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

Editorial, Opinion Piece Respond To Closure Of Murdered Abortion Provider Tiller's Clinic
Two newspapers recently published an editorial and an opinion piece in reaction to the announcement that murdered Kansas abortion provider George Tiller"s Wichita clinic would be permanently closed. The clinic was one of a handful in the U.S. offering abortion procedures in the second and third trimesters. Summaries appear below.~ Kansas City Star: The closing of Tiller"s clinic is "a tragedy for American democracy," and the "irrational violence" of his death has "trumped public policy," a Star editorial states. "The basis of civilization is that we agree to submit to the rule of law in order for society to flourish," the editorial says, adding that Tiller"s murder is "antithetical to that principle. It is dismaying to see a killer achieve his objective." The editorial notes that Tiller provided abortion services in "tragic cases" involving women "at risk of infertility or death; fetuses with severe abnormalities; and victims of rape and incest." It continues that the "reduction or loss of that service will create hardships and may put women"s lives at risk." Hospitals and doctors who refer such cases to abortion providers "must reassess the circumstances under which they would perform late-term abortions," according to the editorial. In addition, the "medical profession must take a role in training and supporting doctors willing to provide abortions," and the government and local police "must do all they can to protect a legal medical practice," the editorial says. It concludes, "Democracy demands that we not allow murder to make de facto public policy" (Kansas City Star, 6/11).~ Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune: The announcement that Tiller"s clinic will remain permanently closed "was simply more proof that violence and intimidation can get results where civil discourse and political process fail," Tribune columnist Zorn writes. "The question isn"t whether prominent foes of abortion rights are being honest with us when they decry Tiller"s violent death and express regret over the means used to achieve an end they"ve sought," Zorn writes, adding, "Some are, I"m sure." He continues that abortion-rights opponents "recognize that ... a movement calling itself "pro-life"can"t also be pro-murder" and "are politically savvy enough to know that the gains won by terrorist acts are grudging and difficult to sustain." He continues that to "make terrorism less effective, and thereby discourage it," abortion-rights advocates, the medical profession, politicians and law enforcement officials "need to reopen that clinic in Wichita and assure its safe operation ... to defy terrorism, if for no other reason." He concludes that "as long as abortion remains legal, this same coalition needs to strive to expand the number of facilities where it"s available" (Zorn, Chicago Tribune, 6/11).
generic viagra online
Frieden Takes Charge Of CDC Today
Known for his often controversial approach to public health issues, Dr. Thomas Frieden will take over as the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today, according to various news outlets.
News of the day
The Harley Medical Group Reports On Nipple Surgery Trend
The Harley Medical Group has revealed that the number of nipple correction surgical procedures carried out has risen 30% year-on-year. Mr Riccardo Frati, surgeon at The Harley Medical Group, appeared on GMTV to discuss nipple correction surgery with Lorraine Kelly. He said: "There are nipple surgery options out there and a minority of women seek to change the size or shape of their nipples through reconstructive surgery purely for cosmetic reasons. Another option, nipple elevation, involves the nipple being raised above its existing level to enhance its appearance and make the breast look more pert.
Mental Health

Unique Collaboration Between TB Alliance And Tibotec To Accelerate Tuberculosis Drug Development

