News

Summer’s here and the Remtec team have been out team building and bonding, enjoying that most traditional of Cambridge pursuits the team spent the afternoon on the river punting.

After a livener and some discussion on tactics and techniques at a central Cambridge hostelry the team split into 2 punts and set off from the Quayside towards the Mill Pond, it quickly became apparent that both Nigel and Justin had handled a punt and pole before, in fact both were quite proficient, the rest of us sat back popped the champagne and enjoyed the passing scenery.

Commerical Director of Remtec Search and Selection Ltd, Ian Sandison describes his working day...

Advisor to technology start-ups, director at recruitment company Remtec and chairman of Love Cambridge.

A new innovative professional training academy will offer the chance of a successful career in recruitment to those who complete the course!

Remtec are pleased to announce their ambitious growth plans are to be driven by an innovative Graduate training academy, this is the first time this growth model will be applied to the medtech and lifescience recruitment market and it will be led by an established industry professional who has worked with some of the UK’s leading recruitment businesses.

A new strategic alliance between two Cambridge based companies will provide a comprehensive recruitment solution to the healthcare marketplace.

Remtec and PiR Interims are delighted to announce their new strategic alliance, allowing clients to benefit from a combined expertise in medical device, lifescience and pharmaceutical recruitment. The two Cambridge based companies can now provide permanent and interim recruitment solutions to the global life science marketplace.

The weeks of training paid off and the whole of the Remtec team completed the Sawston Fun Run in very respectable times.

John Morley, Remtecs Business Manager came 9th place out of over 1000 runners and was at the finish to cheer the rest of the team on as they crossed the finish line.

Remtec will be attending Europe's largest Life Science and Healthcare gathering, The ERBI Conference.

Nigel Job, CEO and Founder of Remtec Search and Selection will to chairing the 'Technology Convergence; drivers, enablers, barriers and challenges' session on day 2 of the conference.

The team at Remtec Search and Selection are running the Sawston fun run on the 9th May 2010 to raise money for the Remtec Grassroots community fund which raises money for local charties across the Cambridgeshire region.

Sponsor us here: http://www.localgiving.com/remtec

The Fun Run is organised by the Rotary Club of Sawston District and is taking place on Sunday 9th May 2010 in Sawston. The weekly training sessions are being run by Remtec's very own Business Manager John Morley who in his spare time is a middle distance runner for Cambridge and Coleridge Athletics Club.

Remtec completes another senior retained search assignment in less than eight weeks

Remtec Search and Selection, the specialist medical device and lifescience executive search company, is pleased to announce that it recently completed another retained search assignment for a board level position in under eight weeks.

Remtec is aiming to raise £15k for the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation

and you could help us by sending in your old mobile phones.

Remtec Search and Selection are sponsoring the next ERBI event on Thursday 28th January 2010 - 'Demystifying the Regulatory Process for Drugs and Devices' .

Remtec and ERBI have secured an excellent panel of speakers who are experts in their field. They will provide an overview of the regulatory process for drugs and devices in the USA and EU.

Ian Sandison will be representing Remtec at the forth coming Genesis conference on Thursday 10th December.

Remtec will be exhibiting with BioPharmaMarket (BPM) an online marketplace for the global drug discovery and development industry.


 

Remtec are pleased to announce the new charitable fund they have set up with the Cambridge Community Foundation.

The fund will be able to provide additional financial support for voluntary and community groups within the Cambridgeshire area over the the coming years.

The world’s largest medical trade fair, the MEDICA, covers the entire spectrum of exhibits for both ambulant and in-patient treatment.

Over 4,300 exhibitors – from small innovative companies to global players – will be presenting services and established products on almost 120,000 m2 in 17 exhibition halls.

Representatives of Remtec will be available all day to meet with you. To arrange a meeting please contact our office direct on 01223 550860.

Ian Sandison, Director
Ian spent 12 years in healthcare sales and marketing, 9 of these with Becton Dickinson and 3 with Smiths Medical where his last role was Global Sales Director for Hospital Infusion. Ian has extensive experience managing large sales and marketing groups both in the UK and internationally. He has brought together new businesses, hired new teams and managed many assessment, recruitment and personal development programmes. In addition to his work with Remtec he also acts as an independent Business Consultant to Medtech companies.

John Morley, Business Manager
After gaining his BSc degree in Environmental Science, John spent 3 years as an Analytical Chemist with the chemical company Johnson Matthey.  Following this he moved into Life Science Laboratory sales with Sarstedt before joining Remtec in Aug 2005.

B2B is the UK's largest Biotech and Medtech networking exhibition. It is an intensive one day event, covering a wide range of topics and attracting well over 500 individuals from 14 countries.

Representatives of Remtec will be available all day to meet with you. Please connect using the partnering facility http://www.bench2boardroom.com/partnering.htm or contact our office direct on 01223 550860.

Remtec will be represented by Clare Willmott at the forthcoming IBMS Biomedical Conference. - http://www.ibmscongress.com/

Clare will be attending the congress on Tuesday 29th September and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you.

There has been plenty written on the subject of how to raise finance to fund a new business venture but what do you do once you have the money in the bank?  How do you find the people you need to grow your company?

This is especially critical in the Biotechnology and Healthcare sector where finding the right person with the specific skills you need can make or break a company in its infancy stage.

I spoke to two CEO’s who have recently been through fund raising and hiring to see how they go about recruiting the right people.

Remtec is pleased to welcome Clare Willmott who joins as a Recruitment Consultant and brings a wealth of experience to the team.

Jonathan joined Remtec earlier this year to support their already established retained search team.

Jonathan commented, "I am thoroughly enjoying the new challenges this role throws up every day, especially  learning about the medical device and life science sectors."

What skills will you need to sell or market healthcare technologies in the next decade? Ian Sandison of Remtec Search and Selection takes a look at what the future holds for medical device sales.

With scientists in Geneva seeking to recreate the cosmos as it was following the Big Bang 13.7 billion years ago, let’s take ourselves on a comparatively short journey into the future and explore how the medical device market may look in 10 years’ time: how patients and products will have changed, and how the role and approach of the salesperson will also have changed. I have asked a number of industry leaders from a cross-section of medical device companies – large and small, UK and international – for their views.

Have you ever dreamt of an HR manager handing you a P45, and woken up afraid to look behind you in case you saw your career? Ian Sandison of Remtec explains why redundancy is not always to be feared.

A meeting is suddenly cancelled. You are called to head office at short notice. “Oh by the way, bring your laptop,” you are told. Out of the blue you are in a solicitor’s office, having a compromise agreement reviewed and thinking of your next career move. It is formally called redundancy. Being released, let go, downsized and right-sized are a few of the other printable terms.

