Drug Week articles from December 2002

Drug Week archives from December 2002

New data confirm the impact of once-per-cycle pegfilgrastim for neutropenia.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Data presented for the first time in Europe, at the 27th European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress confirm that Neulasta (pegfilgrastim) has the potential to improve the management of...

Gabexate mesilate, octreotide effective for pancreatic conditions.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in Italy have identified a pair of agents that could benefit HIV patients suffering from pancreatic dysfunction. "Human immunodeficiency virus...

BMP-7 may prevent bone and vascular complications.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Curis, Inc., (CRIS) announced its proprietary compound, BMP-7, has shown effectiveness for the prevention of several serious complications of chronic kidney disease in animal models of these disorders....

Phase III study shows Synagis reduces RSV hospitalization.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- MedImmune, Inc., (MEDI) announced data from a large, multinational phase III clinical study indicating that Synagis (palivizumab) was safe and effective in preventing RSV-related hospitalizations in...

Spontaneous sex still possible despite Viagra's 1-hour delayed action.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- While many men with erectile dysfunction experience significant improvements in erectile capacity, sexual self-esteem, and general mental health thanks to Viagra, couples successfully using Viagra often...

New data demonstrate safety and efficacy of leflunomide.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Two studies presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 66th annual meeting demonstrate the consistent efficacy and safety of Arava (leflunomide) in treating rheumatoid arthritis. The...

Infliximab may induce clinical remission, reduce need for steroid use.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have found that treatment with infliximab (also known as Remicade) appears to induce clinical remission in many patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC), including those with...

Schering-Plough settles royalty payment arbitrations.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Schering-Plough Corp. (SGP) announced that it has settled its arbitrations with Biogen, Inc., over royalties on U.S. sales of Schering-Plough's alpha interferon products. As part of the settlement,...

Thuris enters feasibility collaboration to test RapidAging.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Thuris and D-Pharm, Ltd., announced the initiation of a joint feasibility project designed to evaluate the therapeutic activity of D-Pharm's proprietary compounds with Thuris' RapidAging animal models....

Disease costs are driven by medications, work loss.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Lynn Yoffee, senior medical writer - Pharmaceuticals and work loss are major driving forces in asthma's cost to society, according to a study presented at the American College of Chest Physicians'...

Company wins patent to protect lead compound, NC381.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Lorus Therapeutics, Inc., announced that its subsidiary, NuChem Pharmaceuticals Inc., has received notice from the United States Patent and Trademark Office of the allowance of a patent that protects...

Study: Tumor regression occurs after injection of DNA complex.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In a scientific article published this month, a group of research scientists with Genzyme Molecular Oncology (GZMO) report that immune-stimulating complexes made up of lipid and plasmid DNA produced...

Company gets IND for phase II trials with NCX 4016.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- NicOx, S.A., (NICOX) announced that its investigational new drug application (IND) has been accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the phase II clinical testing of NCX 4016, its...

Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo now available by prescription.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ortho Tri-Cyclen Lo (norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol) Tablets, the new low-dose version of the most prescribed birth control pill, is now available by prescription. Recently approved by the U.S....

NCL launches campaign to educate about dangers of OTC pain medications.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- More than half (64%) of all respondents in a national survey are unconcerned about the possibility of suffering serious side effects, including stomach bleeding or ulcers, as a result of taking popular...

Analysis: Company hopes to find growth in depression market with duloxetine.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Decision Resources, Inc., forecasts that Eli Lilly's new serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), duloxetine, will be the most promising drug to be launched between 2001-201. Duloxetine...

Genpharm wins FDA tentative approval for omeprazole.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pharmaceutical Resources, Inc., (PRX) announced that the FDA granted tentative approval to Genpharm for omeprazole. The product has now cleared all scientific and regulatory requirements for a...

Pharmion completes $40 million private placement.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pharmion Corp. announced that it completed a $40 million private equity placement from a syndicate of new and existing investors. Investors in this round include New Enterprise Associates; General...

Alternative therapy use may signal psychological, emotional problems.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - HIV patients who use unconventional forms of treatment may suffer from a lack of mental health support, researchers in the United States find. "The extent...

Valsartan improves survival, reduces hospitalizations in HF patients not taking ACE inhibitors.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Valsartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), improves survival in heart failure patients by 33% (p=0.017), reduces morbidity by 44% (p The new analysis was coauthored by Professor Aldo...

Interim results of phase I Albuferon-alpha clinical trial promising.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Human Genome Sciences, Inc., (HGSI) announced that interim results from an ongoing phase I clinical trial of Albuferon-alpha demonstrate that Albuferon-alpha is well tolerated, has a prolonged...

