Monthly Archives: February 2012

AVI BioPharma Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Financial Results and Corporate Update Conference Call

Posted: Published on February 23rd, 2012

BOTHELL, WA--(Marketwire -02/23/12)- AVI BioPharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVII - News), a developer of RNA-based therapeutics, will report fourth quarter and full year 2011 financial results after the NASDAQ Global Market closes on Thursday, March 1, 2012. Subsequently, at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time (2:00 p.m., Pacific Time), Chris Garabedian, AVI's president and CEO, will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2011 financial results and to provide a corporate update. The conference call may be accessed by dialing 866.510.0676 for domestic callers and 617.597.5361 for international callers. The passcode for the call is 79552457. Please specify to the operator that you would like to join the "AVI BioPharma fourth quarter and full year 2011 earnings call." The conference call will be webcast live under the events section of AVI's website at http://www.avibio.com and will be archived there following the call for 90 days. Please connect to AVI's website several minutes prior to the start of the broadcast to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be necessary. About AVI BioPharma AVI BioPharma is focused on the discovery and development of novel RNA-based therapeutics for rare and infectious diseases, as well as other select disease targets. … Continue reading →

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All mental health disorders should get insurance coverage, not just autism, coalition says

Posted: Published on February 23rd, 2012

LANSING -- Legislation that would require insurers to cover autism treatments unfairly singles out one condition, says a coalition that wants coverage for all mental health issues. Gov. Rick Snyder, who backs the autism legislation, and lawmakers are being urged today to adopt a state law that would improve insurance coverage for all neuropsychiatric disorders, including mental illness, addiction, autism and developmental disorders. “Autism certainly ought to be covered. That’s not the argument,” said Michael Reagan, external relations officer of Cherry Street Health Services in Grand Rapids. “There are other neuropsychiatric disorders that can be just as debilitating and cause just as much of a problem as autism.” “The governor and Senate leaders have announced a course that is discriminatory, stigmatizing, and problematic for the state,” said Mark Reinstein, president of the Mental Health Association in Michigan. He said the coalition supports a bill introduced by state Sen. Rebekah Warren, D-Ann Arbor, which assures equal coverage for all neuropsychiatric disorders when employers choose to include behavioral health coverage in their policies. Michigan is one of only seven states that does not have parity legislation requiring insurers to provide the same coverage for mental disorders as for physical illness, says Michigan … Continue reading →

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Deep Brain Stimulation Treatment Reduces Tremors from Parkinson’s Disease – Video

Posted: Published on February 23rd, 2012

22-02-2012 09:48 See how deep brain stimulation reduced the tremors a patient had from Parkinson's disease. Learn more at http://www.exempla.org/dbs View original post here: Deep Brain Stimulation Treatment Reduces Tremors from Parkinson's Disease - Video … Continue reading →

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FDA Accepts Impax Pharmaceuticals NDA Filing for IPX066 for the Treatment of Idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease

Posted: Published on February 23rd, 2012

HAYWARD, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Impax Pharmaceuticals, the branded products division of Impax Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IPXL - News) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for filing the Company’s New Drug Application (NDA) for IPX066 for the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD) submitted to the Agency on December 21, 2011. IPX066 is a patented extended release capsule formulation of carbidopa-levodopa (CD-LD). The Prescription Drug User Fee Date (PDUFA) for a decision by the FDA is October 21, 2012. IPX066 has been licensed to GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for countries outside the U.S. and Taiwan for development and marketing. IPX066 has undergone extensive clinical development, including multiple studies in early and advanced PD in the U.S. and in Europe. The NDA included data from three controlled Phase III studies and two open label extensions of IPX066 in both early and advanced PD. IPX066 has been investigated in more than 1,000 subjects. About IPX066 IPX066 is an investigational extended release capsule formulation of CD-LD which is intended to maintain consistent plasma concentration of levodopa for a longer duration versus immediate release levodopa, which may have an impact on fluctuations in clinical response. It is not approved or licensed anywhere … Continue reading →

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Genzyme Announces EMA Accepts Oral Teriflunomide Marketing Application for Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Posted: Published on February 23rd, 2012

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Genzyme, a Sanofi company (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), announced today the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted the filing of the marketing authorization application (MAA) for once-daily oral teriflunomide for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Acceptance of the MAA starts the EMA’s review process. “The filing represents another important milestone for teriflunomide and brings us one step closer to offering a new treatment option to patients with relapsing MS,” said Bill Sibold, Senior Vice President, Head of Multiple Sclerosis, Genzyme. “As an oral therapy with a promising clinical profile, teriflunomide is extremely well positioned to provide an alternative therapeutic option to patients who are currently taking injectable therapies. Those injectable therapies make up approximately 80 percent of the MS market today.” The purpose of the MAA is to secure approval to market and allow prescription of teriflunomide in the European Union based on data from two completed pivotal Phase III trials, TEMSO and TENERE. These trials represent two of five efficacy studies of teriflunomide in MS that are completed or underway, making the clinical program one of the largest and broadest of any MS therapy in development. An application to market teriflunomide in … Continue reading →

