MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'delay'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:12:07 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182322&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FSXrWAMrwa34%2F In an effort to thwart generic competition, brand-name drugmakers are promising not to launch so-called authorized generics if their generic rivals promise not to market copycat versions of the brand-name drugs, according to a new report from the US Federal Trade Commission. The findings, released in a 270-page report, explore a twist on the controversial practice of pay-to-delay in which brand-name drugmakers settle patent litigation with an agreement that involves a payment and a commitment by a generic drugmaker not to launch a rival med for a specified period of time. The FTC has called these deals anti-competitive and cost consumers $3.5 billion annually. Now, the agency, which has been urging Congress to pass legislation to restrict these deals (see here), is turning its attention to... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182322 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:51:07 +0100 5182322 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051240&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Ff0rmi8u5dV8%2F The US Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a bipartisan bill that would limit pay-to-delay settlements that are designed to keep lower-cost generic drugs off the market for extended periods. The move comes after the US Supreme Court declined to review one hotly contested deal (see this) amid repeated cries from the US Federal Trade Commission that settlements are anticompetitive and costly to consumers. Under the bill, which is called the Preserve Access to Affordable Generic Drugs Act, brand-name drugmakers would be deterred from settling patent disputes by paying generic rivals in exchange for promises that a copycat version of its drug will be kept off the market. The deals would be considered illegal and the FTC would be given the authority to stop the agreements (read the legislat... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051240 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 20:04:25 +0100 5051240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008666&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fb0Td2mZIFjs%2F European Union antitrust regulators have ended a four-year probe into charges that Boehringer Ingelheim abused the patent system to thwart rivals from launching versions of the best-selling Spiriva med for treating chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. To settle the investigation, the German drugmaker agreed to make changes in its intellectual property protections. As the EU noted, Boehringer is the market leader in COPD meds thanks to its Spiriva inhalers, which generated nearly $4.3 billion in sales last year. The fracas began, though, in 2003, when Boehringer filed patent applications for new treatments involving combinations of three categories of active substances, including a new active substance that was discovered by Almirall, a Spanish drugmaker. Almirall objected to the... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008666 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 12:15:21 +0100 5008666 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921757&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FC0tblUFA4DY%2F In what some say would be a highly unusual move, the US Federal Trade Commission is considering using its rule-making power to stop pay-to-delay deals between brand-name drugmakers and their generic rivals, after failing to convince Congress or the courts to act, Bloomberg News reports. A rule to block the deals would involve antitrust issues, rather than consumer protection, and could be made on the agency’s own initiative under its basic statutory authority rather than at the direction of Congress, Bert Foer, president of the American Antitrust Institute, tells the news service. “Any potential attempt by the FTC to move forward unilaterally with such a rulemaking would be unprecedented,” Sean Heather, executive director of the global regulatory cooperation project at the US Cha... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921757 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:10:23 +0100 4921757 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872262&cid=t_160934_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FJBtYpGEKoSg%2F Substance abuse can have dramatic consequences on the brain and behavior. The traditional way of preventing drug abuse is often education. Awareness programs do work with people who can picture long-term repercussions of abusing drugs. Other people, most often those vulnerable to addictions, do not benefit from such programs. It seems that they tend to devalue both rewards and punishments that will happen in the future, a behavior known as delay discounting. This leads them to opt for immediate rewards, such as those provided by drugs, and ignore future consequences. Would it be possible then to train the brain of these people so that they show less delay discounting? Would that help them stay away from addictive substances? Delay discounting is a brain function that involves the frontal l... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872262 Thu, 26 May 2011 16:14:50 +0100 4872262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862924&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FPY8LOK5kv_0%2F Once again, the US Federal Trade Commission is trying to thwart pay-to-delays deals and its latest effort is a brief in which the agency has asked an appeals court to reverse a lower court ruling that sanctioned a settlement between Schering-Plough and two generic drugmakers - Upsher Smith and ESI, which was a division of Pfizer’s Wyeth - over the K-Dur blood pressure med. The background: In 1995, the two generic drugmakers sought FDA approval to sell versions of K-Dur, but Schering-Plough, now owned by Merck, filed suit for patent infringement. Just before the trial, Schering-Plough agreed to pay Upsher $60 million not to sell a generic until 2001, and the FTC filed suit (read here). Separately, Schering-Plough agreed to pay ESI up to $15 million to agree not to sell a generic until... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862924 Wed, 25 May 2011 12:02:39 +0100 4862924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789641&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F919qtSMsjE4%2F Despite setbacks in courts and Congress, the Federal Trade Commission continues to hammer away at pay-to-delay deals involving patent settlements between brand-name and generic drugmakers. The agency views these deals as anti-competitive, arguing they rob consumers of lower-cost meds that might otherwise arrive much sooner in pharmacies. And so the FTC chair Jon Leibowitz has released yet another report that he hopes will generate some momentum in Congress toward restricting these agreements. The report found there 31 deals in fiscal year 2010, a 63 percent increase from fiscal year 2009. The deals reached in the last year involved 22 different brand-name meds with combined annual US sales of about $9.3 billion. Of the 31 settlements, 26 involved generics that were “first filers,” whic... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789641 Wed, 04 May 2011 12:39:30 +0100 4789641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4693387&cid=t_160934_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2Fj_8LQaaHAeI%2F Beverly Sanborn, Vice President of Program Development at Belmont Senior Living and scheduled 2011 SharpBrains Summit Speaker, could not finally speak at the Summit (she was very well replaced by colleague Jeff DeBevec), but fortunately we can share her thoughtful answers to the following four critical questions. 