Osteoporosis News and Research

Latest Osteoporosis News and Research

Novartis cancels Emisphere Technologies' Convertible Promissory Note

Emisphere Technologies, Inc. today announced that it has entered into an expanded relationship with Novartis Pharma AG pursuant to which Novartis has cancelled the Company's Convertible Promissory Note. The Note was originally issued to Novartis on December 1, 2004 in connection with the Research Collaboration and Option License Agreement between the parties of that date and was originally due December 1, 2009. Previously, Novartis had agreed to extend the maturity date to June 4, 2010.

4 Jun 2010

Testosterone deficiency can lead to multiple disorders

Almost a quarter of men treated for cancer in their childhood suffer from a deficiency of the male sex hormone testosterone.

3 Jun 2010

Bone-strengthening drug zoledronic acid can help fight breast cancer DTCs: Study

The bone-strengthening drug zoledronic acid (Zometa) can help fight metastatic breast cancer when given before surgery, suggests research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

3 Jun 2010

Researchers develop new technique to detect cathepsin K in atherosclerosis, cancer metastasis

An enzyme implicated in osteoporosis, arthritis, atherosclerosis and cancer metastasis -- cathepsin K -- eluded reliable detection in laboratory experiments in the past. Now, a research team at the Georgia Institute of Technology has developed an assay that reliably detects and quantifies mature cathepsin K using a technique called gelatin zymography.

2 Jun 2010

Medicare patients may face accessibility crisis to medical care

According to an article in the June issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS), Medicare patients - many who suffer from disabling arthritis of the hip and knee, among other age-related ailments - may end up facing an accessibility crisis to medical care.

2 Jun 2010

Over-the-counter supplements can cause hypertension and kidney failure

Negative health effects linked to taking too much supplemental calcium are on the rise, according to a commentary appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN).

2 Jun 2010

Amgen's Prolia receives FDA approval for treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

Amgen Inc. today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Prolia™ (denosumab) for the treatment of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis at high risk for fracture, defined as a history of osteoporotic fracture, or multiple risk factors for fracture; or patients who have failed or are intolerant to other available osteoporosis therapy. Prolia, the first and only FDA-approved RANK Ligand inhibitor, is an every six month 60 mg subcutaneous injection administered by a health care professional.

2 Jun 2010

FDA approves Prolia for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Prolia, an injectable treatment for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who are at high risk for fractures.

2 Jun 2010

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