Copyright 2009 Medical News Today Latest Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry News From Medical News Today. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/pharma_industry/ admin@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Admin) editors@medicalnewstoday.com (MNT Editors) en-us Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171643.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171643.php The Hill reports that former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle helped Obama Administration officials strategize to win health care reform votes from Senators on Capitol Hill Wednesday. Health Insurance / Medical Insurance Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171646.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171646.php Reuters: "Congressional Democrats are seeking government investigations into recent price increases of brand-name prescription drugs, as Congress finalizes an overhaul of the healthcare system. Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171657.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171657.php 'Blot' On U.S. HIV/AIDS Leadership Removed A "blot" on U.S. HIV/AIDS leadership "ended last month when President [Barack] Obama lifted the prohibition" that kept HIV-positive foreigners from visiting the U.S. or seeking residency, according to a HIV / AIDS Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171655.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171655.php Pfizer and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) on Wednesday announced plans to team up in an effort to identify new drug candidates for the treatment of three tropical diseases, the Associated Press/Business Week reports. The scientists will test the efficacy of Pfizer drug candidates against sleeping sickness, visceral leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease. Tropical Diseases Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171656.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171656.php The U.S. Food and Drug Administration completed a coordinated, weeklong, international effort, called the International Internet Week of Action (IIWA), intended to curb illegal actions involving medical products. IT / Internet / E-mail Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171612.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171612.php Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held company, announced that it has expanded its Phase 2 clinical study of a proprietary investigational triple-combination antiviral drug therapy for influenza to include centers in the United States, Canada and Europe. Swine Flu Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171534.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171534.php American farmers have adopted genetically engineered (GE) crops widely since their introduction in 1996 because of the tangible benefits that biotech varieties deliver. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. farmers have embraced biotech varieties of soybeans, cotton and corn at the rate of 91 percent, 88 percent and 85 percent, respectively. Water - Air Quality / Agriculture Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171533.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171533.php The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) announces that Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, the 42nd and 43rd Presidents of the United States, will appear together for a moderated discussion at the 2010 BIO International Convention, which will be held May 3-6 in Chicago, Ill. at McCormick Place. Presidents Clinton and Bush, who served in the White House for 16 years, will discuss a wide variety of issues relating to both domestic and foreign policy. Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171501.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171501.php "Teva Pharmaceuticals, a leading manufacturer of generic drugs, has been aggressively lobbying Congress to scrap provisions in the health care bills it claims would shut it out of the biologic drug market for too long," Roll Call reports. Lobbyists for the biologics makers have charged, however, that Teva is hypocritical because it is fighting to restrict generic production of its own brand-name product. Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171452.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171452.php Dong-A Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Dong-A PharmTech, Co. Ltd. announced that it has completed a 240 patient once-a-day dosing clinical study of udenafil, its new long acting phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor for erectile dysfunction (ED). The multi-center study conducted in Korea was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of udenafil in patients with ED. Erectile Dysfunction / Premature Ejaculation Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171454.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171454.php Merz Pharmaceuticals announced Xeomin®, the first botulinum toxin type A free from complexing proteins has been granted an extension of indication for post-stroke spasticity of the upper limb presenting with flexed wrist and clenched fist in adults in various European countries. Xeomin® was already granted approval for post-stroke spasticity of the upper limb in early 2009 in Canada, Mexico and Argentina. Stroke Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171455.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171455.php Epiphany Biosciences announced results from its Phase 2b dose-ranging study of EPB-348 (valomaciclovir) in patients with shingles (herpes zoster) infection. The study's primary endpoint was non-inferiority of once-daily valomaciclovir compared to thrice-daily valacyclovir in terms of time to complete crusting of the shingles rash. Seniors / Aging Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171456.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171456.php CNSBio Inc. will present recent Phase IIa proof-of-concept clinical trial data for CNSB015, an orally administered potassium channel modulator used in combination with opioids for the treatment of neuropathic pain, at the 12th International Conference on the Mechanisms and Treatment of Neuropathic Pain on November 20-21, 2009 in San Francisco, CA. Dr. Pain / Anesthetics Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171529.