Health

IRESSA (Gefitinib) receives marketing authorization for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer in Europe

01 July 2009 -- AstraZeneca announced today that the European Commission has granted marketing authorisation for the oral anti-cancer drug, IRESSA for the treatment of adults with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with activating mutations of EGFR-TK (epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase) across all lines of therapy. The authorisation is based on a submission package including two pivotal Phase III studies comparing IRESSA with chemotherapy, IPASS and INTEREST.    » read more »

Biogen Idec and Acorda Therapeutics announce collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize MS therapy Fampridine-SR in markets outside the U.S.

Acorda to Continue to Develop and Commercialize Fampridine-SR in the U.S. -- CAMBRIDGE, MA and HAWTHORNE, NY, July 1, 2009 – Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: BIIB) and Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACOR) today announced that they have entered into an exclusive collaboration and license agreement to develop and commercialize Fampridine-SR, a multiple sclerosis (MS) therapy, in markets outside the United States.    » read more »

Three of the bills were part of the Governor’s ‘Prescription for Pennsylvania’

July 1, 2009 -- CAMP HILL — Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell today ceremonially signed three health care measures that were part of his landmark Prescription for Pennsylvania health care reform plan and a fourth that was originally proposed as part of the Senate Republican package of health care bills.    » read more »

Sierra Club and allies requested disclosure via FOIA on June 19

June 29, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.--The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released information regarding the locations of 44 "high hazard potential" coal combustion waste facilities (or coal ash impoundments), previously kept a secret from the public. On June 19, 2009, Sierra Club and its allies filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to force EPA to make these sites known to the public.

Coal ash impoundments were placed on the list based on the potential for harm to surrounding communities in the event of an accident, but at the request of the Department of Homeland Security and the Army Corps of Engineers, EPA previously refused to release the information.    » read more »

June 30, 2009 -- "As health care reform enters the next phase, we came together at this point in the debate to add our combined voices to the momentum building behind reform. We believe the time for comprehensive reform is now. The present system is not sustainable. The status quo is not an option.

"We applaud the bipartisan efforts in Congress to craft and pass legislation.

"We are pleased that Walmart, Service Employees International Union and Center for American Progress can support three essential elements that should be included in any health care reform legislation--an employer mandate, strong efficiency provisions and a 'trigger' mechanism to ensure cost reductions.    » read more »

Out-of-pocket expenses for Americans with employer-based coverage rise to more than $3,700 per year

June 23, 2009 -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today released a new report -- Hidden Costs of Health Care: Why Americans are Paying More but Getting Less. The report documents the rising cost of deductibles, co-payments and out-of-pocket expenses that are making it more difficult for families with insurance to receive the health care they need, and is available at www.HealthReform.gov.    » read more »

HHS announces advanced development contract for new way to make flu vaccine

June 23, 2009 -- HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that the department will pursue advanced development of new way to make influenza vaccine. The work will be done by Protein Sciences Corporation, Inc., of Meriden, Conn., under a new $35 million contract. The contract could be extended up to five years at a total cost of approximately $147 million.

“The technology has advanced in recent years to a point that we believe it could help meet a surge in demand for U.S.-based vaccine for seasonal and pandemic flu,” Secretary Sebelius said. “We want to use the technology to help our nation respond to emerging infectious diseases.”    » read more »

National savings and federal budget costs vary widely depending on approach

New York, NY, June 24, 2009— A comprehensive approach to health insurance, provider payment, and care delivery system reforms has the potential to slow health care cost increases while achieving near-universal coverage. The potential savings for families, businesses, and the federal government vary markedly, however, depending on whether or not a public insurance plan option is included and how such a plan is structured, according to a new analysis from The Commonwealth Fund.    » read more »

Response by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney to the insurance industry's 'Chicken Little' letter on the public health insurance option

June 23, 2009 -- For far too long, Americans have struggled under a broken health care system dominated by insurance companies who care about one thing – their own profits. Passing health care reform that includes a quality public health insurance option is crucial to America's workers because it will provide a competitive impetus for companies to reduce overhead expenses and lower costs.    » read more »

More than half in huge survey say they cannot get the health care they need at a price they can afford

June 23, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) –Over half of the 23,460 people who responded online to a health care survey sponsored by the AFL-CIO and Working America say they cannot get the health care they need at a price they can afford, and the problem is even more acute among people who buy their own insurance, Hispanics and young adults. A third of respondents report that they forgo basic medical care because of costs, including skipping doctor recommended tests and treatments and not visiting a doctor when they are sick.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON—By the end of this summer, more than one million older Americans will have fallen into the “doughnut hole”—a coverage gap in Medicare’s prescription drug program that leaves individuals on the hook for all of their own drug costs while still paying premiums. AARP is launching a new online resource to help older Americans avoid this dreaded coverage gap.    » read more »

23 June 2009, London UK -- GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) and Chroma Therapeutics Limited announced today a collaboration to develop macrophage-targeted compounds using Chroma’s proprietary esterase-sensitive motif (ESM) technology, which adds amino acid esters to compounds with the aim of targeting the compounds to specific cells in the inflammatory disease process.    » read more »

June 22, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded President Obama for signing into law the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Senator Murray voted for the bill on June 11th, which passed the Senate 79-17. This law provides the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the authority to regulate tobacco products, protect families and consumers, and help smokers overcome their addiction.    » read more »

Merkley: Health Care Amendment Looks Out For Nursing Mothers; "Breastfeeding Amendment Adopted Unanimously During Markup of Health Care Reform Legislation"

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee unanimously approved an amendment from Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley during markup of health care reform legislation today that would assist nursing mothers. The amendment would provide new mothers with reasonable break times to nurse their child for one year after the birth of their child.    » read more »