Biotech Week back issues from June 2004:
FDA clearance granted for Amplatzer Vascular Plug.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AGA Medical Corporation has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its Amplatzer Vascular Plug, an implantable device that provides physicians with a minimally invasive alternative to current treatment options for ...
Device company implants 13th AbioCor replacement heart.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Abiomed, Inc., (ABMD) announced the 13th implantation of the AbioCor Implantable Replacement Heart. The implant was performed on May 3 in Louisville, KY by a Jewish Hospital/University of Louisville medical team led by surgeons Laman ...
Results of trial evaluating use of eculizumab presented at hematology meeting.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (ALXN) announced that Peter Hillmen, MB ChB, PhD, consultant hematologist of The General Infirmary at Leeds, Leeds, U.K., presented the cumulative 1 year results of an ongoing open-label phase Ib clinical trial ...
Data highlight positive effect of Namenda on brain activity in AD patients.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Forest Laboratories, Inc., (FRX) announced the results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, PET (positron emission tomography) imaging pilot study designed to measure the effect that Namenda (memantine HCl) has on functional brain activity in ...
Researcher finds genetic explanations for some previously unexplained deaths.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Imagine walking down the street, collapsing without warning and dying within minutes. According to the American Heart Association, about 250,000 Americans suffer sudden cardiac death each year, and half of them may have no prior warning. And, in ...
Agreement signed to develop compounds for autoimmune disorders.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- 4SC AG, a German-based drug discovery and development company, and Serono (virt-x: SEO and SRA) announced that they have signed an agreement under which 4SC grants Serono exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize 4SC's program of ...
Pharmaceutical firm files shelf registration statement.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A.P. Pharma, Inc., (APPA) announced that it has filed a shelf registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission covering up to $15,000,000 of its common stock. The specific terms of any offering under the shelf ...
Company seeks partner for Immunogene therapy for cancer.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AMDL, Inc., (ADL), developer and marketer of tests for the early detection of cancer and other serious diseases, announced that it has launched a major effort to seek a strategic partner for clinical trials, and eventual marketing, of its ...
Pharmaceutical company reports loss of $0.21 per share.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AVI BioPharma, Inc., (AVII) reported financial results for the 3 months ended March 31, 2004. For the first quarter of 2004, AVI reported a net loss of $7.5 million, or $0.21 per share, compared with a net loss of $3.4 million, or $0.13 ...
Personal interviews aid study of binge drinking during pregnancy.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- To study the adverse effects of binge drinking during pregnancy, researchers found personal interviews with women in their study cohort were more effective than self-administered questionnaires. Specifically, the researchers were looking ...
The international prostate symptom questionnaire can be self-administered.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Study finds no significant differences in score when the international prostate symptom score (IPSS) questionnaire was administered by a physician or self-administered, researchers say. According to recent research published in the ...
Mammalian target of rapamycin regulates IRS-1 serine phosphorylation.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A mammalian target of rapamycin regulates insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 serine 307 phosphorylation. According to published research from the United States, "Insulin signaling can be negatively regulated by phosphorylation of serine ...
Positive opinion granted by EU for Humira.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Abbott Laboratories announced that the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) has granted a positive opinion for Humira (adalimumab) label extension for reducing the rate of progression of joint damage as measured by X-ray and improving ...
FDA approval granted for Theophylline tablets.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Able Laboratories, Inc., (ABRX) announced that it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its Abbreviated New Drug Applications for Theophylline Extended-Release Tablets, 300mg and 450mg. These Theophylline ...
Rab6 membrane association dependent on cellular phosphorylation events.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Rab6 membrane association is dependent on Presenilin 1 and cellular phosphorylation events. "Processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) by alpha-secretase precludes the formation of beta-amyloid (A-beta). Therefore, the increase ...
Systemic treatment of esophageal cancer reviewed.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists review systemic treatment of esophageal cancer in a recent issue of the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. "Most patients with esophageal cancer present with locally advanced or metastatic disease. In an ...
