New Appointments at London Genetics to Drive Strategy ForwardLONDON - London Genetics Limited, which expedites pharmacogenetic partnerships between the biopharmaceutical industry and London-based centres of excellence in genetics research, announces today several prestigious appointments to its Board and management team. The new appointments, which include Dr Barrie Ward as Chairman, will drive the next phase of the company’s growth as the importance of pharmacogenetics in drug development increases. They bring important commercial, clinical and academic expertise. Malaria Control Method Could Prevent 6 Million New Infant CasesBARCELONA, Spain - - The Lancet Publishes New Findings Showing 30% Reduction in Babies Under 12 Months Using a WHO-Recommended Approach, but few African Countries Have Adopted it Celebrities Give it Some Welly for Action Medical ResearchLONDON - - With Photo Nick Hewer and Margaret Mountford from The Apprentice, along with Davina McCall are all wearing their wellington boots this Friday to support the UK’s leading research charity Action Medical Research. Novasep Gains SafeBridge(R) “Potent Compound Safety Certification” for its Le Mans FacilityPOMPEY, France - Novasep is pleased to announce that its site in Le Mans - France, specialized in the development and manufacturing of Highly Potent Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (HPAIs), has received the “Potent Compound Safety Certification” from SafeBridge(R) Consultants, Inc. Contraceptive Pill Named the Greatest Pharmacy Invention of the Last 150 Years in Chemist+Druggist CompetitionTONBRIDGE, England - The Contraceptive Pill has been crowned the greatest pharmacy innovation of the past 150 years, by leading figures in the drugs industry. Call to Action to Prevent Deaths From Prostate Cancer in EuropeANTWERP, Belgium - - Leading Cancer Groups and Archbishop Desmond Tutu Unite in Call to Action in the Fight Against Prostate Cancer Investment in Health Benefits is on the UpANDOVER, England - Despite the economic downturn, companies are more than doubling their spend on healthcare benefits, according to new research from Simplyhealth’s Bothered Britain Report 2009, which is released this month. The report investigates how attitudes, policy and behaviour have changed in the past year towards health-related issues, as well as looking at newer trends that are impacting on workplace health. Sanaria Inc. Receives Multi-Year U.S. NIH Phase II Small Business Innovation Research Grant to Enhance Efficiency and Scale-up of its Malaria Vaccine Manufacturing ProcessROCKVILLE, Maryland - Sanaria Inc. has received additional support from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health in the form of a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grant. The award for two years is US$1.99 million. Subject to satisfactory progress by Sanaria, continued funding for a third year will bring the total to nearly US$3 million. This new funding will facilitate efforts to increase the efficiency and scale-up of manufacturing and release processes to the levels required for Phase 3 clinical testing, licensure, and commercial launch of Sanaria(TM) PfSPZ, Sanaria’s attenuated whole parasite malaria sporozoite vaccine. Merck Serono Growth Hormone Injection Device easypod(R) Approved in JapanGENEVA - Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA Darmstadt, Germany, today announced that the Japanese health authorities, the Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), have granted a marketing authorization for easypod(R) in Japan. Easypod(R) was developed for exclusive use with cartridges of Saizen(R) (somatropin), Merck Serono’s human recombinant growth hormone for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency. /C O R R E C T I O N — Merck Serono S A/GENEVA - In the news release, “Merck Serono Growth Hormone Injection Device easypod(R) Approved in Japan” issued on 16 Sep 2009 07:00 GMT, by Merck Serono S A SWX:SEO over PR Newswire, we are advised by a representative of the company that the last sentence of the fourth paragraph has been changed from “In Japan, easypod(R) will be launched in September 2009″ to “In Japan, easypod(R) will be launched in the course of 2009″ as originally issued inadvertently. Complete, corrected release follows: New Collaborations and Breakthrough Advancements in RNA-Based Drug Development Programs Lead Santaris Pharma A/S to Establish US OperationsHOERSHOLM, Denmark and SAN DIEGO, California - - Denmark-Based Santaris Pharma A/S Appoints Leading RNA Industry Expert Art Levin Ph.D. as President of US Operations and Chief Development Officer Children’s Hospital in Colorado Rounds off List of 24 Cord Blood Transplant Centers Worldwide Enrolling for ExCell Trial Studying StemEx(R) for Leukemia and LymphomaDENVER, Colorado and JERUSALEM - Children’s Hospital of Colorado and the Gamida Cell-Teva Joint Venture announced today that Children’s Hospital is enrolling patients for the ExCell study. Children’s Hospital is the 24th in a series of cord blood transplant sites worldwide, five of which are children’s centers, participating in the study in the U.S., Spain, Italy, Hungary and Israel. The trial is researching the safety and efficacy of StemEx as a therapeutic treatment for patients with blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. New Nominee for WHO Regional Director for EuropeCOPENHAGEN - Zsuzsanna Jakab has been nominated as the new WHO Regional Director for Europe by the WHO European Region’s governing body in Copenhagen. Mrs Jakab, the first representative of Hungary to lead a WHO region, is currently Director of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. She was one of five candidates for the post. Amgen to Present Pivotal Data From Four Phase 3 Studies at the ECCO 15 - ESMO 34 CongressTHOUSAND OAKS, California - - Key Denosumab and Vectibix(R) (Panitumumab) Data to be Presented STALLERGENES: Immunotherapy Tablet Containing Recombinant Allergen (rBet v 1) of Birch Pollen: Positive Results for a Phase IIb/III TrialANTONY, France - Stallergenes S.A. has announced the first results of a new phase IIb/III clinical trial (VO59.08) conducted in allergic rhinitis caused by birch pollen and concerning the development of a sublingual immunotherapy tablet containing the recombinant allergen of this pollen, rBet v 1. Dornier Announces Premium Urological Workstation with Integrated LithotripsyMUNICH - Dornier is pleased to announce the addition of the Gemini to its product portfolio. The Gemini is a premium urological workstation with integrated lithotripsy, providing the best in class urological functionality. McGraw-Hill Medical Wins 2009 BMA Medical Book of the Year AwardLONDON - McGraw-Hill Medical won a number of honours and awards at the British Medical Association’s Medical Book Competition awards ceremony, including two category first prize awards and the contest’s top prize, Medical Book of the Year. The coveted award went to the ground-breaking Robotic Surgery: Theory and Operative Technique by Drs Farid Gharagozloo and Farzad Najam. Cellzome Technology Used to Unravel Novel Regulatory Mechanism in Cancer Signaling PathwayHEIDELBERG, Germany - - Integrated Chemical Genetics and Proteomics Approach Identifies new Potential Drug Targets in Wnt Pathway Forest Laboratories UK Ltd Submits Marketing Authorisation Application for the First Dry Powder Inhalation Antibiotic for Cystic Fibrosis PatientsLONDON - Forest Laboratories UK Ltd, (a wholly owned subsidiary of Forest Laboratories Inc) announced that following the successful completion of its pan-European multi-centre phase III study (the Freedom Study), it has applied to the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) to licence its new formulation dry powder colistimethate sodium for inhalation (Colobreathe(R)) for use by Cystic Fibrosis patients. The new formulation which was wholly developed by Forest Laboratories UK has previously been granted orphan drug status by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) and when approved Colobreathe(R) will be made available throughout the EU in conjunction with its chosen partner Grünenthal GmbH. Bavarian Nordic Has Signed Contract With an EU Country for the Delivery of IMVAMUNE(R)KVISTGAARD, Denmark - Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA) announced today that it has signed a contract with the military of an undisclosed EU country for the delivery of a small order for IMVAMUNE(R). The vaccines will be delivered in 2009. The size and value of the contract is undisclosed. Pieris AG Enters into Anticalin Collaboration With Allergan, Inc.FREISING-WEIHENSTEPHAN, Germany - Pieris AG today announced that they have entered into a collaboration agreement with Allergan, Inc. (NYSE: AGN) that combines Pieris’ proprietary Anticalin technology with Allergan’s expertise in drug delivery and ophthalmic drug development with a goal of developing agents for the treatment of serious ocular disorders. Frost & Sullivan: First Responders’ Communication Interoperability - A Vital Need for Life-Saving ServicesLONDON - - Frost & Sullivan to Host Analyst Briefing on the C3I market on Tuesday, 22 September, 2009 at 14:00 BST 22nd ECNP Congress 2009: The Role of Genetic Factors in Adult ADHDISTANBUL - At the 22nd ECNP Congress, Dr. Barbara Franke, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands, presented today the latest findings in the identification of ADHD risk genes. “Converging evidence suggests that ADHD aetiology has a robust genetic component”, said Franke. Heritability of adult ADHD appears even higher than that in children: whereas a sibling of a child with ADHD has a 3-4-fold increased risk compared to control children, this risk-increase is 17-fold for a sibling of an adult ADHD patient. Major breakthroughs are expected from the International Multicenter persistent ADHD CollaboraTion (IMpACT), which is investigating the largest clinical ADHD sample worldwide. Early Administration of Aggrenox(R) is Effective and Safe After Acute Ischaemic Stroke or TIAINGELHEIM, Germany - - For Healthcare Media Outside the U.S.A., Canada, and Japan Early secondary prevention with Aggrenox(R) (extended-release dipyridamole [200 mg] plus ASA* [25mg]) is at least as effective and safe as initial treatment with ASA 100 mg alone after an ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Results from the EARLY[1] study, presented for the first time at the 13th Congress of the European Federation of Neurological Societies in Florence on 15 September 