Pivotal Phase III trial data demonstrate superiority to standard of care Glivec® in achieving molecular and cytogenetic response, delaying cancer progression at 12 months
Tasigna also available in United States in this indication; submissions under review worldwide
Basel, August 27, 2010 - The Swiss health authority Swissmedic has granted approval for Tasigna® (nilotinib) 300 mg twice daily for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase. Tasigna is the first new therapeutic option for newly diagnosed patients since the introduction of Glivec® (imatinib)*, providing a major advance for patients with this blood cancer.
 

The approval of Tasigna came after being designated for a fast track review by Swissmedic based on positive findings at 12 months from a pivotal Phase III trial, ENESTnd, demonstrating superiority to the standard of care Glivec in achieving molecular and cytogenetic response and delaying cancer progression. In June of this year, these findings were published in The New England Journal of Medicine[1] and 18-month median data were presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Merck Company Foundation Supports Successful HIV/AIDS Initiative Led by Government

Merck today announced the Merck Company Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are committing an additional $60 million to support Botswana’s African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP). Merck is known as MSD outside the US and Canada. A unique program developed with and led by the Government of Botswana, ACHAP is one of sub-Saharan Africa’s oldest, most successful public-private partnerships. With today’s pledge, the Merck Foundation and the Gates Foundation’s total cash contributions now amount to $166.5 million. Merck will also continue the donation of its HIV medicines.

Limerick, Ireland, August 23, 2010 — With the addition of the new five-lumen central venous catheter (CVC), Cook Medical now provides a full line of Spectrum® technology products for physicians and patients in Europe. The five-lumen CVC was created in response to physician demand and provides ease and convenience to health-care centers, providing Spectrum multi-lumen catheter technology needed in the most demanding critical care cases.

Cook's Spectrum catheters are impregnated with a combination of antimicrobial drugs, minocycline and rifampin, and are clinically proven to reduce catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs). This lifesaving technology combats bacteria that can colonize the surface of CVCs and reduces the risk of infection.

Baxter Acquires Exclusive Commercial Rights to GLASSIATM in the United States and Other Select Markets

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) today announced a definitive agreement with Kamada Ltd. for exclusive commercial rights to GLASSIA™ [Alpha 1-Proteinase Inhibitor (Human)], the first and only liquid alpha1-proteinase inhibitor,  in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

A new optical imaging technique combining optical coherence tomography with a balloon deployment system can improve angioplasty procedures, according to a study published in Review of Scientific Instruments.
 

Tecan is working with Miltenyi Biotec, a leading provider of cell biology solutions, to develop a range of automated solutions for cell biology, based on the powerful MACS(R) Magnetic bead technology.

This new agreement will allow customers to benefit from the advanced capabilities of Tecan's Freedom EVO(R) liquid handling platforms when performing a wide range of separation, cultivation and analysis processes for cells and biomolecules.

Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SIX: ZMH), a global leader in musculoskeletal care, announced the first implantation of the Zimmer(R) NCB (Non-Contact Bridging) Periprosthetic Plating System. Scheduled for full release in the Fall of 2010, the Zimmer NCB Periprosthetic Plating System is the first comprehensive solution available to address complex femoral fractures which can occur around a hip or knee implant.

Hip and knee replacements have been shown to be extremely effective procedures but may be complicated by periprosthetic fractures. When patients with hip or knee implants suffer femur fractures, their surgical treatment can be particularly demanding and complex. The Zimmer NCB Periprosthetic Plating System is the first set of plates and screws that specifically addresses the issues of difficult fixation and poor bone quality surgeons face when addressing periprosthetic fractures.

It's a familiar scene on most TV medical dramas: a patient is unconscious; CPR didn't work; someone yells, "All clear!" and the defibrillator paddles are applied to the person's chest in hopes the electric current shocks the heart back into action.

In real life 350,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac arrest every year because they don't have implantable devices or defibrillators nearby at the time of the cardiac arrest. Northwestern Memorial Hospital heart rhythm specialists recently gave a 34-year-old man a makeshift paramedic who's always on duty inside of his chest by implanting a device that did not require X-ray assistance and the usual snaking of wires leading to the heart. In fact, the innovative device rests just beneath the surface of the skin and its components are positioned using the patient's own anatomical landmarks.

NATICK, Mass., Aug. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced that it has been notified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that all issues cited in the Company's corporate warning letter have been resolved. 

"The resolution of the corporate warning letter marks a major milestone in our journey of continuous quality improvement," said Ray Elliott, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boston Scientific.  "Quality is our highest priority and our greatest responsibility.  While our quality work will never be done, we have revolutionized our approach and transformed our culture, and we are confident that our commitment to the highest levels of quality will create a competitive advantage for Boston Scientific."

Product development professionals interested in precision-machined instruments, implants and components have an outstanding new resource thanks to a redesign and upgrade of the Specialized Medical Devices (SMD™) website by Teleflex Medical OEM.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J., Aug 10, 2010 – Merck, a global healthcare leader working to help the world to be well, and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, are partnering to develop Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget, a bilingual education outreach program aimed at helping low-income families make food choices that are affordable, nutritional and set the foundation for lifelong healthy habits.

The initiative will offer support and creative resources for families with children between the ages of 2 and 8 to cope with food insecurity, defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as “households where there is a lack of access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times due to lack of financial resources.” There is growing concern that food insecurity could contribute to childhood obesity rates, which over the past three decades have tripled to nearly one in three children in America being overweight or obese.

In Pivotal Phase III Studies, Merck’s Investigational Medicine Boceprevir Helped Majority of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 1 Infection Achieve Sustained Virologic Response, the Primary Endpoint of the Studies Merck Expects to Submit NDA by Year-End

Merck today reported that two pivotal Phase III registration studies for boceprevir, its investigational oral hepatitis C protease inhibitor, have been completed and met the primary endpoints: in both studies in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infection, the addition of boceprevir to treatment with PEGINTRON® (peginterferon alfa-2b) and REBETOL® (ribavirin, USP) (Peg/riba) significantly increased the number of patients who achieved sustained virologic response (SVR; defined as undetectable virus levels 24 weeks after the end of treatment), compared to control groups that received Peg/riba plus placebo.

BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), announced today that it has received “Moderate Complexity” status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA), for the BD MAXTM GBS Assay for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) on the BD MAX™ System.  With the “Moderate Complexity” categorization, the BD MAX GBS Assay will increase access to cost effective molecular testing for a broad range of laboratories performing GBS screening.

EVOLVE trial to evaluate Company's fourth-generation SYNERGY™ drug-eluting coronary stent

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced the start of patient enrollment in the EVOLVE clinical trial, which is designed to assess the safety and performance of its fourth-generation SYNERGY™ Coronary Stent.  The first patient was enrolled by Ian Meredith, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., Professor and Director of MonashHeart, at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne, Australia.

Second Quarter Net Sales $53.8 Million; Gross Margin at 85.5%

AGA Medical Holdings, Inc. (AGA Medical) (NASDAQ: AGAM), a leading developer of interventional medical devices for the minimally invasive treatment of structural heart defects and vascular abnormalities, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

Cook Medical is proud to announce that its founder, Bill Cook, recently received the Pioneer Award from the Pediatric and Adult Interventional Cardiology Symposium (PICS-AICS).

