Biotech Business Week

Hematology - Angiogenic factors may influence the outcomes of adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Hypercholesterolemia - Study shows no significant effect on Triglide single dose with addition of Lipitor or Zocor

Hypertension - Pharma company announces phase III results of SPP100 as hypertension therapy treatment

Imaging - 3-D true-color images of pulmonary mucosa permit better analysis of bronchial diseases

Imaging - Hypericin helps differentiate between glioblastoma and neurons in vitro

Imaging - Medical imaging company to provide direct sales and service in Belgium and Luxemburg

Imaging - Orthopedic, breast imaging complex contracts with GE Healthcare for diagnostic equipment

Imaging - Radiotherapy equipment supplied to London hospital

Immunology - Immune system response to viral DNA differs from RNA virus recognition

Immunology - Proteinase-inhibitor deficiency is a rare cause of liver cirrhosis

Immunology - cDNA expression library plus protein microarray facilitates autoimmune disease analysis

Immunosuppression - Overstimulated immune cells lose their protective ability

Infectious Diseases - Bio*One Capital, drug-developer establish company to develop infectious-disease products

Infectious Diseases - Outbreak of pharyngeal plague caused by consumption of camel meat

Influenza - Changes recommended for use of antivirals for influenza

Information Technology - Bioinformatics software designed to help researchers with analysis, workflow

Information Technology - IT companies enter agreement to provide RFID systems for wireless healthcare service

Information Technology - Information technology company releases scalable solution for high throughout screening analysis

Information Technology - Lawson Software contracts with New Jersey hospital to support supply chain operations

Information Technology - Massachusetts General Hospital installs large-screen data capture and share system in OR

Information Technology - New York hospital chooses care management, emergency department software systems

Information Technology - Research study finds EMR and voice recognition solutions are needed to reduce cost and improve care

Information Technology - Siemens introduces secure, web-based software for systemwide connectivity of health communities

Information Technology - Software provider achieves registered CDISC solution provider status

Information Technology - U.S. healthcare services portal Healthia contracts for India-based data processing IT unit

Information Technology - Upgrade of Odyssey software for protein arrays analysis announced

Information Technology - Upgrade of published clinical trial database for assessing drugs and therapies released

Information Technology - Zix to collaborate in HHS $2 million electronic prescribing grant awarded to SureScripts

Injury Prevention - Gender-based treatment modalities should be used to reduce injury risk

Insulin Pharmacokinetics - Population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of insulin is reported

Iron Deficiency - Dialysis products manufacturer completes phase III trial protocol for iron-delivery product

Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Probiotic appears to benefit both IBS and Crohn disease patients, biotech says

Legal Issues - Agreement reached in litigation regarding alleged loss of smell after using cold remedy

Legal Issues - Implant maker granted FCC waiver

Legal Issues - New patent for movable optic fiber laser probe granted, infringement lawsuit filed

Legal Issues - Settlement of all existing patent litigation regarding pulse oximetry products announced

Legal issues - Breach of contract lawsuit filed against Advanced Magnetics, Inc.

Leprosy - World leaders, Nobel laureates issue global appeal on stigma against people with leprosy

Lung Cancer - New imaging technology detects pulmonary nodules

Lung Cancer - Report issues failing grades for progress being made against lung cancer

Malignant Glioma - Phase I recurrent malignant glioma trial 6-month follow-up complete, reovirus is well-tolerated

Market Analysis - Clinical drug research booming in China

Market Analysis - Contract clinical research organizations expand speed, capacity of drug development pipeline

Marketing - Michigan based M-Care chooses Campbell-Ewald as advertising agency of record

Marketing - New marketing agency focuses on fostering healthcare consumerism

Marketing - Physician and consumer electronic-health marketing survey shows search engines essential

Marketing - Signalife, Inc. names New York-based public relations firm as agency of record

Medicaid - Alliance forms to strengthen Medicaid and help drive quality improvement in pediatrics

Medical Devices - Agreement signed with Sullivan Orthopedic Associates for digital X-ray technology

Medical Devices - Antibody screening, blood typing systems ordered by blood donor testing firm

Medical Devices - Approval granted for FloTrac sensor in Japan

Medical Devices - Atlanta Northside Hospital system contracts for suture- and tape-free securement devices

Medical Devices - CE Mark granted for the Celution stem cell system

Medical Devices - Company announces U.S. FDA 510(k) filing for antibiotic eluting surgical mesh

Medical Devices - Company submits 510(k) application to U.S. FDA for embolic protection system

Medical Devices - Composix Kugel Mesh X-Large Patch recalled

Medical Devices - First 2-year balloon kyphoplasty data show treatment markedly improved pain and function

Medical Devices - Georgia hospital implants the first Cylos DR-T pacemaker in the U.S.

