Drug Week articles from August 2002

Drug Week archives from August 2002

FLT3 inhibitor may be valuable for high-risk patients.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in the United States say that a novel agent may be beneficial for some high-risk acute myeloid leukemia patients. "Constitutively activating...

Colistin ineffective against drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Despite promising in vitro results, the antibiotic colistin offers substandard control of refractory Acinetobacter infections in vivo, researchers in Spain...

New research suggests drugs might help women at risk.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Two drugs - one already approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and one pending approval - appear to reduce women's chances of developing breast cancer, a new University of North...

Granisetron more effective than dolasetron in controlling nausea and vomiting.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- New data presented to international delegates attending the 14th annual meeting of the Multinational Association of Supportive Cancer Care (MASCC), showed that Kytril (granisetron) is significantly more...

Results of second phase III trial of INS365 Ophthalmic released.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (ISPH) announced results of the second phase III clinical trial for INS365 Ophthalmic for the treatment of dry eye. This 6-month study was a double-masked comparison...

Multiple nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors may be counterproductive.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - The use of more than one nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) in antiretroviral regimens may actually degrade their effectiveness against HIV...

New analysis of Casodex trial reveals positive results.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A new analysis of data from the Casodex Early Prostate Cancer Trial (EPC) Program showed a significant reduction in risk of disease progression with Casodex (bicalutamide) 150 mg that was not dependent...

Millennium initiates phase I clinical trial of MLN518.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (MLNM) announced the initiation of a phase I clinical trial of MLN518 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This open-label study is being conducted to...

Human trials of ZT-1 initiated.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- H3 Pharma, a Montreal-based pharmaceutical development company, announced that ZT-1, a highly potent inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase currently under development for the treatment of Alzheimer disease,...

A leading experts named to board of directors.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Health Sciences Group, Inc., (HESG), an innovative healthcare company committed to vertically integrating a collaborative network of profitable nutraceutical and pharmaceutical companies, announced the...

Preclinical progress reported at the Society of Nuclear Medicine meeting.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Immunomedics, Inc., (IMMU) announced that a presentation at the 49th annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine reported on the progress of a new antibody-based therapeutic in animals with...

Investigators report encouraging responses with Xyotaxin patients.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- At the II European Spring Oncology Conference, Keith M. Skubitz, MD, professor of oncology at the University of Minnesota Medical School presented data from an ongoing phase I clinical trial evaluating...

Phase I/II clinical trials for clofarabine initiated.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bioenvision, Inc., (BIOV) announced the initiation of its clinical development program for clofarabine (Clofarex), a novel second-generation nucleoside analog. The company unveiled plans to conduct...

Relationship with GlaxoSmithKline updated.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- ImmunoGen, Inc., (IMGN), a biopharmaceutical company that develops targeted anticancer therapeutics, announced that GlaxoSmithKline has elected not to advance cantuzumab mertansine...

Clinical, preclinical progress of company products reported.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Immunomedics, Inc., (IMMU) announced that presentations at the 49th annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine reported on the progress with various technologies and products in the areas of...

Development, commercialization rights to anti-inflammatory agent relinquished by Pfizer.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Corvas International, Inc., (CVAS) announced that Pfizer, Inc., has elected not to pursue further development of the anti-inflammatory agent UK-279,276 (formerly known as neutrophil inhibitory factor,...

Clinical trials to begin for new drug to treat deadly form of brain cancer.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Brain surgeons at two major U.S. medical centers - City of Hope in Los Angeles and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) - will soon begin treating patients suffering from glioma, one of the...

Tight-binding reverse transcriptase inhibition needed for effective agents.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - The mode of reverse transcriptase inhibition is a key factor in the virus-killing efficacy of nonnucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors, researchers in...

FDA committees support Prilosec OTC.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Twenty-five million Americans suffer from heartburn on a daily basis. But now, a top-selling prescription medication for more than a decade may soon be available over the counter for the prevention of...

