Drug Week articles from September 2002

Drug Week archives from September 2002

Viagra helps men with heart failure.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Men with congestive heart failure and erectile dysfunction (ED) safely used sildenafil (Viagra) to improve sexual function in a study reported in the August 6, 2002, rapid-access issue of Circulation:...

Once-daily HIV Medications pave way for simplified combination drug regimens.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A once-daily drug regimen comprising three leading anti-HIV medications may allow HIV patients, who previously followed complicated, multidose drug regimens, to create a once-daily combination therapy...

Millennium discontinues oral MLN977 program.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (MLNM) will discontinue the development of its oral MLN977 program for the treatment of chronic asthma. This decision was made based on the findings of a...

Pivotal phase III program for the Chronogesic (sufentanil) initiated.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Durect Corporation (DRRX) announced that it has begun dosing of patients in the first clinical trial of its pivotal phase III program for the Chronogesic (sufentanil) Pain Therapy System. The...

FDA approves Zelnorm for IBS with constipation.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Novartis drug Zelnorm (tegaserod maleate) has become the first and only prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the short-term treatment of women with...

T-20 administration has little impact on daily activities of patients after 8 weeks of treatment.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Roche and Trimeris, Inc., (TRMS) announced that data collected from a survey of patients in two large, internationally conducted phase III trials suggest that subcutaneous delivery of T-20 was...

FDA gives nod to generic prednisolone oral solution.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Morton Grove Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (MGP) of Morton Grove, Illinois, announced the U.s. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved for manufacturing and marketing the company's ANDA for prednisolone...

Drug eruption study yields surprising results.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in France have shed new light on the inflammatory drug reactions often seen in HIV patients. "Persons with HIV infection have increased rates of...

Drugs typically used in later stages find a market in early stages as well.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Decision Resources, one of the world's leading research and advisory firms for pharmaceutical and healthcare issues, announced that breast cancer drugs typically used in later stages of the disease will...

Access Pharmaceuticals commences final phase III OraDisc A study.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Access Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (AKC) announced that the final phase III study of OraDisc A, a mucoadhesive disc containing amlexanox for the treatment of canker sores, has commenced. The study is...

Enrollment for Tecadenoson trial complete; CVT-3146 advances to phase III.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- CV Therapeutics, Inc., (CVTX) announced completion of patient enrollment in a phase III trial of tecadenoson, or CVT-510, in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), an abnormally...

Clinical trial of 7-day combination patch initiated.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Agile Therapeutics, Inc., announced that it is initiating a new phase II clinical trial of its 7-day transdermal combination contraceptive patch. The patch contains levonorgestrel (LNG) and ethinyl...

Women's health company seeks to raise $15M; begins phase II trials.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- FemmePharma, Inc.'s, lead drug for the treatment of endometriosis is currently being studied in a nationwide phase II clinical trial with one center in the Chicago area. FemmePharma, based in...

Watson Receives FDA approval for Nizatidine.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (WPI) announced that it has received final approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration on its abbreviated new drug application for nizatidine capsules USP,...

Panacos unveils the leading compound in a new class of HIV drug candidates: budding inhibitors.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Panacos Pharmaceuticals, Inc., made its first public presentation on the company's HIV drug candidate, PA-457, at the XIV International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain. PA-457 is the first in a...

Serono announces significant results from two clinical trials of Serostim.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Serono S.A. (SRA) announced positive results of two major clinical trials of Serostim [somatropin (rDNA origin) for injection] for the treatment of AIDS-related metabolic complications at the XIV...

Short-course nevirapine doesn't improve standard preventive therapy.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Short-course nevirapine therapy doesn't help prevent vertical HIV transmission from women with access to standard treatment regimens, researchers argue. "A...

FDA advisers plug new drug.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A failed HIV therapy should be sold instead to treat the liver-destroying hepatitis B virus, advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have ruled. If the FDA agrees, Gilead Sciences'...

Effective anti-Ebola agent may work by augmenting interferon output.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in the United States have shed new light on the workings of a powerful anti-Ebola agent. "3-Deazaneplanocin A [3-DA], an analog of adenosine, is...

Michigan Attorney General Granholm continues battle against illegal drug pricing actions.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Michigan Attorney General Jennifer M. Granholm announced that she has filed a Friend of the Court brief in an antitrust lawsuit against prescription drug company Abbott Laboratories. The lawsuit...

Oklahoma HMO seeks ruling on antipshychotic drug.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- An Oklahoma HMO wants the state to approve restrictions on the use of antipsychotic drugs that have been effective in stabilizing severe mental illness. Heartland Health Plan of Oklahoma wants the...

