Monthly Archives: March 2012

Ex-Temple med school official sentenced in fraud case

Posted on by

Former Temple University physician and medical school assistant dean Joseph J. Kubacki was sentenced in federal court Thursday to more than seven years in prison after being convicted by a jury of defrauding Medicare, private insurers, and patients by filing false medical claims.

Kubacki, 63, was convicted in August of 150 counts of health-care fraud, wire fraud, and making false statements in health-care matters. U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno also ordered Kubacki to repay Temple about $1 million and patients a total of $5,445 for co-pays they should not have been billed for.

Kubacki was chairman of the ophthalmology department at Temple University School of Medicine and also served as an assistant dean. According to prosecutors, he submitted false claims amounting to $4.5 million in charges for services to patients he did not see or evaluate between 1996 and 2007.

"Health-care fraud costs the public billions of dollars a year," U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger said in a statement. "But when an accomplished member of the medical profession perpetrates this type of fraud, the costs cannot be measured in dollars alone. Fraud erodes public trust, and today's sentence should send a message that regardless of your stature in society, the government will seek significant prison time for violating that trust."

Nick DiGiulio, special agent in charge for the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General, said: "We rely on honest citizens and health-care workers to turn in dishonest people. We want people to call our hotline," 800-447-8477.

Temple personnel discovered Kubacki's actions and turned him in to prosecutors. Public and private insurers are being reimbursed by Temple nearly $1.8 million.

"Kubacki acted on his own initiative and in defiance of Temple's repeated compliance training about proper billing method," university spokesman Ray Betzner said via e-mail. "Temple trusted Kubacki, and Kubacki abused that trust."

Kubacki's attorney, Judson Aaron, said Kubacki's previously distinguished career ended as a "human tragedy."

Contact David Sell at 215-854-4506 or dsell@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @PhillyPharma. Read his "PhillyPharma" blog on philly.com.

Read more:
Ex-Temple med school official sentenced in fraud case

Friends Every Woman Needs

Posted on by

You know that close friendships feel good - but did you know just how much of a health boost they can be?

According to a 10-year study of older people in Adelaide, Australia, satisfying friendships predict longevity better than even close family ties, and they can protect against obesity, depression, and heart disease, among other health problems.

When women get stressed, our instinct is often to find a friend and talk things through, says Joan Borysenko, author of Inner Peace for Busy Women. Both touch and talk release the hormone oxytocin, which has a profoundly calming effect on your mind and body.

You dont need 600 Facebook friends or a jam-packed social calendar to reap these impressive perks (in fact, both can backfire). Research shows the following types of relationships are especially potent for your health. Heres how to cherish these friendships and make sure you stay close for the long haul.

Quiz: Are Your Friendships Healthy?

1. A Childhood Friend She can still remember the boy-crazy, artistic girl you were at 16.

Longtime intimates are special for many reasons. They knew you and your family while you were growing up and likely have many memories and stories of you that no one else does. "These friends remind you that you are still the person you've always been," says Rebecca G. Adams, a leading friendship researcher and sociology professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Nurture these ties by starting a members-only Web sitegroups on Yahoo, Google, or Facebook are free and make it easy. Use them to plan vacations or share links to digital photo albums. Or keep things low techjust stick a card in the mail now and then, and stay in touch with phone calls. Research from the University of Notre Dame shows that people who chat at least every 15 days have the best chance of staying close over time.

2. A New Friend Unlike members of your grade school crew, newly acquired pals have no preconceived notions about you.

"As we get older, we can fall into ruts," says Pamela McLean, a psychologist in Santa Barbara, Calif. "New friends ignite different kinds of thinking and fresh ways of being." What's more, they'll connect you to another network of people, says Rosemary Blieszner, a professor at Virginia Tech who has researched friendships among older women. That network can be helpful if youre looking to make a career change or find a new pool of potential dates.

Go here to see the original:
Friends Every Woman Needs

World-Renowned Podiatrist Phillip Vasyli, Founder of OrthaheelUSA, and Dr. Weil Integrative Footwear Hosts "Healthy …

Posted on by

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., March 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Are flats good for your feet? How long should you stay in your heels? Australian podiatrist, and biomechanics specialist Phillip Vasyli, will lead an informative session about lower limb biomechanics and common problems associated with a condition faced by nearly 70 percent of the population: over-pronation of the feet. Phillip Vasyli willbe hosting a "Healthy Feet" session at two Dillard's locations in Nevada.

Over-pronation often leads to foot, leg and other related pains elsewhere in the body that prevent many people from leading active lifestyles. In his 30 years of podiatry practice, Vasyli has successfully treated thousands of patients, ranging from amateur and professional athletes to those who work on their feet. Through this experience, he saw the effects of misalignment and developed affordable orthotic technology to help relieve this common problem.

Meet Phillip Vasyli at the following Dillard's Nevada locations:

Dillard's Reno Sierra Summit on Sunday, April 1st at 11 a.m.

Dillard's Henderson Galleria at Sunset on Friday, April 6th at 11 a.m.

