Nearly 90 percent of children and adults with a highly aggressive form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) showed no evidence of cancer after receiving a novel, personalized cell therapy that reprograms a patient’s immune system. In pilot studies of bioengineered T cells that attack leukemia, 24 of 27 patients (89%) experienced complete responses within 28 days after treatment. In all, 27 patients received the treatment--22 children treated at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and five adults treated at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64394-chop-penn-harness-engineered-t-cells-eliminate-tumors-in-blood-leukemia
In celebrating the 40th anniversary of hospice care in the United States, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) is excited to introduce a new national campaign, “Moments of Life: Made Possible by Hospice,” that will show all Americans that hospice focuses on living and enables special moments and memories at the end of life for patients and loved ones.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/7154751-national-hospice-and-palliative-care-organization-nhpco-campaign
Philips Respironics, a unit of Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) and a pioneer in science-based sleep solutions, today announces a significant advancement in sleep therapy with the commercial release of a first of its kind minimal contact nasal mask – Wisp. Designed to fit more than 98% of sleep apnea patients, Wisp brings distinctive styling and patented technology for a better overall mask experience that may improve patient compliance.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/62230-philips-respironics-announces-advancement-in-sleep-therapy-with-wisp
Three and a half years after beginning a clinical trial which demonstrated the first successful and sustained use of genetically engineered T cells to fight leukemia, a research team from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia will today announce the latest results of studies involving both adults and children with advanced blood cancers that have failed to respond to standard therapies. The findings from the first 59 patients who received this investigational, personalized cellular therapy, known as CTL019, will be presented during the American Society of Hematology’s Annual Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64691-penn-medicine-reports-research-leukemia-patients-cellular-therapy-ctl019
By reprogramming a 7–year–old girl’s own immune cells to attack an aggressive form of childhood leukemia, a pediatric oncologist has achieved a complete response in his patient, who faced grim prospects when she relapsed after conventional treatment. The innovative experimental therapy used bioengineered T cells, custom–designed to multiply rapidly in the patient, and then destroy leukemia cells. After the treatment, the child’s doctors found that she had no evidence of cancer.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/50777-chop-engineered-immune-t-cell-therapy-anticancer-effect-in-children
WebMD Health Corp. (NASDAQ: WBMD), the leading source of health information, today announced at the mHealth Summit that it is expanding the beta program for its Patient Instructions feature, which enables physicians who use Medscape Mobile to securely send education and instructions on thousands of conditions, procedures and drugs to their patients who use the WebMD app for iPhone, or access WebMD on a PC or other mobile device. The company also previewed a forthcoming version of its WebMD app that leverages the 2net™ Platform from Qualcomm Life, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM), to enable health-conscious consumers to access and manage wireless health data from a wide array of fitness, wellness and medical devices directly from the app.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/60050-webmd-accelerates-consumer-provider-connectivity-personalized-mobile-app
The European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA) has launched the third and final booklet in its Life with Parkinson’s series. This latest edition concludes a four-year awareness campaign, which aims to highlight the lack of understanding and knowledge concerning Parkinson’s that exists throughout Europe today. The booklet’s launch, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, was one of the many activities in a weekend dedicated to celebrating the organisation’s 20th anniversary year and its commitment to improving the lives of people with Parkinson’s (PwPs).
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56619-epda-launches-life-with-parkinsons-booklet
Eisai Inc. announced today that BELVIQ (pronounced BEL-VEEK) will be available to eligible patients by prescription in the United States beginning June 11.
BELVIQ was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on June 27, 2012 to be used along with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity for chronic weight management in adults who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or greater (obese), or BMI of 27 kg/m² or greater (overweight) with at least one weight-related medical condition such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or type 2 diabetes. It is not known if BELVIQ is safe and effective when taken with other prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal weight loss products, nor is it known if BELVIQ changes your risk of heart problems or stroke, or of death due to heart problems or stroke.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/60316-eisai-belviq-civ-chronic-weight-management-tablets-for-overweight-adults
AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) today marks its launch as an independent biopharmaceutical company, with employees from more than 40 countries and patients joining AbbVie leaders as they ring the first opening bell of 2013 at the New York Stock Exchange.
With a rich, 125-year heritage of developing pharmaceuticals, AbbVie combines the focus and passion of a leading-edge biotech with the expertise and structure of a long-established pharmaceutical leader. A global enterprise that serves patients in more than 170 countries, AbbVie launches with an estimated $18 billion in annual revenues and a strong commitment to creating shareholder value through long-term growth potential and the continuation of the company’s history of shareholder dividends.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/59757-abbvie-celebrates-launch-as-new-biopharmaceutical-company
Philips Respironics, a unit of Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) and a pioneer in science-based sleep solutions, brings a new comfort option to its best-selling, most comfortable full face mask that fits most patients. The Amara gel cushion option is part of a groundbreaking series of new masks and services that are setting a new standard for patient care.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64501-philips-respironics-amara-gel-cushion-face-mask-sleep-apnea
For the millions who suffer from Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), a study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) provides clinical evidence of safety and effectiveness for a new, FDA-approved medical device. Torax Medical’s LINX® Reflux Management System was studied in a controlled, prospective, multicenter trial involving 14 U.S. and European medical centers as part of the FDA pre-market approval process. The patients were evaluated before and after treatment to determine the effect of the LINX System on their GERD using pre-defined success criteria, which included reduction of esophageal acid, improvement in quality of life and elimination of reflux medications.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/60077-torax-medical-linx-reflux-management-system-clinical-study-published
Until recently, cancer patients looking for the most precise form of proton radiation therapy – “pencil-beam scanning” – had to narrow their search to about a half dozen centers in the United States that offer this treatment on a limited basis.
Today’s opening of the Scripps Proton Therapy Center in San Diego, Calif., marks the first time that a proton center in the United States is treating patients exclusively with this ultra-accurate technology, in every treatment room.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/65691-scripps-proton-therapy-center-san-diego-precise-cancer-care
