Biomedical Market Newsletter articles from May 2003

Biomedical Market Newsletter archives from May 2003

Medical litigation crisis deepens: problems in health care system are worsening says HHS. (Breaking News).(Department of Health and Human Services)
May 31, 2003... The Department of Health & Human Services has released a new report showing that problems associated with medical litigation have significantly worsened in the past year. In many states, the spiraling cost of insurance for health care providers...

DOJ/FTC hearings on health care & competition law & policy: agenda for June 25-26, 2003 sessions released June 25-26; Sept 10-12; Sept 24-26, 2003. (Breaking News).(Department of Justice)(Federal Trade Commission)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... WASHINGTON DC -- The US Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission have released an agenda for a session of their joint hearings on health care, competition law and policy, June 25-26, 2003. LOCATION: FTC Conference Center at 601 New...

FDA report and online database show status of postmarketing studies. (Breaking News).(Food and Drug Administration)
May 31, 2003... WASHINGTON DC -- MAY 22, 2003--The FDA today announced two measures to inform the public about the status of manufacturers' commitments to carry out further clinical studies following the FDA's approval of certain drugs and biological products....

Corrigan named Acting Principal Deputy Inspector General. (Breaking News).(Dara Corrigan )(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... WASHINGTON DC -- MAY 30, 2003--DHHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced today the appointment of Dara Corrigan of Baltimore as Acting Principal Deputy Inspector General for DHHS. Corrigan currently serves as the Director of Program...

Medical device user fee & modernization act (MDUFMA) of 2002: FDA CDRH contacts for specific billing issues. (Breaking News).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... Updated 5/13/03 General questions &appeals objecting to paying a user fee for a 510(k) Questions: James G. Norman 301-827-6829 Appeals: Bob Navazio, OCD 301-827-7996 All other questions &appeals concerning...

Total cost to develop a new prescription drug, $897 mln, including cost of post-approval research. (Breaking News).
May 31, 2003... BOSTON MA -- MAY 13, 2003--The fully capitalized cost to develop a new drug, including studies conducted after receiving regulatory approval, averages $897 mln, according to an analysis released today by the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug...

FDA seeks injunction against Multidata Systems Intl. (Breaking News).(Food and Drug Administration)(Multidata Systems International Corp.)
May 31, 2003... WASHINGTON DC -- MAY 07, 2003--The FDA today said that it has entered into a consent decree of injunction with Multidata Systems International Corporation to stop them from manufacturing and distributing radiation therapy medical devices. ...

FDA agreement for shipment of devices for sterilization. (Breaking News).(Food and Drug Administration)
May 31, 2003... Federal Register: May 21, 2003; Vol. 68, No. 98; Page 27819-27820; Docket No. 03N-0194 Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Agreement for Shipment of Devices for Sterilization ACTION: Notice....

Schering-Plough provides update on previously reported investigation by U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. (Breaking News).(medicaid fraud investigated)
May 31, 2003... KENILWORTH, N.J., May 30, 2003--Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) today reported that it has received a letter from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts advising the company that its subsidiary, Schering...

Avanir Pharmaceuticals (AMEX:AVN). (Clinical Trials/Filings).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... SAN DIEGO CA -- MAY 1, 2003--Received an extended term of five years for its docosanol Abreva patent, generating a payment of $3.6 mln from Drug Royalty USA. The firm purchased part of the future royalty stream on North American sales of Abreva...

Biosyntech (OTCBB:BSYI). (Clinical Trials/Filings).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... LAVAL QUEBEC -- MAY 1, 2003--Initiated the process of obtaining CE marking for Bst-CarGel, Bst-DermOn and Bst-InPod, as medical devices. Investor Relations, Alain Geahchan, 450-686-2437 ext 312 alain.geahchan@biosyntech.com...

Corixa Corp (NASDAQ:CRXA). (Clinical Trials/Filings).(drug approval sought)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... SEATTLE WA -- MAY 12, 2003,--Reported its partner, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals filed for regulatory approval of Fendrix with the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products. This is the first regulatory filing for approval of an...