1. How would you define “brain fitness” vs. “physical fitness”? Brain fitness and physical fitness are interlinked. Each enhances the other and both are essential components of successful aging. As we age, the ability to cope with inexorable challenge to social-emotional-economic well-being is rooted in having a high level of mental alertness and a physical body that functions efficiently. But fitness is not just a happy consequence of a hardy gene pool. Fitness for bo... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4693387 Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:24:50 +0100 4693387 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560598&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FDDJwXnTTp4M%2F The Supreme Court rejected a challenge to a pay-to-delay deal in which Bayer paid Barr Pharmaceuticals, which is now owned by Teva Pharmaceuticals, to drop a patent lawsuit over the Cipro antibiotic (see this). The move is a blow to the Federal Trade Commission, which calls the deals anticompetitive and had been hoping the Supreme Court would review a case in the face of legislative inactivity. The issue has divided lower courts around the country for years. A wholesaler and three retailers, including CVS and Rite-Aid, asked the Supreme Court to review the settlement, arguing the deals choke off competition by stifling the arrival of lower-cost generics on their shelves. In the case they cited, Barr challenged the Cipro patent in October 1991 and struck a deal with Bayer in January 1997 tw... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560598 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:44:07 +0100 4560598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4478156&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F9oaO7W1OaAM%2F Federal budgets always make interesting reading and, this year, the Obama White House does not disappoint. Tucked into the section reserved for the US Department of Health and Human Services is a section that focuses on generics and how these can save an estimated $11.1 billion over 10 years - or roughly $1 billion a year (look here). Not small change, yes? But how? There are two proposals. One would shrink exclusivity for biologics to seven years from 12 years, a move that would roll back a provision in health care reform. You may recall that brand-name drugmakers won a 12-year exclusivity period last year as part of an effort to create a so-called FDA approval pathway for biosimilars. Generic drugmakers, of course, wanted a shorter term. At issue is the balancing act between protecting R... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4478156 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:27:44 +0100 4478156 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4399818&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FVytK4mo5a_A%2F A pair of US Senators have reintroduced legislation that would limit the so-called pay-to-delay deals that remain one of the hottest controversies enveloping the pharmaceutical industry. The move comes after the House and Senate last month failed to agree on an appropriations bill, which included pay-to-delay restrictions. You may recall that pay-to-delay settlements involve agreements in which brand-name and generic drugmakers settle patent disputes by exchanging a payment for a commitment to refrain from marketing a generic off the market for a set period of time. However, the Federal Trade Commission calls these deals anti-competitive and force consumers and government healthcare programs to pay high prices. A Congressional Budget Office report estimated the federal government could sav... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4399818 Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:11:24 +0100 4399818 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4361306&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FUuhSDJneggs%2F One month after yet again raiding offices of various drugmakers (back story), the European Commission is now taking a more polite approach and telling several companies - including Bayer and Roche - to submit details of their settlements over patent disputes. The EC asked a “selected number of originator and generic companies” to submit a copy of all patent settlement agreements relevant to the 27-member EU region and which were concluded between Jan. 1, 2010 and Dec. 31, 2010, according to an EC statement. Like the US Federal Trade Commission, the EC has been probing these pay-to-delay deals in the belief that they stifle competition and, therefore, delay entry to the marketplace of lower-cost medicines (read about the FTC efforts here). This followed a report from the Europe... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4361306 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:20:42 +0100 4361306 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4331236&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FED0DYDEIm1U%2F The controversy over so-called pay-to-delay settlements between brand-name and generic drugmakers has prompted attorneys general from 32 states to file an amicus, or friend-of-the-court brief urging the US Supreme Court to review the deals, which the states say thwart competition and block needed access to lower-cost medications. The move comes less than a month after three pharmacy chains and a wholesaler petitioned the court to rule on the issue, which has divided other federal courts (see this) and spurred the Federal Trade Commission into a Quixotic quest to urge Congress to pass a law to restrict these deals (back story). The case that precipitated these filings involved a deal in which Bayer paid Barr Pharmaceuticals, which is now owned by Teva Pharmaceuticals, to drop its patent cha... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4331236 Tue, 11 Jan 2011 13:26:37 +0100 4331236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4272601&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FpAmBhLecykw%2F The controversy over the so-called pay-to-delay settlements is bubbling up to the US Supreme Court. Three pharmacy chains and a wholesaler have asked the court to review the issue because they maintain the deals choke off competition by stifling the arrival of lower-cost generics on their shelves. The issue has become a cause celebre for the US Federal Trade Commission (look here), which has been lobbying Congress to enact legislation to restrict the settlements, and has also divided courts across the country, which is why the Supreme Court was asked to review the topic and settle the matter. The case cited by the retailers and wholesaler involved a deal in which Bayer paid Barr Pharmaceuticals, which is now owned by Teva Pharmaceuticals, to drop its patent challenge to the Cipro antibiot... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4272601 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:41:59 +0100 4272601 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4233422&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FC-wivyYh71k%2F For the past year, Watson Pharmaceutical ceo Paul Bisaro has argued the Federal Trade Commission abused its power in attempting to stop a pay-for-delay deal. And he giddily thumbed his nose at the agency by refusing to comply with a subpoena that sought to compel him to testify in connection with an investigation into the deal. Late last week, however, a federal judge burst his bubble by ruling that he failed to demonstrate” the subpoena “would be burdensome at all, let alone unduly so.” Here’s the background: in court papers, Bisaro claimed the FTC harassed Watson and used confidential FDA info to force Watson into a deal with Apotex, another generic drugmaker, to sell a version of Cephalon’s Provigil, a sleep-disorder drug. Bisaro asserted the FTC initiated its investigati... