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FDA assigns priority review to ATryn from GTC Biotherapeutics

The US Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, has assigned Priority Review to GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc.'s Biologic License Application, or BLA, for ATryn.

4 Sep 2008

Celgene receives FDA 'fast track' for Amrubicin in small cell lung cancer after first-line chemotherapy

Celgene Corporation today announced that Amrubicin has been granted Fast Track product designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of small cell lung cancer after first-line chemotherapy.

4 Sep 2008

New research settles measles vaccine/autism controversy

New research from the United States will hopefully settle once and for all the controversial debate about a link between the measles vaccine and autism.

4 Sep 2008

Invitrogen launches patent licensing program for random prime amplification of nucleic acids

Invitrogen Corporation today announced that it has signed non-exclusive agreements with New England Biolabs, Inc., QIAGEN GmbH, and Kirkegaard & Perry Laboratories, Inc. (KPL), whereby the companies have licensed Invitrogen's patented technology covering the random prime amplification of nucleic acids. Financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

4 Sep 2008

Antisoma commences phase II trial of AS1411 in metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Cancer drug developer Antisoma plc today announced that it has started a phase II study of AS1411 in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer).

4 Sep 2008

Domestic HIV/AIDS spending 'essentially flat,' increased 'efforts to control' HIV from 'all levels of Government' needed, editorial says

It has been "difficult over the years to get a good statistical handle on the size of the AIDS problem in this country," a New York Times editorial says, adding, "But by the latest and most sophisticated measurements, the disease continues to frustrate federal and local efforts to rein it in."

4 Sep 2008

Georgia approves HMO fee to help fund state Medicaid program

The Georgia Department of Community Health board on Thursday approved a plan to charge commercial HMOs the same fee as managed care companies that operate the state's Medicaid program in an effort to make up for a 5% reduction in program funding, the Savannah Morning News reports.

4 Sep 2008

HMOs to stay in Florida Medicaid reform program after agency for health care administration agrees to lower payment cuts

Three Florida HMOs have said they will continue participating in a "Medicaid Reform" plan after the Agency for Health Care Administration agreed to reduce payments by an average of 3% on Sept. 1, instead of 5% as previously announced, Florida Health News reports (Florida Health News, 9/2).

4 Sep 2008

Proposed medical loss ratio requirement in California would not address rising health care costs, insurers say

California health insurers say legislation that would require them to spend at least 85% of premium revenue on health benefit expenses would not address the underlying causes of rising health care costs or improve the quality of care, the Wall Street Journal reports.

4 Sep 2008

U.S. pledges $99 million to Tanzania for malaria, HIV/AIDS efforts, farm loans

Tanzania will receive $99 million in aid from the U.S. to enhance its efforts to address malaria and HIV/AIDS and provide loans to farmers, Tanzania's Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Bernard Membe said Tuesday, Reuters reports.

4 Sep 2008

Africa can successfully fight malaria with increased resources, commitment, WHO Director General says

Africa can achieve success in combating malaria and other diseases with sufficient resources and increased commitment from African leaders, World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan said Monday at the opening of the 58th session of WHO's Regional Committee for Africa in Yaounde, Cameroon, the Cameroon Tribune reports.

4 Sep 2008

U.S. residents increasingly adopting HIV-positive children from abroad

U.S. residents increasingly are adopting HIV-positive children from abroad, according to figures from the U.S.-based Adoption Advocates International, the AP/Google.com reports.

4 Sep 2008

More training, improved tools needed for African health workers performing male circumcisions, study finds

African health workers performing male circumcision in an effort to curb the spread of HIV need better tools and more training to avoid high rates of complications, according to a World Health Organization study published Monday in the WHO Bulletin, Reuters Health reports.

4 Sep 2008

Zimbabwe lifts ban on aid groups; organizations still face difficulties providing assistance

Zimbabwe on Friday lifted an almost three-month ban on the work of aid groups in the country, which the government had imposed because it said some of the groups had supported the opposition to President Robert Mugabe, the New York Times reports (Dugger, New York Times, 8/30).

4 Sep 2008

India's Kerala State Health Department announces lung health project to address TB, other respiratory diseases

India's Kerala state in November plans to implement the Practical Approach to Lung Health Project, which aims to examine the prevalence of tuberculosis and other lung diseases in the region, a health department official said recently, The Hindu reports.

4 Sep 2008

More companies offering on-site health care services for workers

The Philadelphia Inquirer on Wednesday examined how workplace-based health care centers are "quickly gaining popularity among large employers around the country" who consider them "an attractive perk for employees, but also a way to increase worker productivity and hold down health costs by treating problems early and efficiently."

4 Sep 2008

Wall Street Journal examines insurer WellPoint's strategy to raise premiums, retain plan members, report indicates

The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday examined how WellPoint CEO Angela Braly "is attempting a delicate balancing act: raising premiums enough to placate investors but not so much as to send customers fleeing elsewhere."

4 Sep 2008

Health care professionals seeing more children with fatty liver disease; condition prevalent among Hispanics

As many as 2% to 5% of children older than age five -- most of whom are obese -- are thought to have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and the condition seems to be most prevalent among Hispanic children, the AP/San Mateo Daily Journal reports.

4 Sep 2008

President Bush signs law to ensure health benefits for 'sole survivor' veterans

President Bush on Friday signed into law legislation (HR 5825, S 2874) that will guarantee health benefits for "sole survivor" veterans who receive honorable discharges, the Los Angeles Times reports.

4 Sep 2008

Women who give birth at California hospitals serving mostly minority, low-income patients less likely than others to breastfeed

Women who give birth at California hospitals serving mostly non-white, low-income women and children are less likely to breastfeed than women who give birth at other hospitals around the state, according to a report released from the University of California-Davis Human Lactation Center and the California WIC Association, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reports (Dean, Riverside Press-Enterprise, 9/2).

4 Sep 2008

Medical News

FDA assigns priority review to ATryn from GTC Biotherapeutics

Celgene receives FDA 'fast track' for Amrubicin in small cell lung cancer after first-line chemotherapy

New research settles measles vaccine/autism controversy

Invitrogen launches patent licensing program for random prime amplification of nucleic acids

Antisoma commences phase II trial of AS1411 in metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Domestic HIV/AIDS spending 'essentially flat,' increased 'efforts to control' HIV from 'all levels of Government' needed, editorial says

Georgia approves HMO fee to help fund state Medicaid program

HMOs to stay in Florida Medicaid reform program after agency for health care administration agrees to lower payment cuts

Proposed medical loss ratio requirement in California would not address rising health care costs, insurers say

U.S. pledges $99 million to Tanzania for malaria, HIV/AIDS efforts, farm loans

Africa can successfully fight malaria with increased resources, commitment, WHO Director General says

U.S. residents increasingly adopting HIV-positive children from abroad

More training, improved tools needed for African health workers performing male circumcisions, study finds

Zimbabwe lifts ban on aid groups; organizations still face difficulties providing assistance

India's Kerala State Health Department announces lung health project to address TB, other respiratory diseases

More companies offering on-site health care services for workers

Wall Street Journal examines insurer WellPoint's strategy to raise premiums, retain plan members, report indicates

Health care professionals seeing more children with fatty liver disease; condition prevalent among Hispanics

President Bush signs law to ensure health benefits for 'sole survivor' veterans

Women who give birth at California hospitals serving mostly minority, low-income patients less likely than others to breastfeed

Exploring the role of confocal-based high-content imaging in advancing core facilities

Transforming Cardiovascular Care: Insights from Mina Makar at AstraZeneca

Clue's CEO Rhiannon White on the Future of Femtech and PCOS

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