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Two new antibodies for targeting HIV virus discovered

Researchers at and associated with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), at The Scripps Research Institute, and at the biotechnology companies Theraclone Sciences and Monogram Biosciences have discovered two powerful new antibodies to HIV that reveal what may be an Achilles heel on the virus. They published their work in Science this week.

3 Sep 2009

Y chromosome may be responsible for a range of sex disorders

The unique mechanism behind the evolutionary survival of the human Y chromosome may also be responsible for a range of sex disorders, from failed sperm production to sex reversal to Turner Syndrome.

3 Sep 2009

Educating teenagers could lower accident risk, says NRSF

As millions of teens head back to school, many will be driving to and from classes every day.

3 Sep 2009

ROS in cells contributes to aging

With all the hype about beneficial antioxidants in everything from face cream to cereal bars, you'd think their targets---oxygen radicals---must be up to no good. It's true, the buildup of oxygen radicals and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells contributes to aging and possibly to diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's.

3 Sep 2009

Nicotine replacement therapy before surgery can prevent common complications

People who start nicotine replacement therapy at least four weeks before surgery can halve their risk of poor wound healing. This is what the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) concludes in information published on informedhealthonline.org today.

3 Sep 2009

RanBP9 protein targeted for developing new Alzheimer's drugs

"N60" might not be the first thing that comes to mind when people think of Alzheimer's disease, but thanks to researchers from the United States, South Korea and France, this might change. That's because these researchers have found that the N60 section of a protein called "RanBP9" might be the key that unlocks an entirely new class of Alzheimer's drugs, and with them, hope. In a research report published online in The FASEB Journal, these scientists describe how the N60 fragment of the RanBP9 protein increases the production of the amyloid beta protein, which is present in excessive amounts in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease.

3 Sep 2009

H1N1 vaccine to cost countries $2.50 - $20 per dose

The H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine will cost countries between $2.50 and $20 per dose, based on their ability to pay, according to the director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research at the WHO, Marie-Paule Kieny, Agence France-Presse/Khaleej Times reports. During an interview published in the September issue of the WHO Bulletin, Kieny "also warned that there would not be enough vaccines for the world's population and that people should not rely entirely on the vaccine," the news service writes (9/2).

3 Sep 2009

CDC recommends routine health examintion for all school-age children

Although school has just begun, it is already exam time for students throughout Wisconsin. That's because in addition to notebook paper and pens, back-to-school preparations should also include routine health exams to make sure students are healthy and ready to learn. These include: a doctor's exam to confirm that all immunizations are up-to-date, a dental exam and a vision exam.

3 Sep 2009

New car design for pregnant mothers

UK researchers have developed a new computer model - Expecting - that can be used as a design tool for automotive designers to help ensure that vehicle designs can accommodate the safety needs of pregnant occupants.

3 Sep 2009

New study shows striking similarity in the evolution of cities and human brains

Cities are organized like brains, and the evolution of cities mirrors the evolution of human and animal brains, according to a new study by researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

3 Sep 2009

A California consumer group says major insurers coerced employees to lobby

"The nation's two largest health insurers have been pressuring employees to lobby against healthcare reform in Congress in violation of a California law against coerced political activity, a consumer group alleged Wednesday," the Los Angeles Times reports.

3 Sep 2009

New radial head plates to be launched by Medartis at the ASSH, in San Francisco

Medartis, Inc. will introduce the Company’s new Radial Head Plates at this year’s American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) annual meeting beginning today, September 3, 2009, in San Francisco at the Moscone West Convention Center. During the show, Medartis staff will be on site, Booth #137, to demonstrate and discuss the new product as well as the Company’s expanded line of Medartis products.

3 Sep 2009

Updated Blue Spoon Consulting briefing note available for web download

Blue Spoon Consulting Group, LLC, today updated its briefing note examining the degrading trends in pharmaceutical marketing, and what can be done about it. Available for download through the Blue Spoon Consulting website (www.bluespoonconsulting.com), ‘Pharmaceutical Promotion At Its Productivity Frontier’ is currently the only piece of strategic writing that looks at a total context of change shaping how pharmaceutical companies market and measure performance.

3 Sep 2009

Endo Pharmaceuticals launches VALSTAR for treating recurrent carcinoma in situ bladder tumors

Endo Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ENDP) today announced the availability of VALSTAR(TM) (valrubicin) for the treatment of a distinct form of bladder cancer. VALSTAR is the only FDA-approved intravesical therapy for patients with Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-refractory carcinoma in situ (CIS) of the urinary bladder for whom immediate removal of the bladder would be associated with unacceptable medical risks.

3 Sep 2009

Aetna issues toll-free emergency care numbers for members affected by Southern California wildfire

Aetna (NYSE: AET) is making it easier for members impacted by the wildfires burning in Southern California to refill prescriptions and access employee assistance and behavioral health programs. The company is monitoring the situation carefully, and will re-evaluate its medical and dental policies for members as necessary to help them access care in the fire-impacted county of Los Angeles, where many people face evacuations from their homes.

3 Sep 2009

Optimized turmeric extracts may prevent memory loss

scientists with HerbalScience Group LLC, working with researchers from other organizations and medical institutions, conducted an in-depth study of optimized turmeric extracts, demonstrating that key bioactives in the botanical extracts inhibit aggregation and release of amyloid, a protein fragment considered a prime causal suspect in Alzheimer's disease.

3 Sep 2009

Second-quarter 2009 operating highlights announced by Helicos Biosciences

Helicos BioSciences Corporation (NASDAQ: HLCS) announced today its operating highlights for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 and other recent developments following the filing of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2009.

3 Sep 2009

Germany’s BMBF awards NOXXON grant for developing Spiegelmer NOX-A12

NOXXON Pharma AG (NOXXON), clinical-stage developer of L-RNA based scaffolds (Spiegelmers®) that bind their targets conceptually similar to antibodies, announced today that the company was awarded a research grant from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) under the ministry’s small and medium enterprise innovation initiative (“KMU-Innovativ”).

3 Sep 2009

Biosante and Cell Genesys to merge after stockholders' approval

BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: BPAX) and Cell Genesys, Inc. (NASDAQ: CEGE), today announced that each will hold a special stockholders meeting on September 30, 2009 at which time stockholders will be asked to approve the previously announced merger between the companies. On June 29, 2009, BioSante and Cell Genesys entered into a definitive merger agreement by which the companies will merge in an all-stock transaction, with BioSante as the surviving company.

3 Sep 2009

Biosante Pharmaceuticals and Cell Genesys to hold stockholders meeting for merger approval

BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Cell Genesys, Inc. (NASDAQ:CEGE), today announced that each will hold a special stockholders meeting on September 30, 2009 at which time stockholders will be asked to approve the previously announced merger between the companies.

3 Sep 2009