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Micromet Receives European Orphan Drug Designation For Treatment Of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia With BiTE Antibody Blinatumomab
Micromet, Inc. (Nasdaq: MITI), a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, proprietary antibodies for the treatment of cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases, announced that it has received Orphan Drug Designation from the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for BiTE antibody blinatumomab (MT103) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Blinatumomab is a novel therapeutic antibody that activates a patient"s T cells to seek out and destroy cancer cells.

Mystery Of Potentially Fatal Reaction To Smallpox Vaccine Unlocked By La Jolla Institute
Researchers from the La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology have pinpointed the cellular defect that increases the likelihood, among eczema sufferers, of developing eczema vaccinatum, a severe and potentially fatal reaction to the smallpox vaccine. The research, conducted in mouse models, was funded under a special research network created by the National Institutes of Health in 2004. The network is working toward the development of a new smallpox vaccine that could be administered to the millions of Americans who suffer from atopic dermatitis, a chronic, itchy skin condition commonly referred to as eczema.
News of the day
Positive Outcome Reached At 16 Weeks For Avexa's ATC Phase III Trial
Avexa Limited (ASX:AVX) announced that the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) met today to review the 16 week data from Avexa"s apricitabine (ATC) Phase III clinical trial. The DSMB reviewed the data and recommended continuation of the study with the 800mg dose. Patients taking the 1200mg dose will be transitioned to the optimum 800mg dose to continue their therapy.
Diagnostics

Healtier Future For All Australians Report Welcomed

The release of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission report, A Healthier Future for All Australians, has been welcomed by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia as a major step in laying the foundations for improved health care in Australia. Vice-President of the PSA, Shane Jackson, said the report specifically highlighted the need for increased emphasis on preventive health, a message that is strongly supported by the PSA. "At present only about 2 per cent of the health-care budget is devoted to preventive health and this is an area PSA has been advocating that needs to be addressed as a priority in reforming the health-care system," Dr Jackson said. "The PSA has in place the Pharmacy Self Care program which is a model for the successful implementation of preventive health programs that are both effective and can provide long-term cost savings to the Government. "The infrastructure is already in place and PSA welcomes the opportunity to consult with the Government to ensure its preventive heath focus is efficient and effective." Dr Jackson said the report also highlighted the need for a more holistic and patient-focussed approach to health care in Australia. "The report emphasised the need for greater development of the multidisciplinary health-care team and the PSA stresses that pharmacists are pivotal to such an approach because of their skills and the fact they are the most accessible health-care professionals," Dr Jackson said. "The Government must consider expanding the role of pharmacists to ensure the effectiveness and success of multidisciplinary health-care teams. "The Healthier Future for All Australians report further develops this concept. PSA awaits the impending release of the reports into primary health and preventive health in the near future which will provide the opportunity for an integrated and focussed approach to be directed towards health-care reform. "One area which need to be examined, and has been touched on in the Healthier Future report, is the immediate development and implementation of an eHealth system. "The report recommends that reforms be implemented by 2012 which are in line with PSA recommendations that the Government bring forward its 10-year plan to reform the national health system. "The PSA will consider the details of the report and respond to the Government in due course." Pharmaceutical Society of Australia


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