Archive for the 'Market News' Category
December 15th, 2010 by admin
Electronic cigarettes are nicotine-delivery devices that include a heating element that vaporizes chemicals in replaceable plastic cartridges. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside recently evaluated five e-cigarette brands and, finding design flaws, lack of adequate labeling, and several concerns about quality control and health issues, concluded that e-cigarettes are potentially harmful and urged regulators to consider removing e-cigarettes from the market until their safety is adequately evaluated.
Continue reading ‘FDA Loses Battle in War Against e-cigarettes’
December 2nd, 2010 by admin
A panel of experts has recommended that the FDA approve Gardasil for the prevention of anal cancer and anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN). Anal cancer is a relatively rare disease, affecting about 5,000 people in the U.S. each year. An overwhelming majority of anal cancer cases are thought to be the result of HPV infection. Merck’s vaccine is already approved for the prevention of four strains of the HPV virus, cervical cancer and genital warts.
Continue reading ‘Expert Panel Recommends Gardasil for Anal Cancer’
November 26th, 2010 by admin
According to recent research the color, shape, taste and even name of a tablet or pill can have an effect on how patients feel about their medication. Choose an appropriate combination and the placebo effect gives the pill a boost, improves outcomes and might even reduce side effects. Now, researchers at the University of Bombay, New Mumbai, India, have surveyed users of over-the-counter (OTC) medication to find out just how much the color of a tablet influences patient choice.
Continue reading ‘Color and Shape of Pills Affects How Patients Feel About Medication’
November 16th, 2010 by admin
By the end of day Friday shares of Human Genome Sciences ($HGSI) had been trimmed 11 percent as investors fretted over the implications of an FDA staff analysis of its lupus drug Benlysta, which goes in front of an expert panel today.
Continue reading ‘Benlysta Review Spooks Investors’
November 12th, 2010 by admin
Veterans diagnosed with any psychiatric illness appear to have an elevated risk of suicide, and men with bipolar disorder and women with substance abuse disorders may have a particularly high risk, according to the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Continue reading ‘Veterans with Bipolar Disorder May Have Increased Risk of Suicide’
November 11th, 2010 by admin
The FDA’s marathon run toward a new set of regulations to govern the development of biosimilars is official. Regulators will host their first public meeting on follow-on drug regs, and you can expect to hear plenty from big companies like Amgen on the need for lengthy and expensive clinical trials.
Continue reading ‘Amgen Proposes Key Hurdles for Biosimilar Regs’
November 8th, 2010 by admin
Vaccination rates for children insured by commercial plans declined roughly four percentage points between 2008 and 2009. And experts fear that if this trend continues, the public’s health could be jeopardized. ”Rates had been gradually improving in the commercial plans. This was the first time we’d seen a drop–and it was a pretty big drop,” said Sarah Thomas, vice president of public policy and communication for the National Committee for Quality Assurance, which recently released its annual State of Health Care Quality data.
Continue reading ‘Higher Income Parents Forgoing Kids’ Vaccinations’
November 5th, 2010 by admin
Cancer Research UK is set to begin a Phase I trial for glioblastoma, a deadly form of brain cancer. Forty-five patients have been recruited to receive the vaccine IMA950. The drug contains 11 peptides that are found in tumors but not healthy tissue. They “train” T cells in the immune system to recognize cancer cells as unhealthy cells–and then to target and destroy them. No other brain cancer vaccines in development work the same way. Cancer Research notes that using multiple peptides increases the chances of eliciting an immune response.
Continue reading ‘Charity Funds Brain Cancer Vaccine Trial’
November 4th, 2010 by admin
Up to a third of U.S. adults could have diabetes by 2050 if Americans continue to gain weight and avoid exercise, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The numbers are certain to go up as the population gets older, but they will accelerate even more unless Americans change their behavior, the CDC said.
Continue reading ‘Diabetes to Double or Triple in U.S. by 2050′
October 29th, 2010 by admin
Allergan has done it. The FDA finally approved its wrinkle-fighter Botox as a treatment for migraines. The new indication could add $1 billion to its current annual sales of $1.3 billion, analysts say. “This is the most meaningful market expansion that the product has had since it was approved for cosmetic use,” Piper Jaffray’s David Amsellem tells Bloomberg.
Continue reading ‘New Migraine Use for Botox Could be Worth $1B’