Following Vasyli's "Healthy Feet, Healthy You" session, Phillip Vasyli will be at the women's shoe department to share the innovation behind the footwear collection created in collaboration with Andrew Weil, M.D., internationally recognized leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine. Dillard's is featuring the Dr. Andrew Weil Integrative Footwear Spring collection of women's sandals and walking shoes.

Weil Integrative Footwear features proprietary AMS Aided Motion System footbed technologies offering balance and alignment from the ground up. A 1st Ray Flexor Zone assists forefoot mobility and gait efficiency. The Tri-Planar Motion Control footbed aids rear-foot alignment and function.

"People who wear Weil Integrative Footwear are likely to enjoy easier movement, less fatigue, improved balance and posture and relief from aches and pains caused by over-pronation," explains Phillip Vasyli.

Andrew Weil, M.D., donates all of his after-tax profits from royalties from sales of Weil Integrative Footwear products directly to the Weil Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting integrative medicine through training, education and research.

To learn more about the Dr. Weil Integrative Footwear brand and Phillip Vasyli's appearance in Nevada, visit the Dr. Weil Integrative Footwear Facebook page or http://www.weilbeing.com.

Continue reading here:
World-Renowned Podiatrist Phillip Vasyli, Founder of OrthaheelUSA, and Dr. Weil Integrative Footwear Hosts "Healthy ...

German hermaphrodites push for human rights

Posted on by

Courtesy Of Fackeltraeger Verlag / Courtesy of Fackeltraeger Verlag

Christiane Voelling is a 52-year-old intersexual who lives in Dusseldorf, Germany and has fought for greater rights for people like herself whose sexual gender is indeterminate.

By Andy Eckardt , NBC News Producer

MAINZ, Germany Pink? Or blue? For most parents this is the paramount question when it comes to organizing a baby shower or choosing a color for a newborn's room.

But, what happens if the exact gender of the child cannot be determined? It is estimated that in Germany alone approximately 80,000 people are intersexual, so-called hermaphrodites, who have physical features such as chromosomes, hormones, gonads and outer sexual organs which cannot be unambiguously attributed to just one gender.

Christiane Voelling, 52,is an intersexual.

She is a nurse living in Dsseldorf who was born without defining gender characteristics.

Because German law requires that a newborn's personal data including gender specification is registered within a week, Christiane was proclaimed a boy at birth and called Thomas after a midwife supposedly mistook her enlarged clitoris for a penis.

In Voelling's case, it was later diagnosed that her indeterminate external genitalia were the result of a rare genetic disorder of the adrenal gland, the so-called congenital adrenal hyperplasia, or CAH.

"My childhood and teenage development was often agonizing because I did not really know what was wrong with me and where I belonged," Voelling said in a recent interview with NBC News.

Read the original post:
German hermaphrodites push for human rights

Budget signals death knell for public appointments commission

Posted on by

OTTAWA The Conservative government is putting an end to an agency it created to oversee public-sector appointments, another focused on assisted human reproduction, and a Trudeau-era educational program designed to build national unity.

The cuts to agencies, boards and Crown corporations announced in the federal budget amount to hundreds of millions of dollars in savings over three years.

The Conservatives created the public appointments commission soon after coming to office in 2006. Its goal was to oversee the process of appointing Canadians to boards and agencies, such as the Employment Insurance Board of Referees, and avoid political involvement in the process.

However, opposition parties raised concerns and ultimately blocked the appointment of a commissioner five years ago, and the commission has sat silent ever since.

The government argued in its budget that the commission is no longer needed because it has "strengthened the rigour and accessibility" of the appointments system, even though the NDP has raised concerns about Tory backers receiving patronage appointments.

Eliminating the commission is expected to yield $1.1 million in savings.

The government also said it plans to eliminate Katimavik, a Trudeau-era program that had French- and English-Canadian students learn in each other's provinces, a nation-building exercise during an era of fierce divides between nationalists and separatists in Quebec.

"It reaches a relatively small number of participants annually at a relatively high cost per participant, due to the nature and duration of the experience," the government wrote in its budget. "Canadian Heritage will continue to invest in youth programming and provide opportunities for more youth to learn about their country."

The Canada Council for the Arts, the National Gallery of Canada and national museums will not see any budget reductions. The National Film Board will see its budget cut by $6.7 million over the next three years, while Telefilm Canada will see a $10.6 million budgetary reduction.

Three of Canada's research councils will see a combined budgetary loss of $60.3 million over three years, while the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will have its budget cut by $102.4 million, with the bulk of that cut coming in the 2014-15 fiscal year.

See the original post here:
Budget signals death knell for public appointments commission

Stakeholders weigh in on UC Berkeley GMO complex

Posted on by

A forum critical of UC Berkeleys plans to ramp up genetic engineering research at a planned massive new second campus of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Richmond drew a capacity crowd to the David Brower Center Thursday night.

One speaker after another ripped into the potential consequences of the universitys grandiose plans, including the human and environmental devastation certain to be wrought on Africa and Latin America.

We will be posting several articles on the gathering, but we will begin with a focus on some of the ways the labs end products could impact other lands targeted by the labs emphasis on using genetic engineering to transform living plants into fuel.