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Stem Cell Action Coalition Opposes Virginia Personhood Bill

Posted: Published on February 23rd, 2012

To: HEALTH, MEDICAL AND POLITICAL EDITORS WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Stem Cell Action Coalition opposes Virginia House Bill No.1, the so-called Virginia "personhood bill." The Virginia Senate Committee on Education and Health is scheduled to take the matter up this week. The language of the personhood bill states, in part, that the laws of Virginia "shall be interpreted and construed to acknowledge on behalf of unborn children at every stage of development all of the rights, privileges and immunities available to other persons, citizens and residents." The bill further states "unborn children shall include the offspring of human beings from the moment of conception until birth at every stage of biological development." HB 1 arguably would apply to every aspect of Virginia law thus profoundly impacting inheritance, adoption, guardianship, civil and criminal liability by according the same rights as adults and children to a single cell. The personhood bill would surely interfere with reproductive and related rights of women and couples along several fronts. These interferences include making it exceedingly difficult for couples in Virginia to seek in vitro fertilization as a means of creating families and donating for research IVF-created embryos not needed for implantation or … Continue reading →

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FDA Advisers Back Weight-Loss Drug Qnexa

Posted: Published on February 23rd, 2012

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 22 (HealthDay News) -- A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel gave its blessing Wednesday to a highly anticipated weight loss pill that had been rejected by health advisers once before. The committee of outside physicians voted 20-2 to back the drug Qnexa, although the group urged that patients be monitored closely for potential heart problems, the Associated Press reported. A decision by the full FDA is expected in April. The agency typically follows the recommendations of its advisory panels. While effective at reducing weight, the drug, manufactured by Vivus Inc., was denied approval in 2010 because of its potential side effects. Before making its decision Wednesday, the advisory panel reviewed two years of data on the drug; when advisers last voted on Qnexa, only one year's worth of follow-up data was available. The drug combines the appetite suppressant phentermine and the anti-seizure/migraine drug topiramate. Phentermine was once widely prescribed as the "phen" part of the fen-phen weight loss drug. This combo was withdrawn from the market after its use was linked to high blood pressure in the lungs and heart valve disease. The problems were related to the "fen" or fenfluramine part of the combination, not … Continue reading →

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Court programs in Solano County making big impact

Posted: Published on February 23rd, 2012

During a time of economic uncertainty, Solano County Superior Court and Solano County officials have partnered with other agencies and community groups to make an impact on such problems as domestic violence and drugs, officials said Wednesday. Two federal grants that created the court's Dependency Drug Court and Family Law Domestic Violence Court are evidence of that. Both programs have seen their share of successes and, on Wednesday, court and county officials gathered at the Hall of Justice in Fairfield to talk about them with Rep. John Garamendi, D-Solano, whom they hope will influence officials in Washington to send more money their way. The Dependency Drug Court provides intensive judicial monitoring to Solano County parents who have a dependency case and who are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. The goal is for them to achieve sobriety and reunify with their children. Officials said such programs save as much as $27 for every $1 invested, and save up to $13,000 for every individual they serve. But, for it to be successful, it takes collaboration between not just the courts and attorneys, but also with county Health and Social Services, mental health and substance abuse professionals, among others. Since its inception in … Continue reading →

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On the leading edge

Posted: Published on February 23rd, 2012

PETS are complex creatures that deserve the same special care and attention as their human friends. Contemporary pet care takes this approach by offering many of the same thorough treatments available to humans. Leading the way is Forbes Street Vet Clinic, which has recently relocated to a new and larger purpose-built practice. Owners Dr Lorraine Vella and Dr Bob Clippingdale said the new facilities would allow them to bring the best services to their clients. ''The end result is happier staff members, pets and owners,’’ Dr Vella said. One of the interesting and valuable features of the new premises is the separate surgery and prep area and cat and dog wards that promote the happiness of pets. ''The animals are much calmer with their own space,’’ Dr Vella said. ''Their mental health is very important to us.’’ There are also twice as many consultation rooms as before, which allows for easier access to vets. Another fantastic feature is the extensive off-street parking. Forbes Street Vet Clinic takes an innovative approach to pet care and extends it services beyond the essentials. Behavioura l consults allow clients to work with the vet to find long-term solutions. ''We treat behavioural issues like spraying … Continue reading →

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Waisan Poon, “Clinical trial of umbilical cord blood stem cells in spinal cord injury” – Video

Posted: Published on February 23rd, 2012

22-02-2012 05:16 Waisan Poon, Chinese U, Hong Kong, speaking on, "Clinical trial of umbilical cord blood stem cells in spinal cord injury" at the International Conference of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine for Neurodegenerative Diseases to be held at the Tzu-Chi Hospital in Hualien, Taiwan on April 22-24, 2010. View original post here: Waisan Poon, "Clinical trial of umbilical cord blood stem cells in spinal cord injury" - Video … Continue reading →

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