According to a recent national survey, 17.1 percent of Americans lack health insurance, and more than nine million of the nation’s uninsured rely on federally qualified health centers (FQHC), non-profit community clinics and free clinics each year for primary care. While these clinics serve the critical health care needs of the uninsured, patients oftentimes cannot afford the medications prescribed by the clinic’s physicians, or navigate a fragmented system that only offers partial solutions. This is a particularly growing problem for America’s working poor.
Today, Medco Foundation and Dispensary of Hope (DOH), a not-for-profit pharmacy-focused social venture for the uninsured, introduced a new, national initiative to substantially improve the supply, delivery and management of critical prescription drugs to thousands of uninsured Americans who are managing a chronic illness.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54424-medco-dispensary-of-hope-prescription-drug-program-clinics-uninsured
University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center has announced a $250 million initiative that promises to dramatically change how drugs will advance from discovery in the laboratories to commercialization, resulting in greater access to advanced treatments and cures for patients. The first-of-its-kind initiative, named The Harrington Project for Discovery & Development, is powered by a $50 million gift – the largest donation in the health system’s history – from the Harrington family, recognized entrepreneurs and philanthropists in Cleveland.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/54909-university-hospitals-uh-harrington-discovery-institute-development-project
Researchers have identified the first gene mutation associated with a chronic and often fatal form of neuroblastoma that typically strikes adolescents and young adults. The finding provides the first clue about the genetic basis of the long-recognized but poorly understood link between treatment outcome and age at diagnosis.
The study involved 104 infants, children and young adults with advanced neuroblastoma, a cancer of the sympathetic nervous system. Investigators discovered the ATRX gene was mutated only in patients age 5 and older. The alterations occurred most often in patients age 12 and older. These older patients were also more likely than their younger counterparts to have a chronic form of neuroblastoma and die years after their disease is diagnosed.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/52992-st-jude-pediatric-cancer-genome-project-neuroblastoma-research
Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) today announced that data from two Phase 2 trials with SAR236553/REGN727, an investigational, high-affinity, subcutaneously administered, fully-human antibody targeting PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9), were presented at the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) 61st Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.
The data showed that treatment with SAR236553/REGN727 over 8 to 12 weeks significantly reduced mean low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C, or “bad” cholesterol) by 40% to 72% in patients with elevated LDL-C on stable dose of statins.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/55299-sanofi-regeneron-pharmaceuticals-lipid-lowering-medications-pcsk9-antibody
A pill designed to zero in on abnormal genes that drive specific cancers has produced encouraging early results in children with an uncommon but aggressive type of lymphoma, as well as in children with a rare form of neuroblastoma.
A phase 1 clinical trial of the drug crizotinib achieved remissions, with minimal side effects, for 10 of the children participating in a clinical study carried out by the multicenter Children’s Oncology Group (COG). The results were “an exciting proof-of-principle” for the targeted treatment, said the study leader, Yaël P. Mossé, M.D., a pediatric oncologist at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
“We are entering a new era of cancer therapy, in which we use knowledge of basic biology to design very specific drugs that target cancer cells with potentially less side effects on healthy tissue,” said Mossé. “In addition, as we concentrate on targets in molecular pathways, we move away from an exclusive focus on one form of cancer to customizing treatments according to biological activity. Abnormal ALK activity occurs in subtypes of neuroblastoma and subtypes of lymphoma, so identifying ALK activity in individual patients may enable us to provide the most effective care.”
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/50776-childrens-hospital-philadelphia-lymphoma-neuroblastoma-oncology-gene-trial
New recommendations from the American Society of Clinical Rheumatologists (ASCR), published in Postgraduate Medicine, highlight updated management recommendations for patients with acute gout. These new recommendations come at a time when the incidence of gout is soaring; 8.3 million Americans are estimated to be gout patients.