A resonant voice from Nigeria

Environmental activist Nnimmo Bassey, executive director of Environmental Rights Action in Nigeria and chair of Friends of the Earth International, ripped into comments made a day earlier by Jay Keasling, UC Berkeley professor, founder of three genetic engineering companies, and head of the Department of Energy-funded Joint BioEnergy Institute [JBEI], which is slated to relocate to the new Richmond campus.

In an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, Keasling had dismissed criticisms by Bassey and others that any successful program to use genetically altered microbes to create fuel from plant matter would wreak ecological and human devastation in Africa, Latin America, and Asia:

Thast so-called wasteland is somebodys land, Bassey said. The worlds pastoralists thrive on lands marginal or unsuitable for farming. People do live in the Sahara desert. People do live in the Kalahari Desert. People do live in the desert here in the United States.

The one sure result of a global land grab is conflict, he said. A second is the introduction of genetically modified organisms [GMOs] into more nations where theyve been previously banned.

Bassey, whose words flow in resonant, almost musical bass tones, is a winner of the 2010 Right Livelihood Award, often called the Alternate Nobel Prize because it is awarded by the Swedish legislature the day before the Nobels are handed out in the same city, Stockholm. The prize is given for working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today.

Much of Basseys work has centered on the devastation wrought on his country by oil companies like Chevron, which has sunk its claws and talons into Richmond, and, like Shell, BP, and other oil companies is moving into agrofuels.

See the original post here:
Stakeholders weigh in on UC Berkeley GMO complex

IBM Inks Blue Gene Supercomputer Deals With Rice and Rutgers Universities

Posted on by

IBM Inks Blue Gene Supercomputer Deals With Rice, Rutgers Universities ( Page 1 of 3 )

IBM has had a busy week with academia, announcing partnerships with both Rice University and Rutgers University to advance supercomputing at their institutions and in their home states of Texas and New Jersey, respectively.

On March 30, IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Rice University announced a partnership to build the first IBM Blue Gene supercomputer in Texas. Rice also announced a related collaboration agreement with the University of Sao Paulo (USP) in Brazil to initiate the shared administration and use of the Blue Gene supercomputer, which allows both institutions to share the benefits of the new computing resource.

IBM officials said Rice faculty will use the Blue Gene to further their own research and to collaborate with academic and industry partners on a broad range of science and engineering questions related to energy, geophysics, basic life sciences, cancer research, personalized medicine and more.

The collaborative agreement securing Brazil's share of time on Rice's Blue Gene was signed in Sao Paulo March 27 by a delegation that included Rice President David Leebron and USP President Joao Grandino Rodas. Leebron is traveling with a delegation led by Houston Mayor Annise Parker. The delegation includes Rice Provost George McLendon, Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) President and CEO Jeff Moseley and other GHP members.

"Collaboration and partnership have a unique place in Rice's history as a pre-eminent research university, and it is fitting that Rice begins its second century with two innovative partnerships that highlight the university's commitments to expanding our international reach, strengthening our research and building stronger ties with our home city," Leebron said in a statement.

USP is Brazil's largest institution of higher education and research, and Rodas said the agreement represents an important bond between Rice and USP. "The joint utilization of the supercomputer by Rice University and USP, much more than a simple sharing of high-tech equipment, means the strength of an effective partnership between both universities," he said.

Mayor Parker, a 1978 Rice alumna, said, "When I was at Rice, it looked inward. Today, it looks outward through this agreement. It strengthens not only Rice University but also the city of Houston."

Rice's new Blue Gene supercomputer, which has yet to be named, is slated to become operational in May. It is based on IBM's POWER processor technology, which was developed in part at the company's Austin, Texas, labs. Rice and IBM shared the cost of the system.

Next: High-Performance Computers Are Crucial in Science, Engineering >>

Read the rest here:
IBM Inks Blue Gene Supercomputer Deals With Rice and Rutgers Universities

Transgenomic, Inc. Announces Presentation of Results from 448-Gene NuclearMitome Test in 78 Patients at the 2012 …

Posted on by

OMAHA, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Transgenomic, Inc. (OTCBB: TBIO.OB - News) today announced that Jeana DaRe, Ph.D., Assistant CLIA Laboratory Director at Transgenomic, presented clinical findings from patients tested for nuclear mitochondrial disorders using Transgenomics NuclearMitome Test on Thursday, March 29, at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) in Charlotte, North Carolina. The discussion, titled Clinical re-sequencing of over 410 genes to diagnose mitochondrial disorders included details of both the technical performance of the NuclearMitome Test as well as the wide variety of clinically revealing results discovered through its use. The NuclearMitome Test employs next-generation sequencing technology to identify mutations in 448 genes, and represents the most comprehensive genetic test available for mitochondrial disorders.

In her presentation, Dr. DaRe highlighted two case studies. In both cases, patients achieved a definitive diagnosis through the identification of genetic mutations far outside the normal spectrum of genetic testing. These results concluded the patients diagnostic odysseys, which had encompassed wide-ranging genetic and non-genetic tests as well as consultation with various medical specialties, all of which had failed to pinpoint the underlying disease. These results are a typical occurrence in patients sent for NuclearMitome testing.

