk of dying. These results demonstrate that the benefits of treatment are maintained in long term follow-up. These results were presented at the joint ECCO 15/ESMO 34 meeting in Berlin, Germany.

23 Sep 2009

Celera and Medco collaborate in KIF6 gene variant testing

Celera Corporation (NASDAQ:CRA) and Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MHS), today announced that they have entered into a research collaboration to evaluate whether testing for a gene variant called KIF6 increases patient adherence with statin therapy. Current studies have suggested that only about 50 to 60 percent of the patients who receive a prescription for a lipid-lowering drug are taking the medication after six months.

23 Sep 2009