Pharmacy provider reports earnings of $0.43 per share.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Accredo Health, Inc., (ACDO) reported record results for its third quarter ended March 31, 2004. Net earnings were $21.1 million or $0.43 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2004. The company had incurred a net ...
Biopharmaceutical firm closes $40M series B financing.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Acologix, Inc., announced the closing of its Series B financing of nearly $40 million. The financing was led by Nomura Securities Co., Ltd., of Tokyo. Participating in the round as new investors were Nomura Research and Advisory Co., ...
Pharmaceutical company reports financial results, clinical update.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Acusphere, Inc., (ACUS), a specialty pharmaceutical company, reported financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2004, and commented on the operational progress of its lead product candidate, AI-700. The company's financial ...
First part of NDA submitted for Entereg.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Adolor Corporation (ADLR) announced that it has submitted the first portion of its New Drug Application (NDA) for Entereg for the management of postoperative ileus (POI). The submission was made under the U.S. Food and Drug ...
Agreement signed for humanized antibody to interferon-gamma.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Advanced Biotherapy, Inc., (ADVB) and Innogenetics NV (INNX) announced the signing of a cross-licensing agreement combining Innogenetics' patented humanized antibody to interferon-gamma (known as INNO 202) and Advanced Biotherapy's intellectual ...
Licensing agreement signed with Quest Vision.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Advanced Medical Optics, Inc., (AMO, AVO) announced a 1-year research and evaluation licensing agreement with Quest Vision Technologies, Inc., to develop accommodating intraocular lens (IOL) designs. Under terms of the agreement, AMO ...
Device firm announces ISO 13485:2003 certification.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Aerogen, Inc., (AEGN) announced that its facilities in both Mountain View, California, and Galway, Ireland, have recently been registered to the international quality standard ISO 13485:2003 titled "Medical devices - Quality management systems - ...
Biotech company expands management team.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Affymax, Inc., announced that it has strengthened its management team with the addition of Robert B. Naso, PhD, as executive vice president of research and development, the appointment of Gene F. Tutwiler, PhD, as executive vice president of New ...
Pharmaceutical companies enter development, manufacturing agreement.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Akorn, Inc., (OB) announced that it has entered into a development and manufacturing agreement with Aero Pharmaceutical, Inc., to provide contract manufacturing services. Akorn and Aero intend to commence development of a manufacturing protocol ...
Intraocular lens provide near, distance vision after cataract removal.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alcon, Inc., (ACL) reported updated clinical results on the AcrySof ReSTOR intraocular lens (IOL) that demonstrate its ability to substantially restore a cataract patient's ability to see both near and distant objects without the aid of reading ...
Increased atopy caused by development of Th2 immune response to allergens.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Increased atopy may be caused by the development of a Th2 immune response to environmental allergens. "Developed nations are experiencing a marked increase in prevalence of the familial allergic diseases including asthma, allergic ...
Imaging company reports 2.8% increase in revenue.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alliance Imaging, Inc., (AIQ) announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2004. Revenue increased 2.8% to $105.6 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2004, from revenue of $102.7 million for the same quarter in ...
Pharmaceutical company reports loss of $0.06 per share.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alpharma, Inc., (ALO) announced a diluted loss per share of $0.06 for the first quarter of 2004. During the first quarter, the company recorded severance charges associated with business reorganizations and workforce reductions totaling ...
Chiropractors comment on new ear infection guidelines.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) praised the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for releasing new, conservative guidelines for treating children with ear inflammation, but added that chiropractic care is a good first option to treat ...
New data show how 6-nitrochrysene shapes mammary carcinogenesis and mutagenesis.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- New data show how 6-nitrochrysene shapes mammary carcinogenesis and mutagenesis. According to researchers in the United States, "we determined the mutant fractions (MF) and mutational specificities in the cII gene in histologically ...
FDA clears new vaginal vault prolapse repair system.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- American Medical Systems Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq:AMMD) announced that its Apogee System has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance. The company also announced it will begin physician training in preparation for commercial ...