The NuclearMitome Test is a cutting-edge technology that is reshaping the process for accurately diagnosing and effectively treating patients with mitochondrial disorders, said Craig Tuttle, CEO of Transgenomic. Since its launch in June 2011, clinicians have embraced this test as a way to simultaneously assay the hundreds of genes relevant to mitochondrial-based developmental disorders and achieve otherwise impossible diagnoses. The NuclearMitome test is rapidly becoming an important asset for the medical and patient communities and for Transgenomic.

About Mitochondrial Diseases

Mitochondrial diseases are the most common metabolic diseases of childhood with an estimated frequency of 1 in 2000 births. They are characterized by multi-organ involvement, particularly neuromuscular symptoms, and often follow a rapidly progressive course. The variability in clinical presentation makes diagnosis tremendously challenging, as it traditionally relies on often-inconclusive enzymatic analyses that do not pinpoint the underlying molecular defect. Knowledge of the specific cause of disease can be important for developing personalized treatment strategies.

About Transgenomic, Inc.

Transgenomic, Inc. (www.transgenomic.com) is a global biotechnology company advancing personalized medicine in cancer and inherited diseases through its proprietary molecular technologies and world-class clinical and research services. The company has three complementary business divisions: Transgenomic Pharmacogenomic Services is a contract research laboratory that specializes in supporting all phases of pre-clinical and clinical trials for oncology drugs in development. Transgenomic Clinical Laboratories specializes in molecular diagnostics for cardiology, neurology, mitochondrial disorders, and oncology. Transgenomic Diagnostic Tools produces equipment, reagents, and other consumables that empower clinical and research applications in molecular testing and cytogenetics. Transgenomic believes there is significant opportunity for continued growth across all three businesses by leveraging their synergistic capabilities, technologies, and expertise. The company actively develops and acquires new technology and other intellectual property that strengthen its leadership in personalized medicine.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release constitute forward-looking statements of Transgenomic within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those with respect to management's current views and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results, including the ability of the Company to grow its involvement in the diagnostic products and services markets. The known risks, uncertainties and other factors affecting these forward-looking statements are described from time to time in Transgenomic's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any change in such factors, risks and uncertainties may cause the actual results, events and performance to differ materially from those referred to in such statements. Accordingly, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to all statements contained in this press release. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release and Transgenomic does not undertake any duty to update this information, including any forward-looking statements, unless required by law.

View post:
Transgenomic, Inc. Announces Presentation of Results from 448-Gene NuclearMitome Test in 78 Patients at the 2012 ...

Rice University, IBM Partner to Bring First Blue Gene Supercomputer to Texas

Posted on by

HOUSTON, March 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Rice University and IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced a partnership to build the first award-winning IBM Blue Gene supercomputer in Texas. Rice also announced a related collaboration agreement with the University of Sao Paulo (USP) in Brazil to initiate the shared administration and use of the Blue Gene supercomputer, which allows both institutions to share the benefits of the new computing resource.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090416/IBMLOGO )

Rice faculty will use the Blue Gene to further their own research and to collaborate with academic and industry partners on a broad range of science and engineering questions related to energy, geophysics, basic life sciences, cancer research, personalized medicine and more.

The collaborative agreement securing Brazil's share of time on Rice's Blue Gene was signed in Sao Paulo March 27 by a delegation that included Rice President David Leebron and USP President Joao Grandino Rodas. Leebron is traveling with a delegation led by Houston Mayor Annise Parker. The delegation includes Rice Provost George McLendon, Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) President and CEO Jeff Moseley and other GHP members.

"Collaboration and partnership have a unique place in Rice's history as a pre-eminent research university, and it is fitting that Rice begins its second century with two innovative partnerships that highlight the university's commitments to expanding our international reach, strengthening our research and building stronger ties with our home city," Leebron said.

USP is Brazil's largest institution of higher education and research, and Rodas said the agreement represents an important bond between Rice and USP. "The joint utilization of the supercomputer by Rice University and USP, much more than a simple sharing of high-tech equipment, means the strength of an effective partnership between both universities," he said.

Mayor Parker, a 1978 Rice alumna, said, "When I was at Rice, it looked inward. Today it looks outward through this agreement. It strengthens not only Rice University but also the city of Houston."

Rice's new Blue Gene supercomputer, which has yet to be named, is slated to become operational in May. It is based on IBM's POWER processor technology, which was developed in part at the company's Austin, Texas labs. Rice and IBM shared the cost of the system.

"High-performance computers like the IBM Blue Gene/P are critical in virtually every discipline of science and engineering, and we are grateful for IBM's help in bringing this resource to Rice," McLendon said. "For individual faculty, the supercomputer will open the door to new areas of research. The Blue Gene also opens doors for Rice as the university seeks to establish institutional relationships both in our home city and with critical international partners like USP."

Unlike the typical desktop or laptop computer, which have a single microprocessor, supercomputers typically contain thousands of processors. This makes them ideal for scientists who study complex problems, because jobs can be divided among all the processors and run in a matter of seconds rather than weeks or months. Supercomputers are used to simulate things that cannot be reproduced in a laboratory -- like Earth's climate or the collision of galaxies -- and to examine vast databases like those used to map underground oil reservoirs or to develop personalized medical treatments.