The Pioneer Award is the organization's most prestigious award and has been given out only once before in the organization's history. The award honors an individual who has contributed in a significant way to pediatric interventional cardiology.

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:GILD) today announced the closing of its sale of $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of 1.00% convertible senior notes due 2014 and $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of 1.625% convertible senior notes due 2016 to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The net proceeds from this offering were approximately $2.166 billion, after deducting estimated discounts, commissions and expenses.

AstraZeneca today announced that Dr Bruce Burlington is to join the Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director, with effect from 1 August 2010.  Dr Burlington will also become a member of the Board’s Science Committee.

Results of the Second Quarter 2010:

•    Consolidated revenues at €197.5 million, up 8.8% (5.1%°*) compared with the second quarter of 2009;•    Gross profit at €117.3 million, or 59.4% of revenues (54.4% in the second quarter of  2009);•    EBITDA at € 31.9 million, or 16.2% of revenues (14.3% in the second quarter of 2009)

Results of the First Half of 2010:

•    Consolidated revenues at €369.9 million, up 5.7% (4.2%°*) compared with the first half of 2009;•    Gross profit at €217.5 million, or 58.8% of revenues (55.0% in the first half of  2009):•    EBITDA at €56.8 million, or 15.4% of revenues (13.8% in the first half of 2009);•    Net profit up 29.0% to €17.9 million, or 4.8% of revenues (4.0% in the first half of 2009);

•    Net financial debt as of June 30, 2010 reduced to € 171.2 million, compared with €209.8 million as of June 30, 2009 (€ 174.5 million as of March 31, 2010)

In the Third Quarter 2010 Sorin Group expects revenues to grow 5-6%°*, EBITDA is seen at 13.5-14.5% of revenues and net profit at € 6-8 million. Net financial debt is expected to decrease further to € 165 million at the end of the quarter.

Guidance for the full year 2010 revised upward: revenue growth 4-6%°* (from 2-4%*) compared with 2009, EBITDA at 15-16% of revenues, Net profit at €36-40 million (from €33-37 million); Net financial debt is confirmed at €150 million at the end of the year.

The Board of Directors also approved a Performance Stock Grant program for the Management of the Group and resolved to call an Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders’ meeting for September 13th and 14th, 2010 (first and second call).

Anaheim, California — As hospital and clinical laboratories endure increasingly intense pressures to do more with less, they now face another challenge — rising demand for medical tests driven by an aging U.S. population that is expected to swell to more than 70 million in the next 20 years, an increase of more than 80 percent from today.

To help laboratories manage these burgeoning testing volumes, Abbott's (NYSE: ABT) ARCHITECTPLUS, the enhanced ARCHITECT family of immunochemistry analyzers, being showcased for the first time this week at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry Lab Expo, offers enhanced automation, workstation consolidation, high efficiency and labor savings for laboratories of all sizes.

Proposed JV to be called Merial-Intervet

PARIS, FRANCE and WHITEHOUSE STATION, NJ – July 27, 2010 – Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) and Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK) announced today that Raul E. Kohan will be appointed Chief Executive Officer of their proposed Animal Health joint venture. Sanofi-aventis and Merck - known as MSD outside the United States and Canada - intend to combine Merial with Intervet/Schering-Plough, to create a new global leader in Animal Health to be called Merial-Intervet.

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:GILD) today announced the pricing of its offering of $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of 1.00% convertible senior notes due 2014 and $1.1 billion aggregate principal amount of 1.625% convertible senior notes due 2016 to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").

Gilead has also granted the initial purchasers a 13-day option to purchase up to $150 million in aggregate principal amount of additional 2014 notes and up to $150 million in aggregate principal amount of additional 2016 notes.

Franklin Lakes, N.J. (July 26, 2010) -- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE:BDX), a leading global medical technology company, announced today that it has elected Christopher Jones to its Board of Directors, effective today.

Mr. Jones, 55, is the former Chief Executive Officer of JWT Worldwide (previously known as J. Walter Thompson), one of the world’s largest advertising agencies. He retired from JWT Worldwide in 2001 after 24 years of distinguished service at the firm, including leading its U.K. business and serving as President of Global Clients prior to being appointed CEO.

Company expands market-leading family of neurovascular stents

NATICK, Mass., July 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced the U.S. and European launches of the Neuroform EZ™ Stent System, its fourth-generation intracranial aneurysm stent system designed for use in conjunction with endovascular coiling to treat wide-necked aneurysms.  The Company plans to launch the product immediately in both markets.

New XTRASOFT™ ORBIT GALAXY™ Coil with TRUSEEK™ Technology
Designed to Seek and Fill Open Spaces in Cerebral Aneurysms

CARLSBAD, CA – JULY 26, 2010 – Codman & Shurtleff, Inc. (Codman), a global neuroscience and neurovascular company, today announced the launch of the stretch resistant XTRASOFT™ ORBIT GALAXY™ Coil (XTRASOFT), the softest endovascular finishing coil1 for use in the treatment of cerebral aneurysms.

• Sandoz is the first company to receive US approval to market a more affordable generic version of the leading hospital-based medication in the US
• US 2009 sales of Lovenox® were USD 2.7 billion
• Enoxaparin launch demonstrates Sandoz focus on differentiated and complex products, and underscores status as a global leader

Holzkirchen, July 23, 2010 - Sandoz today announced the introduction of enoxaparin sodium injection, the first generic version of Lovenox®[1], in the US. Product shipment began immediately following approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

AGA Medical Holdings, Inc. (AGA Medical) (Nasdaq: AGAM) will hold a live webcast to discuss its second quarter operating results on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010 at 8 a.m. ET (7 a.m. CT).

The webcast will be hosted by John Barr, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Brigid Makes, Chief Financial Officer. The Company will issue an earnings release at approximately 7 a.m. ET (6 a.m. CT) also on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2010.

San Francisco, CA – July 20, 2010 — Two independent clinical studies show that Cook Medical's BIGopsy® Backloading Biopsy Forceps' ability to obtain larger tissue samples for biopsy can lead to an improved ability to diagnose the cause of suspicious ureteral or kidney lesions. The results of both studies were presented separately at the 2010 American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

BIGopsy's unique design allows for removal of tissue specimens up to 4 mm3 in size, which is four times the size of samples taken with other forceps on the market. BIGopsy's larger sample can lead to first-time diagnosis negating the need for repeated procedures that result from an inadequate tissue sample.

New cobas e 602 module allows customers to integrate immunoassay and clinical chemistry testing on a single platform

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today the launch of the cobas e 602 module for immunoassay testing as the latest addition to its cobas 8000 platform. This product is now available in Europe as well as in all countries recognizing the CE Mark in the Latin America and Asia-Pacific regions*.

