HbA1c Test Has Limited Value for Dialysis Patients

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—A commonly used blood-sugar test for diabetics has limited value in dialysis patients, according to a study set to appear in the July issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). ...

Fracture Prediction Methods May Be Useful For Patients With Diabetes

Use of established fracture prediction methods in older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) found that scores from these methods were associated with hip and nonspine fracture risk, and a certain score associated with higher risk of fracture compared to persons without DM, according to a study in the June 1 issue of...

HbA1C Test For Glucose Monitoring Poorly Predictive In Dialysis Patients

The gold standard long-term glucose monitoring test for patients with diabetes proved to be of limited value in dialysis patients, according to a new study at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. The study appears online in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology and is scheduled for the July print issue. Blood sugar monitoring is a vital part of diabetes...

Q & A: Dialysis away from base (DAFB)

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Patient Cell Phones House Dangerous Bacteria

WASHINGTON—Cell phones used by patients and their visitors were twice as likely to contain potentially dangerous bacteria as those of healthcare workers (HCW), according to a study published in the June issue of the American Journal of Infection ...

Washington DC breakfast offers insights on designing your regulatory strategy

These days, getting a dialogue started with regulators at a very early stage of development is one of the most important tasks for any biotech company. Their feedback on trial design, special protocol assessments, fast track versus priority review and so on can make a huge difference in a program's long-term value, helping to shape the foundation of business pacts and offering a chance to shave costs and time--with an added bonus of increased marketing time. On June 29, during this...

Biotech billionaire raises $100M for synthetic biology venture Intrexon

Demonstrating once again just how hot the synthetic biology field has become, Blacksburg, VA-based Intrexon has raised a $100 million E round for its work on a range of programs stretching from therapeutics to ag bio. The biotech company--which took in funds for its fifth round from unnamed new backers as well as previous investors Kirk and his Third Security venture group--has now raised $259 million. It's been a busy year for Intrexon, which is run by Randal Kirk, a biotech billionaire who...

Biotech upstart raises $10.5M for MRSA antibody

Hoping to thrive in a development arena long neglected by Big Pharma, Woburn, MA-based Excelimmune has raised $10.5 million in a Series B to fund its work on an antibody candidate targeting MRSA. The round was provided by a group of unnamed "high net worth" angel investors. "The continued support from investors underscores the significant potential of our unique HRPA approach to treating nosocomial infectious disease," said Quinton Zondervan, the CEO of Excelimmune. "In addition to doubling...

GSK burnishes its “open innovation” rep with new translational research fund

GlaxoSmithKline helped seal its reputation as one of the leaders in the "open innovation" movement today with its announcement of a new GSK-MaRS Innovation Fund to help accelerate translational work on a portfolio of projects under way in Ontario's busy biotech research hub. The strategic partnership is designed to provide cash and connections for researchers who are working on new technologies that could be in line for an in-licensing deal or provide the foundation for a new biotech...

Amarin sets stage for “aggressive” launch of omega 3 drug

Amarin is getting all its manufacturing ducks lined up in a row as it sets the stage to debut its experimental heart drug, AMR101. With positive data from two late-stage studies in hand to support its application for its lead development program, Amarin ($AMRN) has forged new supply agreements that will help the developer launch an "aggressive" marketing campaign for the treatment--an omega 3 drug that will muscle GlaxoSmithKline's Lovaza for market share. As Reuters notes, Amarin has...