Ranbaxy receives approval for Cefpodoxime Proxetil Oral Suspension.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ranbaxy Laboratories, Ltd., (RLL) has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and market Cefpodoxime Proxetil for Oral Suspension 50 mg (base)/5 ml and 100 mg...

Neurocrine Biosciences initiates first efficacy and safety phase III clinical trial for Indiplon-MR.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., (NBIX) announced that it is initiating the first of three pivotal phase III clinical trials with indiplon-MR (modified release formulation of NBI-34060), the study of...

Industry supports ephedra science-based initiative.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In response to the announcement issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' on June 14, 2002, regarding its new science-based initiative to study Ephedra dietary supplements, the Ephedra...

Promising phase II study of Trisenox leads to expansion of trials.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cell Therapeutics, Inc., (CTIC) reported that Trisenox (arsenic trioxide) may reduce blood and platelet transfusion requirements and slow progression to acute leukemia in patients with myelodysplastic...

FDA approval granted for tramadol hydrochloride.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories, Ltd., (CARA) has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to manufacture and market tramadol hydrochloride, a generic form of R.W. Johnson...

Key U.S. patent approval reported.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hemosol, Inc., (HMSL, HML) announced that it has received a notice of allowance from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for the company's patent application entitled "Hemoglobin-Haptoglobin...

Phase II grant approved for Adenosine to continue study of A2A agonists.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Adenosine Therapeutics, LLC, announced the award of a phase II STTR grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. The primary goal of...

Decitabine increased fetal hemoglobin levels in 100% of sickle cell patients in clinical study.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- SuperGen, Inc., (SUPG) announced that its anticancer drug decitabine significantly elevated fetal hemoglobin levels in 100% of sickle cell anemia patients taking part in a clinical study. Results...

Theratechnologies announces positive results of phase II trial of ThGRF.
August 2, 2002... 2002 AUG 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Theratechnologies announces today positive results from its phase II clinical trial of its ThGRF peptide (TH 9507), a growth hormone-releasing factor analogue, in sleep maintenance insomnia patients in...

Drug combinations reduce HIV levels in untreated patients.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Combinations of drugs can significantly reduce the concentration of HIV in patients' bodies, even in those with advanced HIV disease, according to interim results of a study presented at the XIV...

Effective treatment alternative to protease inhibitor-based therapy highlighted.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Data presented at the XIV International AIDS Conference show that a greater proportion of patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) containing Sustiva (efavirenz), Bristol-Myers Squibb's...

BI-K0376 has potent, selective activity against multiresistant bacteria linked to acne.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Biosearch Italia S.p.A. presented promising preclinical results for its novel antibiotic BI-K0376, in phase I of clinical development, at the 20th World Congress of Dermatology in Paris in July 2002....

Drug companies are testing more than 800 new medicines for older Americans.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- As momentum for enacting a Medicare prescription drug benefit grows in Congress, a new survey released by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) shows what the promise of drug...

QLT begins pivotal phase III clinical program for multidrug resistance.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- QLT, Inc., (QLTI) announced that it has begun patient enrollment for two phase III clinical trials using tariquidar as an adjunctive treatment in combination with first-line chemotherapy for non-small...

From ecstasy to crank: An overview of selected club drugs.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Roxanna Guilford-Blake, senior medical writer - In his presentation at the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, Alan P. Agins, PhD, president, PRN Associates, Ltd., and adjunct associate...

Indian firm receives approval for generic AIDS drugs.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Generic AIDS drugs from India's Ranbaxy Laboratories have been found fit for use by the World Health Organization, the pharmaceutical company has announced. The U.N. agency has approved three drugs...

Phase III clinical trial of Actiza initiated.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Connetics Corporation (CNCT), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of dermatology products, announced the initiation of its phase III clinical program for...