Soybean protein peptide may inhibit growth of tumor cells.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- American Oriental Bioengineering, Inc., announced findings that soybean protein peptide may inhibit the growth of tumor cells. Research conducted at American Oriental Bioengineering's research facility centered on the application of ...
African Americans are at greater risk for stroke than other ethnic groups.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- According to the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, African Americans are at greater risk of death from cardiovascular disease and stroke than any other ethnic group. Cardiovascular disease, ...
Colorectal cancer incidence is increasing in Japan.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Trends show colorectal cancer is increasing in Japan and is now similar to the rates in the U.S., researchers say. "We examined trends of colorectal cancer incidence rates among Japanese (Miyagi Prefecture) and United States (U.S.) ...
Cytokines IL-8 and IL-10 are prognostic factors in burn sepsis.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cytokines IL-8 and IL-10 are prognostic factors in burn sepsis. Scientists in Turkey report, "Cytokines have been considered as important participants in the post-burn pathophysiological process. The aim of this study was to investigate ...
Radiation improves survival in node-positive breast cancer patients.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Postmastectomy radiotherapy improves overall survival in node-positive breast cancer patients. "Postmastectomy irradiation substantially reduces the risk of locoregional recurrences (LRR) of breast carcinoma. However, debates continue ...
High-protein, low-fat diets effective for weight loss.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- High-protein, low-fat diets are effective for weight loss and favorably alter biomarkers in healthy adults. "Although popular and effective for weight loss, low-carbohydrate, high-protein, high-fat (Atkins) diets have been associated ...
Majority investment made in new nanotech subsidiary.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Arrowhead Research Corp. (ARWR), an emerging company in the field of nanotechnology, announced that it has agreed to take a majority position in Insert Therapeutics, Inc., a Pasadena-based company focused on designing, developing and ...
Pennington scientists turn human fat cells into bone.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Calling human fat a new and more abundant source of adult stem cells, Pennington Biomedical Research Center scientists have witnessed human fat stem cells convert into bone when slipped under the skin of mice. Pennington center expert ...
Acute urinary retention can affect quality of life for patients.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Study reviews acute urinary retention (AUR), but more research is needed to discover ways to prevent it. "Acute retention of urine is a common urological emergency characterized by a sudden inability to pass urine associated with lower ...
Human and rat glucokinase regulatory proteins compared.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers compare the differences in regulatory properties of the human and rat glucokinase regulatory proteins in a recent issue of the Biochemical Journal. "The inhibition of glucokinase by rat and Xenopus GKRPs (glucokinase ...
Humana joins with drugmaker to improve cholesterol-lowering drug compliance.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Humana, Inc., (HUM) and AstraZeneca (AZN) will conduct a joint study to evaluate how technology can improve patient medication compliance. This study will measure how voice activated technology (VAT) can help patients better understand ...
Studies examine Seroquel monotherapy remission rates in bipolar mania.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AstraZeneca (AZN) announced data at the American Psychiatric Association's annual meeting from a pooled analysis of two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies that examined the effectiveness of Seroquel (quetiapine fumarate) monotherapy in the ...
Survey: Lack of public awareness about strokes related to AF.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Results from a new national survey conducted by the not-for-profit Alliance for Aging Research to mark National Stroke Awareness Month show that about 80% of a thousand people polled were not aware atrial fibrillation (AF), a type of irregular ...
CpG is not effective adjuvant to Toxoplasma gondii vaccination.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- CpG is not an effective adjuvant to Toxoplasma gondii vaccination. "Unmethylated CpG dinucleotides have been found to stimulate general immune responses in mammals. CpG motifs have further been shown to be potent adjuvants when used in ...
Changing IVIG preparations increases risk of adverse effects.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Changing intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) preparations can lead to an increased risk of adverse effects. IVIG therapy "has represented a major advance in the treatment of patients with primary immune deficiency disorders," according to ...
Vaccinia virus encoding T-cell chemoattractant is attenuated in vivo.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A recombinant vaccinia virus encoding the interferon-inducible T-cell alpha chemoattractant is attenuated in vivo. According to recent research from Australia, "Murine interferon-inducible T-cell alpha chemoattractant (I-TAC) is a potent ...
