RxBlog (tm) .net / Health + Drug Blog

Big pharma calling journals' shots?

Money talks, and the drug industry's dollar talks loud and clear through the pages of leading medical journals. That's the conclusion of Peter Gøtzsche and his team at the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Copenhagen, Denmark, who compared reviews of drug studies funded by pharmaceutical companies with similar reviews done without industry support.
Via: New Scientist

FDA Approves Taxotere (docetaxel) Injection Concentrate for Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

FDA approved Taxotere (docetaxel) Injection Concentrate for use in combination with cisplatin and fluorouracil prior to radiotherapy for the treatment of patients with inoperable, locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). This disease represents approximately 3 percent of all new cancer cases in the United States.

UBS Research: Healthcare

First Read: Novartis "Q3/9M results in-line; Pharma sales guidance upped
Boston Scientific "Still in Transition" (Neutral 2)
First Read: Nobel Biocare "Q3 results confirm our view" (Buy 2)
First Read: Biomerieux "Q3 sales in line with expectations" (Buy 1)
Cochlear "COH competitor in turmoil? Lawsuits & FDA limits new speech strategy"
Pfizer "Akzo Signals Caution on Asenapine" (Buy 2) Patel
Roche "Nothing to get excited about... apart from 20% sales growth" (Buy 1)
Glenmark "Out-licensing deal for diabetes molecule" (Buy 2)

links for 2006-10-18

• Denmark an example after transfat ban
  Two years ago Denmark declared war on killer fat, making it illegal for any food to have more than 2 percent transfats. Offenders now face hefty fines — or even prison terms. The result? Today hardly anyone notices the difference.
  (tags: transfats transfat health)

Millenium Pharmaceuticals (MLNM) Ends Its Bid For AnorMED (ANOR) , Leaving Genzyme (GENZ) On Top

Millenium Pharmaceuticals (MLNM) announced today that it will not increase its bid for Canadian biotech AnorMED (ANOR) following a bid by Genzyme (GENZ) for $13.50 a share.
Via: BioHealthInvestor
Via: Biotech SeekingAlpha

[Research] Mediterranean Diet and Alzheimer Disease

Dietary pattern analysis has recently received growing attention in relation to many diseases because individuals do not consume foods or nutrients in isolation but rather as components of their daily diet.
Via: USA Today
[PDF] Mediterranean Diet, Alzheimer Disease, and Vascular Mediation

[Report] U.S. Hospital Outcomes Vary Widely

Before you check into a hospital, it may be wise to check out the hospital's quality. That's because treatment outcomes at U.S. hospitals vary widely, depending on which state, city or individual hospital provides the care, a new report finds.

The report, HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study, found that patients have a 69 percent lower risk of dying at "5-star" hospitals compared with "1-star" institutions.
Via: Forbes
[PDF] The Ninth Annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study

Value of Cholesterol Targets Is Disputed

A provocative review paper published this month has raised questions about the aggressive cholesterol-lowering recommendations made two years ago by a government panel.

The panel, the National Cholesterol Education Program, urged patients at risk for heart disease to reduce sharply their harmful LDL cholesterol and to try to reach specific, very low levels. Though the authors of the new paper, published in the Oct. 3 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, endorse the use of cholesterol-lowering statins, they say there is not enough solid scientific evidence to support the target numbers for LDL cholesterol set forth by the government panel.

The authors’ argument challenges mainstream medical thinking and the consensus among most cardiologists that the lower the cholesterol is, the better.
Via: New York Times
Via: Annals of Internal Medicine

Austrian Patent Office Rules in Pfizer's Favor, Ranbaxy Product Would Infringe Basic Lipitor Patent

Pfizer said today that the Austrian Patent Office has ruled that a claim in the company's basic patent covering the use of atorvastatin, the active ingredient in Lipitor, would be infringed by generic manufacturer Ranbaxy. Ranbaxy can appeal the ruling, but the patent will remain in effect during the appeals process. Lipitor is sold in Austria under the brand name Sortis.

Inovio Biomedical acquires Valentis' DNA delivery assets

Inovio Biomedical Corp. (INO.A) on Tuesday said it acquired certain DNA delivery and expression assets from Valentis Inc. (VLTS.O: Quote, Profile, Research) for $860,000 to enhance its overall gene delivery technology platform.

The biomedical company said $300,000 from the total deal price was offset by the cancellation of an outstanding debt Valentis owed to Inovio. The acquisition includes Valentis' DNAvax polymer delivery system and GeneSwitch gene regulation technology.
Via: Reuters
Via: Wires