The intravenous (IV) formulation of BRINAVESS (vernakalant) has been granted marketing approval in the European Union (EU), Iceland and Norway for the rapid conversion of recent onset atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm in adults: for non-surgery patients with AF of seven days or less and for post-cardiac surgery patients with AF of three days or less.
Link:http://cardiome.com/wordpress/?p=557
Source:Cardiome

Data from the phase 3 study of mipomersen in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (heFH) were presented today at the European Society of Cardiology’s Congress 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden.
Mipomersen is a first-in-class apo-B synthesis inhibitor currently in late-stage development.
Link:http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/genzyme/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&ndmConfigId=1019673&newsId=20100901005551&newsLang=en
Source:Genzyme

Recent research has now demonstrated that iron deficiency must be viewed in a much broader clinical context, as it also affects at least one-third of non-anaemic chronic heart failure (CHF) patients, according to a presentation at the European Society of Cardiology's Congress 2010 in Stockholm.
Link:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100831122057.htm
Source:ScienceDaily

According to results of a study published in the September issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, selenium intake is associated with decreased risk of bladder cancer.
Link:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/aafc-isi082410.php
Source:EurekAlert

The data monitoring committee of the AVERROES study, seeing overwhelming evidence of the success of apixaban in the prevention of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation who are unsuitable for the conventional treatment of warfarin, has recommended early termination of this study. The decision came after repeated review and careful consideration of all efficacy and safety data.
Results of the study were presented by Connolly at the annual European Society of Cardiology Congress in Stockholm, Sweden, on August 31.
Apixaban is a new type of anticoagulant known as a Factor Xa inhibitor, which is being jointly developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Pfizer.
Link:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/mu-ssd082710.php
Source:EurekAlert

Positive results from the Phase IIa proof-of-concept study of MP4OX (oxygenated pegylated hemoglobin) in severely injured trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock causing lactic acidosiswere announced. MP4OX is a novel oxygen therapeutic agent that is designed to provide rapid oxygen delivery to ischemic tissues.
Link:http://www.sangart.com/newsroom/press_083110.htm
Source:Sangart

A study published in the September 2010 issue of SHOCK looks at how female versus male rats fared after suffering a trauma and subsequent hemorrhagic shock who were given Estradiol (estrogen). In the study, the Estradiol prevented vascular permeability following hemorrhagic shock.
Link:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/swh-sdw083110.php
Source:EurekAlert

For the first time, researchers have identified and isolated adult mammary stem cells called s-SHIP in mice. Long-term implications of this research may include the use of such cells to regenerate breast tissue, provide a better understanding of the role of adult stem cells in breast cancer development, and develop potential new targets for anti-cancer drugs.
The findings are published in the Sept. 1 issue of Genes & Development.
Link:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/fhcr-ftf082610.php
Source:EurekAlert

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved LUMIGAN (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.01% as a first-line therapy indicated for the reduction of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. LUMIGAN 0.01% is an optimized reformulation of LUMIGAN(R) (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03%.
Link:http://agn.client.shareholder.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=503812
Source:Allergan

GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Valeant Pharmaceuticals International may have to wait an extra three months for a review of their experimental epilepsy medicine, ezogabine after U.S. regulators sought more time to study data.
Link:http://noir.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aQyZg4jEx72I
Source:Bloomberg