Medical Devices - Medical device company announces first hospital purchase order for a water filtration device

Medical Devices - Medical device company introduces phlebotomy module for vascular access simulator

Medical Devices - NeoMatrix selects medical device developer to manufacture breast cancer screening system

Medical Devices - New Medicare pass-through payments for rechargeable neurostimulators approved

Medical Devices - Nitric oxide release offers viable option for in vivo glucose sensor development

Medical Devices - Qscan-Vaers available for vaccine adverse event reporting

Medical Devices - Scripps Hospital acquires blood volume analyzer

Medical Devices - Stryker Navigation deploys product lifecycle management company

Medical Devices - Supplier selected for TruBIO Bioreactor Control System

Medical Devices - Third party testing initiated for U.S. FDA certification of air purification device

Medical Devices - U.S. FDA grants regulatory clearance for system to treat wrinkles in periorbital face area

Medicare - Medicare Health Support pilot program launched in Tennessee by XLHealth

Medicare - Medicare contractor establishes reimbursement coverage policy for Oncotype DX breast cancer test

Medicare - Medicare shifted to an Average Sales Price-based reimbursement system

Medicare - Study shows companies may save 80% on retiree pharmaceutical costs with Medicare Part D

Medicare - U.S. HHS says nearly 24 million Medicare beneficiaries now have prescription drug coverage

Mergers & Acquisitions - Agreement inked to acquire targeted molecules

Mergers & Acquisitions - Biosil Limited and Nagor Limited schedule closing of medical products company acquisition

Mergers & Acquisitions - Biotech company acquires Serotec Group to strengthen global research antibody business

Mergers & Acquisitions - Boston Scientific offer to acquire stent maker considered superior

Mergers & Acquisitions - Cord Blood America acquires assets of New York umbilical cord blood company

Mergers & Acquisitions - Duravest completes acquisition of medical technology company

Mergers & Acquisitions - Evidence-based medical research and analysis company acquires consulting firm MetaWorks

Mergers & Acquisitions - Eye care services company acquires minority interest in Pennsylvania surgical eye center

Mergers & Acquisitions - Genomics company AGOWA joins European company

Mergers & Acquisitions - Guidant vascular business to be acquired for $1B

Mergers & Acquisitions - Healthcare service provider reports intent to acquire 67% interest in home health business

Mergers & Acquisitions - LifeHouse Retirement Properties, Inc. acquires two Michigan assisted living facilities

Mergers & Acquisitions - Matria Healthcare completes acquisition of CorSolutions

Mergers & Acquisitions - Merger agreement signed to enhance development of HIV vaccines

Mergers & Acquisitions - Open source technology company acquires Clinical Informatics Associates Incorporated

Mergers & Acquisitions - Pharma company proposes to acquire Timm Medical Technologies

Mergers & Acquisitions - Royal Philips Electronics to buy personal emergency response services provider

Migraine - Study supports importance of considering gastric stasis when treating migraine sufferers

Nanotechnology - Drug-discovery company introduces room temperature ozonolysis in its laboratory practice

Nanotechnology - Nanoparticles can be used for the optical imaging of tumor E-selectin

Nanotechnology - Study elucidates nanostructures, molecular force bases for immunosensing capacity

Natural Products - Coffee may protect against disease

Neurodegeneration - G-CSF is a neurotrophic factor and may be used to treat neurodegenerative disorders

Neuroscience - Muscle contracture system can be used to study artificially induced pathological gait

Neuroscience - SELDI-TOF can be used to identify CSF biomarkers for frontotemporal dementia

Obesity - Disease management company enters agreement with Washington hospital for bariatric service

Obesity Therapy - U.S. FDA panel recommends approval of orlistat 60 mg as over-the-counter weight loss drug

Ophthalmology - Impaired DNA synthesis may be a cataractogenic factor in cataracts

Ophthalmology - Retinal pigment epithelium dysfunction may explain fluid accumulation in the macula

Opioid Receptors - LY255582 produces effects through a combination of mu-, delta- and kappa-receptor activity

Osteoarthritis - Phase III Pennsaid clinical trail results reconfirm efficacy demonstrated in previous trials

Osteoporosis - Raloxifene reduces risk of new clinical vertebral fractures at 3 and 6 months

Osteoporosis - U.S. approves quarterly IV injection for postmenopausal osteoporosis