Merck Consumer Care, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., announces the nationwide availability of Dr. Scholl’s® Custom Fit Orthotic Centers. To help people find customized solutions for their tired, achy feet, the kiosks use revolutionary FootMapping® Technology to measure arch type and the areas you put the most pressure on to recommend the most appropriate Custom Fit™ Orthotic.

“We’ve combined state-of-the-art foot measurement technology with consumer-friendly software to make it quick and easy for people to find the Dr. Scholl’s® Custom Fit™ Orthotic Inserts that are best for their feet,” said Charles Lundy, associate director of Footcare Research and Development at Merck Consumer Care. “For the first time, this smart technology is available nationally and could save you hundreds of dollars compared to other custom orthotic inserts sold at retail stores.”

Japan PASS interim results presented at Hemophilia 2010 World Congress

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) today announced final E.U./U.S. post-authorization safety surveillance (PASS) data that support the safety and efficacy profile of ADVATE [Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), Plasma/Albumin-Free Method] previously documented in prospective clinical trials in a new study published in the journal Haemophilia.1  Similar safety, inhibitor profile and efficacy were seen in previously treated patients (PTPs) with severe to moderately severe hemophilia A as well as across a broad range of hemophilia patients in everyday practice.  The results are from the large, prospective, open-label, observational study examining 521 patients of any age and with severe to moderately severe  hemophilia A who were treated prophylactically (preventatively) or on-demand (as needed) with ADVATE therapy at the discretion of the participating physicians in the United States and 11 countries in the European Union.

Launching in the July edition of JBJS, our new technologies advertising campaign kicks off with E1™.  The theme of the campaign is ‘no magic, just technology’.

Shooting outside at night, light photographer Michael Bosanko, who has previously worked with clients such as Peugeot, World Wildlife Fund and O2, captures images by painting with light, using torches and long camera exposures. The effect is magical, but its Michael’s use of technology that allows him to achieve such breathtaking results.
 

July 12, 2010   News Santé (Europe) – Dr. Erard de Hemricourt – Nuclear Medicine, Dunkirk, France

A few months ago, I wrote a paper on some technological innovations that could impact our way of practicing medicine. One of these, the AccuVein AV300, has recently been officially granted the right to be sold in France and after asking to the french company AVF Perimedical, we generously received the AV300 for a whole week of exhilarating testing.

Combination of Neurovascular Businesses to Advance the Treatment of Stroke

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and Micrus Endovascular Corporation (NASDAQ: MEND), a global developer and manufacturer of minimally invasive devices to address hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, today announced a definitive agreement whereby Micrus Endovascular will be acquired in a cash for stock exchange.

1 in 10 women in the ATHENA trial, age 30-years and older, who tested positive for HPV genotypes 16 and/or 18 by the cobas 4800 HPV Test had cervical pre-cancer, although their Pap test was normal
Involving more than 47,000 women, the ATHENA trial is the largest registration study ever conducted for cervical cancer screening

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that data from the ATHENA (Addressing THE Need for Advanced HPV Diagnostics) U.S. registration trial of over 47,000 women demonstrate that two human papillomavirus genotypes, HPV 16 and HPV 18, can identify those women with cervical pre-cancer missed by cytologic examination with a Papanicolau (Pap) test. In the trial, 1 in 10 women age 30-years and older, who tested positive for HPV genotypes 16 and/or 18 by the cobas 4800 HPV Test had cervical pre-cancer, although their Pap test was normal. The data demonstrate the importance of HPV genotyping to increase the accuracy of assessing cervical cancer risk, especially by screening for the two highest risk HPV genotypes (16 and 18), and underscore the limitations of relying upon cytology (Pap) testing alone in identifying women with cervical pre-cancer. The data were presented today by Thomas C. Wright Jr., M.D. of Columbia University at the 26th International Papillomavirus Conference in Montréal, Canada.

Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK), known outside the U.S. and Canada as MSD, today provided further detail on integration plans for the company's research and development, manufacturing and other business operations as part of a global restructuring program announced following the November 2009 merger of Merck and Schering-Plough. The consolidation plans support Merck's strategic direction as a customer focused, innovative and diversified global health care company, and position the company to invest in key areas for future growth, including emerging markets, biologics, vaccines and consumer care.

Merck today announced plans to phase out operations at eight research sites and eight manufacturing sites, as well as to continue to consolidate office facilities worldwide, as part of the global merger restructuring program that began last December. The goal of the restructuring is to create a flexible R&D organization that cultivates scientific innovation, facilitates external collaboration and drives pipeline progress and a reliable, more fully utilized and cost efficient worldwide manufacturing supply chain to support Merck's broader product portfolio.

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced enrollment of the first patient in its MultiSENSE clinical trial. The trial is designed to evaluate multiple physiologic sensors in the Company's COGNIS™ cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators (CRT-Ds).  Boston Scientific plans to use the trial data to help develop a clinical alert that identifies the early onset of worsening heart failure.  The first patient was enrolled by Paul Coffeen, M.D., Austin Heart, Austin, Texas, where Jeffrey Whitehill, M.D., Medical Chair, Electrophysiology Department, is the site's Principal Investigator.

When combined with the Company's LATITUDE® Patient Management System, CRT-D sensors would be able to monitor a patient outside of a clinical setting and permit the LATITUDE system to deliver early notification to the physician when the patient's heart failure worsens.
 

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX) announced today that it will conduct a live webcast of its third fiscal quarter 2010 earnings conference call on Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. (ET). BD will issue a press release detailing the quarter's earnings earlier that morning.

The webcast of the conference call, along with related slides, will be accessible through BD's website and will be available for replay through Thursday, August 5, 2010.

Acquisition makes St. Jude Medical the first company to offer both OCT and FFR technology
 

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), a global medical device company, today completed the previously announced acquisition of LightLab Imaging, Inc. for approximately $90 million in cash.

AstraZeneca and MRC Technology, the commercialisation company for the UK’s Medical Research Council, today announced a new strategic collaboration to share access to their collections of compounds to aid the search for potential new treatments for serious diseases.

The companies will combine up to 100,000 compounds from AstraZeneca’s collection with the MRC Technology compound library of approximately 50,000 compounds.  MRC Technology will screen this larger combined library searching for compounds that show activity against novel biological targets. A joint steering committee will review these hits, and decide how to advance promising compounds that could become innovative medicines. 
 

• Everolimus extended median progression-free survival from 4.6 to 11.0 months vs. placebo and reduced risk of cancer progression by 65%[1]

• Patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET) have a rare and aggressive form of cancer with limited treatment options[2,3]

• Worldwide regulatory filings planned for everolimus as first mTOR inhibitor treatment for patients with advanced pancreatic NET

Novartis announced today that results of a Phase III study show Afinitor® (everolimus) tablets plus best supportive care (BSC) more than doubled progression-free survival, or time without tumor growth, versus placebo plus BSC in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NET). The study, RADIANT-3 (RAD001 In Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors), was presented at the 12th World Congress on Gastrointestinal Cancer and is part of the largest clinical trial program in patients with advanced NET[1].
 

