A package of tough new actions to ensure that NHS patients can get the medicines they need was agreed at a summit to discuss concerns about current difficulties with the supply of medicines, hosted by Health Secretary Andy Burnham and Health Minister Mike O’Brien yesterday…
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The World Health Organization (WHO) is releasing new guidelines for the treatment of malaria, and the first ever guidance on procuring safe and efficacious anti-malarial medicines. In recent years a new type of treatment called artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) has transformed the treatment of malaria, but if not used properly the medicine could become ineffective. Guidelines emphasize testing The Guidelines for the Treatment of Malaria (second edition) provide evidence-based and current recommendations for countries on malaria diagnosis and treatment…
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Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) announced its updated, newly integrated, late-stage pipeline following its recent merger with Schering-Plough. The new pipeline features a broad and diversified portfolio of investigational medicines and vaccines, including more than 20 candidates in Phase III or under regulatory review, and more than 20 candidates in Phase II of development. “The combination of two complementary pipelines has yielded a robust and diversified portfolio to fuel Merck’s future growth,” said Peter S. Kim, Ph.D., president, Merck Research Laboratories…
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In recognition of World Rare Disease Day, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced a more streamlined process to help regulators better identify and share information throughout the development process of orphan drug and biologic products, which are developed specifically to treat rare medical conditions. Both agencies have agreed to accept the submission of a single annual report from sponsors of orphan drug and biologic products designated by both the United States and the European Union…
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The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) announced that it is launching a new system to provide information to pregnant women and their doctors about using medications and vaccines safely in pregnancy. The Vaccines and Medications in Pregnancy Surveillance System (VAMPSS) unites the resources of two leading research institutions and collaborates with five federal agencies. All share an interest in improving maternal-fetal health…
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A Stratton Spotlight article recently highlighted a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) survey that showed a dramatic rise in the number of diabetes cases during the last 10 years and noted that pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies are working on nearly 200 new medicines to treat this debilitating disease. The rate of new cases of diabetes increased by more than 90 percent among adults over the last 10 years, and fatalities associated with diabetes increased by 45 percent in two decades, according to the CDC study…
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GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE: GSK) is reviewing label changes proposed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for asthma medications containing long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs), such as GSK’s Advair (salmeterol / fluticasone propionate). GSK and makers of the other affected medicines containing LABAs have 30 days to agree with the proposed changes or state why they are not warranted. “We will work with FDA to ensure that the final label for these products protects the interest of patients who suffer with this chronic and serious disease,” said Dr…
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The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended the granting of a conditional marketing authorisation for Humenza from Sanofi Pasteur SA. This is the fifth pandemic vaccine recommended for use by the Committee, and the second to be assessed using an emergency procedure which fast-tracks the evaluation of new vaccines developed during a pandemic influenza. Information on Humenza was evaluated in an accelerated timeframe using a rolling review which started with the submission of the first available data on 23 June 2009…
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Following a review of the available data on a possible risk of cancer in patients using Regranex (becaplermin), from Janssen-Cilag International N.V., the European Medicines Agency has concluded that the medicine must not be used in patients who have any form of cancer. A similar restriction previously applied, but only for patients who had a skin cancer close to the area where the gel was to be applied. Regranex is a gel that is used together with other wound care measures to treat long-term skin ulcers in people with diabetes…
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Aetna (NYSE: AET) today announced that members who enroll in its 2010 Medicare plans will have access to enhanced services called medication therapy management (MTM) aimed at helping them safely and effectively take medications prescribed by their physician. MTM, which will be delivered by Mirixa Corporation, brings together pharmacists, patients, physicians and other health care professionals to help patients with their medications. “It is critical for our members with chronic diseases to have the assistance they need to safely take their medications thereby reducing adverse drug events…
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News outlets reported that Democrats seeking to pass a health bill next week got a boost from a Cabinet official, a key senator and the Catholic Health Association, while newly-elected Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., attacked the Democrats’ plans.
Wall Street Journal: “‘When the people of my state elected me in January, they sent more than a senator to Washington–they sent a message,’ The Massachusetts Republican said in the weekly Republican address. Brown castigates Democrats for focusing on health care over jobs and the economy for the past year and that the focus has been a ‘bitter, destructive, and endless… Continue reading
Stock market slides may hurt more than your savings. New research suggests they might prompt heart attacks. Go to Source… Continue reading
Because of the pressure exerted by the growing fetus on the hemorrhoidal veins, pregnant women are highly susceptible to developing hemorrhoids. Increased levels of the female sex hormones can also weaken vein walls to make them more prone to hemorrhoids. Furthermore, constipation due to poor diet and insufficient exercise can also aggravate hemorrhoids during pregnancy.
For some women, hemorrhoids can also develop during labor due to intense pushing. For others, complications after delivery can also lead to hemorrhoids. For example, vaginal and perianal tenderness may cause some women to postpone bowel movements, which leads to constipation and hemorrhoids.
Maria Rodale, author "Organic Manifesto." Photo: Lifescript.com 03/12/10.
I am a newbie when it comes to natural products. Should I buy organic? Natural? What is the difference between them? Lucky me, I spent time talking walking the aisles of the “Natural Products Expo West” in Anaheim, California Friday. I went in armed with extra info provided from my interview earlier in the day with Maria Rodale, author of “Organic Manifesto,” a sort of bible for organic living.
I got up to speed quickly on how to size up an organic product – and saw firsthand how many different choices there… Continue reading
Women comprise more than half the population of the nation’s cities, are three times as likely as their male counterparts to live alone after the age of 65, and are primary caregivers for their families at all ages and stages of life. The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, with the International Congress of Women’s Health Issues, will host “Cities and Women’s Health: Global Perspectives,” Wednesday, April 7, through Saturday, April 10, on Penn’s campus to examine how urban environments affect their health…
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Decision Resources, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, finds that Merck KGaA/Oncothyreon’s Stimuvax vaccine earns Decision Resources’ proprietary clinical gold standard status in 2013 and 2018 for the treatment of locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Available data from Phase II clinical trials of Stimuvax have shown promising median overall survival and tumor response rates in patients when the drug is used as a maintenance therapy following chemoradiotherapy…
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Results from a new online survey of more than 300 practicing endocrinologists and family medicine physicians1 show that a large majority of physicians (83 percent)1 indicated that using a team of specialists early in the course of type 2 diabetes (T2D) treatment can help prevent serious T2D-related complications. However, more than nine out of 10 physicians (93 percent)1 surveyed do not believe their peers are using this team approach. The online survey was supported by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and conducted by Sermo…
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Trillium Therapeutics Inc. (TTI), a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative immune-based biologics, announced that it has entered into two definitive license agreements with University Health Network (UHN) and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Ontario, granting Trillium exclusive worldwide rights to commercialize two immunology programs in the areas of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cancer. “We are very excited to have strengthened our immunology franchise and to have reinforced our existing bond with Toronto’s world-class immunology community…
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