Follow this link:
Rice University, IBM Partner to Bring First Blue Gene Supercomputer to Texas

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Illumina, Inc. Benefit From JOBS Act

Posted on by

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -03/30/12)- The Biotechnology Industry's future looks very promising with the passing of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. The JOBS Act, which passed in the Senate by a vote of 73-26, contains several provisions which would make the pathway to capital formation more attainable for small biotechnology companies, clearing the way for American innovation and ingenuity by removing bureaucratic hurdles and red tape to speed cures and medical breakthroughs to patients. The Paragon Report examines the outlook for companies in the Biotechnology Industry and provides equity research on Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMLN - News) and Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN - News).

Access to the full company reports can be found at: http://www.paragonreport.com/AMLN http://www.paragonreport.com/ILMN

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President and CEO Jim Greenwood recently made the following statement: "BIO applauds passage of the JOBS Act and all efforts to incentivize and encourage capital formation for growing companies. This legislation would make capital formation easier for small, emerging biotechnology companies, speeding the development of new cures and treatments for patients living with debilitating diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's, and HIV/AIDS. Bringing such groundbreaking cures and treatments from bench to bedside is a long and arduous road, and biotechnology companies are at the forefront of the effort."

"These reforms are especially important to innovative biotechnology companies that do not yet have product revenue and must spend investor dollars on compliance rather than the search for cures and breakthrough medicines," Greenwood explained.

The Paragon Report provides investors with an excellent first step in their due diligence by providing daily trading ideas, and consolidating the public information available on them. For more investment research on the Biotechnology Industry register with us free at http://www.paragonreport.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. shares rose as much as 51 percent on Wednesday after Bloomberg News reported the company rejected a $3.5 billion unsolicited takeover bid from Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

Illumina, Inc. announced that it has recommended that its stockholders take no action at this time in response to Roche's announcement that it is now offering to acquire Illumina for $51.00 per share in cash. Consistent with its fiduciary duties and responsibilities, and in consultation with its financial and legal advisors, Illumina's Board of Directors will thoroughly review Roche's revised proposal and make a recommendation to stockholders regarding the proposal in due course.

The Paragon Report has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned publicly traded companies. Paragon Report is compensated by other third party organizations for advertising services. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at http://www.paragonreport.com/disclaimer

Read more:
Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Illumina, Inc. Benefit From JOBS Act

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. and Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. Future Looks Promising With Senate Passing of JOBS Act

Posted on by

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -03/30/12)- The Biotechnology Industry's future looks very promising with the passing of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. The JOBS Act, which passed in the Senate by a vote of 73-26, contains several provisions which would make the pathway to capital formation more attainable for small biotechnology companies, clearing the way for American innovation and ingenuity by removing bureaucratic hurdles and red tape to speed cures and medical breakthroughs to patients. The Paragon Report examines the outlook for companies in the Biotechnology Industry and provides equity research on Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI - News) and Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: HALO - News).

Access to the full company reports can be found at: http://www.paragonreport.com/HGSI http://www.paragonreport.com/HALO

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President and CEO Jim Greenwood recently made the following statement: "BIO applauds passage of the JOBS Act and all efforts to incentivize and encourage capital formation for growing companies. This legislation would make capital formation easier for small, emerging biotechnology companies, speeding the development of new cures and treatments for patients living with debilitating diseases such as cancer, diabetes, Parkinson's, and HIV/AIDS. Bringing such groundbreaking cures and treatments from bench to bedside is a long and arduous road, and biotechnology companies are at the forefront of the effort."

"These reforms are especially important to innovative biotechnology companies that do not yet have product revenue and must spend investor dollars on compliance rather than the search for cures and breakthrough medicines," Greenwood explained.

The Paragon Report provides investors with an excellent first step in their due diligence by providing daily trading ideas, and consolidating the public information available on them. For more investment research on the Biotechnology Industry register with us free at http://www.paragonreport.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. reported for the fourth quarter, a net loss of $81 million, or 41 cents a share, compared with $87.6 million, or 46 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue more than doubled to $45.5 million.

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. announced the completion of an underwritten public offering of 7,820,000 shares of its common stock, including 1,020,000 shares sold pursuant to the full exercise of an over-allotment option previously granted to the underwriter. All of the shares were offered by Halozyme at a price to the public of $10.61 per share. The proceeds to Halozyme from this offering were approximately $81.8 million, after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions but before expenses.

The Paragon Report has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned publicly traded companies. Paragon Report is compensated by other third party organizations for advertising services. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at http://www.paragonreport.com/disclaimer

Read more from the original source:
Human Genome Sciences, Inc. and Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. Future Looks Promising With Senate Passing of JOBS Act

This Week in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics

Posted on by

Researchers led by Jinfeng Liu from the State Key Lab of Seedling Bioengineering in Yinchuan, China, describe in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics their method to determine gene copy number. First, the researchers amplified a target and a control gene using PCR, which were quantified before being mixed at different molar ratios. Then, using real-time PCR, the researchers measured the quantification cycle value of the mixture. "A standard curve was constructed to correlate the differences between the Cq values and the logarithmic ratios of the target gene to the internal control gene," the researchers say, adding that "this method was validated by a set of internal control genes and a foreign gene in transgenic alfalfa, demonstrating the utility of this method in the determination of gene copy number for various applications."

