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Peginterferon alpha-2a yields better results in treating patients with chronic hepatitis C

In patients with chronic hepatitis C, treatment with peginterferon alpha-2a (PegIFNα2a) plus ribavirin (RBV) better suppresses the virus to undetectable levels in the blood than treatment with peginterferon alpha-2b (PegIFNα2b) plus RBV, according to two new head-to-head studies in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute.

5 Jan 2010

FDA approves generic donepezil hydrochloride orally disintegrating tablets

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first generic versions of Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride) orally disintegrating tablets on Dec. 11. Donepezil hydrochloride is indicated for the treatment of dementia related to Alzheimer's disease.

5 Jan 2010

Montana high court allows physician-assisted suicide

The Associated Press/NPR reports: "The Montana Supreme Court said Thursday that nothing in state law prevents patients from seeking physician-assisted suicide, making Montana the third state that will allow the procedure. Patients and doctors had been waiting for the state's high court to step in after a lower court decided a year ago that constitutional rights to privacy and dignity protect the right to die. The Montana Supreme Court opinion will now give doctors in the state the freedom to prescribe the necessary drugs to mentally competent, terminally ill patients without fear of being prosecuted, advocates said" (1/2).

5 Jan 2010

Positive results from Pearl Therapeutics' PT005 Phase 2a trial for COPD

Pearl Therapeutics Inc., a company developing high-quality combination therapies for the treatment of highly prevalent chronic respiratory diseases, today announced positive results from its first clinical trial in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

5 Jan 2010

A 'cocktail' to kill cancerous tumors

A team of researchers in California and Massachusetts has developed a "cocktail" of different nanometer-sized particles that work in concert within the bloodstream to locate, adhere to and kill cancerous tumors.

5 Jan 2010

Boston Scientific commences enrollment in its TAXUS Liberte Stent System study

Boston Scientific Corporation today announced that it has enrolled the first patient in its TAXUS Liberte post-approval study. The study is designed to evaluate real-world clinical outcomes data for the TAXUS® Liberte® Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stent System in combination with a dual antiplatelet therapy drug regimen that includes aspirin and Effient®, a new antiplatelet medication. Co-sponsors of the study include Eli Lilly and Company and Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., manufacturers of Effient, which was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

4 Jan 2010

U.S. encounter with swine flu highlights health system weaknesses

As the number of H1N1 (swine flu) cases in the U.S. continues to wane, the New York Times reflects on how federal officials handled the pandemic and other factors that helped the situation. "The outbreak highlighted many national weaknesses: old, slow vaccine technology; too much reliance on foreign vaccine factories; some major hospitals pushed to their limits by a relatively mild epidemic," the newspaper writes.

4 Jan 2010

Scientists uncover an important link between inflammation and breast cancer stem cells

Scientists at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have uncovered an important link between inflammation and breast cancer stem cells that suggests a new way to target cells that are resistant to current treatments.

4 Jan 2010

CBI signs definitive share purchase agreement to acquire GL Biochem

Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc. (“CBI”) is pleased to announced it has entered into a revised and binding definitive share purchase agreement to acquire the parent of Shanghai-based GL

4 Jan 2010

FDA grants Priority Review designation for InterMune's NDA for pirfenidone

InterMune, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review and granted Priority Review designation for the company's New Drug Application (NDA) for pirfenidone for the treatment of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

4 Jan 2010

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals submits a NDA for its vinorelbine injectable emulsion

ADVENTRX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its product candidate ANX-530 (vinorelbine injectable emulsion).

4 Jan 2010

Rally for passage of the Alcohol-Related Services Act

To advocate for the passage of AB 1019, the Alcohol-Related Services Act - Authored by Assembly Member Jim Beall (D-San Jose), the bill creates the Alcohol-Related Services Program within the California Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs.

4 Jan 2010

BioInvent International begins BI-505 drug study on patients with advanced multiple myeloma

BioInvent International AB announced today that the first patient has been treated in an open, dose-escalation phase I study of the company’s antibody BI-505 for patients with advanced multiple myeloma.

4 Jan 2010

No right to assisted suicide under the Montana Constitution, says AUL

Today, the Montana Supreme Court ruled that state law does not contain any policy restrictions to prevent physicians from legally prescribing lethal drugs to patients. This decision endangers the lives of the elderly, the sick, and the disabled.

4 Jan 2010

Experimental lung cancer drug promising against brain cancer glioblastoma and prostate cancer

An experimental drug currently being tested against breast and lung cancer shows promise in fighting the brain cancer glioblastoma and prostate cancer, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found in two preclinical studies.

4 Jan 2010

Research may point to more effective therapeutic targets for prion diseases

Scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have determined for the first time that prions, bits of infectious protein devoid of DNA or RNA that can cause fatal neurodegenerative disease, are capable of Darwinian evolution.

4 Jan 2010

Novelos continues NOV-002 Phase 3 combination trial for lung cancer

BioMedReports.Com, the news portal which covers Wall Street's biomedical sector and delivers financial and investment intelligence to a community of highly informed investors, is reporting Pfizer Inc. has announced that it has decided to discontinue the late-stage study of its lung cancer candidate figitumumab (CP-751,871) while Novelos' pivotal Phase 3 trial, with a primary efficacy endpoint of improvement in median overall survival, continues across approximately 12 countries and 100 clinical sites.

4 Jan 2010

China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals announces projected financial results for 2009

China Yongxin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading manufacturer, distributor and retailer of Chinese traditional medicines, pharmaceutical products, natural health products, health food, cosmetics, and medical equipment in Northeastern China, today announced its projected financial results for the year ending December 31, 2009.

4 Jan 2010

Smart for Life Cookie Diet for successful weight loss

With the right weight-loss tools, consumers will be able to keep their 2010 resolutions focused on losing and maintaining a healthy weight. Dr. Sasson Moulavi, M.D. recommends the Smart for Life(R) Cookie Diet for successfully achieving and maintaining an ideal weight.

3 Jan 2010

FREEDRUGCARD.US launches new Rx savings program to reduce prescription drug prices

If you are looking for the best way to save money on your prescription drugs then FREEDRUGCARD.US is your best option. The free prescription assistance drug card program is sponsored by a non-profit organization and was launched to help all Americans lower the cost of prescription drugs.

31 Dec 2009