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Drug tandem may work against deadliest TB 4:12 PM 2/26/2009
Reuters - USA
AstraZeneca's MERREM I.V. (meropenem) used together with GlaxoSmithKline's clavulanate in combination with amoxicillin killed laboratory-grown strains of TB. ...

Some stomach drugs need strong warning: FDA 2:12 PM 2/26/2009
Reuters - USA
A class of drugs used to treat stomach disorders needs a strong warning about the risk of involuntary repetitive body movement with long-term use or high doses. ...

FDA had been told of company's tainted medicine months before recall 5:04 AM 2/26/2009
Newsday - Long Island,NY,USA
AM2PAT sold tainted syringes of heparin and saline linked to 5 deaths and more than 100 sickened. Betterchem reported that under Bush, the US FDA issued fewer Warning Letters. The problems didn't disappear, the agency did. ...

Obama backing generic biologics 4:34 AM 2/26/2009
Boston Globe - United States
The US FDA has no process for approving "biogenerics", "follow-on biologics", or "biosimilars". Derived from organisms they're difficult to duplicate. The FDA couldn't guarantee they'll work. With generic industry corruption on the rise, is this the time to risk more US lives? See previous and next 2 articles. ...

Drug Maker Is Accused of Fraud 3:25 AM 2/26/2009
New York Times - United States
Federal prosecutors allege that former top executives at Forest Laboratories concealed for years a clinical study that showed that their generic drugs were not effective in children and might cause some to become suicidal. ...

FDA halts review of drugs from Ranbaxy plant 12:18 PM 2/25/2009
The Associated Press
The US FDA halts consideration of new drugs from generic drug manufacturer Ranbaxy's Paonta Sahib plant because the company falsified data. FDA insiders think Ranbaxy may not be alone. ...

Drug Reduces Risk of Prostate Cancer in Middle-Aged Men 5:16 PM 2/24/2009
Washington Post - United States
The American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Urological Association said that taking finasteride can reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer by as much as 25 percent. The drug is widely used to treat male pattern baldness and urological problems. ...

Merck KGaA's steps to build MS business 12:02 PM 2/24/2009
Forbes - NY,USA
Merck KGaA bought the rights to an experimental multiple sclerosis (MS) drug from Ambrx and takes an equity stake in the US biotech firm. ...

MAP Pharma shares crash after asthma drug fails trial 12:00 PM 2/24/2009
Reuters - USA
Shares of MAP Pharmaceuticals Inc sank after the company's experimental Unit Dose Budesonide (UDB) for asthma in children failed a late-stage study. ...

Bird flu vaccine production still lags-study 10:24 AM 2/24/2009
Reuters - USA
World Health Organization (WHO) and IFPMA study shows that companies would need 4 years to meet global demand for vaccine if a bird flu pandemic broke out. Vaccine tailored to the actual strain that emerges would not be available for 4 months. ...

UK biotech raises $30 mln from Novartis, others 5:35 AM 2/24/2009
Reuters - USA
Heptares Therapeutics Ltd raised 30.6 million in private equity finance from Novartis and two venture capital firms. Heptares focuses on drugs targeting G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). These are the biological "switches" playing an important role in disease. ...

Roche says Genentech offer now up to shareholders 5:05 AM 2/24/2009P
Reuters - USA
Roche may have to up its bid for the 44 percent of Genentech it does not own. The company urged shareholders to reject the offer. ...

Drug Regulators Admit ‘Mistake’ Tossing Lilly Critic From Panel 4:34 AM 2/24/2009
Bloomberg - USA
The US FDA sacked a skeptic of Eli Lilly’s experimental blood thinner prasugrel from an advisory panel at the company’s urging just four days before the meeting. Industry funds the agency, so how is following orders a mistake? ...

FDA Allows Brain Implants for Obsessions 2:45 AM 2/24/2009
Washington Post - United States
The US FDA has approved "deep brain stimulation" for the treatment of intractable obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). They surgically implant electrodes deep within the brain to trigger electrical activity. ...

US FDA says epilepsy drug can cause blood disorder 11:49 AM 2/23/2009
Reuters - USA
Epilepsy drug Zonisamide used to treat partial seizures in adults can cause excessive acidity of the blood. Metabolic acidosis symptoms include fatigue, anorexia, irregular heartbeat, or stupor. ...

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