FDA grants fast track status for Pyridorin.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- BioStratum Incorporated, a worldwide leader in drug development based on basal lamina research, announced that the FDA has granted Fast Track status to its lead drug candidate for diabetic kidney...

NexMed receives new patent for Alprox-TD.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- NexMed, Inc., (NEXM), a developer of innovative topical treatments based on its NexACT drug delivery technology, announced that it has received U.S. Patent 6,414,028 for its application entitled,...

Study evaluates impact of treatment with Remicade plus methotrexate.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Patients in a clinical study with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who achieve a clinical response with Remicade (infliximab), in combination with methotrexate, experienced...

Quigley announces phase II clinical study on QR-334 formulation.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Quigley Corp. (QGLY) announced a phase II clinical trial of compound QR-334. QR-334 is a new formulation being developed and tested by Quigley Pharma, Inc., to relieve sialorrhea (excess...

Data capture firm releases product for phase IV clinical trials.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Medidata Solutions, Inc., a Manhattan based provider of electronic data capture (EDC) solutions for the clinical research industry announced the launch of 4sight, the industry's first EDC product...

Endocrinologists applaud FDA confirmation of safety, efficacy of Synthroid.
September 6, 2002... 2002 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Millions of patients and their endocrinologists have relied on Synthroid (levothyroxine) for decades to maintain their thyroid health. That Synthroid has received FDA approval is welcomed news for...

Sertraline safe for patients with recent heart attack or unstable angina.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Use of the antidepressant medication sertraline appears to be a safe and effective treatment for major depression for patients with unstable angina or a recent heart attack, according to an article in...

Gleevec's effectiveness on untreatable cancer shown.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers are confident they have proved that a deadly, untreatable gastrointestinal cancer is triggered by one protein that can be stopped with the drug Gleevec. More than half of patients...

Xyotax studies initiated for ovarian, breast cancers.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cell Therapeutics, Inc., (CTIC) (CTI) announced the start of the first phase II study with Xyotax (polyglutamate paclitaxel) in breast cancer. A. Hilary Calvert, MD, of Newcastle General Hospital...

COX-2 specific inhibitor Bextra effective, well-tolerated treatment.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Study results published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology showed that the COX-2 specific inhibitor Bextra (valdecoxib tablets) is as effective as the nonspecific non-steroidal anti-inflammatory...

Results released from CDP 571 phase III studies in Crohn disease.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Celltech Group plc (CLL; CCH) announced outline results from a phase III study undertaken to evaluate CDP 571 as a new treatment for active Crohn disease, and also from a further phase III study in...

OraPharma reports favorable results from phase I trial of OC-1012.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- OraPharma, Inc., (OPHM), a specialty pharmaceutical company with an initial product entry in the emerging field of oral healthcare, announced that it has completed a phase I clinical trial of OC-1012,...

Potent experimental drug shown to slow the growth of breast and prostate cancer tumors in mice.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In recent years, laboratory discoveries have led to the development of new drugs designed to target and attack cancer cells, leaving healthy ones intact. One key weapon in this arsenal of new...

Schering-Plough to appeal district court ruling on Claritin patent.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Schering-Plough Corp. (SGP) announced that it disagreed with and would appeal a decision by a U.S. District Court judge that found that certain claims of a patent protecting against generic versions of...

Ortho-McNeil submits supplemental new drug application for Levaquin.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc., announced that a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) has been filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for marketing approval of Levaquin...

TAP Pharmaceutical gets FDA approval for pediatric labeling of Prevacid.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pharmaceutical Products, Inc., announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Prevacid (lansoprazole) for the short-term treatment of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux...

Israel to end temporary suspension of Vevesca (OGT 918) trials.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Oxford GlycoSciences, Plc, has been informed that the Ethics Committee at the Shaare Zedek Medical Centre in Israel, that recommended Vevesca (OGT 918) administration be temporarily stopped in April...

OGS Announces Positive CPMP Opinion for Zavesca.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Oxford GlycoSciences, Plc, announced that the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP) of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) has issued a positive opinion...

Low-dose paclitaxel effective for high-risk Kaposi sarcoma patients.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Paclitaxel therapy can help patients suffering from refractory Kaposi sarcoma, according to researchers in the United States. "Treatment options are...

California representatives cross party lines to back increase for AIDS drugs.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- California's representatives in Congress joined across party lines to ask House of Representatives leadership to end waiting lists for AIDS drugs by increasing funds for treatment. "With over 1200...

Powerful new genital herpes drug studied at MCG.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- An experimental drug that may diminish genital herpes outbreaks by helping the immune system find and fight the evasive virus is under study at the Medical College of Georgia. The immune response...