Genome Therapeutics (NASDAQ:GENE). (Clinical Trials/Filings).(genetic markers identified)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... WALTHAM MA & WASHINGTON--MAY 21, 2003--Identified, along with its partner, BioMerieus, genetic markers specific to nearly 700 unique bacterial species. Christopher Taylor, 781-398-2466. ctaylor@genomecorp.com http://www.genomecorp.com

InSite Vision Inc (AMEX:ISV). (Clinical Trials/Filings).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... ALAMEDA CA -- APRIL 30, 2003--Initiated a Phase 1 clinical study with ISV-403, an ophthalmic pharmaceutical product for the treatment of ocular bacterial infections, to evaluate the systemic and ocular safety and tolerability of ISV-403 in...

Introgen Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:INGN). (Clinical Trials/Filings).(licensing agreement with University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... AUSTIN TX -- MAY 1, 2003--Acquired the exclusive worldwide license for the fus1 gene from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Fus1 is a tumor-suppressor gene researchers claim inhibits the growth of tumors and greatly reduce...

Ionix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Clinical Trials/Filings).(patents)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... CAMBRIDGE ENGLAND -- MAY 1, 2003--Received patent protection in support of its program to develop new analgesics that block the sodium channel drug target, Nav1.8. Ionix has issued patents that cover this target in the US (US6451554), Europe...

Medicines Co (NASDAQ:MDCO). (Clinical Trials/Filings).(The Medicines Company)(licensing agreements)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... PARSIPPANY NJ -- MAY 19, 2003--Accelerated the licensing of clevidipine from AstraZeneca and now holds exclusive worldwide rights, excluding Japan. It will develop clevidipine in Phase 3 clinical trials for its potential use as a targeted, fast...

W.L. Gore and Associates Inc. (Privately-held). (Clinical Trials/Filings).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... FLAGSTAFF AZ -- MAY 15, 2003--Performed the first clinical implant of the Noa Coronary Stent System, by Professor Martin T. Rothman at the London Chest Hospital in England. The new delivery system is designed to deliver the stent to the...

ActivX Biosciences Inc. (Privately held).(employee promotions)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... LA JOLLA CA -- J.C. MacRae its Executive VP & CFO, to a newly created position, was Executive VP, COO & CFO at Ista Pharmaceuticals Inc, in Irvine CA.

Akzo Nobel N.V. (Privately-held).(employee resignations)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... ARNHEM THE NETHERLANDS -- L. Paul Bremer III resigns as a member of its Supervisory Board, to accept an appointment by President Bush to be his Envoy to Iraq, heading the U.S.-led Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance.

Alliance Medical Corp. (Privately-held).(new employees)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... PHOENIX AZ -- Ron Clark is its new Director of Research & Development.

Allied Healthcare Intl Inc. (AMEX:ADH).(employee promotions)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... NEW YORK NY -- Promoted Charles F. Murphy to Acting CFO, replacing Daniel A. Bergeron, who resigned.

AMN Healthcare Services Inc. (NYSE:AHS).(employee promotions)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... SAN DIEGO CA -- Promoted Susan R. Nowakowski to President and she retains her current position as COO. Steven C. Francis, co-founder and previous President, will continue as CEO.

Aphton Corp. (NASDAQ:APHT).(chief executive officer selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... MIAMI FL -- Patrick T. Mooney, MD, is its new Chief Medical Officer, reporting to Philip Gevas, CEO.

Applied Digital Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSX).(new employees)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... PALM BEACH FL -- Dr. Ingo Stark is the new Sr Researcher at Thermo Life Energy, its wholly-owned subsidiary.

Applied DNA Sciences Inc. (OTCBB:APDN).(new employees)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... LOS ANGELES CA -- Jeffrey R. Brown joined its Board of Advisors, serving as a Strategic Business Consultant.

BioCurex Inc. (OTCBB:BOCX).(chief executive officer selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA CA -- Dr. Ricardo Moro-Vidal is its new CEO. He is also the firm's founder and will continue as President.

Biomira Inc. (NASDAQ:BIOM;TSX:BRA).(vice president selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... EDMONTON CANADA -- Promoted Marilyn Olson to VP of Regulatory Affairs. She was Manager, Regulatory Affairs.

Boehringer Ingelheim Corp (Privately-held).(president selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... ST JOSEPH MO -- George Heidgerken is its new COO & President, and is responsible for US domestic sales, marketing, R&D and manufacturing.

Cadent Holdings Inc. (Privately-held).(chief executive officer selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... NEW YORK NY -- Douglas H. Stickney is its new Chairman & CEO.