2009, showed that while functional outcome at 3 months was similar between the two treatment groups there were numerically fewer recurrent ischaemic events in patients who received Aggrenox(R) from the first day after their ischaemic event compared to those patients who received ASA as initial therapy. Helsinn Partners With Eisai for Gelclair in ItalyLUGANO, Switzerland - The Swiss pharmaceutical group Helsinn and Eisai Italy, subsidiary of the Japanese pharmaceutical company, have signed a licensing agreement for the commercialization of the medical device Gelclair in Italy. Wyeth Presents Data from Five-Year Vertebral Fracture Prevention Study with BazedoxifeneCOLLEGEVILLE, Pennsylvania - Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth (NYSE: WYE), announces findings from a placebo-controlled Phase 3 study of bazedoxifene 20 mg extended to five years, which indicated a significant reduction versus placebo in new vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. These and other data were presented at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) Annual Meeting in Denver, Colo. Bazedoxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), is under clinical investigation for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Ongoing Progress of MitraClip(R) Therapy Highlighted at TCT 2009MENLO PARK, California - - European Commercial Pace Continues to Grow with 200 Patients Treated Patients Fear Osteoporosis Quality of Life Impact, Yet Lack Tools to Manage Concerns and Improve Osteoporosis Outcomes, New Survey SaysDENVER - - International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) launches OsteoLink to address unmet needs in osteoporosis management through digital and in-person patient and physician communication networks across Europe and Australia New Online Resource for People with Parkinson’s, Their Families and CarersFLORENCE, Italy - - Lundbeck and Teva Launch www.myPDinfo.com Lundbeck and Teva today announce the launch of www.myPDinfo.com to provide answers to common questions following a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Designed for people with Parkinson’s, their families and carers, the new site provides information on the disease itself, as well as many aspects of treatment and practical disease management such as medication, surgery, diet, exercise/physiotherapy, and emotional support. 22nd ECNP Congress 2009: The Future of SchizophreniaISTANBUL - At the 22nd Congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP), Prof. William Carpenter from the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, USA, gave today an outlook on a paradigm shift in schizophrenia research, which will have major influence on diagnosis and therapy. “In future schizophrenia research, the focus of therapeutic study will move away from schizophrenia as a disease entity onto specific domains of pathology, promoting the development of targeted drug therapies,” said Carpenter. “This may substantially improve the quality of life for patients in the near future, and prepare the field to address recovery, cure and prevention.” Novant Health Rolls Out MEDai’s Predictive Modeling Solution to Nine Hospitals in Three StatesORLANDO, Florida - - MEDai’s Pinpoint Review Clinical Surveillance System Will Help Novant Hospitals Ensure Patient Safety and Quality, Safeguard Hospital Reimbursement Important Step Forward in Osteoarthritis Research: Bioactive Collagen Peptides Stimulate the Regeneration of Cartilage TissueMONTREAL and KIEL, Germany - Working in collaboration with Kiel University, researchers at the Kiel- based Collagen Research Institute (CRI) have demonstrated the stimulating effect of special bioactive collagen peptides (FORTIGEL(R)) in the context of cell experiments. Last weekend the CRI presented its research findings at the congress of the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) in Montreal. The investigations of the CRI provide an explanation for the findings of a joint clinical trial carried out by Harvard Medical School and Tufts Medical Center - likewise presented at the congress. With the aid of special imaging (MRI) techniques this clinical trial demonstrated that FORTIGEL(R) stimulated cell metabolism in the knee-joint cartilage and promotes the regeneration of cartilage tissue. Dr M Group Selects Health Robotics’ Technology Over RIVA for all of its I.V. Compounding Centers in South East AsiaBOZEN, Italy - Health Robotics today reported that Dr M Group has selected the CytoCare(TM) and i.v.STATION(TM) Robots to be deployed across all of its I.V. Compounding Centers in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and India. Frost & Sullivan Honours Kemin Health With Global Weight Management Ingredients New Product Innovation AwardLONDON - The 2009 Frost & Sullivan Global Weight Management Ingredients New Product Innovation Award is presented to Kemin Health. Results of RebiSmart(TM) User Trial Presented at 25th ECTRIMS Congress Show Broad Patient Acceptance of the New Electronic Delivery Device for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Rebif(R)GENEVA - - The Majority of Patients Found the Electronic Multidose Device “Suitable” or “Very Suitable” for Self-Injection and Rated the Device Functions as “Easy” or “Very Easy” to Use |