Eli Lilly subpoenaed over marketing of osteoporosis drug.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- U.S. investigators have ordered Eli Lilly and Co. to turn over records involving an osteoporosis drug, which a competitor complained was being marketed improperly as a breast cancer preventative. ...

Genesis Health Ventures to acquire NCS HealthCare.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Genesis Health Ventures, Inc., (GHVI) announced that it has entered into a merger agreement to acquire NCS HealthCare, Inc., the fourth largest institutional pharmacy provider in the United States. ...

Apomine trial started in postmenopausal women.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ilex Oncology, Inc., (ILXO) announced the initiation of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase I/II proof of principle trial to evaluate the effects of Apomine in postmenopausal women...

FDA approves Eligard 22.5 mg.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Atrix Laboratories, Inc., (ATRX) announced that the company has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Eligard 22.5 mg (leuprolide acetate for injectable suspension),...

ILEX initiates phase I Clofarex study.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- ILEX Oncology, Inc., (ILXO) has initiated phase I clinical trial to evaluate the investigational anticancer agent Clofarex (clofarabine) in adults with advanced solid tumors. This is the first...

Synthroid wins FDA approval.
September 13, 2002... 2002 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Abbott Laboratories announced it received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of its synthetic thyroid hormone replacement therapy, Synthroid (levothyroxine sodium tablets, USP), for...

Medicare, Medicaid to issue national coverage decision for Carnitor injection.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced its intent to issue a national coverage determination for intravenous levocarnitine, a pharmaceutical treatment for carnitine...

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy issues position statement.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) has issued a statement that supports medication error reporting systems that are designed to encourage the broadest possible participation by providing...

Innovative IV drug for severe burns in children in phase II trial.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Each year, thousands of children suffer burn-related accidents, often with long-lasting consequences and disfigurement. Burn injuries constitute one of the greatest hazards of childhood, and...

Positive results of studies released for Ursodiol.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Axcan Pharma, Inc., announced positive final statistical analysis of a phase II study assessing the efficacy of URSO 250 in the prevention of the recurrence of colorectal adenomatous polyps as well as...

Positive phase II results reported for non-narcotic analgesic.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc., (DOVP) announced positive efficacy and safety results for its phase II clinical trial investigating its novel, non-narcotic analgesic, bicifadine, in the treatment of...

Second phase I study of huN901-DM1/BB-10901 initiated.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- ImmunoGen, Inc., (IMGN) and British Biotech plc announced that patient treatment has begun in the planned second phase I study of huN901-DM1/BB- 10901, a novel anticancer agent targeted at small-cell...

New drug raises hopes, fears.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. government has approved tests of an experimental and potentially expensive AIDS drug that could prolong the lives of patients with drug-resistant strains of HIV. Dubbed Fuzeon by its...

Teamm Pharmaceuticals acquires Histex line of products from Andrx.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Teamm Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, announced that it has acquired the Histex line of products from Andrx Laboratories, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Andrx Corp....

Phase II clinical trials of FM-VP4 approved.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Forbes Medi-Tech, Inc., announced it has received approval from the Medical Safety Review Panel of the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam to initiate the phase II component of its clinical trial on...

Humana, NitroMed to expand clinical trial access to minorities.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Humana, Inc., (HUM) and NitroMed, Inc., initiated a program to provide expanded access to clinical trials for minority beneficiaries in the Humana health plans. The partnership is based on coverage...

Antidepressant drug sales expected to reach $20.5B by 2007.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Front Line Strategic Consulting, Inc., a leader in consulting and market research for the Life Sciences industries, announced a new strategic market report "Antidepressants, a Strategic Business...

RNA interference could be effective treatment strategy.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in the United States have identified a novel and promising treatment modality against HIV infection. "Synthetic small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)...

Substance P blocker can prevent viral replication.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in the United States have identified a novel agent that shows promise as a treatment for HIV and other viral infections. "Substance P (SP), a...

T-20 safe, effective for pediatric use.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - The novel anti-HIV agent T-20 is safe and effective for use with infected children, researchers in the United States say. "Entry inhibitors, a new class...

Consumer groups call for legal action against Prilosec maker.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A coalition that represents 125 consumer and senior groups in 38 states announced it is seeking federal and state action against British drug maker AstraZeneca for apparent fraud. The Stop Patient...

California bill proposes to end waste of tax dollars for drug ads.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D, W. Hollywood) will discuss legislation he will pursue this year sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) to prohibit the State of California from paying for...

In 2001 retail pharmacies filled 3 billion prescriptions.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Retail pharmacies filled over 3 billion prescriptions in 2001 totaling $164 billion. Chain pharmacies alone filled 63% or $102.7 billion worth of prescriptions. This year's Chain Pharmacy Industry...