Over 275 Hospitals Now Using the AccuVein AV300 Vein Finder

COLD SPRING HARBOR, N.Y. – AccuVein announced today that its groundbreaking AV300 vein illumination device has been installed in more than 275 hospitals throughout the United States, less than 12 months after the product began shipping.   Among the prestigious hospitals that have adopted the AV300 for venipuncture applications is Scottsdale Healthcare based in Scottsdale, Arizona.
 

MorphoSys Strengthens Clinical Portfolio with Innovative Antibody in Phase 1 Cancer Trial

MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment; TecDAX) and US-based biopharmaceutical company Xencor, Inc., announced today the signing of a worldwide exclusive license and collaboration agreement for an antibody in Phase 1 clinical development. The agreement provides MorphoSys with an exclusive worldwide license to XmAb5574, a high potency monoclonal antibody developed by Xencor for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. As part of the agreement, the companies will collaborate on the Phase 1 trial in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in the U.S.A., for which Xencor will continue to carry the costs under its development plan. MorphoSys will be solely responsible for further clinical development. Xencor will receive an upfront payment of US$ 13 million (approx. € 10.5 million), and will be eligible to receive development-, regulatory- and commercialization-related milestone payments and tiered royalties based on product sales. Further financial terms were not disclosed.

Eden Research plc, a leading UK agrochemical development company, today announces that it has signed an exclusive option agreement for its nematicide product and technology with Certis Europe BV ("Certis") based in Maarssen, Netherlands.

he agreement gives Certis a period of twelve months exclusivity within which it will conduct various investigations on the performance and economics of the product and technology following which it can exercise its option and enter into an exclusive licence agreement for the use of Eden's nematicide product in major markets in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania.The agreement provides for Certis to pay an upfront fee of $100,000 followed by a license fee on exercise of the option of $900,000, plus an annual royalty payment once sales have begun.

TB Blood Tests Preferred for Targeted Groups

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq:GILD) and CGI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held, development-stage pharmaceutical company focused on small molecule chemistry and kinase biology, today announced the signing of a definitive agreement pursuant to which Gilead will acquire CGI.

Under the terms of the agreement, Gilead will acquire CGI for up to $120 million, the majority as an upfront payment and the remaining based on clinical development progress, all of which will be financed through available cash on hand. Gilead anticipates that the deal would close in the third quarter of 2010, subject to satisfaction of certain closing conditions. After closing, CGI will continue operations in Branford as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gilead. CGI has generated a library of proprietary small molecule kinase inhibitors. The lead preclinical compound from this library targets spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) and could have unique applications for the treatment of serious inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.

•  New FreeStyle test strips do not use the GDH-PQQ enzyme.
• New FreeStyle test strips are compatible with all FreeStyle blood glucose monitors and offer a better blood glucose testing experience.

 Alameda, California — Following the recent clearance of its FreeStyle Lite® blood glucose test strips, Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced that it has also received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its new FreeStyle blood glucosetest strips. The new FreeStyle test strips minimize interference during blood glucose testing and are designed to offer a better testing experience.

Two new splitters allow multi-site placement of up to four spinal cord stimulation leads

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval and launch of two spinal cord stimulation (SCS) lead splitters for use with its Precision Plus™ Spinal Cord Stimulator System, the world's first rechargeable SCS device for the management of chronic pain of the trunk, back and/or limbs. 

The Therapy Cool Path is the company's first irrigated ablation catheter in Japan

ST. PAUL, Minn., Jun 24, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), a global medical device company, today announced Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) approval and reimbursement approval of its Therapy(TM) Cool Path(TM) Ablation Catheter. This marks the company's first entry into the irrigated catheter ablation market in Japan.

The British Society of Endovascular Therapy (BSET), the British Society of Interventional Radiology (BSIR) and the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland will unite at Endovascular Fusion on the 1st and 2nd of July, in the first meeting of its kind to discuss the latest advances in endovascular therapy. Six, six-month fellowships in aid of the advancement of endovascular surgery will be announced at this meeting.

The two day event, held at Walton Hall, Warwickshire, will provide a unique opportunity for experts from a range of disciplines to exchange ideas and discuss leading edge technology in endovascular therapy. The aim is to raise the profile of endovascular techniques, facilitate access to key information among physicians and, ultimately, to benefit patients suffering from arterial and venous disease by improving the availability of endovascular treatments. The programme for the event addresses a range of topics including: carotid intervention,  endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR), the cost of endovascular grafts, the challenges to treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms, the provision of training in endovascular procedures, and treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Government of Kenya Takes Leading Role in Launch of Multi-Year, In-Service Training Program

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a leading global medical technology company, and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today set in motion a joint, multi-year initiative to improve blood collection practices in African clinics and hospitals.
 

First presentation of TENDER study demonstrates RoACTEMRA’s strong efficacy in this severe childhood condition with no currently licensed treatment
 

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced that new data being presented at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) congress demonstrates that RoACTEMRA (known as ACTEMRA outside Europe) is highly effective in improving the signs and symptoms of systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (sJIA), a severe childhood arthritis, where there are no currently licensed treatments. RoACTEMRA is also well tolerated in children with sJIA having a safety profile similar to adults with RA.
 

• ACZ885 significantly reduced rate of acute flares up to 75% vs. anti-inflammatory colchicine in gout patients starting uric acid lowering therapy (UALT)[1]
• ACZ885 blocked major inflammation trigger (interleukin IL-1β)[2,3] for sustained period and reduced gout symptoms [4]
• Data indicate potential of ACZ885 to both treat and prevent painful gout flares - Phase III program in gout currently underway

New phase II data demonstrate that the human monoclonal antibody ACZ885 (also known as canakinumab) provided highly statistically significant risk reduction of acute flares in gout patients initiating uric acid lowering therapy (UALT) compared to the anti-inflammatory standard of care (colchicine)[1].
 

Abbott Park, Illinois (NYSE: ABT) and San Diego, California — Abbott and Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. today announced that they have entered into a collaboration agreement to develop and commercialize elagolix for the treatment of endometriosis-related pain. Elagolix is a novel, first-in-class oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, which has recently completed a phase IIb study in endometriosis. In addition to endometriosis, elagolix will be evaluated for the treatment of uterine fibroids.

Extensive preclinical and clinical experience with elagolix suggests this drug could be an important advance for women with endometriosis and uterine fibroids, highly prevalent conditions where there is a need for new treatments," said John Leonard, M.D., senior vice president, pharmaceuticals, research and development, Abbott. "This agreement enhances Abbott's late stage pipeline, with the potential for additional compounds in earlier stage development.

Belgium Facility Provides 15,500 Square Metre Office and Laboratory Space

Baxter today moved its Research & Development facility, including commercial and administrative offices, to Parc de l'Alliance (Alliance Park), Braine l'Alleud, based south of Brussels, Belgium.  One of three Research & Development facilities in Europe, Alliance Park represents a major milestone for Baxter operations in Belgium, and strengthens the company's capacity to continue developing leading-edge technologies and products.

