Houston Chronicle

WHO and CDC have stated that the predictive accuracy of their annual formulations for human influenza vaccines is "suboptimal" -- often correct less than 50% of the time, especially for seniors. Perhaps in part because we are not yet accurate in our predictions of upcoming influenza strains, approximately 36,000 people die each year of flu in the United States alone.

Metabolex, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of proprietary new medicines for the treatment of metabolic diseases, announced positive results from a Phase 1a clinical trial of MBX-2982.

Hyperion Therapeutics, Inc. reported completion of data analysis for its Phase 2 clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability and ammonia scavenging effects of HPN-100 versus BUPHENYL(R) (sodium phenylbutyrate), the current standard of care in patients with urea cycle disorders. Data from the trial will be presented at an upcoming medical conference.

Soft contact lens wear does not result in clinically significant acceleration in the development of nearsightedness in children and does not cause relevant increases in axial length or corneal curvature, a new study shows.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a 30-minute onset of action for Focalin(R) XR (dexmethylphenidate HCl) extended-release capsules for the treatment of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), bringing potential benefits for young patients and their families during the important morning period when they are preparing for school.

NicOx S.A. (Euronext Paris: COX) announced that a new analysis of the data from the 104 Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) study for naproxcinod was presented yesterday at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2008, in New Orleans, USA.

Vical Incorporated (Nasdaq: VICL) announced that the company has completed enrollment of subjects in a Phase 2 trial of its therapeutic DNA vaccine designed to prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation and disease in immunosuppressed stem cell transplant recipients.

Novexel, a speciality pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel antibiotics designed to overcome the significant global problem of microbial resistance, announces that its most advanced injectable antibacterial, which combines Novexel's broad spectrum beta-lacta

Amedica Corporation, an orthopedic implants company focused on silicon nitride ceramic technologies, announced that it has received a CE (Conformite Europeene) mark for its Valeo(TM) family of ceramic spinal intervertebral spacers.

WHO and CDC have stated that the predictive accuracy of their annual formulations for human influenza vaccines is "suboptimal" -- often correct less than 50% of the time, especially for seniors. Perhaps in part because we are not yet accurate in our predictions of upcoming influenza strains, approximately 36,000 people die each year of flu in the United States alone.

Eli Lilly and Company announced it intends to donate more than 800,000 vials of insulin to the International Diabetes Federation's Life for a Child Program, providing free life-saving medicine to as many as 24,000 children who currently have no access to diabetes treatment. The initial focus of the donations will be to help children with diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Psychological stress and anxiety have been shown to produce an activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis. Resulting hypercoagulability is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and could therefore contribute to an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease in anxiety patients. However, hemostasis function has not yet been studied in patients with clinically relevant anxiety disorders.

A high prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders (MPDs) has been reported in patients with vasovagal syncope (VVS). However, the relationship between the psychiatric substrate and syncope remains unclear.

Ikerlan-IK4, Gaiker-IK4 and the Donostia hospital in representation of Bioef are taking part in a European project the goal of which is to design a portable device that will revolutionise the manner of controlling flu epidemics internationally, thanks to a significant reduction in the time needed for

Cuts to Medicare reimbursement of DXA undermine efforts to properly diagnose and treat osteoporosis and diminish quality of patient care According to a paper published in the November issue of the Springer journal Osteoporosis International, Medicare reimbursement for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) has been cut to levels substantially below the cost to perform the procedure.

A team of researchers at Keele University in Staffordshire, UK, are hoping to improve the care and treatment of painful osteoarthritis offered by GPs in a major project involving almost 2,000 local patients. The study is being funded by a five-year grant of more than £788,000 from the Arthritis Research Campaign.

According to an article published early online and in the January 2009 issue of Archives of Neurology, about half of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who are treated with three years of interferon beta are able to achieve and sustain a response as measured by regular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations. Researcher Annie W. Chiu, B.S.

Portola Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative drugs that provide significant advances in cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, and cancer, announced new clinical data that demonstrate PRT060128, the Company's novel anti-platelet drug that directly and reversib

Surgeons at the University of Rochester Medical Center, NY indicated that patient-specific CTA data can be converted to an endovascular simulator (ANGIO Mentor(TM), Simbionix US) with high face validity.