Instead of challenging, restrictive dieting, patients are encouraged to consume a balanced diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, nuts and grains. More importantly, patients should limit their intake of high fructose corn syrup, a common ingredient in many processed foods and drinks, and purine-rich foods, particularly red meat, beer and shellfish.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56234-gout-uric-acid-education-arthritis-lifestyle-change-treatment-options
Janssen Healthcare Innovation, a team within Janssen Research & Development, LLC (Janssen), today announced Discharge Decision Support System (D2S2) is the winner of the crowdsourcing-inspired Janssen Connected Care Challenge and the $100,000 prize. D2S2 is a discharge decision support system that uses a proprietary algorithm to assemble and score key data upon hospital admission in order to identify patients who should be referred to post-acute care services to reduce the risk of 30-day readmissions.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56342-discharge-decision-support-system-janssen-connected-care-challenge
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is launching a new series of public service announcements (PSAs) to help raise awareness and deepen the understanding of the hospital’s lifesaving mission through real St. Jude heroes – its patients and families. St. Jude has not produced national PSAs since 2003 and timed this new multichannel campaign to coincide with the hospital’s 50th anniversary.
The PSAs share St. Jude moments through patients and families like 10-year-old Angiel. Angiel and her mom Damaris were planning a trip to Africa for a family reunion when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer that produced tumors in both of Angiel’s legs. Today, thanks to St. Jude doctors, Angiel can still look forward to visiting family in a foreign land one day. Angiel’s story is just one of several patients featured in the PSAs.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/stjude/46749/
Orexigen® Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: OREX) today announced that the Light Study, a long-term research study of Contrave® (naltrexone SR/bupropion SR), a new, investigational drug being evaluated for weight loss, has begun enrolling patients at clinical sites throughout the United States. The Light Study is designed to assess the cardiovascular health outcomes of Contrave.
Nearly 93 million Americans are affected by obesity, and that number is predicted to increase to 120 million Americans within the next five years. More than one-third of adults in the United States are affected by obesity. Obesity increases the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, sleep apnea, and a variety of other conditions. Medical research suggests that losing just five percent of your body weight can significantly improve your health and reduce the risk of complications from type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56480-lightstudy
Using a combination of 160 high-resolution tungsten leaves and dramatically faster leaf movement, Elekta’s revolutionary new Agility™* MLC promises a new level of precision and delivery speed in radiation therapy treatments for cancer patients. Elekta recently received 510(k) clearance (K121328) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Agility, enabling U.S. medical centers to provide these clinical benefits to their patients with cancer.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/55638-elekta-agility-radiation-therapy-radiotherapy-cancer-sbrt
dr samit sekhar - Indian Surrogacy : Executive Director of Kiran Infertility Centre Pvt. Ltd.(KIC), he also holds positions of IVF and Surrogacy Program Director , Director- Supra Sperm Semen Bank and is also the Chief Embryologist in KIC. With an experience of more than 5 Years in the field of Infertility, he has treated a clientele of more than 2000 IVF/ ICSI Patients and 800 Surrogacy Patients from 21 different countries. In charge of the overall maintenance of the IVF lab he is also involved in day to day patient interaction and counseling He passed his Bachelors in medicine in distinction. His expertise includes In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF), Intra Cytoplasm Sperm Injection (ICSI), Embryo Freezing (Vitrification), Semen Banking (Semen Freezing) and PIGD (Pre-Implanation Genetic Diagnosis). Dr. Samit has been instrumental in bringing India on the Medical Tourism World Map as Surrogacy Capital of world. Under his leadership there have been 221 births through Surrogacy Program in KIC for Intended Parents of 17 different countries. Different from what people imagine a Doctor should be. love to live life on my own terms, I think out of the box.
Philips Respironics, a unit of Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) and a pioneer in science-based sleep solutions, is simplifying the design, fitting and care of full-face masks for sleep apnea patients. With its unique modular design, the new Amara full-face mask further demonstrates Philips’ commitment to developing solutions aimed at improving care and outcomes.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/57117-philips-respironics-revolutionary-full-face-mask-sleep-therapy