Pain Management - Clinical program to expand use of post-operative pain relief drug

Patents - Pharma company receives patent covering Provecta in conjunction with ultrasound imaging

Patents - Physicians sued for infringement of Levulan photodynamic therapy patents

Patents - U.S. patent application filed for synDNA vaccines and other therapeutic compounds

Patents - U.S. patent covering synthesis and manufacture of RNA granted

Patents - U.S. patent issued for photoselective vaporization methods of prostate and other tissues

Patient Safety - Group lauds new U.S. FDA drug labeling rule

Pediatric Obesity - Healthy vending program launched to battle childhood obesity

Personnel - AMD drug developer names John L. Armstrong, Jr. CEO

Personnel - Arterial disease device maker announces management changes

Personnel - Barbara Wallner, PhD, named senior VP for technical operations of cancer-focused company

Personnel - Biomedical funding company promotes Chad W. Souvignier to director

Personnel - Biopharma company builds drug-development team through new hires and promotion

Personnel - Biopharmaceutical company appoints four to VP-level senior management positions

Personnel - Bioprocess company names Bruce Bonnevier VP global human resources and Roland Heinrich VP R&D

Personnel - Biotech company signs investment banking agreement with Janney Montgomery Scott

Personnel - Brachytherapy device maker appoints Michael Turmelle as chairman of audit committee

Personnel - Cardiac medical device firm announces management changes

Personnel - Carlo Montagner to be named president of Abraxis Oncology

Personnel - Claude Allard named to board of hearing protection technology company

Personnel - Contract service organization forms clinical advisory committee, three-tiered formulary

Personnel - David J. Poston named chief financial officer of genetics-focused biotechnology company

Personnel - Diagnostic equipment developer names Raymond Cannefax as president and CEO

Personnel - Diagnostics company names Robert Mignatti president and chief operating officer

Personnel - Drug delivery company hires Carl G. Fischer as CFO and treasurer

Personnel - Drug delivery company names chief business officer and chief medical officer

Personnel - Drug discovery company appoints Yuichi Sugiyama to scientific advisory board

Personnel - Drug engineering company appoints Jack M. Anthony as president and CEO

Personnel - Dwayne Dixon named VP of marketing for GI access medical devices company

Personnel - Eric Boduch named VP of marketing for IT company Vitrea Technology

Personnel - French Academie Nationale de Pharmacie elects Trevor Jones and Jean-Francois Dehecq

Personnel - Gary F. Burbach named president, chief executive officer of cardiovascular devices company

Personnel - Genetic test maker appoints Gerard Vaillant as non-executive director

Personnel - Gregg Dearhammer appointed vice president of biometrics for clinical research organization

Personnel - Healthcare consulting firm names Michael B. Sullivan and Dinh Nguyen to director positions

Personnel - Hospice management company appoints Woodrin Grossman as SVP of strategy and development

Personnel - Human tissues company names Dr. Robert L. Zerbe to board of directors

Personnel - Jacalyn Anne Kawiecki, MD, named medical director of Minnesota nonprofit rehab center

Personnel - Jacobson Group opens office in Washington, names Sharon Gould Afforde to head operation

Personnel - Jeb Connor named chairman and CEO of company developing lab research applications

Personnel - Jerry C. Cirino named to board of urology-focused products company

Personnel - John A. Schrefer named VP of sales for hospital markets by healthcare education publisher

Personnel - John C. Ho, MD, named senior VP, corporate strategy of drug-discovery solutions provider

Personnel - John R. Leone named to board of directors of biopharmaceutical company

Personnel - Joseph A. Bellanti, MD, joins scientific advisory board of drug delivery-focused company

Personnel - Joseph M. Davie appointed to board for company developing hypertension drug

Personnel - Kevin J. Buckman, MD, named to medical advisory board of medical diagnostics company

Personnel - Laboratory services provider names Darrell B. Lee as vice president and chief financial officer

Personnel - LeVoy Haight named COO, Eric Olson named VP of sales of portable infusion pump company

Personnel - Lloyd Sanders named vice president of sales and marketing for Genasense developer

Personnel - Marion Maniet joins DynoChem as North American sales manager

Personnel - Medical diagnosis software provider names Stephen S. Andersen VP of new European office

Personnel - Meghan Fitzgerald joins cancer drug developer as chief business officer

Personnel - Micromirror company promotes Alexander Tokman to CEO and director following executive's departure

Personnel - Natural products supplier elects Kenneth B. Hallat and Michael D. Harris to board