Pharmaceutical group identifies new class of CpG oligonucleotides.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Inc., announced the identification of a novel class of its proprietary CpG oligo drug candidates, termed "C-Class" oligos. One member of this class, CpG 10101, strongly...

New evidence disfavors tamoxifen for primary liver cancer.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Members of a research team headed by doctors at the National Cancer Center in Singapore have concluded tamoxifen is not useful for treating hepatocellular...

Halting HRT: Treatment alternatives and market impact.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In view of the current controversy surrounding the use of hormone replacement therapy, a new study from Theta Reports, "Hormone Replacement Therapy: Industry Alert," evaluates the latest market...

International distribution agreements inked for Nabi-HB, hepatitis B antibody product.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Nabi Biopharmaceuticals (NABI) announced the signing of two international distribution agreements for Nabi-HB [hepatitis B immune globulin (human)] with Biotech Medical Corp. of Malaysia and Innovative...

Amikacin enhances rifampin activity against Mycobacterium ulcerans.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - The antimycobacterial agent amikacin (AMK) can improve the efficacy of treament for Buruli ulcer, researchers in France report. Herve Dega and colleagues...

Study: Fosrenol reduces hypercalcemia risk in end stage renal disease.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AnorMED, Inc., (AOM) announced that Fosrenol (lanthanum carbonate), a new phosphate binder for use in dialysis patients, licensed to Shire Pharmaceuticals Group has shown to be effective in reducing...

Court upholds Merck's patent for osteoporosis drug.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Merck & Co.'s patent for the osteoporosis drug Fosamax was upheld in federal court, the company said November 4, 2002. The decision by the U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, means Merck's...

Drug-induced ocular side effects are wide ranging.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Lynn Yoffee, senior medical writer - Drug-induced ocular side effects can range from mild to severe. An expert on the topic presented advice for handling these adverse effects with patients at...

Paclitaxel-based chemotherapy increases survival by 31%.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- New data adds to existing evidence that Taxol offers women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) a 31% improvement in overall survival compared with standard treatment. The data collected from 640...

Phase II trial of Navelbine plus Herceptin for HER2 looks promising.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- New research suggests that the combination of Navelbine (vinorelbine tartrate) Injection, a first-line chemotherapy treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer, and the monoclonal antibody therapy...

Study calls for more testing of drugs in children.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- About 3750 serious injuries, birth defects and deaths in children under the age of 2 reported to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration were associated with medications over a more than 3-year period,...

Study points to dexamethasone as possible treatment adjuvant.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Results of a study in mice suggest the steroid dexamethasone may have potential as a coadjuvant to treatment for schistosomiasis. S. Pyrrho Ad Ados and colleagues, Universidade Federal do Rio de...

Investigational new drug application filed for phase III study of dexanabinol.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pharmos Corp. (PARS) announced the submission to the FDA of an investigational new drug (IND) application to begin U.S. patient enrollment in its pivotal phase III trial of dexanabinol for the treatment...

High relapse rate seen after "successful" drug-resistant TB treatment.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - The long-term success of treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis infection may be lower than previously believed, researchers warn. G. B. Migliori and...

SRL172 ineffective as treatment adjunct for HIV coinfected patients.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Mycobacterium vaccae (SRL172) adds little if any benefit to conventional antituberculosis therapy for coinfected HIV patients, researchers in the United Kingdom...

Company adds new cardiology medication to its product line.
December 6, 2002... 2002 DEC 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Faulding Pharmaceutical Co. announced it will begin selling Amiodarone hydrochloride injection I.V. in the United States. "Amiodarone is one of a number of drugs we offer in our cardiology line of...

Trial opens new possibilities for improving survival with novel drug.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- While the results of a new trial showed that a novel drug intended to reduce the extent of cell death after heart attack did not do so, the surprising finding that it reduced the death rate in patients...

First results from novel antiangiogenic drug trial in patients.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A new drug that targets tumor blood vessels has produced a surprisingly effective response in its first patient study - shrinking the tumors in a number of patients treated so far, according to...

Cyclophilin B peptide fails in phase 1 lung cancer trial.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS, senior medical writer - Phase 1 clinical trial results revealed that a cyclophilin B peptide vaccine was safe when given to lung cancer patients, but did not elicit a...

Preclinical studies identify novel ways to enhance effect.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have found that blocking the action of a growth factor on tumor stroma cells increases the uptake of cancer drugs by the tumor. The findings could be crucial for efforts to make standard...

Six-month phase IIB data of Telbivudine released.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced interim 24-week data from an ongoing international phase IIb clinical trial of telbivudine (LdT), the company's lead drug candidate for the treatment of chronic...

