Industry-Released News
Cadence Pharmaceuticals Announces Acquisition of Second Phase III Product and $60.8 Million Financing
February 22, 2006
Cadence Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a hospital-focused biopharmaceutical company, announced that it has reached agreement to acquire the development and commercialization rights to an intravenous formulation of acetaminophen ("IV APAP") in the United States and Canada from Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Story
New Study Confirms Not All Chondroitin Sulfates Are the Same
February 22, 2006
A study presented in January at the 6th ICRS Symposium in San Diego confirmed that there are significant differences in activity between the various chondroitin sulfate (CS) ingredients found in joint health supplements. Story
Celecoxib Increases Risk Of Heart Attack, New Study Finds
March 3, 2006
A study published in the March issue of the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, has found celecoxib increases the risk of a heart attack by over two-fold. Celecoxib is the most commonly used COX-2 inhibitor drug in the treatment of arthritis and acute pain. It is manufactured by Pfizer and marketed under the brand name Celebrex. Story
ANS Unveils Rapid Programmer 3.0
February 27, 2006
Advanced Neuromodulation Systems (ANS), the Neuromodulation business of St. Jude Medical, Inc. announced its newest programming platform, Rapid Programmer® 3.0, for the management of spinal cord stimulation, a therapy used for treating chronic pain of the trunk and limbs. Story
Imaging3 Highlights Dominion Product's Role in Advancing Pain Management Procedures
February 27, 2006
Imaging3(tm), Inc, developer of a medical imaging device that produces 3D medical diagnostic images of virtually any part of the human body in real-time, provided an overview of how its new product, The Dominion(tm). The company's product ushers in a new ability for physicians to see not only the source of the pain but to also accurately administer pain relieving procedures or drugs at the exact site of the discomfort. Story
Once Daily ULTRAM® ER (Tramadol HCl) Extended-Release Tablets Now Available In USA
February 27, 2006
Ortho-McNeil, Inc., and Biovail Corporation announced that once-daily ULTRAM® ER (tramadol HCl) extended-release tablets are now available by prescription in the United States. ULTRAM® ER is the first extended release tramadol product approved in the U.S. for relief of moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults who require around-the-clock treatment of their pain for an extended period of time. ULTRAM® ER is available in once-daily dosage strengths of 100 mg, 200 mg and 300 mg tablets. Story
Assured Pharmacy Partners With AnazaoHealth to Offer Custom Compounding Services
February 24, 2006
Assured Pharmacy, Inc announced that it has teamed with AnazaoHealth(TM) Corporation, a privately held specialty pharmacy, to offer Assured's customers custom compounding services with overnight courier delivery. AnazaoHealth focuses on patient specific preparations serving the nuclear medicine and pain management markets, as well as providing drugs used in clinical trials. Story
FDA Review Date for Merck's Investigational Shingles Vaccine Extended to May 25, 2006
February 24, 2006
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending the review period for the Biologics License Application (BLA) for ZOSTAVAX® (zoster vaccine live (Oka/Merck)), Merck's investigational shingles vaccine, to review additional information that Merck submitted during the review process. The FDA has informed Merck that the agency's new review goal date for the application for ZOSTAVAX is May 25.
Xaliproden Reduces Occurrence Of Severe Peripheral Sensory Neuropathy Associated With Oxaliplatin-based Regimen
February 24, 2006
Sanofi-aventis announced that the final results of the Xenox trial showed that the experimental non-peptide compound xaliproden reduced the risk of occurrence of grade 3 peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) by 39% in patients treated with oxaliplatin injection-based therapy, without impacting the response rate of the oxaliplatin regimen. Story
Morphine Nasal Spray Relieves Postop Pain: Study
February 24, 2006
An intranasal form of morphine (Rylomine, Javelin Pharmaceuticals) provides similar pain relief, is easier to administer, and is as safe as intravenous morphine in treating moderate-to-severe pain following surgery, investigators reported this week at the 22nd Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine in San Diego. Rylomine is also less subject to abuse than conventional forms of morphine, said presenter Dr. Daniel Carr. Story
Study Finds That Xyrem(R) (Sodium Oxybate) Relieves Pain in Patients With Fibromyalgia
February 23, 2006
Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome taking Xyrem(R) (sodium oxybate) in a Phase II clinical trial experienced significant pain relief, according to data presented today at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pain Medicine in San Diego. Story
New Arthritis Treatment Clinically Proven to Dramatically Relieve Pain for Patients Who Are Rapidly Running out of Therapeutic Options
February 23, 2006
In the wake of a large study challenging the effectiveness of two popular arthritis pain relievers, Ganeden Biotech today announced the results of two clinical trials showing that its drug-free arthritis treatment, Arthritis Advantage(TM), improved mobility and
provided a statistically significant reduction in pain in both osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The treatment also reduced a blood protein called C-reactive Protein (CRP), a telltale marker for inflammation associated with diseases such as arthritis. Story
Pain Relief - New “Acupuncture without Needles” Technique Reports 80% Effectiveness, Often Out-Performing Drugs
February 23, 2006
EFT, a new do-it-yourself pain relief procedure has shown remarkable benefits in thousands of clinical applications. Its potential use worldwide may produce major economic breakthroughs in pain management….Now a do-it-yourself procedure takes acupuncture to a new level by addressing unresolved emotional issues that contribute to pain. Emotional Freedom Techniques, or EFT, combines gentle fingertip tapping on key acupuncture points with focused thought, effectively reducing – and often permanently eliminating – chronic pain. Story