Sorin Group’s exclusive SonR sensor technology improves responder rates for heart failure patients through the regular automatic optimization of CRT.

Sorin Group (Reuters Code: SORIN.MI), a global leader in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, announced today that the CLEAR study has met its primary endpoint.

The CLEAR study, with 156 patients enrolled in 51 centers in 8 countries, is sponsored exclusively by Sorin Group. The study demonstrates reduced mortality and heart failure (HF) related hospitalization in patients whose cardiac resynchronization therapy was optimized on a regular basis.

New technology designed to offer physicians objective, real-time measurements to better determine catheter tip-to-tissue contact during ablation procedures

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), a global medical device company, today announced European CE Mark approval of the EnSite Contact(TM) Technology platform at the 17th World Congress in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Cardiac Techniques (CardioStim).

CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE: CRY), an implantable biological medical device and cardiovascular tissue processing company, announced today that it will participate in the Sidoti & Company, LLC 2010 Semi Annual New York Micro-Cap Conference at The Grand Hyatt Hotel.

Steven G. Anderson, president and chief executive officer of CryoLife, Inc., will present a corporate overview on Friday, June 25, 2010 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time

New Stem Cell Grants Bring Research Grant Program Total to $240,000, Offering Additional Support for Innovative Life Sciences Research
 

BD Biosciences, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), announced today a further expansion of its Research Grant program, adding  $100,000 worth of reagents, cell culture tools and labware to support promising stem cell research.

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring, is scheduled to present at the Wells Fargo Healthcare Conference at the InterContinental Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts on Wednesday, June 23, 2010.

Thomas M. Abate, Edwards Lifesciences' corporate vice president, chief financial officer & treasurer, is scheduled to speak to conference attendees at 2:30 p.m. EDT.  

Portable, Non-Contact Vein Finder wins Gold Award for Design Excellence

AccuVein LLC has been named a “gold winner” for the outstanding product design of its AV300 vein-illumination device at the annual Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) presentation ceremony held at the Medical Design & Manufacturing East Conference at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

Cook Medical has submitted its Pre-Market Approval (PMA) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the company's unique polymer-free Zilver® PTX® Drug-Eluting Peripheral Stent. Intended for use in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in the superficial femoral artery (SFA), Zilver PTX is a self-expanding, highly durable nitinol stent that uses a proprietary, polymer-free technology to deliver a locally therapeutic dose of paclitaxel, an antiproliferative drug, to the target lesion.

Cook's PMA submission includes data from the randomized portion of the ongoing Zilver PTX clinical trial, the largest study of its kind for the endovascular treatment of PAD in the superficial femoral artery (SFA). Encompassing a global single arm registry and a randomized study involving 1,276 total patients including diabetics, symptomatic patients and those with complex lesions, the 479 patients enrolled in the randomized study and the 787 in the single arm study are experiencing clinical improvement, excellent stent durability (i.e., fracture resistance), high rates of event-free survival and freedom from target lesion revascularization. Patency data from the single-arm study was reported at 86.2 percent at 12 months at EuroPCR last month.

CE Mark approval includes specific indication for treatment of diabetic patients

NATICK, Mass., June 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced the market launch and first implants of its TAXUS® Element™ Paclitaxel-Eluting Coronary Stent System in the European Union and other CE Mark countries.  The TAXUS Element Stent System is the Company's third-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) technology and incorporates a platinum chromium alloy with an innovative stent design and an advanced catheter delivery system.  It received CE Mark approval last month, which included a specific indication for the treatment of diabetic patients.

Portable, Non-Contact Vein Finder wins Gold Award for Design Excellence

New York, NY, June 10, 2010 – AccuVein LLC has been named a “gold winner” for the outstanding product design of its AV300 vein-illumination device at the annual Medical Design Excellence Awards (MDEA) presentation ceremony held at the Medical Design & Manufacturing East Conference at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

• Committee voted in favor of approval of FTY720 (fingolimod), as treatment in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis, affirming the drug's positive benefit/risk profile
• FTY720, potentially first in a new class of MS therapy, represents a significant advance as an efficacious oral treatment for people with relapsing remitting MS
• Committee recommended post marketing collection of additional safety data and evaluation of a lower dose

Basel, June 10, 2010 - Today, an advisory committee of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended approval of FTY720 (fingolimod) for the treatment of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis, the most common form of the disease. The FDA has the option of seeking the advice of one of its advisory committees as it reviews and decides whether to approve a new treatment. The committee voted unanimously that FTY720 demonstrated substantial efficacy in treating relapsing remitting MS and that safety of the proposed 0.5 mg dose justified approval.
 

Data Reported at SLEEP 2010 24th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies

SAN ANTONIO, June 9, 2010 – Clinical results from a Phase IIb study showed that MK-4305, Merck's investigational dual orexin receptor antagonist, was significantly more effective than placebo (p<0.005) in improving overall sleep efficiency at night one and at the end of week four in patients with primary insomnia. MK-4305 was generally well-tolerated in the study. Orexins are neuropeptides (chemical messengers) that are released by specialized neurons in the hypothalamus region of the brain and are believed to be an important regulator of the brain’s sleep-wake process. The data were presented for the first time at the SLEEP 2010 24th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.
 

Agreements include surgical blades, critical care and extended dwell catheter product platforms

Franklin Lakes, NJ (June 8, 2010) – BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE:BDX), a leading global medical technology company, announced today that it has signed agreements to sell certain assets of its BD Medical segment, including the Ophthalmic Systems unit as well as the surgical blades, critical care and extended dwell catheter product platforms of the Medical Surgical Systems unit, to RoundTable Healthcare Partners, an operating-oriented private equity firm focused on the healthcare industry based in Lake Forest, Illinois, and two of its portfolio companies, Argon Medical Devices, Inc. and Aspen Surgical Products, Inc. The financial terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

ATLANTA, June 8, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --CryoLife, Inc., (NYSE: CRY) a biomaterials, medical device and tissue processing company, today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a five-year shelf-life on its CryoValve(R) SG pulmonary human heart valve processed with the Company's proprietary SynerGraft(R) technology.

CryoLife's SynerGraft technology is designed to remove allogeneic donor cells and cellular remnants from the valve without compromising the integrity of the underlying collagen matrix. This biotechnology is used by cardiovascular surgeons for complex reconstructive surgeries, including those performed on children.

Sorin Group, (Reuters Code: SORN.MI), a global company and a leader in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, announced today that it has acquired Gish Biomedical from Ventizz Capital Partners, a private equity group focused on technology-oriented companies.

Based in California, Gish Biomedical designs and manufactures disposable medical devices for cardiovascular surgery, with a focus on the Perfusionist. Gish products have been marketed both in the United States and worldwide for over 25 years.

 Dr. McHutchison will also join Gilead's Executive Committee.