Infergen combination therapy more effective than Rebetron.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- InterMune, Inc., (ITMN) announced that positive preliminary results of an investigator initiated, prospective randomized phase IV clinical trial comparing the use of Infergen (interferon alfacon-1)...

Study of Navelbine plus gemcitabine suggests similar efficacy to standard therapy.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Results of a randomized clinical study suggest that the combination of Navelbine (vinorelbine tartrate) injection and gemcitabine offers a comparably effective and well tolerated treatment alternative...

Blood reports Revimid has antitumor activity.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The first peer-reviewed data of Revimid (CC-5013) in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma has been published. The article, titled "Immunomodulatory Drug CC-5013 Overcomes Drug Resistance and Is...

Promising results reported for infliximab.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- New data from the IMPACT trial (infliximab multinational psoriatic arthritis controlled trial), assessing the efficacy and safety of Remicade (infliximab) in treating patients with psoriatic arthritis...

Phase II program started for novel anticoagulant.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Corvas International, Inc., (CVAS) announced the commencement of a multicenter, phase II clinical program to investigate the safety and efficacy of its proprietary anticoagulant, recombinant nematode...

Profiles for sulphasalazine and mesalazine don't differ.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Reports of suspected serious adverse reactions to 5-aminosalicylates prompted researchers in England to compare the adverse effect profiles for sulphasalazine and mesalazine. "5-Aminosalicylates...

FDA approves smaller nitrolingual pump spray bottle.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- First Horizon Pharmaceutical Corporation (FHRX), a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that the FDA approved a 60-dose configuration of its sublingual nitroglycerin spray, Nitrolingual...

Price for Anox PP18 increased.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Great Lakes Chemical Corporation (GLK) announced that the price for Anox PP18 hindered phenolic antioxidant increased by 10% in Europe, effective December 1, 2002, where contracts allow. Over the...

FDA grants approval for generic Tambocor heart drug.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Barr Laboratories, Inc., (BRL) announced that it has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its generic version of 3M Pharmaceuticals Tambocor (flecainide acetate)...

P38 MAP kinase inhibitor data presented at rheumatology meeting.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scios, Inc., (SCIO) announced that preclinical study results indicate that SCIO-469, the company's first-generation oral p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, and SCIO-323, a second-generation p38 MAP kinase...

Preclinical efficacy, safety results of humanized anti-IL-4 antibody reported.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceutical recently published results of preclinical safety and efficacy trials of its humanized monoclonal antibody, dubbed pascolizumab. T.K. Hart, of GlaxoSmithKline...

New study confirms methylphenidate HCl efficacy and safety in adolescents.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- One of the largest studies to date on the use of a stimulant medication by teenagers confirms the effectiveness and safety of Concerta (methylphenidate HCl) for adolescents with attention...

Quetiapine fumarate adjunctive therapy offers significant benefits in adolescents.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Results of a double-blind placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of antipsychotic treatment in adolescents with bipolar disorder demonstrates that adding the atypical antipsychotic...

Tumor vaccine raises antigen-specific response in gastric cancer patients.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Medical collaborators in Japan and Sweden have completed a phase I trial of peptide-pulsed dendritic cells in gastric cancer patients. Scientists have...

Pharsight's modeling, simulation methodologies engaged for drug development.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pharsight Corporation (PHST) announced that Celltech R&D Limited, a subsidiary of European biotechnology company Celltech Group plc, will engage Pharsight for a consulting and technology application...

Results of phase II trial of INS37217 intranasal released.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Inspire Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (ISPH) announced results from a phase II clinical trial for INS37217 Intranasal in patients with upper respiratory infection, i.e., common cold. Results from the...

Chinese herbal medicine + interferon effectively treat chronic hepatitis B.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A meta-analysis conducted by University of California, Berkeley, researchers shows that Chinese herbal medicine alone or in combination with interferon alfa is effective treatment of chronic hepatitis...

Analysis: CHF drug development setbacks mean high mortality, morbidity rates.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Decision Resources, Inc., forecasts that recent setbacks in the development of promising new drugs for congestive heart failure (CHF) mean continued high mortality and morbidity rates for patients with...

Orphan drug designation granted for P113D.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Demegen, Inc., (DBOT) announced that orphan drug status was granted for the company's patented P113D peptide for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) infections by the U.S. Food and Drug...

Repaglinide approved for new indication.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Novo Nordisk announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new indication for use of the oral antidiabetic drug (OAD) Prandin (repaglinide): combination therapy with...

Atorvastatin and diltiazem associated with rhabdomyolysis/acute hepatitis case.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- University of Maryland Hospital pharmacologists recently presented a case report of a man with rhabdomyolysis and acute hepatitis thought to be secondary to a drug interaction between atorvastatin and...