Clarinex Reditabs approved for indoor and outdoor allergies and chronic idiopathic urticaria.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Schering-Plough Corp. (SGP) announced that Clarinex 5 mg Reditabs, a rapidly disintegrating tablet formulation of the nonsedating antihistamine desloratadine, has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug...

Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals cleared to market Carbamazepine Oral Suspension.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (MGP) of Morton Grove, Illinois, announced the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) cleared for market Carbamazepine Oral Suspension, USP 100 mg/5 mL, an...

Robert A. Conerly named CFO of Rib-X.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Rib-X Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held bioscience company focused on the discovery of new anti-infectives, announced that Robert A. Conerly has been appointed to the newly created position of CFO...

Ranbaxy and CorePharma ally to maximize commercialization of generic Adderall.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in an alliance with CorePharma, LLC, of Middlesex, New Jersey, announced that they have received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to manufacture and market the...

Novartis submits marketing applications globally for Gleevec for first-line use in CML.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Novartis has simultaneously submitted marketing applications with health authorities in the United States and the European Union (E.U.), seeking marketing authorization for Gleevec (imatinib mesylate)...

Research collaboration extended with shared lead optimization program.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- ComGenex, Inc., of Budapest, Hungary, and New York Blood Center (NYBC) announced the extension of their existing collaboration by entering an ADME/Tox optimization, synthesis and screening collaboration...

Mutual receives FDA approval for Tramadol HCl 50 mg tablets.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- United Research Laboratories/Mutual Pharmaceutical Co. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Mutual Pharmaceutical's abbreviated new drug application for Tramadol HCl 50 mg...

ATP-dependent drug removal can contribute to viral resistance.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - With the help of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a key HIV enzyme can repel agents used to inhibit it, researchers in the United States report. "Removal of...

Neurocrine announces positive phase II efficacy and safety results with Indiplon-MR.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., (NBIX) announced positive efficacy and safety results with indiplon-MR tablets in a phase II clinical trial in 79 elderly patients with primary (chronic) insomnia...

PPD announces acquisition.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- PPD, Inc., (PPDI) announced it has acquired ProPharma Pte, Ltd., an Asian-based clinical research organization with extensive experience in managing pan-Asian clinical trials to international good...

Pfizer agrees to buy rival Pharmacia.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In a surprising blockbuster merger that would expand the reach of the world's largest drug company, Pfizer, Inc., has agreed to buy rival Pharmacia Corp. for $60 billion in stock. The deal...

Novuspharma SpA results of BBR 2778 study show potential.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Novuspharma SpA (NOV.MI), a biotechnology company focused on cancer, announced results from a preclinical study with BBR 2778 in a chronic model of multiple sclerosis. The results were presented by...

New option now available to treat migraine sufferers.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The newest migraine treatment, Frova (frovatriptan succinate) 2.5 mg tablets, is now widely available throughout the United States. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the acute...

Watson receives FDA approval for tramadol hydrochloride tablets.
August 9, 2002... 2002 AUG 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (WPI) announced that it has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on its abbreviated new drug application for tramadol hydrochloride tablets, 50...

Results of novel predictive modeling study presented.
August 16, 2002... 2002 AUG 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A science team with a company that has developed a unique, patented process to unravel vast medical data to better understand how drugs might work better to prevent disease recently presented a study...

HuMax-IL15 is effective in mouse study.
August 16, 2002... 2002 AUG 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Genmab A/S announced that its human antibody therapeutic HuMax-IL15 effectively treated psoriasis in a mouse disease model. In this study, HuMax-IL15 was superior to cyclosporine A, considered the...

Phase I trial for Alfimeprase initiated.
August 16, 2002... 2002 AUG 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hyseq Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (HYSQ), announced the initiation of a phase I clinical trial of its novel acting thrombolytic, alfimeprase, in patients with peripheral arterial occlusion (PAO). The...

