Copyright 2010 Medical News TodayLatest Health News and Medical News posted throughout the day, every day.http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/pharma_industry/admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin)editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors)en-us Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xr6http://mnt.to/f/3xr6Palatin Technologies, Inc. (NYSE Amex: PTN) announced the completion of first cohort dosing in a placebo-controlled, multiple dose study of bremelanotide, its experimental treatment for sexual dysfunction. The primary endpoint in this double-blind safety study is evaluation of blood pressure effects of subcutaneous bremelanotide in men between 45 and 65 years old...Erectile Dysfunction / Premature Ejaculation Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xr8http://mnt.to/f/3xr8Sequenom, Inc. (Nasdaq: SQNM), announced an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Optherion, Inc. Under the agreement, Sequenom's CAP accredited and CLIA-certified laboratory, Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine (Sequenom CMM), obtained the rights to develop and commercialize diagnostic tests to predict genetic predisposition to late stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD)...Eye Health / Blindness Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xrchttp://mnt.to/f/3xrcThromboGenics NV (Euronext Brussels: THR), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative treatments for eye disease, vascular disease and cancer, announces that the positive microplasmin Phase II trial results, evaluating the product's efficacy and safety in patients who require vitrectomy, have been published in the prestigious American Aca...Eye Health / Blindness Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xphhttp://mnt.to/f/3xphNews outlets report on how the fate of the health care overhaul might affect health industry mergers and biotech firms...Health Insurance / Medical Insurance Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xpBhttp://mnt.to/f/3xpBGovernments are under increasing pressure to provide access to expensive new drugs. Canadian patients who want access to drugs that are not publicly insured are seeking to pay for these drugs within public hospitals, states an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) This analysis by Colleen M...Pharmacy / Pharmacist Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xnxhttp://mnt.to/f/3xnxGeoVax Labs, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: GOVX) (the "Company"), an Atlanta-based, biopharmaceutical company developing human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and other infectious agents, provided an update on its vaccine trials progress...HIV / AIDS Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xnChttp://mnt.to/f/3xnCCara Therapeutics, Inc. announced positive data in a Phase II proof-of-concept clinical trial of its peripherally-restricted kappa opioid agonist, CR845. The 46 patient Phase II, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted at eight hospitals in the United States and evaluated the efficacy and safety of CR845 in women following laparoscopic-assisted hysterectomy...Pain / Anesthetics Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xnFhttp://mnt.to/f/3xnFSagent Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that it has received FDA approval of labetalol hydrochloride (HCl) injection, USP, commonly used to control severe hypertension. The product will be available in two vial sizes 100 mg per 20 mL and 200 mg per 40 mL, multi-dose vials...Hypertension Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xnGhttp://mnt.to/f/3xnGAmgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) announced that a pivotal, Phase 3, head-to-head trial evaluating denosumab versus Zometa® (zoledronic acid) in the treatment of bone metastases in 1,901 men with advanced prostate cancer met its primary and secondary endpoints...Prostate / Prostate Cancer Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xnKhttp://mnt.to/f/3xnKA recent article in the Scandia Journal reported that biotechnology is helping to improve our knowledge of many devastating illnesses, and has armed patients and their doctors with exciting new diagnostics and treatments to battle disease...Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xmWhttp://mnt.to/f/3xmWAPCER Pharma announced that LPC Pharma Group is outsourcing its http://www.pharmacovigilance/drug safety operations to APCER. APCER is a leading global provider of comprehensive drug safety, regulatory services and risk management programs for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and consumer products companies...Pharmacy / Pharmacist Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xmLhttp://mnt.to/f/3xmLThe Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) released a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius regarding the potentially harmful recommendations of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health and Society (SACGHS) in its Report on Gene Patents and Licensing Practices and Their Impact on Patient Access to Genetic Tests...Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xmNhttp://mnt.to/f/3xmNCost-effectiveness research will become more important as EU responsibility for the pharmaceutical sector moves to the Health and Consumer policy directorate, Lynne Taylor and Peter Mansell report...Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry Mon, 08 Feb 2010 02:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xmchttp://mnt.to/f/3xmcAt Micro Stamping headquarters in Somerset, New Jersey, it is largely what is not visible that gives the metal-forming company its edge in the highly competitive world of precision component manufacturing. Chairman Frank Semcer, Sr...Medical Devices / Diagnostics Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xkNhttp://mnt.to/f/3xkN BusinessWeek: "Mississippi will receive $18.5 million from drug maker Eli Lilly and Co. as part of a settlement over claims the company promoted the anti-psychotic Zyprexa for ailments it was not federally approved to treat, Attorney General Jim Hood said Thursday" (Byrd, 2/4)...Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xm5http://mnt.to/f/3xm5Within a virus's tiny exterior is a store of energy waiting to be unleashed. When the virus encounters a host cell, this pent-up energy is released, propelling the viral DNA into the cell and turning it into a virus factory...Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xkDhttp://mnt.to/f/3xkD"With the possible demise of health care legislation, getting back to business as usual may not be the best thing for the nation's drug makers," The New York Times reports...Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xkjhttp://mnt.to/f/3xkjGSK announces the formation of a new standalone unit specialising in the development and commercialisation of medicines for rare diseases. Over 5,500 rare diseases have been identified(1) of which less than 10% are currently being treated(2), presenting a significant unmet medical need...Genetics Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xkhhttp://mnt.to/f/3xkhPfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and DxS (a wholly owned subsidiary of QIAGEN N.V.) (NASDAQ: QGEN; Frankfurt, Prime Standard: QIA) announced that they have entered into an agreement to develop a companion diagnostic test kit for PF-04948568 (CDX-110), an immunotherapy vaccine in development for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM)...Neurology / Neuroscience Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xjVhttp://mnt.to/f/3xjVSolvay Pharmaceuticals, Inc...Cystic Fibrosis Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xk7http://mnt.to/f/3xk7Ipsen (Euronext: FR0010259150; IPN), an innovation-driven global specialty pharmaceutical group and Debiopharm Group (Debiopharm), a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical group of companies with a focus on the development of prescription drugs that target unmet medical needs, announce the launch by Ipsen in France of Decapeptyl(R) LP 22...Prostate / Prostate Cancer Sat, 06 Feb 2010 01:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xk9http://mnt.to/f/3xk9PharmAthene, Inc...Bio-terrorism / Terrorism Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xjkhttp://mnt.to/f/3xjk NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex: NBY), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class, anti-infective compounds in the treatment and prevention of antibiotic-resistant infections, today announced that Ron Najafi, Ph.D., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will deliver a corporate presentation at the 12th Annual BIO CEO & Investor Conference on Tuesday, Feb...Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xhJhttp://mnt.to/f/3xhJAdditional Congressional action is needed to follow through on the Obama administration's recently announced initiative to rapidly build an integrated value chain for the bioeconomy, create jobs and kick start economic growth. The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today released proposed policy options that provide needed incentives to support U.S...Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry Fri, 05 Feb 2010 04:00:00 PSThttp://mnt.to/f/3xgzhttp://mnt.to/f/3xgzU.S. District Judge Robert Sweet on Tuesday considered whether to invalidate Myriad Genetics' patents on two genes associated with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers in a lawsuit that could have far-reaching implications for the biotechnology industry and genetics-based research, the AP/ABC News reports...Litigation / Medical Malpractice