California Healthcare Institute (Nonprofit).(new board of directors)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... LA JOLLA CA -- Deborah Dunsire, M.D., VP and North American Region Head, Oncology at Novartis, joined the Board of Directors of California Healthcare Institute.

CancerVax Corp. (Privately-held).(new employees)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... CARLSBAD CA -- Martin Mattingly, Pharm. D., is its new Executive VP, and will oversee corporate development and marketing activities. Steven Ruhl is its new Executive Director of Manufacturing. Rabi Prusti, Ph.D., is its Director of Quality...

CardioTech Intl Inc (AMEX:CTE).(Gish Biomedical Inc. names new president)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... WOBURN MA -- Douglas E. Whittaker is the new President of Gish Biomedical Inc (Rancho Santa Margarita CA), a fully owned subsidiary of CardioTech International Inc. Whittaker was Director of Worldwide Sales at Gish.

City of Hope National Medical Center & Beckman Research Institute (Nonprofit).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... LOS ANGELES CA -- Michael A. Friedman, M.D., its new President & CEO, was a former Acting Commissioner of the FDA and Associate Director of the National Cancer Institute of the US National Institutes of Health.

CTI Molecular Imaging Inc. (NASDAQ:CTMI).(new employees)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... KNOXVILLE TN -- Charles Gluchowski, Ph.D. is its new VP of R&D and Managing Director of the Los Angeles Tech Center.

Eli Lilly and Co. (NYSE:LLY).(employee promotions)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... INDIANAPOLIS IN -- Promoted Steven Paul, M.D to Executive VP for Science & Technology and President of its research labs, replacing August Watanabe, who will retire on June 30, 2003.

Endocare Inc (Privately-held).(new board member)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... IRVINE CA -- Haakon Ragde, M.D. joined its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Ragde is a board certified urologist, a clinical professor of urology at the University of Virginia Medical Center and Chairman of the Haakon Ragde Foundation for...

Fast Track Systems (Privately-held).(new employees)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... SAN MATEO CA -- Evrard Spencer is its new VP of Operations, and John Supan is its new VP of Finance & CFO.

Focus Technologies Inc (Privately-held).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... HERNDON VA -- Robert Flamm new Sr Scientific Liaison for bacteriology on the anti-infective services team, was Sr Project Leader of Discovery & Clinical Microbiology in infectious disease research at Abbott Laboratories.

Hcorp Inc. (Privately-held).(executive vice president named)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... PLEASANTON CA & PORTLAND OR -- Scott Marber is its new Executive VP of Sales & Marketing.

Health Care Property Investors (NYSE:HCP).(president named)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... NEWPORT BEACH CA -- James F. Flaherty III is its new President & CEO and has been reelected to a two-year term on its Board.

Health Net Inc. (NYSE:HNT).(employee promotions)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... LOS ANGELES CA -- Joyce Li, FSA, is its new Chief Actuarial Officer, reporting to Marv Rich, Executive VP of Finance & Operations.

Healthnostics Inc (NASDAQ:HNST).(vice president selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... BETHESDA MD -- Karim Sylla is its new VP & CTO, leading the expansion of the company's integrated Internet-based healthcare product lines.

HealthStar Communications Inc. (Privately-held).(vice president selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... WOODBRIDGE NJ -- Carl Roselle is its new Sr VP, Network Development.

HealtheTech Inc. (NASDAQ:HETC).(employee promotions)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... GOLDEN CO -- Promoted James W. Dennis, current President & COO, to CEO. He will continue to serve on the Board, replacing co-founder, James R. Mault, M.D., who resigned.

HemoSense Inc (Privately-held).(corporate director selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... MILPITAS CA -- Kristal R. Ball is its new Director of Manufacturing, reporting directly to Gary Hewett, Executive VP Operations.

Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ:HEPH).(corporate director selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... SAN DIEGO CA -- Jerry Englert is its new Director of Strategic Planning & Financial Relations.

Implant Sciences Corp (AMEX:IMX; IMX.WS).(vice presidents selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... WAKEFIELD MA -- Diane Ryan is its new VP, Finance & CFO, replacing acting CFO, David Volpe, who is its new VP of Strategic Development.