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4233422 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 13:34:19 +0100 4233422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4152013&cid=t_160934_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FxT8_KCqYxVw%2F An interesting and very well-documented article in the Los Angeles Times reviews studies looking at Vitamin B and its role in improving memory. The vitamins — including folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12 — are often touted as a way to improve memory and stave off cognitive decline. The claims are based on the finding that levels of the vitamin are low in people with various forms of cognitive impairment, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. But experts say it’s still unclear whether taking high doses of the vitamins will keep such conditions at bay. […] Haan says the existing body of studies may be inconclusive because the causes of cognitive decline — which are incompletely understood — are probably too complex to be halted with a single vitamin supplement. Comments: ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4152013 Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:04:05 +0100 4152013 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4121833&cid=t_160934_85_f&fid=34924&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.baggas.com%2Fposts%2F2010%2F10%2F31%2Fedgy-humour%2F Below the jump is a joke I came across that I shared with about 5 people this morning, and sadly only 1 of them got the joke and thought it was funny. Personally I thought it was hilarious. It’s one of those “walked into a bar” sort of jokes, but only works in text form… I’ll post a photo clue to help you. Let me know what you think… The Edge walks into a bar The Edge walks into a bar The Edge walks into a bar The Edge walks into a bar The Edge walks into a bar (Source: Baggas' Blog) Baggas' Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4121833 Sun, 31 Oct 2010 08:21:43 +0100 4121833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119717&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FMG3RQRES24g%2F Will Congress ever pass a bill that limits pay-to-delay deals? The Federal Trade Commission has been trying to convince Congress for months to do so, but opposition is mounting. Five Democratic Senators are objecting to a bill recently passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee because it contains a provision that would restrict these patent settlements (see this). In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the endangered Nevada Democrat, and Appropriations Committee chairman Daniel Inouye, a Democrat from Hawaii, the Democrats say they have “substantive concerns with the content” of the provision and that the decision to include it in the appropriations bill “contradicts both the spirit and the letter of the Senate rules” (see the letter). Why bother to ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119717 Thu, 28 Oct 2010 21:34:10 +0100 4119717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4086391&cid=t_160934_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FFhw0Xv-nlrw%2F An interesting article in Nature Reviews last month reviewed several studies showing that cognitive intervention can be beneficial even for individuals already diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease (Buschert et al., 2010). The article shows that patients with mild-to-moderate dementia can benefit from a range of cognitive interventions: from training of partially spared cognitive functions to training on activities of daily living. Results suggest that such interventions can improve global cognition, abilities of daily living and quality of life in these patients. Patients with moderate-to-severe dementia seem to benefit from general engagement in activities that enhance cognitive and social functioning in a non-specific manner. In general, for patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease,... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4086391 Wed, 20 Oct 2010 19:40:46 +0100 4086391 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3946687&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FT2IYaC17BMc%2F In yet another blow to the US Federal Trade Commission, a federal appeals court has refused to reconsider its ruling last April that upheld the legality of so-called pay-for-delay deals that thwart the introduction of generic rivals (here is the order). However, in a dissenting opinion, Justice Rosemary Pooler writes that the issue must ultimately be decided by the US Supreme Court, given the conflicting outcomes in various cases. The initial ruling by the US Second Circuit Court of Appeals was made after reviewing a deal in which Bayer paid Barr Pharmaceuticals, which is now owned by Teva Pharmaceuticals, to drop its patent challenge to the Cipro antibiotic. Barr challenged the Cipro patent in October 1991 and struck a deal with Bayer in January 1997, about two weeks before the case was s... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3946687 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:03:05 +0100 3946687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3865456&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FVdgbM3QaGSA%2F For months, US Federal Trade Commission commish Jon Leibowitz has argued that passing legislation to restrict pay-for-delay deals between brand name and generic drugmakers will save consumers billions of dollars over the next decade (back story). He has pointed to a Congressional Budget Office study forecasting nearly $2 billion in savings over 10 years and an FTC study that estimates savings of $3.5 billion annually. And he has maintained restrictions would speed the arrival of low-cost generics by more than a year onto pharmacy shelves. Now, a new study claims the CBO report “is flawed and likely substantially overestimates the budgetary savings,” and also claims that restrictions may have the opposite effect. “Under many circumstances, reverse payment patent settlemen... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3865456 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 15:28:09 +0100 3865456 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3806023&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F7SvmpDcngfs%2F In yet another legislative bid to tackle pay-to-delay deals, the US Senate Appropriations Committee voted yesterday to pass the Preserve Access to Affordable Generic Drugs Act, which was included in the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill reported out of the committee. A companion House bill was recently passed as part of the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the House bill would save the federal government $2.6 billion over 10 years by reducing drug costs. “The cost of brand-name drugs rose nearly ten percent last year. In contrast, the cost of generic drugs fell by nearly ten percent. At this time of spiraling health care costs, we cannot turn a blind eye to these anticompetitive backroom deals that deny consume... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3806023 Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:06:17 +0100 3806023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3802587&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FsYwntWuqtGs%2F Despite various legislative and courtroom setbacks, FTC commish Jon Leibowitz insists there is reason to be optimistic that so-called pay-to-delay deals may soon be a thing of the past. In testimony this week before the House Committee on the Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Courts and Competition Policy, he appeared to see blue skies on his horizon and went so far as to say the ‘tide may be turning.’ For instance, he cited a recent ruling by the US Second Circuirt Court of Appeals, which actually upheld the legality of pay-for-delay deals, but at the same time, took the unusual step of inviting entities that purchase drugs and had challenged a particular deal to ask for that case to be reviewed by the full circuit, citing the “exceptional importance” of the antitrust impl... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3802587 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:47:40 +0100 3802587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790751&cid=t_160934_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F26%2Finsanity-albert-einstein-was-wrong%2F “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” I have heard that quote in my clinical practice so many times in the past year that I decided I have to write about it. Somehow this definition has become part of the collective understanding of abnormal psychology and has been terribly misapplied. I don’t know much more about the context of the quote but I am guessing that it was a bit of a humorous comment on science. First, to critique the quote. If we are going to take this definition seriously to start, then everyone, yes everyone, is insane. Behavioral research in the early part of the twentieth century taught the world about how human beings learn: through long processes of conditioning based on pairings and reinforcement. Consider this, let... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790751 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:11:05 +0100 3790751 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3790925&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FFPKkiqBmLug%2F Hello, everyone, and welcome back. We hope your weekend was relaxing. Now, of course, the routine returns as meetings and deadlines loom. At least the heat wave has broken, as measured by a rare, cool breeze now wafting through the Pharmalot corporate campus. So please join us for the mandatory cup of stimulation as we prepare for another day. One note: we will be speaking later on an industry panel, so please excuse the interruption in our usual schedule. Meanwhile, have a good one and stay in touch…. Onyx Posts Positive Results For Cancer Drug (Associated Press) Sanofi Cuts Forecast After FDA Approves Generic Lovenox (Bloomberg News) The Brilinta Guessing Game As FDA Panel Nears (Reuters) Eisai Gets Boost From FDA OK For Higher-Dose Aricept (PharmaTimes) Genzyme Is Seen As More Att... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3790925 Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:00:41 +0100 3790925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767314&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FVAkuw91uRH4%2F Two months ago, Paul Bisaro, the ceo of Watson Pharmaceuticals, made a sensational charge against the Federal Trade Commission - in court papers, he accused the agency of abusing its power in attempting to stop pay-for-delay deals. Bisaro claimed the FTC harassed his company and used confidential FDA info to force Watson to strike a deal with Apotex, another generic drugmaker, to sell a version of Cephalon’s Provigil, a sleep-disorder drug. The FTC is challenging a 2005 deal between Cephalon and several generic drugmakers that were paid $300 million by arguing the payments bought market exclusivity. The FTC issued a subpoena last year and sought to compel Bisaro to respond to questions in connection with an investigation into that deal, although he refused to testify. Bisaro claims the F... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767314 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:23:08 +0100 3767314 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3730096&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FLnS1R8Akp9w%2F That’s the implication of a new survey released by the European Union, whose antitrust regulators have been raiding drugmakers in several countries seeking evidence they struck anticompetitive deals or used their dominant market positions to squeeze rivals. Last year, EU competition commissioner Neelie Kroes issued a report saying delays in bringing generic drugs to market cost consumers and healthcare providers billions (back story here and here). Now, the EU says the number of patent settlements that are “potentially problematic” under EU antitrust rules fell to 9, or 10 percent of 93 such deals between July 2008 and December 2009 compared with 45, or 22 percent of the 207 deals in the period covered in last year’s inquiry, which was January 2000 to June 2008. And... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3730096 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:46:31 +0100 3730096 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3721960&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F28WlTkAyHMw%2F A proposal to end those controversial ‘pay-to-delay’ deals between brand-name and generic drugmakers was passed by the House of Representatives last night as part of a measure to fund wars. Ironic, yes? Or maybe appropriate. In any event, the bill now goes to the Senate, Bloomberg News reports. Under the proposal, drugmakers could be fined if the Federal Trade Commission or the courts determine they struck deals to preserve a brand-name drug patent by delaying introduction of a lower-priced generic equivalent (see page 74). This is “just another signal of the growing support in Congress for ending this unconscionable behavior by some pharmaceutical companies,” FTC chairman Jon Leibowitz tells the news service. The FTC, you may recall, has made a mission of ending these dea... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3721960 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:55:23 +0100 3721960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3611909&cid=t_160934_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcan-we-stop-aging%2F2010.05.29 Dr. Aubrey de Grey, a contemporary popularizer of the very old idea that biological aging can be put on hold, gave this talk at TEDMED 2009: *This blog post was originally published at Medgadget* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3611909 Sat, 29 May 2010 16:00:21 +0100 3611909 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607817&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FTSbBPhHxMwU%2F Here’s a sensational accusation for you. Paul Bisaro, the ceo of Watson Pharmaceuticals, filed papers in federal court the other day accusing the Federal Trade Commission of abusing its power in attempting to stop pay-for-delay deals, which the agency argues are anti-competitive and, therefore, harm consumers (see background). Bisaro claims the FTC harassed his company and used confidential FDA info in an effort to force Watson to strike a deal with Apotex, another generic drugmaker, to sell a version of Cephalon’s Provigil, a sleep-disorder drug. The FTC is challenging a 2005 deal between Cephalon and several generic drugmakers that were paid $300 million by arguing the payments bought market exclusivity. His charge follows a subpoena sought last year by the FTC to compel Bis... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607817 Thu, 27 May 2010 18:06:48 +0100 3607817 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3599738&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FOgrZm0fTE7A%2F Rise and shine. Another day awaits. And who knows what lies ahead? Meetings? Deadlines? Unexpected tidbits of information? We can relate. So grab a cup of stimulation - or perhaps, a bottle of water, since it will be rather sticky today in the greater Pharmalot metropolitan region - and dive in. As always, here are some items to ease the process. Have a great day everyone and stay in touch… UK’s NICE Won’t Cover Bayer Liver Cancer Drug (Bloomberg News) AMRI Cuts US Workforce 10% And Shifts Jobs To Asia (OutsourcingPharma) FTC Commish Remains Bullish On Ending Pay-To-Delay Deals (PharmaTimes) Dennis Quaid Sues Baxter Over Heparin Overdose (USA Today) Merck Will Not Raise Its Dividend (Associated Press) Sanofi-Aventis Will Reassign Global Media Ad Duties (MM&M) Photo t... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3599738 Wed, 26 May 2010 11:48:29 +0100 3599738 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577626&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fh_IpIo82H4Y%2F A federal appeals court last month may have upheld the legality of pay-for-delay deals that thwart the introduction of generics, but the issue isn’t dead yet. A group of consumers, union health and welfare funds, which have been certified as a class, are asking a California appeals court to review the same set of circumstances involving Bayer, Barr Pharmaceuticals and the Cipro antibiotic. At issue in both cases is a deal in which Bayer paid Barr, now owed by Teva Pharmaceuticals, to drop its 1991 patent challenge to Cipro. In 1997, Barr struck a deal with Bayer just two weeks before a lawsuit was set to go to trial, delaying the entrance of a generic version. The US Second Circuirt Court of Appeals ruled the deal was kosher (see here), although the Federal Trade Commission continues... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577626 Wed, 19 May 2010 12:11:47 +0100 3577626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3519709&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FLrxAf4BduMM%2F In a blow to the Federal Trade Commission, the US Second Circuirt Court of Appeals has upheld the legality of so-called pay-for-delay deals that thwart the introduction of generic rivals. But at the same time, the court suggested the issue needed further review (see the ruling). The ruling was made after reviewing a deal in which Bayer paid Barr Pharmaceuticals, which is now owed by Teva Pharmaceuticals, to drop its patent challenge to the Cipro antibiotic. Barr challenged the Cipro patent in October 1991 and struck a deal with Bayer in January 1997, about two weeks before the case was set to go to trial. The ruling is yet another setback for the Federal Trade Commission, which has been pushing aggressively to end pay-to-delay deals (look here). Two months ago, a federal judge dismissed an... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3519709 Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:17:52 +0100 3519709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3378729&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fl_d81VsC3bA%2F The amendment was dropped from part of the health care reform bill because of concerns it wouldn’t pass muster with congressional rules, according to a spokeswoman for Senator Herb Kohl, a Wisconsin Democrat who chairs the Special Committee on Aging, which yesterday held a hearing on drug prices. The proposal was vigorously supported by the Federal Trade Commission, which argues that so-called pay-to-delay deals hurt consumers by delaying the launch of lower-cost generics (background here). The proposed amendment would have made it harder for brand-name drugmakers to settle patent challenges brought by generic companies. Kohl plans to pursue the ban after health care reform is settled, according to The Wall Street Journal. Kathleen Jaeger, president the Generic Pharmaceutical Associ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3378729 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:39:38 +0100 3378729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3302634&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fk55qOTJU1vI%2F A federal judge dismissed an antitrust lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission against Abbott Labs’s Solvay Pharmaceuticals unit for allegedly conspiring with several generic drug makers to delay competition for its AndroGel testosterone-replacement med (here is the ruling). The ruling is a setback for the agency, which has been pushing aggressively to end so-called pay-to-delay deals (look here). The White House, in fact, included a proposal to make these agreements illegal as part of its health care reform package (see here). The FTC alleged Solvay entered into illegal deals with Watson Pharmaceuticals, Par Pharmaceutical and Paddock Labs to delay introduction of a generic AndroGel. The generics sought FDA approval and, in their submissions, noted their copycats wouldn’... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3302634 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:45:00 +0100 3302634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3298600&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FWkDRZGE4H5o%2F The White House proposal forces both brand name and generic drugmakers to give something up. The brand-name industry will have to cough up another $10 billion - for a total of $90 billion - over 10 years to help close the Medicare donut hole. On the plus side, pharma is expected to gain revenue, and the fees won’t kick in until 2011, instead of this year. Meanwhile, just one month after the Federal Trade Commission made a very public push to end pay-to-delay deals, the White House wants to give the FTC enforcement power. The White House proposal would make any such deal “unlawful and anticompetitive” in which a generic drugmaker gets anything of value from a brand-name drug maker, and a generic drugmaker must “limit or forego” R&D, marketing, manufacturin... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3298600 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:10:52 +0100 3298600 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3172204&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2Fu3dE2MMWZAo%2F Earlier today, the Federal Trade Commissioner Jon Leibowitz held a press conference to deride the ongoing practice in which brand-name drugmakers offer cash or some other inducement to their generic rivals which, in turn, agree to delay the marketing of lower-cost copycat meds. “Pay-for-delay deals are a bad prescription for America: when drug companies agree not to compete, consumers lose,” Leibowitz says in a statement. “Ending this practice as part of heal care reform is one simple, effective, and straightforward way for Congress to help control drug costs.” However, the Generic Pharmaceutical Association is on record as saying the deals give generic makers the right to enter the market before the patent on a brand-name drug expires, giving consumers earlier access to affordabl... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3172204 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:57:56 +0100 3172204 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3167443&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FzFPXsQVcoi8%2F In his never-ending quest, FTC commish Jon Leibowitz will hold a press conference today to ask Congress to include a provision in the health care reform bill to end deals in which brand-name drugmakers offer payments or other inducments to generic rivals to delay copycat versions of best-selling meds. He’ll be appearing at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC, at 12:30 along with several members of the House, which has already included a ban in its own bill. The Congressional Budget Office, you may recall, recently estimated that the House provision could save the government $1.8 billion in health costs over the next 10 years (see here). The Senate version does not include a ban (see here), although nine Democrats last month sent a letter to majority leader Harry Reid ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3167443 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:15:00 +0100 3167443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3075768&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FhLbbtK8CMzs%2F European Union antitrust regulators have raided drug makers in several countries seeking evidence they struck anticompetitive deals or used their dominant market positions to squeeze rivals. No companies were named and the raids were described as a preliminary step in an antitrust investigation (see the statement). Two months ago, the European Commission raided several drugmakers, including Sanofi-Aventis and Novartis, on suspicion they violated antitrust rules by deliberately stalling cheaper generic versions of their own meds after patents had expired. Last July, you may recall, European Union competition commissioner Neelie Kroes issued a report saying that delays in bringing generic drugs to the market had cost consumers and healthcare providers billions. Until now, the EU has only g... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3075768 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:54:03 +0100 3075768 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3045023&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F0jJwPStVWMc%2F The drugmakers finally found a way to resolve litigation that began a decade ago over Abbott Labs’ TriCor cholesterol drug, which generated more than $1 billion in US sales last year. Teva sought to sell a generic version, but as part of their settlement, agreed to postpone such a move untill March 2011. Terms, however, weren’t disclosed in this SEC filing made by Abbott. An Abbott spokeswoman tells The Wall Street Journal that Teva isn’t being paid to delay selling a generic, and calls the deal a “pure licensing agreement.” Laboratoires Fournier SA of France, which discovered the drug, also agreed to the settlement. For the record, drugmakers have often struck deals with generic rivals in which they agreed to make a payment or offered them something else to ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3045023 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:50:29 +0100 3045023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2899198&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FrjCHmpTErNk%2F The Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill making it harder for drug makers to strike those ‘pay-for-delay’ deals in which a brand-name pharma company shovels some money to a generic maker to hold off introducing a lower-priced copycat medication. The bill, which reports say passed 12-7 along party lines, would allow drug makers to strike a deal only if they provide ‘clear and convincing evidence’ that an agreement doesn’t stymie competition. How that will be proven is unclear. Herb Kohl, the Wisconsin Democrat who introduced the bill, opposes any attempt to lower the threshold of evidence, although the bill was originally tougher - it would have banned these deals altogether. The Federal Trade Commission, which opposes ‘pay-to-delay’ deals as a... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2899198 Thu, 15 Oct 2009 21:58:39 +0100 2899198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2800493&cid=t_160934_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FRvDb86Xq4o8%2F Dancing with the Stars is a good example of what you can do with your body if you put your mind to it. But it’s also becoming an example of just how fragile your body is. The contestants on the show have been getting injured so badly that they implemented a new rule where contestants can only practice a maximum of five hours per day. (Only. Five hours is quite a lot if you’re not in the best shape.) The contestants they have chosen are of all different fitness levels. Just yesterday, Tom DeLay has indicated that he has a “pre-stress fracture” in his foot. DeLay is currently rehearsing for the season opener of the show, which will begin on September 21st. People should remember that it’s possible to get in great shape, but you have to pay attention to your bo... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2800493 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:45:44 +0100 2800493 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2588397&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fnotable-quotes.html From stuttered speech delay to fluidity:-“Mom!”“Yes dear?”“I….....…am….....""Yes dear?""Er.........…hun……gry.”“Here, have a banana, you want to be healthy don’t you?”Silence.“After healthy…….what am I being?”“Would you like some Goldfish crackers for a treat?”“Now you’re...... my kinda woman.”“!”I swear I don’t know where he got that one from although the "Boris Karloff" intonation was a little disconcerting.If you like what you read, send it to someone in 'need.' (Source: Whitterer on Autism) Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2588397 Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:42:00 +0100 2588397 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2571059&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fsea-of-clouds.html [or why a significant speech delay is such a nebulous thing]“I am love.”“Indeed you are dear! Anything in particular that you find favour with today?”“Yes,” comes the enthusiastic breathy sharer, “I am love the natures.”“Which particular part of nature?”“The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter “pictures.”If you like what you read, send it to someone in 'need.' (Source: Whitterer on Autism) Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2571059 Sun, 05 Jul 2009 06:26:00 +0100 2571059 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2571061&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fnature-of-things.html As with most things around here, I have no idea where it came from, but now it’s here, it provides a whole heap of motivation as well as no end of hic-cups for inattentive parents. For some children, the ability to communicate verbally ebbs and flows, with backlogs and blockages, but sometimes we drown in an unexpected flood.“Agh!”“What? Are you o.k.? What’s the matter dear?” My son fizzes and hops around the kitchen on stiff stick legs and springy toes as the words percolate up from the depths.“No!”“No what?”“Don’t!”“Don’t what?”“Agh!”“!”“Don’t touch my nature!”“Where is your nature……..what is……..your nature?”“Agh!”He thrusts out a helpful pointy arm to assist me but as he is also spinning in a circle I fail to nail down the po... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2571061 Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:52:00 +0100 2571061 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452998&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fproposals.html Unusually, we drive home from school in relative peace and quiet as the boys’ word bank reads empty. My daughter and I chat. I am fascinated to learn about her new hang out, a cool place for pre-teens.“Mom……..I was wondering?”“Hmmm?”“Maybe Mr. B could take me to the 7 11 to spend my allowance?”“Maybe.”“For a treat.”“A treat…..maybe we should all go. I’ll treat you all. You can save your pocket money.”“Yeah Mom!”“So which would you rather have? A nice healthy juice and a broccoli sandwich or chocolate milk and a doughnut I wonder?”