European Commission grants orphan drug designation in for OvaRex MAb.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AltaRex Corp. confirmed that the European Commission has granted orphan medicinal product designation for OvaRex MAb (Oregovomab) for the treatment of ovarian cancer. Orphan drug designation makes...

Clinical trial initiated in patients with early stage disease.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cephalon, Inc., (CEPH) and H. Lundbeck A/S announced the start of a North American clinical trial of CEP-1347 in patients with early stage Parkinson disease. The study expects to enroll...

U.S. patent issued covering treatment of female sex dysfunction, Raynaud disease.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cellegy Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (CLGY) announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued Patent No. 6,423,683 entitled "Microdose Therapy." This patent delineates...

Liquid efavirenz safe, effective for children.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - A liquid version of the powerful antiretroviral agent efavirenz is safe and effective for pediatric use, researchers say. Stuart E. Starr and colleagues...

FDA unveils new initiative to enhance pharmaceutical good manufacturing practices.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that it is undertaking a significant new initiative to enhance the regulation of pharmaceutical manufacturing and product quality and to bring...

Positive results of Celadrin study published.
September 20, 2002... 2002 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Results from a clinical trial by San Diego based Imagenetix, Inc., (IAGX) suggest that its product Celadrin, a natural-based nutritional supplement comprising a combination of cetylated fatty acids,...

Inappropriate medications are taken by many elderly patients who live at home.
September 27, 2002... 2002 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Many elderly patients take medications that are considered inappropriate for their age or are inappropriate to take with certain common medical conditions, according to an article in the Archives of...

Preclinical Study: INGN 241 inhibits growth of lung cancer.
September 27, 2002... 2002 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A preclinical study published in the current issue of Oncogene demonstrates that Introgen's (INGN) gene drug INGN 241, an adenoviral vector encoding the melanoma differentiation association 7 (mda-7)...

Patient enrollment completed in phase III trial for RSR13.
September 27, 2002... 2002 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Allos Therapeutics, Inc., (ALTH) announced the completion of patient enrollment in the pivotal phase III clinical trial of the company's leading drug candidate, RSR13 (efaproxiral), in patients with...

FTC report contradicts generic industry bill.
September 27, 2002... 2002 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) said it welcomed the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) report vindicating current laws that help patients by both encouraging new drug...

Enrollment in phase II/III clinical trial of Esterom completed.
September 27, 2002... 2002 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Entropin, Inc., (ETOP)(ETOPW), a specialty pharmaceutical company developing new topical therapeutics for painful soft tissue injuries and diseases, announced that the company has completed patient...

Orathecin receives orphan-drug designation for treatment of pediatric AIDS.
September 27, 2002... 2002 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- SuperGen, Inc., (SUPG) announced that its oral anticancer cancer compound Orathecin has received orphan-drug designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of pediatric...

New drug application submitted for Memantine.
September 27, 2002... 2002 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Forest Laboratories, Inc., (FRX) announced that it submitted a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market memantine for the treatment of moderate-to-severe Alzheimer...

Research shows Memantine may reduce time and cost associated with caregiving.
September 27, 2002... 2002 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Forest Laboratories, Inc., (FRX) announced that treatment with investigational memantine in the moderate-to-severe stages of Alzheimer disease has been demonstrated to provide daily living, cognitive,...

Vion initiates phase I trial of VNP40101M in leukemia.
September 27, 2002... 2002 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Vion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (VION) announced that it had initiated a phase I trial of VNP40101M, its initial drug candidate from the sulfonyl hydrazine prodrug (SHP) family of anticancer agents, in...

Intensive vaccine reinduction extends survival for melanoma patients.
September 27, 2002... 2002 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS, senior medical writer - Intensive vaccine reinduction therapy for patients with recurrent malignant melanoma significantly increased survival time, according to researchers...

Angiogenix improve blood flow in ischemic portions of the heart.
September 27, 2002... 2002 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Endovasc, Ltd., Inc., (ENVC) wants to provide exact details regarding the initial results of its Angiogenix treatment on test animals conducted at Columbia University. Endovasc focuses on the...

Human testing for oral human growth hormone initiated.
September 27, 2002... 2002 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Emisphere Technologies, Inc., (EMIS), announced it has begun an early phase clinical trial to evaluate an oral formulation of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH). The oral formulation in the...

FDA approves Eloxatin following priority review.
September 27, 2002... 2002 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Sanofi-Synthelabo (SNY; SAN) announced that Eloxatin (oxaliplatin for injection), a new chemotherapy drug, has received approval following a 46-day priority review by the U.S. Food and Drug...