The news that the world’s first targeted therapy, trastuzumab (Herceptin), is now available for many women with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer “highlights a truly significant advance in the management of breast cancer,” says Edith Perez, M.D., director of Mayo Clinic’s Breast Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla.
A new optical imaging technique, developed at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, can provide three-dimensional microscopic views of the inner surfaces of blood vessels and gastrointestinal organs.
A new therapeutic method using human antibodies to neutralize toxins was found to prevent Clostridium difficile-induced de ath in hamsters say researchers from New Jersey and Massachusetts. They report their findings in the November 2006 issue of the journal Infection and Immunity.
Current Issues in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – this event will be hosted in Manchester at the Victoria and Albert Hotel on Tuesday 21 November 2006. This conference will aim to assess the latest trends in asthma and COPD. and the keynote speech will be given by Professor Peter J Helms, ‘Chair of CHM Resp & Allergy Expert Advisory Group”.
Results of a new analysis showed that patients who have heart disease and chronic kidney disease who took Lipitor? (atorvastatin calcium) Tablets (80 mg) reduced their risk of heart attack and stroke by 32 percent compared with patients taking the 10 mg dose of Lipitor. This analysis of a subset of patients from the five-year TNT (Treating to New Targets) study was designed and completed after the end of the trial. The data were presented here today at the Annual Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association.
An observational study of more than 64,000 asthma patients demonstrated that patients receiving treatment with Advair Diskus (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol inhalation powder) had a significant risk reduction in emergency department visits due to asthma versus patients treated with fluticasone propionate (FP) alone.
A survey of more than 1,300 asthma patients found that the majority of respondents (61 percent) had uncontrolled asthma based on their Asthma Control Test (ACT) score, and nearly one-third (29 percent) of those were not aware that their asthma was uncontrolled. Uncontrolled asthma may place patients at risk for increased symptoms, sudden attacks, hospitalization and even death from asthma.
Novartis has received a positive opinion supporting European Union regulatory approval for Lucentis? (ranibizumab) as a new treatment option for patients with the “wet” form of age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over age 50 in the western world.
The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today expanded the approved use of Herceptin, a biological cancer drug. The new indication is for Herceptin, in combination with other cancer drugs, for the treatment of HER2 positive breast cancer after surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy). FDA granted priority review to the supplemental application for Herceptin.
The following articles are featured in the upcoming issue of the Journals of the American Society for Microbiology: Novel H3N1 swine influenza virus identified in pigs in Korea; New treatment using human antibodies to target harmful toxins may protect against C. cifficile; and Guinea pig aerosol challenge presents new model for Q fever research in humans.