Health hot news

The blood-thinning drug heparin is highly effective when used to prevent and treat blood clots in veins, arteries and lungs, but earlier this year its reputation as a lifesaver was sullied when contaminated heparin products caused serious allergic reactions that led to a large number of deaths. Now, University of Michigan researchers have demonstrated a simple, inexpensive method for detecting contaminants in heparin, a development that could prevent such tragedies in the future.

CaridianBCT, a leading global provider of technology, products and services in automated blood collections, therapeutic systems, whole blood processes and pathogen reduction technologies, announced today it has signed a multi-year agreement with the American Red Cross to continue the use of its automated blood collection technology in American Red Cross Blood centers throughout the United States.

Surgeons are always concerned about the hazard of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in their patients. In the wake of surgery, blood clots can form deep in the body, leading to pain and swelling, or - if the clot starts to move - even death. While patients routinely receive anticoagulants to prevent clots from forming, these drugs have a significant drawback - they increase the risk of bleeding complications. Now, an Israeli company may have the answer.

AdvanDx announced it received FDA 510(k) clearance of the Yeast Traffic Light PNA FISH™ to identify Candida yeast species directly from positive blood cultures. The Yeast Traffic Light™ is the latest addition to AdvanDx’s easy-to-use, molecular-based PNA FISH™ diagnostics platform that provides rapid identification of bloodstream pathogens in hours instead of days.

Omrix Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (”Omrix”) (NASDAQ: OMRI), a fully-integrated biopharmaceutical company that develops and markets biosurgical and immunotherapy products, announced today that it has completed enrollment of the first 90 patients in its Phase II clinical trial for the Fibrin Pad in mild to moderate bleeding. The Company expects to release 90 patient interim efficacy analysis by the end of October 2008.

ATTRACT - the first major national trial of a catheter-based treatment for deep vein thrombosis - will evaluate the use of clot-dissolving drugs in combination with clot removal devices to prevent post-thrombotic syndrome in patients with DVT (the formation of a blood clot in a leg vein). PTS, a common irreversible complication of DVT, causes permanent damage to the veins, resulting in debilitating chronic leg pain, swelling, fatigue and/or skin ulcers.

A $10 million, government-funded, multicenter clinical trial of an aggressive treatment for blood clots in the leg known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) will be led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Approximately 250,000 U.S. patients are diagnosed with new DVTs every year.

Proteon Therapeutics, Inc., announced it has received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fast track designation for the development program for PRT-201. PRT-201 is being investigated for its ability to improve vascular access in patients currently on or being prepared for hemodialysis. The fast track designation is intended to facilitate development and expedite review for drugs that treat serious diseases and fill unmet medical needs.

The Haematology programme from Randox International Quality Assessment Scheme (RIQAS) offers quick and easy quality control analysis for eight analytes. RIQAS is the largest international quality assessment scheme with over 8,100 participants in 80 countries worldwide. With RIQAS, a laboratory can assess their analytical performance and compare to other laboratories using the same methods and instruments.

Inverness Medical Physician Diagnostics Group, a division of Inverness Medical Innovations, announced the launch of the INRatio®2 PT/INR Monitoring System, a portable device that measures blood-clotting time, also known as prothrombin time, using one drop of blood from a patient’s finger.