Study finds new Elidel Cream 1% reduces need for corticosteroids.
August 16, 2002... 2002 AUG 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A study published in the July issue of the journal Pediatrics shows that Elidel (pimecrolimus) Cream 1% significantly reduced the incidence of atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema) flares, as well...

FDA approves Remicade for gastrointestinal disorder.
August 16, 2002... 2002 AUG 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today granted marketing approval to Remicade (infliximab) to provide long-term remission-level control of the debilitating symptoms of Crohn disease (CD), a...

Study indicates Remune has potential for treating chronically infected HIV-positive patients.
August 16, 2002... 2002 AUG 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Immune Response Corp. (IMNR) announced the presentation of data at the XIV International AIDS Conference which suggest that Remune induced helper T-cell immune responses aimed specifically at HIV...

Study results demonstrate safety and antiviral activity of T-1249.
August 16, 2002... 2002 AUG 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Roche and Trimeris, Inc., (TRMS) announced final results of a phase I/II study demonstrating that T-1249, a second-generation fusion inhibitor candidate, was well-tolerated and exhibited antiviral...

Combination therapy reduces acne-causing bacteria by 90%.
August 16, 2002... 2002 AUG 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Two topical medications combined, an antibiotic and an antimicrobial, resulted in an unprecedented reduction of Propionibacterium acnes bacteria levels by 90% after only 24 hours according to a study...

Nonapprovable letter issued for Risperdal Consta.
August 16, 2002... 2002 AUG 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, LLC, announced that it has received a nonapprovable letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) related to its new drug application...

Prostratin may aid clearance of viral reservoirs.
August 16, 2002... 2002 AUG 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - A novel agent derived from the bark of a Samoan tree may help eradicate HIV resevoirs in infected patients, researchers say. "The latent reservoir of...

Pfizer-Pharmacia deal pressures other drug companies to merge.
August 16, 2002... 2002 AUG 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pfizer, Inc., added to its formidable strengths as the pharmaceutical industry's leader with a $60 billion acquisition of Pharmacia Corp. on July 15, 2002, pressuring its competitors toward similar...

Fumagillin effective for microsporidiosis treatment.
August 16, 2002... 2002 AUG 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - The fungal metabolite fumagillin can resolve intractable intestinal infections in HIV and other patients, according to researchers in France. "Intestinal...

Recombinant erythropoietin therapy controls post-transplant anemia if timed right.
August 16, 2002... 2002 AUG 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - If initiated at the right time, recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo) therapy can resolve anemia in stem cell graft recipients, researchers say. ...

Results of novel predictive modeling study presented.
August 23, 2002... 2002 AUG 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A science team with a company that has developed a unique, patented process to unravel vast medical data to better understand how drugs might work better to prevent disease recently presented a study...

HuMax-IL15 is effective in mouse study.
August 23, 2002... 2002 AUG 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Genmab A/S announced that its human antibody therapeutic HuMax-IL15 effectively treated psoriasis in a mouse disease model. In this study, HuMax-IL15 was superior to cyclosporine A, considered the...

Phase I trial for Alfimeprase initiated.
August 23, 2002... 2002 AUG 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hyseq Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (HYSQ), announced the initiation of a phase I clinical trial of its novel acting thrombolytic, alfimeprase, in patients with peripheral arterial occlusion (PAO). The...

Study finds new Elidel Cream 1% reduces need for corticosteroids.
August 23, 2002... 2002 AUG 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A study published in the July issue of the journal Pediatrics shows that Elidel (pimecrolimus) Cream 1% significantly reduced the incidence of atopic dermatitis (also known as eczema) flares, as well...

FDA approves Remicade for gastrointestinal disorder.
August 23, 2002... 2002 AUG 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today granted marketing approval to Remicade (infliximab) to provide long-term remission-level control of the debilitating symptoms of Crohn disease (CD), a...