Javelin Presents Intranasal Morphine Safety and Efficacy Data at the American Academy of Pain Medicine
February 23, 2006
Javelin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced final results from a Phase IIb study of Rylomine(TM) (intranasal morphine) in 187 patients with moderate-to-
severe post-surgical pain….Results of the step-down, multiple testing analysis indicate the minimally effective dose of Rylomine(TM) was 7.5 mg. Based on the ratios of pain relief (TOTPAR4) values, one spray of Rylomine(TM) 7.5 mg is approximately equivalent to a bolus IV injection of morphine sulfate 5 mg. Story
Medical Device Developer Launches Unit to Advance Neurostimulation Technology
February 20, 2006
NDI Medical, a leader in the development and commercialization of neurostimulation products for the medical device industry, today announced it has formed a new business unit to help companies and researchers develop and market neurostimulation products for neurological and cardiac applications that use implantable pulse generator (IPG) technology. The company's new wireless, rechargeable IPG, the Micropulse, sits at the core of the Micropulse Business Unit. Story
Once Daily ULTRAM(R) ER Extended-Release Tablets Now Available in the United States
February 21, 2006
A new prescription option is now available to the more than 50 million Americans who suffer from moderate to moderately severe chronic pain. Ortho-McNeil, Inc. and Biovail Corporation announced that once-daily ULTRAM® ER (tramadol HCl) extended-release tablets are now available by prescription in the United States. ULTRAM ER is the first extended release tramadol product approved in the United States for relief of moderate to moderately severe chronic pain in adults who require around-the-clock treatment of their pain for an extended period of time. ULTRAM ER is available in once-daily dosage strengths of 100 mg, 200 mg and 300 mg tablets. Story
Pain Therapeutics and King Pharmaceuticals Receive Special Protocol Assessment for Remoxy(TM) and Commence Pivotal Phase III
February 16, 2006
Pain Therapeutics, Incand King Pharmaceuticals, Inc announced that Remoxy has successfully completed a Special Protocol Assessment with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a result, the companies are commencing a pivotal Phase III trial with Remoxy in 400 patients with severe chronic pain. Remoxy, an investigational drug, is an abuse-resistant version of long-acting oxycodone, a strong opioid painkiller. Remoxy is intended to meet the needs of physicians who appropriately prescribe oxycodone and who seek to minimize risks of drug diversion, abuse or accidental patient misuse. Pain Therapeutics and King Pharmaceuticals have a strategic alliance in place to develop and commercialize Remoxy and other abuse-resistant opioids. Story
Lilly Says Cymbalta Safe for Nerve Pain
February 15, 2006
Eli Lilly said a long-term study shows Cymbalta compares favorably to other drugs used for treating diabetic nerve pain. The 52-week study compared Cymbalta to medications commonly used to treat diabetic nerve pain, such as anti-convulsants and anti-depressants, in more than 200 patients. The study results, which appear in the Journal of Palliative Medicine, suggest that with Cymbalta, clinicians can expect a similar level of quality of life without compromising safety or tolerability. Cymbalta is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain in adults. Story
First Check Receives First-Ever FDA Approval of an Over-the-Counter Home-Use Drug Test to Screen for Prescription Drugs
February 15, 2006
First Check Diagnostics LLC, the leader in providing the highest quality home diagnostic testing kits to assist people in living safer and healthier lives, today announced that it has received the first-ever over-the-counter 510(k) clearance issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a home-use drug test to screen for prescription drugs. The test, which will be available to parents beginning today online at CVS.com and stocked in retail outlets over the next 60 days, is called the First Check 12 Drug Test. It screens for five prescription drugs: Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates, Methadone, Oxycodone and Tri-cyclic Antidepressants; and seven illicit drugs: Marijuana, Cocaine, Ecstasy, Phencyclidine, Amphetamine, Opiates and Methamphetamine. The test can provide results in as little as five minutes. Story
Evotec and Apeiron Biologics to Discover Novel Pain Therapeutics
February 14, 2006
Evotec AG and Apeiron Biologics GmbH today announced that they have entered into a discovery collaboration to develop small molecules targeting a novel therapeutic concept for pain relief. This concept is based on research activities of Prof Josef Penninger, Director of the Institute for Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA). Story
DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc. Announces Updates for Bicifadine Chronic Pain Program
February 12, 2006
DOV Pharmaceutical announced that it held a DOV-initiated strategy meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding DOV's chronic pain program for bicifadine, its novel analgesic.The ongoing results from DOV's long term open label trial (study 022) of bicifadine in CLBP suggest that bicifadine is at least as effective as standard of care in treating CLBP and is safe and well-tolerated. Story
Sperling's BestPlaces Uncovers Migraine ‘Hot Spots' In The U.S.
March 11, 2006
A national analysis conducted by Sperling's BestPlaces and sponsored by Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc., identifies the nation's migraine "hot spots," cities with the highest amount of factors that are most commonly associated with migraine. These factors include the amount of acute migraine prescriptions per capita as well as the prevalence of more than 30 lifestyle and environmental factors known to trigger migraine attacks. Story
|