Personnel - New chief medical officer to lead Generx development program

Personnel - Patricia C. Bowman named VP of marketing for provider of healthcare diagnostics

Personnel - Pharma company announces the appointment of Anatole Klyosov as chief scientist

Personnel - Pharma company appoints Jeff Himawan to board of directors

Personnel - Pharma company names Dr. Reinhard Koenig as new CEO and president

Personnel - Provider of medication compliance packaging systems announces departure of CFO Michael Branca

Personnel - Shareholders of molecular-biology company elect three directors at annual meeting

Personnel - Stent maker makes initial appointments to its scientific advisory board

Personnel - Susan Cummins Caputo named VP of business development for New York Jewish health system

Personnel - Teresa Geiger named VP of patient outreach, advocacy for pulmonary fibrosis group

Personnel - eClinical research organization expands sales team with three tenured executives

Pharmaceutical Research - Study shows pharma sales force targeting practices drive sales

Pharmacogenetics - Pivotal phase III trial begins for novel antidepressant

Philanthropy - Minnesota Blue Cross concert series raises more than $200,000 for Second Harvest Heartland

Philanthropy - Online grocery delivery company customers donate $12,000 to Hope Chest for Breast Cancer

Philanthropy - Pharma company announces $750,000 donation for new translational transplant research laboratory

Philanthropy - Pharma company offers to help local manufacturers produce HIV medicine for sub-Saharan Africa

Pompe Disease - Drugmaker provides update on U.S. marketing application for Myozyme

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - SSRIs are most effective first-line treatment for PTSD

Product Licensing - Companies sign agreements for U.S. development and marketing of dry eye syndrome therapy

Product Licensing - Drug response interpretation service Signature Genetics licensed to clinical assays company

Product Licensing - Genmab licenses cell line standard for drug in vitro consistency studies

Product Licensing - Lilly licenses software measurement technology to assess potential protein immunogenicity

Product Licensing - Merck extends global enterprise license with systems biology provider

Product Licensing - Pfizer agrees to acquire worldwide rights for inhaled human insulin, Exubera

Product Licensing - Pharma company sells additional Canadian Pennsaid rights to Paladin subsidiary

Professional Education - Institute announces availability of online disease state and therapeutic area electronic courses

Prostate Cancer - Company realigns to focus on Provenge biologic license application for prostate cancer therapy

Prostate Cancer - Phase III clinical development of Acapodene on course following planned safety review

Prostate Cancer - Prostate cancer awareness campaign extended to bass fishing with angler Rick Clunn

Prostate Cancer - Study shows protein diagnostic marker PSP94 better at detecting prostate cancers than PSA

Protein Expression - Screening system for expression profiling of virus proteins has been developed

Proteomics - Medical diagnostics lab announces availability of monoclonal cyclin E

Proteomics - Plasma depletion technology for proteomics, human disease biomarker discovery introduced

Quality Assurance - Electrocardiography technology developer receives ISO certification

Quality Assurance - First nonprofit research organ and tissue bank to receive AATB accreditation announced

Quality Assurance - Pharmacists' academy approves uniform labeling guidelines

RNA Research - Life science, high tech company launches kit for identifying knockdown of gene expression

RNA Research - Life sciences company expands shRNA human and mouse libraries for RNAi-based research

Respiratory Medicine - Cold, flu threats don't worry moms

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Cell therapy company acquires autologous T cell vaccine rights for rheumatoid arthritis

Ricin Vaccine - RiVax milestone achieved

Stem Cell Research - CordLife is southeast Asia's first accredited cord blood bank

Stroke - Survey shows many individuals are unable to identify the five signs of stroke

Surgical Technology - Cement may prevent catastrophic fracture or disintegration in stress-bearing bone repairs

Surgical Technology - Ipsilateral shoulder, elbow prostheses may be considered independent of one another

Telemedicine - Guidelines will help with planning, implementing telemedical applications

Transplant Medicine - Adenovirus specific T-cell reconstitution should be monitored after stem cell transplantation

Transplant Medicine - Organ and tissue donation on the rise in Colorado and Wyoming, 395 lives saved in 2005

Type 1 Diabetes - Pharma company signs 3-year alliance agreement for diabetes research with Merck KGaA

Type 2 Diabetes - Phase 2b study of Technosphere Insulin improves glycemic control in a dose-dependent manner

Vaccine Vector - Adenovirus vector-incorporating antibody achieves targeted gene delivery

Venous Leg Ulcers - Tissue engineering company anticipates completing enrollment in venous leg ulcer trial