Medical News

RSS

Acceleron presents ACE-041 interim results for advanced cancer at EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium

Acceleron Pharma, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing novel protein therapeutics that regulate the growth and development of tissues and cells, including muscle, bone, red blood cells, and vasculature, today announced the presentation of interim results from the first-in-human clinical study of ACE-041 in patients with advanced cancer at the 22nd EORTC-NCI-AACR Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Berlin, Germany.

20 Nov 2010

Researchers develop medical model for regenerating bladders using stem cells

Researchers in the United States have developed a medical model for regenerating bladders using stem cells harvested from a patient's own bone marrow. The research, published in STEM CELLS, is especially relevant for paediatric patients suffering from abnormally developed bladders, but also represents another step towards new organ replacement therapies.

20 Nov 2010

Insurers payments to hospitals vary significantly by region

Kaiser Health News staff writer Jordan Rau reports: Adding another piece to the argument that some hospitals are making huge profits from insurers, a new study finds great differences in hospital rates, with San Francisco the most expensive of eight areas that were examined (Rau, 11/18).

20 Nov 2010

Merck wins third FOSAMAX bellwether trial

Merck & Co., Inc. today said a federal court jury in New York found in its favor in the Graves v. Merck case, rejecting the claims of a Florida woman who blamed her dental and jaw related problems on her FOSAMAX use. With today's verdict, Merck has won three of the first four bellwether cases in the FOSAMAX litigation.

20 Nov 2010

Reprogrammed amniotic fluid cells can generate iPS cells

Reprogrammed amniotic fluid cells can generate all types of body cells. High hopes rest on stem cells: one day, they may be used to treat many diseases. To date, embryos are the main source of these cells, but this raises ethical problems. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin have now managed to convert amniotic fluid cells into pluripotent stem cells.

20 Nov 2010

No agreement on health cost containment at bipartisan commission

The Obama administration's bipartisan commission studying efforts to reduce the nation's debt remained at odds after three days of closed door meetings - on how to deal with health care costs.

20 Nov 2010

Marshall Edwards receives non-compliance notice from NASDAQ

Marshall Edwards, Inc., an oncology company focused on the clinical development of novel anti-cancer therapeutics, announced today that it was notified on November 16, 2010 by the Listing Qualifications Staff of The NASDAQ Stock Market that, due to the Company's non-compliance with the minimum $10 million stockholders' equity requirement for continued listing on The NASDAQ Global Market, as set forth in Listing Rule 5450(b)(1), the Company's common stock is subject to delisting unless the Company requests a hearing before a NASDAQ Listing Qualifications Panel.

20 Nov 2010

FDA-approved anti-parasite drug blocks Wnt signaling pathway in colon cancer

An old pinworm medicine is a new lead in the search for compounds that block a signaling pathway implicated in colon cancer. The findings, reported by Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers in the November issue of Nature Chemical Biology, suggest a fresh approach for developing therapeutics that target the pathway.

20 Nov 2010

SuccessEHS Mobile EHR for iPhone helps secure access to critical data

SuccessEHS, a Birmingham-based company specializing in electronic health record (EHR / EMR) and physician practice management software systems, is pleased to announce the launch of Mobile EHR for the iPhone.

20 Nov 2010

States focus on Medicaid budget challenges

Nearly missed in the noise from newly elected politicians vowing to upend the Obama administrations health care reform law was a federal decision allowing California to start implementing it and improve its fiscal situation in the process. On Election Day, California got word it would receive $10 billion in federal Medicaid money to extend coverage to some 500,000 people who are currently uninsured. ...

20 Nov 2010

TTF therapy may increase median survival time in patients with recurrent glioblastoma tumors

Data presented today from a pivotal, phase III randomized clinical trial for patients with recurrent glioblastoma tumors suggest that Tumor Treating Fields (TTF) therapy may increase median survival time and improve quality of life scores compared to best standard of care chemotherapy.

20 Nov 2010

Consuming a variety of fruit reduces lung cancer risk by 23%

Eating five portions of fruit and vegetables per day is one of the means that experts most frequently recommend for preventing cancer. Now, the European EPIC study carried out by researchers from 10 countries has shown that, in the case of lung cancer, the important thing is not just the quantity but also the variety of fruit consumed, which can reduce the risk by up to 23%.

20 Nov 2010

Senate acts on Medicare doctor pay fix

Although the Senate agreed to postpone for one month cuts in Medicare physician payments, the House must still act, too, in order to delay a scheduled fee reduction that will kick in Dec. 1.This very short-term approach is likely to frustrate the physician community.

20 Nov 2010

Antares advances VIBEX QS platform for highly-viscous drug injection

Antares Pharma, Inc., a leader in self-injection drug delivery technology, today announced the latest advancement in its proprietary line of VIBEX auto-injectors.

20 Nov 2010

Insight Imaging acquires multi-modality imaging center in Roanoke, VA

InSight Health Services Holdings Corp. today announced that it has completed the acquisition of a multi-modality imaging center in Roanoke, VA. The acquisition expands Insight Imaging's presence in Virginia to four locations.

20 Nov 2010

Anavex closes private placement and issued securities

Anavex Life Sciences Corp. announces that it closed a private placement and issued securities to settle debt owed by the Company.

20 Nov 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

New This Week In The Kaiser Global Health Policy Tracker: The President's Malaria Initiative announced a new focus country and USAID released a new fact sheet on the agency's reform initiative. Kaiser's Policy Tracker provides a timely single reference point for the latest information on congressional and administration action on global health.

20 Nov 2010

A hospital chiefs tough task in tough times: cut costs, improve quality

Kaiser Health News staff writer Peggy Girshman spoke with Judy Rich, president and CEO of the Tucson Medical Center.

20 Nov 2010

Childhood obesity linked to adult metabolic abnormalities and cardiovascular disease

Mounting evidence linking childhood obesity to an increasing risk of obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other cardiovascular and metabolic disorders in adulthood is clearly presented in a comprehensive review article in the current issue of Childhood Obesity, published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. The article is available free online.

19 Nov 2010

CMS grants Qutenza J-code to NeurogesX

NeurogesX, Inc. a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel pain management therapies, today announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted a unique, Level II Health Care Common Procedural Coding System (Level II HCPCS), commonly referred to as a J-code, for Qutenza (capsaicin) 8% patch.

19 Nov 2010