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171529.php Alarming trends captured in clinical study metrics show the glaring discrepancy between the miniscule number of sites that are able to enroll the amount of patients study sponsors are requesting and the amount of sites that cannot. This enrollment inability leads to trial stoppages, lost revenue and most importantly the delay of new treatments used to combat diseases that are available for the population. Conferences Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171324.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171324.php "Congressional Democrats' intensifying efforts to pay for their healthcare overhaul and provide more relief for consumers are threatening to unravel a White House deal with the pharmaceutical industry and turn one of Washington's most powerful lobbies against the legislation," the Los Angeles Times reports. Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171284.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171284.php InterMune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ITMN) announced that the on-going Phase 2b study conducted by Roche of ITMN-191 (RG7227) combined with standard of care (SOC) PEGASYS® (peginterferon alfa-2a) and COPEGUS® (ribavirin) in HCV treatment-naive patients has been modified. The Phase 2b study has four dosage cohorts: SOC; 300mg q8h plus SOC; 600mg q12h plus SOC and 900mg q12h plus SOC. To date, approximately 175 patients have been enrolled in the study. Liver Disease / Hepatitis Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171291.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171291.php NeurogesX, Inc. (Nasdaq: NGSX) announces that it will hold a conference call at 8:30a.m. ET (5:30a.m. PT) to discuss the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Qutenza(TM) (capsaicin) 8% patch, the first and only product containing prescription strength capsaicin, for the management of neuropathic pain due to postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), the nerve pain which can follow shingles. Pain / Anesthetics Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171280.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171280.php Poniard Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: PARD) announced updated clinical data from its randomized, controlled Phase 2 trial of picoplatin in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). Colorectal Cancer Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171318.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171318.php An experimental vaccine called NicVAX, designed to treat nicotine addiction that works by stopping the drug from reaching the brain, moved a step closer to the market when the vaccine developer Nabi Biopharmaceuticals (Nabi), based in Rockville, Maryland, US agreed an option and licensing deal with GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA (GSK), based in Brussels, Belgium. Smoking / Quit Smoking Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171153.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171153.php Drug makers are bracing for reform by raising their prices - by 9 percent in the last year, perhaps the fastest rate since 1992, The New York Times reports. This happened "even as drug makers promise to support Washington's health care overhaul by shaving $8 billion a year off the nation's drug costs after the legislation takes effect. Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171085.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171085.php EntreMed, Inc. ( ENMD), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics for the treatment of cancer announced the presentation of data for the Phase 1 study for its Aurora A/angiogenic kinase inhibitor, ENMD-2076, in leukemia patients. The Company also announced that it has selected ovarian cancer as an initial Phase 2 indication. Lymphoma / Leukemia / Myeloma Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171086.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171086.php ThromboGenics NV (Euronext Brussels: THR) and BioInvent International AB (OMXS: BINV) announced positive results from a Phase I trial of their novel anti-cancer monoclonal antibody TB-403 in patients with advanced solid tumours. The results were presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Boston, U.S. TB-403 was well tolerated with no reported dose limiting toxicity. Cancer / Oncology Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171096.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171096.php Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: HEPH), reported preliminary results of its ongoing Phase I/II clinical trial with Apoptone® (HE3235) for hormone-resistant prostate cancer (also called castrate-resistant prostate cancer or CRPC). Prostate / Prostate Cancer Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171100.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171100.php Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an integrated specialty pharmaceutical company with both development and commercial capabilities focused on women's healthcare and pain management, announced today that Lysteda(TM) (tranexamic acid) oral tablets has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treatment of women suffering from cyclic heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), also known as menorrhagia. Women's Health / Gynecology Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:00:00 PST http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171101.php http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171101.php Data from pivotal Phase III clinical trials demonstrate that flibanserin 100mg increased the number of satisfying sexual events (SSE) and sexual desire (the co-primary endpoints) while decreasing the distress associated with Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD). Flibanserin is an investigational compound being developed by Boehringer Ingelheim for the treatment of HSDD in pre-menopausal women. Women's Health / Gynecology