Categories
Cardiovascular
Diagnostics
Endocrinology
Health Insurance
Medical Devices
Mental Health
Nutrition
Oncology
Public Health
Sexual Health
Popular Articles

St. Jude Medical Applauds MADIT-CRT Trial
St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE: STJ) commends the efforts of investigators in the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial with Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (MADIT-CRT). The early results of the trial indicate that early intervention with CRT-D therapy can slow a patient"s progression from early stage heart failure (NYHA Class I-II) to late stage heart failure (NYHA Class III-IV).

More Vigilant Monitoring For Seizures Among ICU Patients Encouraged
Two new studies published by neurologists at Columbia University Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital demonstrate a need for more vigilant monitoring for seizure activity among intensive care patients who may be experiencing subtle seizures that are typically unrecognized. These subtle seizures may be affecting patients" prognoses and causing long-term brain damage, death and severe disability.
News of the day
Hospital Rankings Released By U.S. News And World Report
"This is Year 20 for America"s Best Hospitals, a tool for patients who need medical sophistication that most facilities are unable to provide," reports U.S. News and World Report. The magazine ranked hospitals based on how well they did in "complex and demanding situations" such as "replacing an 85-year-old"s heart valve, diagnosing and treating a spinal tumor, and dealing with inflammatory bowel disease." Out of a total 4,861 hospitals analyzed, "Only 174 hospitals scored high enough to be ranked in even one of the 16 specialties. And of these, just 21 qualified for [the] Honor Roll by ranking at or near the top in at least six specialties." The ranking list includes the 50 highest scoring hospitals (Comarow, 7/15).
Mental Health

MorphoSys Reports Filing For Phase 1b/2a Trial For Its Lead Program MOR103 In Rheumatoid Arthritis

MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment, TecDAX) today announced that the Company has submitted an application for the authorization of a phase 1b/2a clinical study in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for its lead drug MOR103, a fully human HuCAL-derived monoclonal antibody directed against Granulocyte Macrophage-Colony Stimulating Factor. The trial, which will be conducted in multiple centers in several European countries, is expected to enroll 135 patients in total beginning in the second half of 2009. Additionally, the Company today reported positive results from the phase 1 clinical study for MOR103 in healthy volunteers. The results of this study indicate that MOR103 is generally safe and well tolerated at all doses administered. "We are pleased to advance the clinical development of this promising compound into a phase 1b/2a clinical trial to further evaluate safety and tolerability as well as clinical activity in RA patients," commented Dr. Arndt Schottelius, Chief Development Officer of MorphoSys. "In combination with the attractive preclinical profile the results we have seen in the phase 1 trial support our plans to develop MOR103 as a safe and efficacious drug for the treatment of inflammatory disorders. In addition to the excellent characteristics the antibody has shown so far with regard to affinity, specificity and stability, we have been able to demonstrate a robust serum half-life in humans." The completed phase 1 trial was designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled single ascending dose study to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic parameters of MOR103 in healthy volunteers. In total, 63 volunteers received ascending doses of MOR103 up to a concentration of 3 mg/kg or placebo in seven dose cohorts via intravenous infusion. No maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was reached in the study. Analysis of the pharmacokinetic properties of MOR103 showed a serum half-life typical of a fully human antibody which could translate into a competitive dosing regimen. The overall safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic properties of MOR103 provide a solid foundation for the Company"s development plans, including the forthcoming Phase 1b/2a study in patients. MorphoSys will present at today"s 4th Annual Piper Jaffray Europe Conference at 08:30 am BST (09:30 am CET). The presentation as well as live and archived webcast of the presentation will be provided at http://www.morphosys.com. MorphoSys AG


Add your comment:
Name:
Site address: http://
Your message:
Enter today\\\\'s date, 2 digits
(spam protection):

© Copyright 2009