Study indicates Remune has potential for treating chronically infected HIV-positive patients.
August 23, 2002... 2002 AUG 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Immune Response Corp. (IMNR) announced the presentation of data at the XIV International AIDS Conference which suggest that Remune induced helper T-cell immune responses aimed specifically at HIV...

Study results demonstrate safety and antiviral activity of T-1249.
August 23, 2002... 2002 AUG 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Roche and Trimeris, Inc., (TRMS) announced final results of a phase I/II study demonstrating that T-1249, a second-generation fusion inhibitor candidate, was well-tolerated and exhibited antiviral...

Combination therapy reduces acne-causing bacteria by 90%.
August 23, 2002... 2002 AUG 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Two topical medications combined, an antibiotic and an antimicrobial, resulted in an unprecedented reduction of Propionibacterium acnes bacteria levels by 90% after only 24 hours according to a study...

Nonapprovable letter issued for Risperdal Consta.
August 23, 2002... 2002 AUG 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, LLC, announced that it has received a nonapprovable letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) related to its new drug application...

Prostratin may aid clearance of viral reservoirs.
August 23, 2002... 2002 AUG 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - A novel agent derived from the bark of a Samoan tree may help eradicate HIV resevoirs in infected patients, researchers say. "The latent reservoir of...

Pfizer-Pharmacia deal pressures other drug companies to merge.
August 23, 2002... 2002 AUG 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pfizer, Inc., added to its formidable strengths as the pharmaceutical industry's leader with a $60 billion acquisition of Pharmacia Corp. on July 15, 2002, pressuring its competitors toward similar...

Fumagillin effective for microsporidiosis treatment.
August 23, 2002... 2002 AUG 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - The fungal metabolite fumagillin can resolve intractable intestinal infections in HIV and other patients, according to researchers in France. "Intestinal...

Recombinant erythropoietin therapy controls post-transplant anemia if timed right.
August 23, 2002... 2002 AUG 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - If initiated at the right time, recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo) therapy can resolve anemia in stem cell graft recipients, researchers say. ...

Axura demonstrates benefits in two studies.
August 30, 2002... 2002 AUG 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- At the Alzheimer Association 8th International Conference on Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders held recently in Stockholm, new data associated with Merz Pharmaceuticals' Axura was presented. ...

Promising drug in treatment of stroke-induced dementia.
August 30, 2002... 2002 AUG 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Results of recent studies on treating vascular dementia (VaD), the deterioration of thinking abilities caused by stroke or multiple strokes, is offering hope for stroke survivors. The studies,...

FDA approves Aranesp for anemia associated with chemotherapy.
August 30, 2002... 2002 AUG 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Amgen (AMGN) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa) for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia in patients with nonmyeloid...

FDA committee suggests inclusion of comparative data in prescribing information.
August 30, 2002... 2002 AUG 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Cardiovascular and Renal Drugs Advisory Committee unanimously recommended that results of the CLAIM Program comparing AstraZeneca's angiotensin II receptor...

Red clover may be an alternative to hormone replacement therapy.
August 30, 2002... 2002 AUG 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- News of the unexpected stop to a National Institutes of Health Study is causing millions of women across the country to talk with their doctors about their hormone replacement therapy treatment. ...

Orphan drug designation granted for ETX-100.
August 30, 2002... 2002 AUG 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Exhale Therapeutics, Inc., an emerging biopharmaceutical company focused on therapies for inflammatory lung diseases, announced that the company has received notice that ETX-100, its lead compound, has...

Generic form of Augmentin launched.
August 30, 2002... 2002 AUG 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Geneva Pharmaceuticals, Inc., an affiliate of Novartis AG, announced it is launching amoxicillin, clavulanate potassium, the generic form of the antibiotic Augmentin. Geneva becomes the first...

FDA grants priority review for PEGASYS-Ribavirin combination.
August 30, 2002... 2002 AUG 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a 6-month priority review status to the Biologics License Application (BLA) and New Drug Application (NDA) for Roche's combination therapy of...