Wall Street Journals -- Purdue Pharma LP has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit by purchasers of Oxycontin over how it obtained patents on the painkiller in the 1990s, according to a court filing Tuesday.
CHICAGO, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Drugmaker Wyeth used ghostwriters to play up the benefits and downplay the harm of hormone replacement therapy in articles published in medical journals, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.
(NaturalNews) Emerging research increasingly indicates that the U.S. water supply is widely contaminated with the endocrine disrupting chemical atrazine, but that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking almost no action on the threat.
SAN FRANCISCO and ILLKIRCH, France, Sept. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Jennerex, Inc., a private clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on the development and commercialization of first-in-class targeted oncolytic products for cancer, and Transgene (NYSE Euronext Paris: FR000517...
Shionogi Pharma, Inc. to Halve US Sales Force as Generics Hit Former Sciele Pharma, Inc. Business
Script Intelligence -- Shionogi is to slash the number of sales reps it employs in the US by around 50%, in a major restructuring following its 2008 acquisition of Sciele Pharma.
Dental Sealants Temporarily Raise BPA Levels, Columbia University Study
Medical News Today -- A study has revealed that sealants and fillings used on children's teeth may expose them to bisphenol A (BPA), says an article in the medical journal Pediatrics. The researchers say it is not yet clear whether this is hazardous to the long-term health of a child, as exposure does not generally last long. Dental sealants, which contain a variety of BPA derivatives are effective...
Heart Disease Risk Varies by Education Level, University of North Carolina Study
Sept. 7, 2010 -- Risk for stroke and heart disease falls as education levels rise in high-income countries, but not in nations where earnings are considerably lower, a new study shows.
Vitamins' Impact on Colon Cancer Minimal: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Study
CBC -- Taking multivitamins for colon cancer during and after surgery and chemotherapy does not significantly reduce the risk of recurrence or extend survival, a new study finds.
Forest Laboratories, Inc. Says FDA Panel Supports Its Antibiotic Ceftaroline Fosamil for Skin Infection and Pneumonia
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX - News) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee voted 21 0 in favor of approval of ceftaroline fosamil for the treatment of community acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP) and voted 18 0 in favor of approval for complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI).
Smoking Damages Men's Sperm and Also the Numbers of Germ and Somatic Cells in Developing Embryos, University of Copenhagen Study
MedPage Today -- Smoking may provide an explanation for reduced fertility, results of two studies suggested.
Ritalin Improves Brain Function, Task Performance in Cocaine Abusers, Stony Brook University Medical Center Study
UPTON, NY A brain-scanning study at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, conducted with collaborators from Stony Brook University, reveals that an oral dose of methylphenidate, commonly known as Ritalin, improves impaired brain function and enhances cognitive performance in people who are addicted to cocaine. The study to be published in the Proceedings of the National...
Nonstick Cookware May Raise Kids' Cholesterol, West Virginia University Study
MedPage Today -- Kids who eat food cooked in nonstick pots and pans may have higher levels of LDL cholesterol, a large cross-sectional study found.
New Evidence that Fat Cells are Not Just Dormant Storage Depots for Calories, Study Published in
E Science News -- Scientists are reporting new evidence that the fat tissue in those spare tires and lower belly pooches far from being a dormant storage depot for surplus calories is an active organ that sends chemical signals to other parts of the body, perhaps increasing the risk of heart attacks, cancer, and other diseases. They are reporting discovery of 20 new hormones and other substances...
JAMA Editor to Step Down in 2011
medPage Today -- After more than 10 years leading the Journal of the American Medical Association, editor-in-chief Catherine D. DeAngelis, MD, MPH, has announced plans to leave the post next June.
Merck & Co., Inc. Postpones Dutch Closures, Options Open
AMSTERDAM, Sept 2 (Reuters) - U.S. drugmaker Merck & Co (MRK.N) has postponed the closure of some of its Dutch operations while it negotiates with executives and workers on potential alternatives, including a sale of the R&D site.
