Osteoporosis News and Research

Latest Osteoporosis News and Research

Health law mandates higher Medicare payment for osteoporosis tests

The Boston Globe: "A $3 million campaign by doctors, scanner operators, manufacturers, and groups devoted to women's health helped persuade lawmakers to overrule Medicare administrators this year and restore much of the reimbursement for osteoporosis tests. In a little-noticed provision buried deep in the sweeping new health care bill, Congress decreed that Medicare shall pay $97 for each test, instead of $50.

1 Jun 2010

DFG approves establishment of twelve new CRCs

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft has approved the establishment of twelve new Collaborative Research Centres beginning 1 July 2010. This was decided by the responsible Grants Committee at its spring meeting in Bonn. The new CRCs will initially be funded for four years with a total of 112 million euros (including a 20% programme allowance for indirect project costs).

29 May 2010

Amgen announces European approval of Prolia

Amgen Inc. today announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for Prolia® (denosumab) for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women at increased risk of fractures, and for the treatment of bone loss associated with hormone ablation in men with prostate cancer at increased risk of fractures.

28 May 2010

Use of bisphosphonates associated with risk of developing BON after dental surgery: Study

People undergoing bisphosphonate therapy to prevent or treat osteoporosis (a thinning of the bones) may be unfamiliar with the drug and possible adverse side effects on oral health, according to a study in the May issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association.

27 May 2010

Abbott Biotech Ventures invests in Alvine Pharmaceuticals

Alvine Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutics for autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, today announced that Abbott Biotech Ventures Inc., has joined Alvine's current investors: Interwest Partners, Panorama Capital, Prospect Venture Partners, Sofinnova Ventures, Black River Asset Management and Flagship Ventures in the company's Series A Extension financing. The terms of the investment were not disclosed.

27 May 2010

POZEN receives milestone payment from AstraZeneca for FDA approval of VIMOVO

POZEN Inc., announced today the receipt of a $20 million milestone payment from AstraZeneca for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of VIMOVO (naproxen and esomeprazole magnesium) delayed-release tablets on April 30th. POZEN will transfer ownership of the Investigational New Drug application and New Drug Application for VIMOVO to AstraZeneca over the next few weeks.

26 May 2010

Defect in cellular pathways provides new explanation for earliest stages of craniosynostosis in newborns

University of Rochester Medical Center scientists discovered a defect in cellular pathways that provides a new explanation for the earliest stages of abnormal skull development in newborns, known as craniosynostosis.

26 May 2010

Ligand Pharmaceuticals secures milestone and royalty interest in IL-9 antibody program

Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced today that it has purchased from the Genaera Liquidating Trust certain intellectual property and interests in future milestones and royalties for MEDI-528, an IL-9 antibody program under development by AstraZeneca's subsidiary, MedImmune. MEDI-528 is currently in a 320-patient Phase II study for moderate-to-severe asthma.

21 May 2010

European researchers define research priorities in biogerontology

The quality of the medical care for geriatric patients is a major investment for society and must imperatively be a research priority in Europe. This is why 50 European researchers, met on May 17 - 19 in Brussels, to define the research priorities in the field of biogerontology for the next 10 to 15 years.

21 May 2010

Riga to host 3rd Baltic Congress of Osteoporosis

Riga, Latvia will be the venue for the 3rd Baltic Congress of Osteoporosis which will take place on September 3-4, 2010. The congress, to be held in English, is jointly organized by the Latvian Osteoporosis and Bone Metabolism Diseases Association, Lithuanian Osteoporosis Foundation, Lithuanian Association of Metabolic Bone Diseases and the Estonian Osteoporosis Society.

19 May 2010

Roche, Biogen Idec discontinue ocrelizumab clinical development programme for RA

Roche and Biogen Idec today announced their decision to discontinue the ocrelizumab clinical development programme in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

19 May 2010

FDA issues complete response letter for roflumilast NDA

Forest Laboratories, Inc. and Nycomed today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a complete response letter regarding the New Drug Application (NDA) for roflumilast. Roflumilast was reviewed as a potential treatment to reduce COPD exacerbations associated with chronic bronchitis in patients at risk for exacerbations.

18 May 2010

Is gluten the latest villain in the battle for better health?

If you've been food shopping or out to eat lately, you've probably noticed that "gluten-free" foods now claim their own grocery store shelves and dozens of national restaurant chain menus highlight "gluten-free" entrees.

17 May 2010

Emisphere Technologies first-quarter net loss increases to $18.5 million

Emisphere Technologies, Inc. today announced its financial results for the first quarter 2010.

17 May 2010

Novel internet-based strategy effective in patients with severe prednisone dependent asthma

Patients with severe asthma who use an internet-supported strategy and daily monitoring of exhaled nitric oxide were able to control their asthma with lower overall dosing of oral corticosteroids than patients who underwent usual care, according to research from the Netherlands.

17 May 2010

Osteoporosis screening of women increased from 34% in 2001 to 64% in 2006: AHRQ

The proportion of women age 65 and over on Medicare who said that they had been screened for osteoporosis increased from 34 percent in 2001 to 64 percent in 2006, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

14 May 2010

Calcium deficiency may make people more prone to osteoporosis, obesity in later life: Study

There's no denying that people need calcium for strong, healthy bones. But new research from North Carolina State University suggests that not getting enough calcium in the earliest days of life could have a more profound, lifelong impact on bone health and perhaps even obesity than previously thought.

14 May 2010

Researchers to discuss various implications for personalized medicine during one-day symposium

On May 27, researchers with the National Human Genome Research Institute and the National Cancer Institute, along with Group Health Cooperative in Seattle and Henry Ford Health System, will debate and discuss that question during the one-day symposium "Multiplex Initiative: Implications for Personalized Medicine."

13 May 2010

$High dose Vitamin D linked to high rate of fractures and falls$

High dose Vitamin D linked to high rate of fractures and falls

Many women have been regularly taking vitamin D supplements in the hope that it is good for their bones. However a new study has shown that high doses of this vitamin can actually increase the number of falls and fractures in older women.

12 May 2010

Merck hosts R&D and Business Briefing

Merck & Co., Inc. today hosted its first R&D and Business Briefing since the completion of the Merck and Schering-Plough merger. The event included a comprehensive review of the company's late-stage pipeline, as well as the company's commercial strategy and progress made in the integration of Merck's worldwide operations.

12 May 2010