Also in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, Manchester Cancer Research Centre's John Radford and his colleagues report that archival FFPE samples are useful for a number of microarray experiments, including molecular classification projects. Radford and his team compared fresh-frozen archival diffuse large B-cell lymphoma biopsy samples for use in such experiments. "Enrichment for NF-B genes was appropriately seen in ABC-DLBCL FFPE tissues," the researchers report. "The top discriminatory genes expressed in FFPE separated cases with high statistical significance and contained novel biology with potential therapeutic insights, warranting further investigation."

Originally posted here:
This Week in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics

People in the News: Benjamin Madej and Brian Athey

Posted on by

Benjamin Madej, a chemistry and biochemistry PhD student at the University of California, San Diego, has won the 2012-2013 Nvidia Graduate Fellowship Program award for his molecular dynamics research using graphics processing unit-based computing.

Madej will receive a $25,000 scholarship to further his research. Additionally, he will have access to Nvidia products, technology, and expertise.

His proposal focused on improving the Amber molecular dynamics GPU engine and extending the use of GPUs in other facets of molecular dynamics development and workflows. He is currently working on new methods for developing force fields used in molecular dynamics software, specifically the Amber MD package.

Biovest, a majority-owned subsidiary of Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, has tapped Brian Athey to be a member of its scientific advisory board.

Athey is a professor of biomedical informatics and was recently named chair of the department of computational medicine and bioinformatics at the University of Michigan's medical school (BI 1/20/2012). Additionally, he serves on Appistry's scientific and technology advisory board (BI 2/10/2012).

Athey is also one of the founders of the tranSMART project community which supports open source pharmaceutical data-sharing and -analysis software platforms.

See the article here:
People in the News: Benjamin Madej and Brian Athey

Candice Swanepoel on the Anatomy of a Victoria’s Secret Swimsuit Shoot

Posted on by

Courtesy Victorias Secret

White sand beaches, clear oceans, warm sunshine Victorias Secret swim shoots look like a walk in the park, er, on the beach. But in reality, they do take a lot of work, according to swimwear model Candice Swanepoel.

We usually start around 5 a.m., or 5:30 a.m., to be able to catch the sunrise because those are some of the most beautiful moments, the Angel told PEOPLE recently at party to celebrate the brands new swimwear in New York. We take a break in the middle of the day, and then we shoot until the sun goes down.

OK, so we dont feel too badly for Swanepoel, whos shot in gorgeous locations like St. Barts one of my favorite places of all time, she said and Bora Bora. It was far I flew from Paris which was like a world away, but it was paradise, she shared. But really, any beach. Im like, Wheres the next swim shoot?

On the shoots, the models wear very little makeup. The first day we use a lot of bronzer, to get that beautiful tan, but after a while I get naturally tan, she revealed.

And when multiple teams of models, makeup artists and photographers are at a destination (the whole family, as Swanepoel affectionately calls them), the group will shoot all day and enjoy a tropical dinner together at night.

But for all the beautiful places shes posed, theres still one destination Swanepoel is dying to see in a Victorias Secret catalogue: Brazil. The beaches are kind of wild, not the pristine white sand and clear water that looks so good with these bikinis, she explained. But Im obsessed with it the energy they have there, the beach culture its so relaxed. Every moment is exciting people just want to enjoy life and have fun. Sounds like the perfect summer motto.

CELEB TRAINERS REVEAL: HOW STARS STAY SVELTE

Read the original here:
Candice Swanepoel on the Anatomy of a Victoria’s Secret Swimsuit Shoot

New Data Demonstrates DIFICLIRâ„¢ May Offer Benefits for Cancer Patients, who are at High Risk of Clostridium …

Posted on by

STAINES, UK, March 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), a potentially fatal disease, is one

of the most common healthcare acquired infections in Europe[1]

New data presented at the 22nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) demonstrate that in cancer patients with CDI, DIFICLIR( fidaxomicin) may offer significant benefits in terms of clinical cure*, recurrence[#] and sustained clinical cure[=].[2]

The data presented were derived from two Phase III clinical trials. A post hoc analysis compared outcomes in patients who had a diagnosis of cancer with outcomes for patients who did not. In the clinical trials, the data on cancer diagnosis was not collected as a pre-defined endpoint.

CDI is the leading cause of healthcare-acquired diarrhoea in adults[1] and has become an increasing problem in hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.[3] A persons risk of CDI increases with a longer period of hospitalisation.[4] Patients who have received chemotherapy and those with solid tumours can be particularly susceptible to CDI due to their long hospital stays and exposure to many antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents.[5]

"Patients with cancer represent a vulnerable population who are at high risk of CDI, often resulting from their compromised immune system. CDI can be a devastating addition for patients who are already battling pre-existing conditions. Treatment options that reduce the burden of CDI and in particular recurrence, will allow clinicians to focus their efforts on treating the cancer." said Professor Oliver Cornely, Medical Director of the Clinical Trial Center of The University of Cologne, Germany and lead investigator of the study.