'Magic Mushrooms' Possible Tx in End-Stage Cancer, Harbor-UCLA Research and Education Institute (REI) Study
MedPage Today -- The active ingredient in "magic mushrooms" -- psilocybin -- may be useful to treat the anxiety and stress associated with end-stage cancer, researchers suggest.
FDA Relents from Midodrine Withdrawal Plan
AP -- NEW YORK Federal regulators have backed off a plan to remove a Shire PLC low blood-pressure treatment from the market after warning in August that the drug has not been proven effective.
Actis, Sequoia Pharmaceuticals Said to Plan Sale of Stake in Paras Pharmaceuticals Ltd. for Up to $700 Million
Bloomberg -- Actis Capital LLP and Sequoia Capital plan to sell a controlling stake in Indias Paras Pharmaceuticals Ltd. for as much as $700 million, according to three people with direct knowledge of the matter.
Sanofi-Aventis (France) Prepares to Raise Genzyme Corporation Bid as GlaxoSmithKline Denies Plans to Step in as Rival Bidder
PARIS, Sept 7 (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) will not step in as a rival bidder for U.S. biotech Genzyme (GENZ.O) and take on Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA), the British drugmaker's head of research and development told a French newspaper.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Biovail Corporation to Cut 25 Pct Jobs Of Combined Company
Sept 7 (Reuters) - U.S.-based Valeant Pharmaceuticals International (VRX.N), which agreed to be bought by Canada's Biovail Corp (BVF.TO) in June, said they would cut about 25 percent of the combined company's U.S. and Canadian workforce as part of the integration plans.
Elan Corporation PLC Gets Injunction Against "Dissident" Directors
DUBLIN, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Elan (ELN.I) (ELN.N) said on Tuesday it has been granted an Irish High Court injunction to prevent two non-executive directors from launching a parallel probe into concerns over corporate governance at the drugmaker.
Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Hep C Drugs On Clinical Hold On Safety Concerns
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: IDIX), a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of human viral diseases, today announced that the company received verbal notice on Friday, September...
Males at Greater Risk of Cognitive Impairment, Mayo Clinic Finds
MedPage Today -- Mild cognitive impairment may be more common in men than in women, a new study shows.
Pevion Biotech Ltd. Appoints New CEO and Secures CHF 10 Million ($9.9 Million) Financing
BERNE, Switzerland, September 7, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Pevion Biotech AG announced today the appointment of Evert Kueppers as its new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Thomas Stauffer.
"We would like to thank Thomas for his excellent contributions over the years and wish him all the best in his new position," said Klaus Breiner of BB Biotech Ventures and Chairman of the Board of Directors...
Roche to Cut Costs, Review Business After Drug Setbacks; No Details on Size of Cost Reductions or the Number of Staff, Units Affected, Detailed Steps Will be Announced Late 2010
ZURICH/BASEL, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG (ROG.VX) will review its business and cut costs to cope with recent setbacks on key drugs and rising pressures on prices from healthcare reforms, it said on Friday.
Aurobindo Pharma in Pact With AstraZeneca PLC
Wall Street Journal -- BANGALORE -- Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. said Monday it has entered into agreements for licensing and supply of generic drugs to AstraZeneca PLC for sale in emerging markets, its second such deal with a prominent multinational drug maker.
Alethia BioTherapeutics, Inc. Secures C$9.6 Million in Series A Financing to Fund Its Therapeutic Monoclonal Antibody Product Pipeline
MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - September 07, 2010) - Alethia Biotherapeutics Inc., a privately held Montreal-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of monoclonal antibodies ("mAbs") against therapeutic targets emanating from its STAR proprietary target discovery platform, announced today it has closed a C$9.6M Series A round of financing. Alethia will...
Medical Journal Urges U.K. to Pull GlaxoSmithKline's Diabetes Drug Avandia
Wall Street Journal -- The British Medical Journal on Monday said GlaxoSmithKline PLC's diabetes drug Avandia should never have been licensed and should be withdrawn from sale, a claim the company rejected.