InfoPro Solutions (Privately-held).(InfoPro Solutions Inc. names new corporate director)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... WESTLAKE VILLAGE CA -- Michael Radin is its new Director of Clinicopia Products Division.

Iridex Corp. (NASDAQ:IRIX).(chief financial officer selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... MOUNTAIN VIEW CA -- Larry Tannenbaum is its new CFO & Sr VP, Finance and Administration.

Ligand Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:LGND).(employee promotions)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... SAN DIEGO CA -- Promoted Andres Negro-Vilar, MD, PhD, to Executive VP, R&D; Tod Mertes to VP, Controller, a new internal audit position; and promoted Gian Aliprandi Sr VP for Technical, Supply & International Operations. Tom Silberg, Executive...

Lion Bioscience (NASDAQ:LEON).(LION bioscience AG)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... CAMBRIDGE MA & HEIDELBERG GERMANY --Appointed Richard Roy to its Supervisory Board.

MacroMed Inc. (Privately-held).(vice president selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... SANDY UT -- Promoted James E. Herrin to VP of Finance & Corporate Development, and Karleen S. Callahan, Ph.D., as its Executive Director of Clinical Studies.

Medical Device Consultants Inc. (Privately-held).(vice president selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... NORTH ATTLEBORO MA -- Hired James R. Veale as VP Strategic & Technical Assistance; Sheila Hemeon-Heyer as Dir of Regulatory Services; and Judy Andrews as Mgr Quality & Compliance Services.

MedAssets (Privately-held).(MedAssets.com Inc.)(vice president selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... ATLANTA GA -- Richard Friedman is its new VP, Corporate Governance.

MedAssets Hsca (Privately-held).(vice president selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... ST LOUIS MO -- Jim Hersma, new Sr VP, was President & CEO of Novation and its sister organization, HPPI.

Medidata Solutions (Privately-held).(Medidata Solutions Inc. names vice president)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... NEW YORK NY -- Jonathan K. Heinemann is its new Head of its Quality Assurance Organization. Joseph A. Tyers is its new VP for Services.

Michigan State Medical Society (Nonprofit).(president selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... EAST LANSING MI -- Hassan Amirikia, MD, a Detroit obstetrician/gynecologist and reproductive endocrinologist, is the new President of the 14,000-member Michigan State Medical Society.

Milliman USA (Privately-held).(Milliman USA Inc. selects chief marketing officer)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... SEATTLE WA -- Pamela A. Cone is its new Chief Marketing Officer.

Multivac (Privately-held).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... KANSAS CITY MO -- Rob Veldhuis is its new Regional Sales Manager for the Medical Consumer & Industrial Division, leading its expansion in the Canadian region.

NeoStem (Privately-held).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... AGOURA HILLS CA -- Edward Garnett, who recently retired from Amgen (NSASDAQ:AMGN), joined the firm's Business Advisory Board.

New York Health Care Inc. (NASDAQ:BBAL).(chief operating officer selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... BROOKLYN NY -- Dennis M. O'Donnell is the new COO of its wholly owned subsidiary, BioBalance Corp.

Novoste Corp (NASDAQ:NOVT).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... NORCROSS GA -- Promoted Andrew M. Green to VP, Regulatory & Clinical Affairs. He will continue to be responsible for the Regulatory Affairs Department and for the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of its Clinical Affairs Department....

Pediatric Services of America Inc (NASDAQ:PSAI).(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... NORCROSS GA -- Appointed Joseph P. Harrelson to the newly created position of VP of PPEC Operations.

PharmaNet (Privatelyy-held).(PharmaNet Inc. names medical director)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... HIGH WYCOMBE ENGLAND -- Manuela Niewel, MD is its new Medical Director of Oncology, Europe.

PHT Corp. (Privately-held).(president and chief executive officer named)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... CHARLESTOWN MA -- Philip Lee is its new President & CEO and member its Board.

Precyse Solutions (Privately-held).(new employees)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... KING OF PRUSSIA PA -- Robert E. Healy, Jr. is its new Sr VP & CFO, reporting to Jeff Levitt, Chair-man, CEO and founder.

Reliant Pharmaceuticals L.L.C (Privately-held).(chairman and chief executive officer named)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... LIBERTY CORNER NJ -- Ernest Mario, Ph.D., its new Chairman & CEO.