Pressure to show results from genomics investments grows.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Decision Resources, Inc., reported that drug target validation is one of the most active areas in genomics and drug discovery research today. According to the new DR Report entitled Accelerating...

Application submitted to FDA for Topamax monotherapy treatment.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc., announced it has submitted data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to support use of Topamax (topiramate) as stand-alone treatment (monotherapy) in adults and...

Lilly, Icos approved to sell anti-impotence drug in Europe.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Viagra has its first direct competitor in Europe with the approval of an erectile dysfunction drug developed by Eli Lilly and Co. and joint-venture partner Icos Corp. Lilly and Icos said they won...

Company announces third quarter results; Natrecor sales up 16%.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scios, Inc., (SCIO) announced financial results for the 3-month and 9-month periods ended September 30, 2002. The company reported net revenues of $27.2 million in the third quarter of 2002...

Neurogen down on Alzheimer drug news.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Neurogen Corp. shares dropped 26%, after a clinical trial showed the company's lead Alzheimer drug doesn't work. The Branford, Connecticut, health care products company said November 12, 2002,...

Study evaluates the effectiveness of valacyclovir HCl in HIV-infected persons.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Twice-daily treatment with Valtrex (valacyclovir HCl) caplets is effective in suppressing genital herpes recurrences in HIV-infected patients, according to data presented at the Infectious Diseases...

Modified porphyrins disrupt key viral proteins.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in the United States have identified a novel class of agents highly active against HIV and other viral pathogens. Andrei N. Vzorov and...

Six months of oral ganciclovir ineffective against lamivudine-resistant HBV.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Six months of treatment with oral ganciclovir was found ineffective in a small study of patients with lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus infection. "Although liver disease seems to be stable in...

Priority Healthcare Corp. selected as the distributor for Pegasys Sampling Program.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Priority Healthcare Corp. (PHCC) announced their selection by Roche Labs as the distributor for the Pegasys Monotherapy Sampling Program. Pegasys is Roche's pegylated interferon alfa-2a for...

Prenylation inhibitor prevents infectious hepatitis D virus particle production.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Treatment for hepatitis D virus infection recently got a boost when Stanford University researchers reported on a farnesyltransferase inhibitor, FTI-277, that prevents "production of complete,...

Halfway mark reached in enrollment for pivotal phase III ETHECC trial.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Eximias Pharmaceutical Corporation announced that 223 patients have been enrolled into its ETHECC (Efficacy of Thymitaq in Hepatocellular Carcinoma) trial, achieving 50% recruitment. The ETHECC...

Cochrane Group concludes that human- and animal-derived insulins are equivalent.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS, senior medical writer - No significant differences were found in effectiveness or safety of insulin derived from animal or human sources and used to treat diabetes in...

Avandia reaches 20M prescription milestone.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- GlaxoSmithKline (GSX) announced its oral antidiabetes drug, Avandia (rosiglitazone maleate), has passed the 20 million prescription mark after 3 years on the market in the United States. Avandia...

Research: Tegaserod maleate safe and effective for IBS symptoms.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- New data published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics demonstrate Zelnorm (tegaserod maleate) provides rapid relief for women suffering from the multiple symptoms of abdominal pain and...

Cell fusion vaccine approach being tested.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Genzyme Molecular Oncology (GZMO) launched a new clinical trial in kidney cancer that uses an innovative vaccine made from combining the patient's own cancer cells with powerful, immune-stimulating...

New study provides molecular-level understanding of common antimalarial drugs.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- TransForm Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has announced a new understanding of the connection between the physical chemistry and mechanism of action of quinoline-based drugs used to treat malaria. These...

Accuzyme, Panafil will not be affected by mandatory generic drug program.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Joseph S. Santoro, senior director of Healthcare Systems at Healthpoint, Ltd., has announced that the company's prescription wound management products Accuzyme Papain-Urea Debriding Ointment (NDC#...

Company reports presentation of eculizumab clinical trials.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- At the 35th annual meeting and scientific exposition of the American Society of Nephrology, Gerald Appel, MD, professor of clinical medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons,...

European study finds steroids help patients.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Taking steroids along with antibiotics can prevent brain damage and even death in some meningitis patients, a study has found. Meningitis, an infection of the fluid around the brain and spinal...

Generic Accutane approved in U.S.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Genpharm, Inc., headquartered in Toronto, Canada, announced that it has received the first FDA approval of a generic version of Roche's Accutane. Genpharm's Isotretinoin soft gelatin capsules will...

Gynecologic Oncology Group to conduct phase III trial of Xyotax.
December 13, 2002... 2002 DEC 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cell Therapeutics, Inc., (CTI) (CTIC) and the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) announced that the GOG will conduct a phase III trial of Xyotax in front-line treatment of ovarian cancer. The trial...