A Controlled Trial of Herbal Treatment for ADHD, Sheba Medical Center Study
Sharp Brains -- Many parents, health care professionals, and educators agree that there is a pressing need to develop effective treatments for ADHD to complement or substitute for traditional medication and behavior therapy approaches. This is because such treatments do not work for everyone, important difficulties often remain even when these treatments are effective, and...
Talented Bacteria Make Food Poisoning Unpredictable, University College Cork Study
ScienceDaily (Sep. 6, 2010) While we are often exposed to bacteria in our food which could cause food poisoning, we don't always become ill -- why should this be so?
Cockroach Brains May Be a Source of Antibiotics, University of Nottingham Study
Bloomberg -- Cockroach brains may be a source of new antibiotics capable of killing deadly drug-resistant bacteria, according to research that suggests the germ-spreading pests may be good for something after all.
Cholera Outbreak in Cameroon 'Worst in 20 Years' Says
AP -- YAOUNDE, Cameroon UNICEF says more than 300 people have died in the West African nation of Cameroon from the country's worst cholera outbreak in 20 years.
Late-night Workers are at Greater Risk for IBS, According to
Suburban Chicago News -- Bobby Chapman, of Seneca, is glad school is in session once again. A shift worker, Chapman knows he will be able to get better sleep when the house is empty and quiet during the day.
Hair Provides Proof of the Link Between Chronic Stress and Heart Attack, University of Western Ontario Study
EurekAlert! -- Researchers at The University of Western Ontario have provided the first direct evidence using a biological marker, to show chronic stress plays an important role in heart attacks. Stressors such as job, marital and financial problems have been linked to the increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease including heart attack. But there hasn't been a biological marker to measure...
Pharmasset, Inc.'s PSI-7977 Receives Fast Track Designation from the FDA for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection
PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pharmasset, Inc. (Nasdaq:VRUS - News) has received fast track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for PSI-7977 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. PSI-7977 is an oral uridine nucleotide analog polymerase inhibitor of HCV. Pharmasset recently completed dosing in a 28 day Phase 2a trial to evaluate...
Double-Dose Plavix Benefits Certain Patients, Columbia University Study Finds
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 1 (HealthDay News) -- More isn't necessarily better when prescribing the two drugs commonly used to treat patients who are in danger of having a heart attack, Plavix (clopidogrel) and aspirin, a new study suggests.
Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. Says Pfizer Inc. Ends Cancer Vaccine Deal
NEEDHAM, Mass., Sept. 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLDX) announced today it will regain full worldwide rights to develop and commercialize rindopepimut (CDX-110), effective November 1, 2010. Celldex and Pfizer Vaccines LLC entered into a global development...
Age No Barrier to Oral Anticoagulants, University of Birmingham Study
MedPage Today -- Age alone shouldn't deter appropriate oral anticoagulant use in elderly atrial fibrillation patients, according to a review.
Study Links Intermediary Cells to Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Study
Telegraph -- A breakthrough in understanding how a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer develops could lead to the creation of new drugs which would stop tumours ever developing, scientists hope.
Roche Plans Massive Job Cuts, No Decision This Week
Bloomberg -- Roche Holding AG will make a decision on job cuts this week, Sonntag newspaper reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the situation.
BioDelivery Sciences International Calls Meeting With FDA Positive; Hopes to Increase Access to Cancer-Pain Drug
Triangle Business Journal -- Biodelivery Sciences Internationals stock closed up more than 5 percent on Thursday after the company announced it had a positive meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding its drug Onsolis.
Abbott Laboratories Calls Off Sale Of Flu Vaccine Business In Europe
New York Times -- Abbott Laboratories has called a halt to the sale of its European flu-vaccine unit because of a dissapointing run of initial bids, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Celgene Seeks To Stop Natco Pharma Limited's Generic Revlimid; Officially Notified of ANDA Filing Today
SUMMIT, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ: CELG - News) today announced it has received a Paragraph IV Certification Letter advising that Natco Pharma Limited of Hyderabad, India, submitted an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The application requests authorization to manufacture and market generic versions of REVLIMID (lenalidomide...