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced that John G. McHutchison, MD, will join the company as Senior Vice President, Liver Disease Therapeutics. In this position, Dr. McHutchison will report to Norbert W. Bischofberger, PhD, Executive Vice President, Research and Development and Chief Scientific Officer and will have responsibility for Gilead's research and development efforts supporting the company's programs in liver disease, including hepatitis C. 

An acute cardiomyopathy sends a new mom to the brink of death. A Redskins fan with heart failure is sidelined by his illness. A heart condition keeps a hunting enthusiast from the activity he loves most.

What all three of these patients seen at the University of Virginia Health System have in common is the Thoratec HeartMateII Left Ventricular Assist System, or LVAS. The device has been approved by the FDA for long-term support of people with advanced heart failure.
 

BD Ultra-Fine™ Nano 4 mm x 32 G Pen Needle Offers More Comfortable Injection, Helping Patients Adhere to Diabetes Therapy
 

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE:BDX), a leading global medical technology company, announced today the launch of BD Ultra-Fine™ Nano—the world’s smallest pen needle. The BD Nano pen needle is proven to be as effective as longer needles for patients of all body types and proven to offer a less painful injection experience for the more than 5 million people in the United States who inject insulin or GLP-1 to manage their diabetes.

Bloomington, IN, June 7, 2010 — The United States District Court, Southern District of Indiana, has ruled in favor of Cook Incorporated in its decision to lift the stay on Cook's patent infringement case against Endologix, Inc. (Nasdaq: ELGX). With this ruling, the case, filed by Cook on October 6, 2009, will now proceed.

The complaint claims infringement by Endologix of two Cook patents for endovascular technologies, one of Cook's leading technology portfolios.

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) today announced results from a Phase III study of Avastin (bevacizumab) that showed women with previously untreated advanced ovarian cancer who received Avastin in combination with chemotherapy, followed by the continuation of Avastin alone, had a 39 percent improvement in the likelihood of living longer without the disease worsening (progression-free survival or PFS) compared to chemotherapy alone.  

An assessment of safety noted adverse events consistent with those observed in pivotal trials of Avastin. The study (known as GOG 0218), was conducted by a network of researchers led by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG). 

• Phase II study shows meaningful reduction in brain tumor size in 75% of patients with subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs) from baseline to six months
• SEGAs are benign brain tumors associated with tuberous sclerosis (TS) that primarily affect children and adolescents and can cause severe brain swellingNo patient developed new tumors or needed brain surgery, the only current treatment option for patients with SEGAs that are growing
• Novartis submitted file to FDA based on this study of 28 patients and is enrolling the EXIST Phase III trials to further study everolimus in patients with TS

Basel, June 5, 2010 - Novartis announced today that results from a Phase II study show Afinitor® (everolimus) tablets is the first medication in a clinical trial to decrease the size of subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs), benign brain tumors associated with tuberous sclerosis (TS)[1],[2]. In this study of 28 patients presented today at the 46th American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago, 75% of patients experienced a reduction of 30% or greater in the size of their brain tumors from baseline to six months (p<0.001).

AstraZeneca announced today that it has submitted a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) in the European Union via the Decentralised Procedure (DCP) for a product combining low-dose ASA (acetylsalicylic acid) and the active ingredient of Nexium (esomeprazole) for the prevention of cardio- and cerebrovascular (CV) events in patients requiring continuous low-dose ASA treatment who are at risk of developing ASA-associated gastric and/or duodenal ulcers.  Pending approval, the proposed trade name for the product is Axanum.

• Lower Prices for Gilead HIV Medicines under ADAPs, Effective July 1, 2010
• New Pricing Frozen to ADAPs through 2013
• Key Enhancements Made to Gilead HIV Patient Assistance and Co-Pay Programs

FOSTER CITY, Calif. & WASHINGTON, Jun 04, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --Gilead Sciences and the ADAP Crisis Task Force (ACTF) today announced a series of initiatives to help state AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs) continue to provide antiretroviral medicines to people living with HIV in the United States. The new measures are a response to budget shortfalls being experienced by a number of ADAPs across the country, and the growing number of individuals on ADAP waiting lists who are not receiving the HIV treatment they need.

CryoLife, Inc. (NYSE: CRY), an implantable biological medical device and cardiovascular tissue processing company whose products include BioGlue Surgical Adhesive, announced today that it has completed the purchase of U.S. patent # 6,329,337.

The patent involves the formulation and use of recombinant human serum albumin and gluteraldehyde, and now becomes part of CryoLife's protein hydrogel patent portfolio, which includes BioGlue.
 

Merck strengthens its commitment to oncology

CHICAGO, IL, June 3, 2010 – Today, Merck announced the launch of the Merck Oncology Collaborative Trials Network, a pioneering clinical trial network focusing on the development of Merck drug and vaccine candidates being investigated for the treatment and prevention of cancer. The global network comprises leading cancer research centers who will partner with Merck to speed the development of innovative treatments for a range of cancers.
 

Bench-top System Offers Walkaway Automation and Improves Lab Efficiency

BD Diagnostics, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), announced today that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market the BD MAXTM GBS Assay for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) on the BD MAX™ System. The BD MAX System is a next-generation automated workstation for molecular testing designed to streamline workflow and offer full walkaway automation to accommodate varying workloads for maximum lab efficiency and flexibility.

DEERFIELD, Ill., June 1, 2010 -- Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) announced today two executive changes.  Robert M. Davis, has been appointed corporate vice president and president of Baxter's Renal business, filling a role vacated by Bruce H. McGillivray, who is retiring after 30 years of service to the company.

Davis previously served as corporate vice president and chief financial officer for Baxter.  Concurrent with this change, Robert J. Hombach has been named corporate vice president and chief financial officer.  Hombach previously served as corporate vice president and treasurer for Baxter.

A 29-month clinical study1 demonstrated the long-term success of Cook Medical's Resonance® Metallic Ureteral Stent in providing drainage for patients with both benign and malignant upper urinary tract obstructions, according to results presented today at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA).

The findings suggest that metallic stents provide adequate drainage and can be maintained in situ for 12 months without significant encrustation.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today posted briefing materials in advance of 2 June 2010 Antiviral Drugs Advisory Committee to discuss the approval of motavizumab for the prevention of serious respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in high-risk infants.

The briefing materials can be found on the FDA web site: http://www.fda.gov/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/Drugs/AntiviralDrugsAdvisoryCommittee/ucm213806.htm

GS Junior Benchtop System expected to accelerate research in life sciences and human health

Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), announced today the global launch of the GS Junior System, the company’s new benchtop next-generation DNA sequencing platform for life science research. The GS Junior System, developed by 454 Life Sciences, a Roche company, provides an integrated sequencing and bioinformatics solution, all in a size that is no bigger than a typical desktop laser printer. Due to its size, efficiency and price competitiveness, thousands of small and medium sized research laboratories worldwide will now have access to Roche’s state-of-the-art sequencing capabilities at an affordable price.

