Respiratory | Page 37 of 50

Health :: Abbott to Expand Presence in Lipid Management Market with Acquisition of Kos Pharmaceuticals

Abbott and Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced a definitive agreement for Abbott to acquire Kos for $78 per share in cash, for a total transaction value of $3.7 billion, net of cash currently held by Kos. Based in Cranbury, N.J., Kos is a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops and markets proprietary medications for the treatment of chronic cardiovascular, metabolic and respiratory diseases. The company has a growing presence in the $20 billion lipid management market.

Rheumatoid Arthritis :: ORENCIA, abatacept demonstrate continued efficacy in adults with rheumatoid arthritis

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) today announced that two-year data from three Phase III pivotal trials demonstrate the long-term efficacy of ORENCIA? (abatacept) in adult patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have had an inadequate response to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate and TNF antagonists. The data also demonstrate that ORENCIA provided clinically meaningful improvements in multiple aspects of health-related quality of life and physical function, sustained improvements in pain and had a consistent safety and tolerability profile through two years of treatment. These data will be presented at the upcoming 2006 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Annual Scientific Meeting.

WHO :: Bird flu expert Chan, new WHO head – China

Dr Margaret Chan of China was nominated by the Executive Board of the World Health Organization for the post of Director-General. The Director-General is WHO’s chief technical and administrative officer. Dr Chan is a well-known public figure because of her record of leadership in fighting disease first in Hong Kong, and more recently at WHO.

Health :: Dr Margaret Chan nominated to be WHO Director-General

Dr Margaret Chan of China was nominated today by the Executive Board of the World Health Organization for the post of Director-General. The Director-General is WHO’s chief technical and administrative officer.

Health Care :: Nomination of Dr. Margaret Chan to World Health Organization – Mike Leavitt

I congratulate Dr. Margaret Chan on her nomination as the next Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). The United States Government looks forward to working with Dr. Chan, and to continuing our close collaboration with the WHO Secretariat on a range of pressing public-health and scientific issues.

Health Care :: Allied Health Professions Week Highlights Workforce Shortage Crisis

The first baby boomers are turning 60 this year. Some question whether there will be enough health care professionals to take care of them. An aging society and increased cases of chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity are straining an already fragile health care workforce. Now, the University of Missouri-Columbia is looking at ways to write a prescription for one of the major ailments facing today?s society, according to Richard Oliver, dean of the MU School of Health Professions. MU recently spearheaded the creation of FuturePoint Summit, a national coalition of academic and business leaders in the health care field, to find solutions for the allied health workforce shortage.

Health :: American Thoracic Society publishes new statement on hepatotoxicity of antituberculosis therapy

The American Thoracic Society (ATS) has published a new statement on the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of liver damage caused by anti-tuberculosis (TB) medications. The statement, which appeared in the October 15 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, gives a review of current national and international literature on drug-induced liver injury (DILI) or hepatotoxicity, a potential side effect of more than 700 drugs approved for use in the United States.

Cancer :: Philips introduces new MR simulator and CT applications

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is introducing advances in its portfolio of leading oncology solutions to help physicians define their targets easily and effectively. Recognizing that console time is at a premium in busy imaging centers, Philips is announcing the availability of its Tumor LOC application on the workstation. The company is also unveiling Panorama 1.0T R/T?the first high field open MR simulator. These technologies are on display at the 48th annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) in Philadelphia.

Ears :: Study shows most ear infections host both bacteria and viruses

Ear infections are among the most common diseases seen in pediatric practice. They have generally been considered bacterial diseases and are therefore usually treated with antibiotics. New research, published in the Dec. 15 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases and currently available online, provides evidence that viruses are found in a great many ear infection cases and may complicate treatment.

Health :: Caution issued on medicinal product

The Department of Health has warned consumers not to buy a medicinal product called Shenxiaotoutongsan as it contains three undeclared Western drug ingredients that may cause side effects.