In two Phase III clinical trials, there were 1105 patients with CDI in the total modified-intent-to-treat (mITT) population, of which 183 (16.6%) patients had a current diagnosis of cancer. A post-hoc analysis of the data from this sub-group of cancer patients shows that CDI results in a lower clinical cure rate and prolonged episodes of diarrhoea.[2] When compared to patients treated with vancomycin, those treated with DIFICLIR had higher clinical cure (97.3% vs. 87.5%) and sustained clinical cure (83.6% vs. 61.3%), as well as reduced rates of recurrence (14.1% vs. 30.0%) in this population.[2]

Further data announced at ECCMID, and published this month in the Lancet Infectious Diseases supports existing DIFICLIR data by demonstrating that DIFICLIR has a similar efficacy and tolerability profile to oral vancomycin and also offers the benefit of a superior sustained response and a greater reduction in rates of recurrence.[6]

Results from the Phase III clinical trial (Study OPT-80-004) of 509 adults across Europe and North America with a diagnosis of CDI showed that patients treated with DIFICLIR had a significantly lower rate of CDI recurrence (12.7%) compared with those receiving vancomycin (26.9%, p<0.001). In addition, DIFICLIR recipients were more likely than those treated with vancomycin to achieve sustained clinical cure (76.6% vs. 63.4% respectively, p=0.001).[6]

Link:
New Data Demonstrates DIFICLIRâ„¢ May Offer Benefits for Cancer Patients, who are at High Risk of Clostridium ...

New Data Demonstrates DIFICLIR™ May Offer Benefits for Cancer Patients, who are at High Risk of Clostridium Difficile …

Posted on by

STAINES, UK, March 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), a potentially fatal disease, is one of the most common healthcare acquired infections inEurope[1]

New data presented at the 22nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) demonstrate that in cancer patients with CDI, DIFICLIR(fidaxomicin) may offer significant benefits in terms of clinical cure*, recurrence[#] and sustained clinical cure[=].[2]

The data presented were derived from two Phase III clinical trials. A post hoc analysis compared outcomes in patients who had a diagnosis of cancer with outcomes for patients who did not. In the clinical trials, the data on cancer diagnosis was not collected as a pre-defined endpoint.

CDI is the leading cause of healthcare-acquired diarrhoea in adults[1] and has become an increasing problem in hospitals, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.[3] A person's risk of CDI increases with a longer period of hospitalisation.[4] Patients who have received chemotherapy and those with solid tumours can be particularly susceptible to CDI due to their long hospital stays and exposure to many antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents.[5]

"Patients with cancer represent a vulnerable population who are at high risk of CDI, often resulting from their compromised immune system. CDI can be a devastating addition for patients who are already battling pre-existing conditions. Treatment options that reduce the burden of CDI and in particular recurrence, will allow clinicians to focus their efforts on treating the cancer." said Professor Oliver Cornely, Medical Director of the Clinical Trial Center of The University of Cologne, Germany and lead investigator of the study.

In two Phase III clinical trials, there were 1105 patients with CDI in the total modified-intent-to-treat (mITT) population, of which 183 (16.6%) patients had a current diagnosis of cancer. A post-hoc analysis of the data from this sub-group of cancer patients shows that CDI results in a lower clinical cure rate and prolonged episodes of diarrhoea.[2] When compared to patients treated with vancomycin, those treated with DIFICLIR had higher clinical cure (97.3% vs. 87.5%) and sustained clinical cure (83.6% vs. 61.3%), as well as reduced rates of recurrence (14.1% vs. 30.0%) in this population.[2]

Further data announced at ECCMID, and published this month in the Lancet Infectious Diseases supports existing DIFICLIR data by demonstrating that DIFICLIR has a similar efficacy and tolerability profile to oral vancomycin and also offers the benefit of a superior sustained response and a greater reduction in rates of recurrence.[6]

Results from the Phase III clinical trial (Study OPT-80-004) of 509 adults across Europe and North America with a diagnosis of CDI showed that patients treated with DIFICLIR had a significantly lower rate of CDI recurrence (12.7%) compared with those receiving vancomycin (26.9%, p<0.001). In addition, DIFICLIR recipients were more likely than those treated with vancomycin to achieve sustained clinical cure (76.6% vs. 63.4% respectively, p=0.001).[6]

"Results from key Phase III trials and the post-hoc analysis demonstrate the effectiveness of DIFICLIR as a novel and effective treatment in patients with CDI, but also in high risk populations, such as patients with cancer," said Ken Jones, President and CEO of Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. "Astellas are committed to developing effective treatments for patients where there is a clear unmet medical need."

See more here:
New Data Demonstrates DIFICLIR™ May Offer Benefits for Cancer Patients, who are at High Risk of Clostridium Difficile ...

Stakeholders weigh in on UC Berkeley GMO complex

Posted on by

A forum critical of UC Berkeleys plans to ramp up genetic engineering research at a planned massive new second campus of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Richmond drew a capacity crowd to the David Brower Center Thursday night.