Novartis announced today that patupilone (EPO906) did not show a significant overall survival advantage in a phase III trial of patients with advanced ovarian cancer, refractory or resistant to platinum-based therapy The comparator arm in the trial was Doxil®/Caelyx® (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin).

Investigators involved in the study and regulatory agencies have been notified of the trial outcome. No new or unexpected serious adverse events in the patupilone arm were identified in the trial. Novartis does not plan to proceed with regulatory filings based on these data.

Randomized study of nearly 3,000 patients to evaluate Company's third-generation drug-eluting stent technology

NATICK, Mass., May 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) today announced the initiation of the PLATINUM PLUS clinical trial, an investigator-sponsored research (ISR) study designed to compare the performance of the PROMUS® Element™ Everolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent System to the XIENCE PRIME™ Everolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent System.  The PROMUS Element Stent, which received CE Mark in October 2009, is Boston Scientific's third-generation drug-eluting stent technology and incorporates a platinum chromium alloy with an innovative stent design and an advanced catheter delivery system.

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring, today announced the receipt of CE Mark for the Edwards SAPIEN pulmonic transcatheter heart valve. The valve is designed to be an alternative to surgical valve replacement for patients suffering from congenital heart disease of the pulmonic valve and leverages the company's transcatheter valve technology, which has been used in more than 5,000 cases around the world.

"The Edwards SAPIEN pulmonic transcatheter heart valve gives clinicians the potential to eliminate one of the multitude of open-chest procedures that their young congenital heart patients will face in their lifetimes," said Ziyad M. Hijazi, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Rush Center for Congenital and Structural Heart Disease, chief of pediatric cardiology and professor in the departments of pediatrics and internal medicine at Rush University, Chicago. "As every re-operation increases a patient's risk of infection, illness and death, it is a gift to have a minimally invasive way to treat these fragile patients."

AstraZeneca today announced the appointment of Martin Mackay to the newly-created position of President of R&D. Martin will lead the company’s research and development organisation and will have overall accountability for delivering new products – small molecules and biologics – from AstraZeneca’s pipeline. He will start his new role on 1 July 2010 and will be based at the company’s headquarters in London.

Martin Mackay joins AstraZeneca from Pfizer where he heads up PharmaTherapeutics Research & Development and is a member of the Pfizer Executive Leadership Team. He leads a global organisation tasked with advancing a portfolio of investigational medicines across a range of disease areas. Prior to joining Pfizer in 1995, he held several discovery and development roles culminating with his appointment as Head of Molecular and Cell Biology, CNS Research at Ciba-Geigy.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced the European approval and launch of its TREK™ Coronary Dilatation Catheter for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The TREK system represents a new approach to balloon catheter design, and provides physicians with a high-performing option for treating challenging lesions and difficult-to-reach blockages. Abbott received CE Mark for the TREK system earlier this year.

"The TREK system has a more seamless, transitionless design that allows for successful navigation to hard-to-access lesions, which is an important factor in treating patients with complex anatomy. In contrast, the designs of many balloon catheter systems include more abrupt junction points that can create resistance while trying to access complex lesions," said Julinda Mehilli, M.D., director of Clinical Research and Data Coordinating, Intracoronary Stenting and Antithrombosis Research (ISAR) Center, German Heart Center in Munich. "With the TREK system, blockages may be crossed smoothly and reliably even in vessels that are tight and challenging; lesions which were previously thought to be some of the most challenging may now be reached."

At their meeting today, the Board of Directors of Merck & Co., Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of $0.38 per share on the company’s common stock for the third quarter of 2010. Payment will be made on July 8, 2010 to common stockholders of record at the close of business on June 15, 2010.

The Board of Directors today also declared a quarterly dividend of $3.67 per share on the company’s mandatory convertible preferred stock for the third quarter of 2010. Payment will be made on Aug. 13, 2010 to preferred stockholders of record at the close of business on Aug. 2, 2010.

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW), the global leader in the science of heart valves and hemodynamic monitoring, today announced that Martyn Thomas, M.D., reported that the Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter heart valve demonstrated promising one-year mortality rates for high-risk patients, many of whom were too sick to undergo traditional open-heart surgery. The 1,038-patient SOURCE Registry is the largest reported experience in the world with one-year adjudicated data on consecutive patients treated with transcatheter heart valves with either a transfemoral or transapical approach.
 

The data presented today at EuroPCR, the official congress of the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI), showed a one-year survival rate of 81.1 percent in transfemoral procedures (valve delivered via the femoral artery) and 72.1 percent in transapical procedures (valve delivered via a small incision through the ribs).

New Six-Month Data on Abbott's Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold Reinforces Its Potential to Be the Next Revolution in Interventional Cardiology

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) today announced positive six-month results from the first 45 patients enrolled in the second stage of the ABSORB trial, which was presented during the Late-Breaking Clinical Trials session at the EuroPCR 2010 conference. At six months, Abbott's bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) demonstrated strong results, with a low (4.4 percent) rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE1) and no blood clots (thromboses). Abbott's BVS also demonstrated an in-stent late loss rate of 0.19 mm. Late loss is a measure of vessel re-narrowing and looks at the change in the diameter inside the device between the time immediately following scaffold placement and at six months. The amount of re-narrowing tells physicians how effective a scaffold procedure was at keeping the blood vessel open.
 

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) extends priority review period by three months to September 2010, in line with previously announced expectations

FDA Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for June 10 to review data from FTY720 clinical trial program in MS

Study shows around 40% of ranibizumab patients substantially improved vision by 10 letters or more on an eye-chart, compared to 16% with laser therapy alone[1]
Ranibizumab, given alone or with laser, provided average vision gain of six letters sustained over a year compared to 0.8 letters with laser therapy alone[1]
Diabetic macular edema (DME) with visual impairment affects 1-3% of people with diabetes worldwide[2] with potentially disabling impact on patients' lives
New data support current submission for EU approval of ranibizumab for visual impairment caused by DME

Basel, May 22, 2010 - First results of the RESTORE Phase III study show that ranibizumab is significantly more effective than laser treatment, the current standard of care, at treating visual impairment due to diabetic macular edema (DME), a serious complication of diabetes[1].

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), a leading global medical technology company, today celebrated the grand opening of its newest BD Diagnostics production facility in Mebane, North Carolina. To date, BD has invested $14 million in the 101,000-square-foot facility in Alamance County, which will employ 75 associates, creating 30 new jobs for the County. The new facility provides added manufacturing capacity for diagnostic products that support BD’s Women’s Health and Cancer strategy.

“BD began operations in Alamance County in 2006 with the acquisition of TriPath Imaging,” said Wayne Brinster, VP/GM of Women’s Health and Cancer, BD. “Our expansion in Mebane is evidence of our positive experience with the skilled workforce and economic environment here. BD is very pleased to be growing in North Carolina, where we have had operations since 1972, and we appreciate the strong support we have received from the local authorities for this investment.”