Ads for s Lunesta, Novartis Corporation's Tasigna Among Those Warned by FDA
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 (Reuters) - The following are details of some recent FDA warnings sent to drugmakers over misleading or inappropriate advertising, along with the dates the letters were made public.
Santhera Pharmaceuticals AG and Ipsen Enter into Licensing Agreement for Fipamezole for the Treatment of Dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease; Upfront Payment of 13 Million Euros With Another Milestones of Up To 128 Million Euros
LIESTAL, Switzerland & PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Regulatory News: Santhera Pharmaceuticals (SIX: SANN) and Ipsen (Paris:IPN - News) (Euronext: IPN; ADR: IPSEY) today announced a license agreement for the development and commercialization of fipamezole (antagonist of the adrenergic alpha-2 receptor) for territories outside of North America and Japan. This first-in-class compound is currently under investigation...
Scientists Unwrap DNA Packaging to Gain Insight Into Cells, University of Edinburgh and Collaborators Study
ScienceDaily (Sep. 2, 2010) Scientists have built a clearer picture of how lengthy strands of DNA are concertinaed when our cells grow and divide, in a discovery could help explain how cell renewal can go wrong.
Dutch Life Sciences Fund Raises 190 Mln Euros
AMSTERDAM, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Dutch fund Forbion said it had raised 190 million euros ($244 million), for European, Israeli, and U.S. investments, helped by lower risk aversion in its chosen field, life sciences.
Yale University-Developed Tools Fix Broken DNA Strands
Mass High Tech -- Yale University researchers report that they have identified mechanisms that can be used to repair breaks in DNA strands. Those breaks have the potential to lead to the development of cancer.
Common Bone Drugs Linked to Esophageal Cancer Risk, University of Oxford Study
(Reuters) - People who take a commonly used class of osteoporosis drugs called bisphosphonates for more than five years may be doubling their risk of developing cancer of the gullet or esophagus, a British study found on Friday.
Problem of Fake Medicines in Developing Countries Could Be Solved, Professor at Lund University Says
ScienceDaily (Sep. 3, 2010) Counterfeiting of drugs is a huge industry with an annual turnover of more than SEK 500 billion. In Africa the situation is extremely serious. Half of the malaria medication sold there could be ineffective or even harmful. There is currently no good way to identify counterfeit drugs. However, researchers from Lund and the UK have now developed a technique that could resolve...
University of Alabama at Birmingham Logs Another Spinoff With Company Technology Could Speed Drug Delivery Time to Six Weeks
Bizjournals -- Research findings from the University of Alabama at Birmingham recently spawned a biotechnology firm specializing in protein-based drugs and vaccines.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. And Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. Sign $1 Billion Obesity Pact
SAN DIEGO and OSAKA, Japan, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: OREX) and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502), today announced that they have entered into an exclusive partnership to develop and commercialize Contrave (naltrexone...
Diabetes Drug Metformin Linked to Lower Lung Cancer Rate in Mice, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Study
Drugs.com -- WEDNESDAY, Sept. 1 -- A drug widely used to treat high blood sugar in type 2 diabetics may hold some promise in the prevention of tobacco-induced lung cancer, according to extremely preliminary findings in a mouse study.
FDA Staff Say Forest Laboratories, Inc. Antibiotic Seems Effective
WASHINGTON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - A proposed Forest Laboratories Inc (FRX.N) antibiotic appeared effective in clinical trials for treating skin infections and pneumonia, U.S. drug reviewers said in documents released on Thursday.
Protecting the Lungs Against 'Collateral Damage' from the Immune System, University of Alabama at Birmingham Study
ScienceDaily (Sep. 2, 2010) A study published September 2 in the journal Science shows how our bodies try to minimise potential 'collateral damage' caused by our immune system when fighting infection. The research may also provide new clues to why cigarette smoke is a significant risk factor for developing diseases of the lung such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
European Society of Cardiology: Pre-Procedure Statins May Cut MI Risk, University of Florida Study
STOCKHOLM -- Statins delivered before invasive procedures appear to reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular events, a meta-analysis showed.