Too much testosterone blights social skills.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Levels of testosterone in the womb may have profound effects on a person's social development. The findings might also explain why men are four times as likely as women to suffer from autism. The study is the latest in a series on a ...
Reproducibility of diabetes diagnosis in women reported.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Investigators report the reproducibility of a diabetes diagnosis in women using the World Health Organization (WHO) 1999 criteria. "Reproducibility of diabetes mellitus (DM) diagnosis has been recognized as non-optimal and a few studies ...
HDCT improves cure rate of young children with medulloblastoma and stPNET tumors.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- High-dose chemotherapy improves cure rate of young children with medulloblastoma and supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors. "In order to improve the dismal prognosis of patients younger than 4 years old with medulloblastoma and ...
Encouraging data reported from phase I study of asthma/allergy drug.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Avanir Pharmaceuticals (AVN) announced the completion of the initial phase I clinical trial for its experimental asthma/allergy drug, AVP 13358. The study included 54 healthy volunteers and was intended to assess safety, tolerability, ...
Group B meningococcal vaccine safe but not effective in men.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A group B meningococcal N-propionylated polysaccharide conjugate vaccine was safe in adult, male volunteers, but did not appear to be efficacious. According to recent research published in the journal Vaccine, "The safety and ...
FDA issues not approvable letter for OTC "morning after" pill.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a "Not Approvable" letter to the sponsor of an application to make the Plan B emergency contraception product available without a prescription. In its letter to the sponsor, FDA ...
Intranasal influenza vaccine causes facial paralysis.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The intranasal influenza vaccine caused facial paralysis in a working population in Switzerland. According to recent research from Switzerland, "In the present study, we assessed the incidence of adverse events and influenza-like ...
Third-generation vaccine against smallpox tested.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Not everybody can safely be vaccinated against smallpox using the current U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine. Scientists hope another study vaccine, now undergoing its first testing in the U.S. at St. Louis University, ...
Imvamune smallpox vaccine clinical study to include eczema patients.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bavarian Nordic A/S announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company's Investigational New Drug application (IND) for its third-generation smallpox vaccine candidate to enter further clinical trials. ...
Data: Avelox remains active against bacterial strains.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- North American surveillance data presented at the 14th annual European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases showed the antibiotic Avelox (moxifloxacin HCl) was still active against 37 strains of the bacteria Streptococcus ...
Avelox benefits study patients with community-acquired pneumonia.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A study presented at the 14th annual European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) showed that hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) who received sequential therapy with the intravenous (IV) and ...
Insulin-like growth factor works on several levels for nerve regeneration.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Insulin-like growth factor works on several levels for nerve regeneration. According to published research from the United States, "the elements of peripheral nerve regeneration comprise a complex combination of nerve growth, muscle ...
Low-density lipoprotein reduction is key to cardiovascular disease prevention.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Efforts to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) below current recommended levels may have additional benefit in preventing coronary heart disease (CHD), researchers report. "Current U.S. lipid-lowering guidelines indicate ...
Several factors associated with chronic pelvic pain.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The etiology of interstitial cystitis, a common problem in women, may involve several factors, all that result in reducing quality of life. "Interstitial cystitis (IC) is chronic pelvic pain of bladder origin that is far more common than ...
New study reports on achieving pharmaceutical brand leadership.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Modifying treatment guidelines can propel pharmaceutical brands to No. 1 in market share, according to 75% of surveyed executives in a new study from pharmaceutical research firm Best Practices, LLC. The study data comes from 14 surveyed ...
Mouse cardiac surgery techniques described.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers describe techniques for performing mouse cardiac surgery with regard to genomic studies. "Mouse models mimicking human diseases are important tools in trying to understand the underlying mechanisms of many disease states. ...
Drug development company announces founding investors.
Jun 02, 2004 ... 2004 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- BioLineRx Ltd. announced the addition of Star Ventures and Yehuda Zisapel to its group of founding investors. The investment raises the initial capital committed by its founders to approximately $15 million. BioLineRx's founders include ...