A new landmark collaboration between the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance), a not-for-profit, product development partnership, and Tibotec Inc., (Tibotec), a global pharmaceutical company, has been announced at the Pacific Health Summit in response to the urgent need to accelerate the discovery and development of new drugs to fight tuberculosis (TB). The two organizations will share their expertise and res in the development of TMC207, which could become the first TB drug with a new mechanism of action in 40 years. The interim data from an ongoing Phase II study of TMC207 were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In the placebo-controlled study of 47 patients with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), it was found that 48 percent of patients receiving TMC207 in combination with standard treatment converted to negative sputum culture after eight weeks compared with 9 percent of those who received placebo and standard treatment. The collaboration will maximize the expertise and res from both the public and private sectors with the intent to improve the treatment of one of the world"s oldest and most deadly diseases. Increased efforts and res to develop new and improved TB drugs are sorely needed. Among infectious diseases, tuberculosis is the second most common cause of adult deaths worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates approximately one-third of the world"s population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), the bacillus that causes TB, and the disease is responsible for nearly 5,000 deaths per day, worldwide. MDR-TB, which is characterized by resistance to at least two of the most powerful medicines in today"s standard, four-drug regimen for drug-susceptible TB, is of particular concern given the rapid rise in the number of cases throughout the world and the difficulties in treating it. There were an estimated 510,000 incident cases and 130,000 fatalities due to MDR-TB in 2007. The Pacific Health Summit is focusing on MDR-TB at this year"s conference because of the growing public health threat it poses. "We see tremendous potential in this collaboration and in the future of TMC207 as part of a critically-needed new TB regimen," said Dr. Mel Spigelman, TB Alliance President and CEO. "Since the TB Alliance was founded, we have assembled the largest pipeline of new TB drugs in history, but this progress is only possible with the commitment of our partners. Tibotec has tremendous scientific prowess, a commitment to fighting infectious diseases, and is an essential long-term partner in our fight to end one of the greatest epidemics of our time." Under the terms of the agreement, Tibotec will continue to develop TMC207 for the treatment of MDR-TB, and on approval, will establish an access program to ensure the compound reaches those in developing countries who are in need. The agreement grants the TB Alliance a royalty-free license for the worldwide development and access to TMC207 in the field of drug-susceptible TB. In addition, Tibotec will collaborate with the TB Alliance on a discovery research program to identify new compounds for the treatment of TB. The rights for the newly discovered compounds for the treatment of tuberculosis will belong to the TB Alliance under a royalty free license. Costs for the development of TMC207 will be shared. "To make a meaningful contribution to the global fight against TB, we knew we had to take a novel approach. Our collaboration with the TB Alliance represents a major step forward in the fight against TB as the two organizations combine their expertise and res in the quest to make new TB treatments available," said Dr. Paul Stoffels, Global Head of Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Johnson & Johnson. "With MDR-TB becoming a growing, global health threat, and hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths from drug-susceptible TB occurring, we are committed to accelerating the development of new drug regimens for tuberculosis." This announcement marks the first collaboration initiated by the newly created Tibotec Global Access and Partnerships Program. The program is creating a sustainable portfolio of medicines -- both marketed and in development -- that are designed to address major health challenges in re-poor countries. Ben Plumley, Vice President of Global Access and Partnerships said, "The future of successfully tackling neglected diseases, such as TB, will be through joint development initiatives between companies and product development partnerships, such as the one we are announcing today with the TB Alliance." Product development partnerships (PDPs), such as the TB Alliance, build partnerships linking the public, private, academic, and philanthropic sectors. The TB Alliance combines the research and development proficiency of its own staff with the skills and res of its partners to streamline and optimize TB drug development. TMC207 TMC207 was discovered by scientists at Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., which signed the collaboration agreement with the TB Alliance, and is being developed by its affiliate Tibotec. In vitro studies show that it is highly active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). TMC207 has a unique mechanism of action targeting adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, which M.tb, requires to generate its energy supply. Currently, TMC207 is being studied in a Phase II clinical trial in people with MDR-TB. The safety and efficacy of TMC207 has not yet been established. Global Alliance for TB Drug Development The TB Alliance is a not-for-profit, product development partnership accelerating the discovery and development of new TB drugs that will shorten treatment, be effective against susceptible and resistant strains, be compatible with antiretroviral therapies for those HIV-TB patients currently on such therapies, and improve treatment of latent infection. Working with public and private partners worldwide, the TB Alliance is leading the development of the most comprehensive portfolio of TB drug candidates in history. It is committed to ensuring that approved new regimens are affordable, adopted and available to those who need them. The TB Alliance operates with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS), the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Tibotec Inc. Tibotec Inc., based in Yardley, Pa., USA, is a pharmaceutical research and development company. The Company"s main research and development facilities are in Mechelen, Belgium with offices in Cork, Ireland. Tibotec is dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative HIV/AIDS drugs and anti-infectives for diseases of high unmet medical need. Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. is a worldwide centre of excellence for integrated R&D, production and general services. The company has three sites in Belgium (Beerse, Geel and Olen), which together employ some 4200 people. The company is active in very diverse therapeutic areas, such as psychiatry and neurology, internal medicine, cancer, and pain management. Tibotec Inc. and Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V. are subsidiaries of Johnson & Johnson. Forward looking statements: (This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from Tibotec Inc."s, Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V."s and/or Johnson & Johnson"s expectations and projections. Risks and uncertainties include general industry conditions and competition; economic conditions, such as interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; technological advances and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development, including obtaining regulatory approvals; domestic and foreign health care reforms and governmental laws and regulations; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Exhibit 99 of Johnson & Johnson"s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2008. References (I) World Health Organization. "TBHIV Facts at a Glance." (II) World Health Organization. Tuberculosis Fact Sheet. (III) The Global Plan to Stop TB 2006-2015." (IV) World Health Organization. (V) World Health Organization. (VI) Andries et al. A Diarylquinoline Drug Active on the ATP Synthase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Science 14 January 2005: Vol. 307. no. 5707, pp. 223 - 227. Tibotec Inc


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

© Copyright 2009