Salmedix Inc (Privately-held).(ISIS Pharmaceuticals Inc. names new chief operating officer)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... SAN DIEGO CA -- Andrew Dorr, M.D., new COO, was Chief Medical Officer at Isis Pharmaceuticals.

Sicor Inc. (NASDAQ:SCRI).(president selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... IRVINE CA -- Barbara H. Deptula is its new President, Biotech Div, succeeding Michael Cannon, who remains as Executive VP & Chief Scientific Officer.

SourceOne Healthcare Technologies Inc (Privately-held).(new employees)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... CLEVELAND OH -- Suzanne Schulze Taylor is its new VP & General Counsel. John Nadzen is its new Director of Environment, Safety & Health. Robert J. White is its new Sr VP, Sales and Marketing.

Special Surgery (Privately-held).(new chairman selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... NEW YORK NY -- Dean R. O'Hare, former Chair & CEO of the Chubb Corp, is its new Co-Chairman of its Board of Trustees, succeeding Richard Menschel, who had been Chairman since 1992. Menschel will become Chairman Emeritus of the Board.

Strategic Diagnostics Inc. (NASDAQ:SDIX).(interim chief executive officer named)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... NEWARK DE -- Arthur A. Koch, Jr., who has served as its COO, will serve as interim CEO, replacing Richard C. Birkmeyer, who left the firm.

Transkaryotic Therapies Inc (NASDAQ:TKTX).(Transkaryotic Therapies Inc.)(new employees)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... CAMBRIDGE MA -- Gregory D. Perry is its new VP, Finance & CFO, reporting to Michael J. Astrue, President & CEO.

Tularik Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRK).(employee promotions)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO CA -- Promoted Jin-Long Chen, Ph.D. from Director, Biology to VP, Biology, where he will oversee all of Tularik's biology research.

VisiJet Inc. (OTCBB:VJET).(new employees)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... IRVINE CA -- Robert Javidi is its new Director of Operations. R. Alden Kay is Director of Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs.

Xerion Pharmaceuticals (Privately-held).(new employees)(Xerion Pharmaceuticals GmbH)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... MARTINSRIED GERMANY & CAMBRIDGE MA -- Anil Singhal, Ph.D., is its new Chief Drug Development Officer.

Zelos Therapeutics Inc. (Privately-held).(chief executive officer selected)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... OTTAWA CANADA & WALTHAM MA -- Robert DuFresne is its new CEO.

Aesculap Inc. (Privately-held). (Business News).(new contracts)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... CENTER VALLEY PA -- MAY 5, 2003--Signed a 36-month multi-source agreement with Novation for a broad range of general, neurosurgery and endoscopic products. This is the first surgical instrument contract the firm has received from Novation,...

Air Products (NYSE:APD). (Business News).(new company name)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... LEHIGH VALLEY PA -- MAY 1, 2003--Changed its name to Air Products Healthcare; affiliated firms will retain their current names. http://www.airproducts.com

American Optometric Association (Non-profit). (Business News).(online eye care tool)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... AUSTIN TX & ST LOUIS MO -- MAY 5, 2003--Agreed to become an equity participant in VisionWeb, an Internet-based tool to help eyecare providers to simplify and streamline their practices. VisionWeb, Jim Vitkus, 512-241-8505, http://...

Bradley Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NYSE:BDY). (Business News).(stock market listings)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... FAIRFIELD NJ -- MAY 5, 2003--Qualified to be listed on the NYSE and was listed on NASDQ as: BPRX. Anthony Griffo, Investor Relations, Bradley Pharmaceuticals, 973-882-1505 ext 313. http://www.bradpharm.com

Commonwealth Biotechnologies Inc. (NASDAQ:CBTE). (Business News).(government contracts)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... RICHMOND VA -- MAY 5, 2003--Received a blanket purchase agreement from the National Institute of Justice for performance of DNA genotyping work designed to clear the backlog of samples associated with convicted offenders. Dr. Robert B. Harris,...

CTII Molecular Imaging Inc (NASDAQ:CTMI). (Business News).(600th imaging system introduced)(Brief Article)
May 31, 2003... KNOXVILLE TN -- MAY 1, 2003--Its unit, CPS Innovations, achieved a major milestone with delivery of its 600th PET or PET/CY imaging system. The firm increased the scanning speed of its medical imaging equipment. One of its products can scan a...