One speaker after another ripped into the potential consequences of the universitys grandiose plans, including the human and environmental devastation certain to be wrought on Africa and Latin America.

We will be posting several articles on the gathering, but we will begin with a focus on some of the ways the labs end products could impact other lands targeted by the labs emphasis on using genetic engineering to transform living plants into fuel.

A resonant voice from Nigeria

Environmental activist Nnimmo Bassey, executive director of Environmental Rights Action in Nigeria and chair of Friends of the Earth International, ripped into comments made a day earlier by Jay Keasling, UC Berkeley professor, founder of three genetic engineering companies, and head of the Department of Energy-funded Joint BioEnergy Institute [JBEI], which is slated to relocate to the new Richmond campus.

In an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, Keasling had dismissed criticisms by Bassey and others that any successful program to use genetically altered microbes to create fuel from plant matter would wreak ecological and human devastation in Africa, Latin America, and Asia:

Thast so-called wasteland is somebodys land, Bassey said. The worlds pastoralists thrive on lands marginal or unsuitable for farming. People do live in the Sahara desert. People do live in the Kalahari Desert. People do live in the desert here in the United States.

The one sure result of a global land grab is conflict, he said. A second is the introduction of genetically modified organisms [GMOs] into more nations where theyve been previously banned.

Bassey, whose words flow in resonant, almost musical bass tones, is a winner of the 2010 Right Livelihood Award, often called the Alternate Nobel Prize because it is awarded by the Swedish legislature the day before the Nobels are handed out in the same city, Stockholm. The prize is given for working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today.

Much of Basseys work has centered on the devastation wrought on his country by oil companies like Chevron, which has sunk its claws and talons into Richmond, and, like Shell, BP, and other oil companies is moving into agrofuels.

Follow this link:
Stakeholders weigh in on UC Berkeley GMO complex

Canadian-made bedside DNA test speeds treatment

Posted on by

OTTAWA The University of Ottawa Heart Institute has developed the world's first bedside DNA test, designed to tell doctors about a patient's genes in minutes, instead of days.

Instead of sending blood to a lab and waiting for days, the nurse swabs a few cells inside the patient's mouth and sees results on the spot.

The focus so far is on one type of heart problem, but researchers say this is just the first step toward a future when a swab can tell all about your personal health.

"This one study opens the door," said Dr. Derek So, a cardiologist at the Heart Institute and co-investigator on the project.

"If there are other genes, in any area of medicine where there is a potential for diagnosis or treatment, that same technology could be applied to those genes," he said.

"It's quick and it's accurate."

Working with Spartan Bioscience, an Ottawa biotech company, they first built a design that gives results in one hour. They're now working to cut that to 30 or 45 minutes.

"That's what is revolutionary," So said.

"What they have to do (when using a genetics lab) is get a blood sample, FedEx the sample to a lab, get it to isolate the DNA, then use a machine to sequence the DNA and test it. Their turnaround time is anywhere from three to seven days at best."

That's not fast enough when a doctor has to make a decision about a patient who needs treatment now.

See more here:
Canadian-made bedside DNA test speeds treatment

Posted in DNA

Nutrition students will participate in service learning project at Longview nursing home tomorrow

Posted on by

Nutrition students will participate in service learning project at Longview nursing home tomorrow

Several students studying nutrition at Kilgore College will take their expertise on the road tomorrow, hosting a family fun day for residents at Longview nursing home The Clairmont.

The students will be serving picnic-type lunches and will host activities during the event, which is set for 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 31.

Students participating this Saturday are members of adjunct faculty member Deborah Elliotts nutrition class.

This is a great way for KC students to give back to the community, said Patty Bell, Service Learning Director at KC. We are always looking for ways to give our students opportunities to create valuable learning experiences outside of the classroom.

According to Bell, the KC Service Learning Program is a teaching and learning strategy where students perform public service to benefit the community in order to achieve a courses learning objectives and fulfill personal goals.

Read this article:
Nutrition students will participate in service learning project at Longview nursing home tomorrow

People in the News: Benjamin Madej and Brian Athey

Posted on by

Benjamin Madej, a chemistry and biochemistry PhD student at the University of California, San Diego, has won the 2012-2013 Nvidia Graduate Fellowship Program award for his molecular dynamics research using graphics processing unit-based computing.

Madej will receive a $25,000 scholarship to further his research. Additionally, he will have access to Nvidia products, technology, and expertise.

His proposal focused on improving the Amber molecular dynamics GPU engine and extending the use of GPUs in other facets of molecular dynamics development and workflows. He is currently working on new methods for developing force fields used in molecular dynamics software, specifically the Amber MD package.

Biovest, a majority-owned subsidiary of Accentia Biopharmaceuticals, has tapped Brian Athey to be a member of its scientific advisory board.

Athey is a professor of biomedical informatics and was recently named chair of the department of computational medicine and bioinformatics at the University of Michigan's medical school (BI 1/20/2012). Additionally, he serves on Appistry's scientific and technology advisory board (BI 2/10/2012).

Athey is also one of the founders of the tranSMART project community which supports open source pharmaceutical data-sharing and -analysis software platforms.

Link:
People in the News: Benjamin Madej and Brian Athey