FDA Warns On Increased Death Risk With Pfizer Inc. Antibiotic Tygacil
Pharmalive -- ISSUE: FDA reminded healthcare professionals of an increased mortality risk associated with the use of the intravenous antibacterial Tygacil (tigecycline) compared to that of other drugs used to treat a variety of serious infections. The increased risk was seen most clearly in patients treated for hospital-acquired pneumonia, especially ventilator-associated pneumonia, but was also seen...
PerkinElmer, Inc. Agrees to Sell Illumination and Detection Solutions Business to for Approximately $500 Million
WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PerkinElmer, Inc. (NYSE: PKI - News), a global leader focused on improving the health and safety of people and the environment, today announced that it has agreed to sell its Illumination and Detection Solutions (IDS) business to Veritas Capital Fund III, L.P., a New York-based private equity firm, for approximately $500 million in cash ($482 million net of payment...
Similar Survival with Two Ovarian Cancer Strategies, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Study Published in The New England Journal of Medicine
MedPage Today -- Patients with bulky, advanced ovarian cancer survived just as long whether treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery or with primary surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy, investigators in a multinational trial reported.
Actavis Receives FDA Approval of Atomoxetine HCl Capsules
MORRISTOWN, N.J., Sept. 1/PRNewswire/ -- Actavis has received approval from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to market Atomoxetine HCl capsules for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Actavis intends to market Atomoxetine HCl in 10 mg, 18 mg, 25 mg, 40 mg, 6...
Pfizer Inc. to Acquire FoldRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for Undisclosed Amount, Looks to Expand Developmental Pipeline
NEW YORK and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and FoldRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held drug discovery and clinical development company, today announced that they have entered into an agreement under which Pfizer will acquire...
Abbott Laboratories's Diet Drug Meridia Study Shows Drug Raises Heart Attack, Stroke Risk; Renews Calls For U.S. Ban
WASHINGTON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - A study funded by Abbott Laboratories (ABT.N) offered more detailed evidence that its weight-loss drug Meridia increases heart risks, prompting renewed calls by consumer advocates and others to pull the drug from the market.
Is Lower Thyroid Activity Linked to Longevity? - Leiden University Medical Center Study
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A less active thyroid may mean more years added to your life, hints a new Dutch study.
AIDS Cure Quest to Kill 'Sleeping' Viruses Enlists Merck & Co., Inc. Cancer Medicine, University of North Carolina Study
Bloomberg -- The 30-year-long search for a cure for AIDS, the worlds deadliest viral infection, may get a renewed boost from an unlikely source: a little-used Merck & Co. cancer drug.
Cardiome Pharma Corp. Gets Nod For Marketing Heart Drug In EU; Receives $30 Million From Merck Sharp & Dohme
VANCOUVER, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Cardiome Pharma Corp. (NASDAQ:CRME - News) today announced that it has earned a US$30 million milestone payment from its collaboration with Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada), through an affiliate. The milestone was triggered by the recently announced marketing approval for BRINAVESS(TM) (vernakalant (iv)) in the European Union, Iceland...
When it Comes to the Immune System, We're All More Alike than Previously Thought, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Study Finds
Physorg.com -- September 1, 2010 When it comes to the mechanics of the human immune system, we are all more alike than previously thought, according to a new study by scientists at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Genzyme Corporation And Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Release: Data from Mipomersen Phase 3 Trial in heFH Patients Meets Primary Endpoint with 28 Percent LDL-C Reduction
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. & CARLSBAD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ: GENZ - News) and Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: ISIS - News) announced that data from the phase 3 study of mipomersen in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (heFH) were presented today at the European Society of Cardiologys Congress 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden. The study met its primary endpoint with...