“Slushy and a doughnut!”“What about you chaps?” Silence continues.“What would you like as a treat from the 7 11 guys?”Silence. I concentrate on driving in heavy commuter traffic. “You ask them dear.”“Hey ... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452998 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:32:00 +0100 2452998 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452999&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fbent-out-of-shape.html I run in from the garden with a bent package stuffed under my arm to remove half a dozen red hot rechargeable batteries from the tumble drier, along with a disassembled home made scorpion. The noise is enough to make my ears bleed.“What a dipstick!”“Who is being dipstick?”“The post man.”“Dah…..post man? What is dat being?”“Not what, who….”“Who is dipstick? Who is post man?”“Er not post man,..... mail man,...... mail person er…..mail carrier.”“You are word trouble.”“Hmm.”“Attack!”“Pardon? Attack? Who?”“You.”“Me? Attack whom?”“No…..you are be an English attack.”If you like what you read, send it to someone in 'need.' (Source: Whitterer on Autism) Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452999 Thu, 04 Jun 2009 06:59:00 +0100 2452999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2324212&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Fdown-tools.html Get the code:-Cut and pastefrom this littleboxy thing below Work paused temporarily due to bad tools.It should be like this....But sadly it's like this.Yes I know, a bad workman always blames his toolsDon't forget to add your name to the "list." if you've not done so already.If you like what you read, send it to someone in 'need.' (Source: Whitterer on Autism) Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2324212 Sat, 11 Apr 2009 06:59:00 +0100 2324212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2227144&cid=t_160934_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fmedical-negligence-robbie-powell-update.html Robbie PowellLast week, in “It doesn’t get bleaker than this”,  we looked briefly at the case of Robbie Powell who died at the age of ten from Addison’s disease. I was going to say “undiagnosed” Addision’s disease, but the word “ignored” would be more nearly correct.The most recent legal hearing was a few days ago. The Powell family have just let me have a summary and update of the continuing case. If you are interested in justice, or in this case in justice denied,  it is essential reading. Publish at Scribd or explore others: Business & Legal I get a number of emails from patients and families dissatisfied with care provided by the NHS. Some are vexatious. I wish I could say they all are. Time after time after time people say �... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2227144 Sun, 01 Mar 2009 14:41:00 +0100 2227144 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2160344&cid=t_160934_82_f&fid=34667&url=http%3A%2F%2Flaryngoscope.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fbusy-morning.html It's a busy morning for me... I've got two cases to start... one of them is a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) in a really sick patient with bad heart failure.She's in the intensive care unit and will be a transport to the OR. I'm there a few minutes early (as I try to do, but don't always succeed) I meet my resident in the ICU and he tells me the case is on hold."Why?" I ask.Apparently there are two LVADs scheduled for that day, which is pretty rare. They do have two sets of surgical instruments, but there's a particular wrench which they use to tighten certain components of the device. They only have one of those wrenches. They don't want to start the case unless they make sure they have everything they need for the surgery. Of course the OTHER room has already started.I'm more than... i'm so sleepy blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2160344 Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:45:00 +0100 2160344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2065381&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fshucks-darnit.html Autism with speech delay can be a source of great frustration and annoyance, primarily for the speaker. So many words are difficult to pronounce that an approximation becomes the norm until musculature matures with practice and time. If it wasn’t already annoying enough to deal with such daily challenges, every so often someone arbitrarily changes the rules. For instance, there is one particular word, one of many, that causes no end of angst, namely ‘evening.’ We know what evening means. We have a vague notion about when it occurs but it is virtually impossible to pronounce. We have learned to accept that for the time being ‘ eve nin,’ is more than good enough. But once a year during the month of December, some foolish people refer to a particular reference point, namely ‘Chris... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2065381 Thu, 25 Dec 2008 07:48:00 +0100 2065381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1930301&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fcb9yc4DJfGA%2F Today’s ABC News reports on the difficulty of getting a diagnosis of autism. 29-year-old Jason Ross was 25 when he was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome; his mother, Lois Ross, describes how he was first said to have speech delay, attention deficit disorder, “psychosis not otherwise specified,” obsessive compulsive disorder and schizophrenia. You can also read Ross’s own words on his blog, Drive Mom Crazy. Tags: abcnews, asd, asperger, attention deficit disorder, autism, autism blog, disabilities, disabilities blog, disability, Education, Health, jason ross, ocd, Psychiatry, psychosis, schizophrenia, speech delayShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1930301 Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:33:12 +0100 1930301 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1907714&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fdaily-daub.html 1.2.3.If you like what you read, send it to someone in 'need.' (Source: Whitterer on Autism) Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1907714 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 06:59:00 +0100 1907714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1907715&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Ftwiddling-with-ledger.html Please scroll down forSOOC and Smiley SaturdayThey all have some version of it, the twiddle syndrome. It is of course extremely annoying. However, I thought I should better detail this particular twiddle because whist it is terribly irritating, one day it may not be there any more. Elimination or extinguishing the behaviour, would be designated as progress, but I will also miss it in some strange way that I don’t really understand. In his book “Look me in the Eye,” "John Elder Robinson" details many skills, talents and abilities that he experienced as a child, which were later displaced by other skills, such that the former intuitive capabilities were no longer available to him. It makes me hopeful, but also cautious.In our house, like many houses with children, many objects are on t... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1907715 Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:33:00 +0100 1907715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1883399&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fadultish.html I apologise in advance for this one. There is something about the wiring of a speech delay and they way they think that just cracks me up.1.2.3.Cheers dearsIf you like what you read, send it to someone in 'need.' (Source: Whitterer on Autism) Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1883399 Fri, 17 Oct 2008 06:59:00 +0100 1883399 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1865536&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fopposites-attract-snippet.html My ‘silent’ son has a sudden burst of chat. I beam as he chats, as it’s one of those monologues that I don’t want to staunch. Interruption generally equates to stall. I know more facts about Pokemons that I could ever once imagined. I am so impressed with his ability to sit stationary on a chair whilst his legs pump beneath him, a performance worthy of any cyclist on the Tour de France. As he chats his fingers shred the paper on the wax crayons and snap their little necks into fragments as the words flow in an endless stream. My facility of speech seems positively feeble by comparison. If any parts of my anatomy were as busily frenetic as his, I should have no choice but to remain silent. If you like what you read, send it to someone in 'need.' (Source: Whitterer on Autism) Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1865536 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:56:00 +0100 1865536 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1461247&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F295333252%2F Drugmakers win, consumers lose. That’s the message from the Federal Trade Commission, which released its latest annual report on the deals between brand-name and generic drugmakers. In fiscal year 2007, which ended September 30, 2007, there were 33 final settlements. Of those, 14, or 42 percent, included both compensation to the generic company and a restriction on the generic’s ability to market its product. Of those 14 settlements, 79 percent involved agreements with first-filer generic makers. Unlike the previous fiscal year, most of the agreements involving restrictions on generic entry did not include a side deal involving elements not directly related to the resolution of the patent dispute. Instead, the majority involved compensation to the generic firm through an agreemen... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1461247 Wed, 21 May 2008 21:16:41 +0100 1461247 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1389081&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fignorance-is-bliss-good-samaritan.html My children grow older and bigger in the cosmopolitan, open minded bliss of Silicon Valley in California. We are so used to our children that on the whole we bimble along our trajectory with only the occasional blip. Public blips usually cause me more concern that private blips. In public there is always a dilemma, should I explain and excuse, or be evasive? I feel uncomfortable announcing to perfect strangers that my boys are autistic, especially if the children are there to overhear. I wondered sometimes if this was because I was ashamed or embarrassed or both? Even now, as I think back, I believe the underlying truth was far different from such social trifles.The difficulty was the need to protect the person that you told. When you tell someone something that they are not expecting to h... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1389081 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:23:00 +0100 1389081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1373839&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F270658832%2F This looks like a win-win, at least for the drugmakers. For AstraZeneca, the deal means a generic version of its best-selling ulcer med, which racked up $5.2 billion in sales last year, won’t appear in pharmacies this week. That’s when a 30-month stay barring a generic would have expired. “The agreement allows us to spend more of our time and money in the laboratory and less in the courtroom,” says AstraZeneca ceo Dave Brennan, according to Bloomberg News. For Ranbaxy Laboratories, the deal offers different enticements - the Indian generic maker will become the US distributor for authorized generic versions of two other meds, Plendil and a 40 mg version of Prilosec, for which it will be compensated. Ranbaxy, which acknowledged all six AZ Nexium patents are valid and... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1373839 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:50:02 +0100 1373839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1362399&cid=t_160934_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F04%2F09%2Fvirginia-passes-mental-health-bill-pharma-wins-big%2F Two separate, unrelated updates I just wanted to bring to your attention… Today Virginia signed a package of bills into law, after spending a year’s worth of work in trying to revamp and reform their mental health system (the one that some suggest is partially responsible for Seung Hui Cho’s VA Tech rampage last year). The 26 bills (26? You’ve got to love government!) will allow the state to spend a paltry $42 million to hire more social workers and therapists. We hope that’s enough to bring Virginians’ mental health system up to the same community mental health standards that most other states already enjoy. We applaud Virginia’s legislators and governor for passing this ground-breaking legislation. It is definitely a move in the right direction ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1362399 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 00:48:33 +0100 1362399 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1260036&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F241821116%2F Barr Pharmaceuticals reached the settlement with 34 states, which sued the drugmaker for illegally blocking the sale of a lower-priced generic of the Ovcon contraceptive. The lawsuit, which was filed in November 2005 in Washington, DC, accused Warner Chilcott of paying Barr $20 million so it wouldn’t produce a copycat, according to a statement by Tom Miller, Iowa’s attorney general. Here’s the background: Barr won FDA approval in 2004 to market a generic Ovcon and planned to sell it for about 30 percent less than Warner Chilcott’s pill, but instead, Barr accepted Warner Chilcott’s offer. According to Miller, Warner Chilcott, which held exclusive rights to produce Ovcon since 2000, feared competition would hurt its profits. “When generic drugs come on the... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1260036 Wed, 27 Feb 2008 01:43:03 +0100 1260036 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1255191&cid=t_160934_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F240867149%2F Earlier this month, the US Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit accusing Cephalon of paying more than $200 million to four rivals for keeping generic versions of its Provigial sleep-disorder pill off the market. The move was the latest effort in a long-running battle by the agency to thwart settlements it labels costly to consumers. Brand-name drugmakers, however, say the deals make sense if patent litigation can be minimized. In an editorial in The Washington Post, Jon Leibowitz, one of five FTC commissioners, says the Cephalon case may land before the Supreme Court. Here is an excerpt… “Getting health-care costs under control is a daunting and multifaceted challenge. But one simple approach could save consumers billions of dollars annually: stopping pharmaceutical compani... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1255191 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:02:23 +0100 1255191 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1253221&cid=t_160934_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F02%2F24%2Fmentally-and-physically-stimulating-environments-delay-dementia%2F This study is especially important since a lot of nursing homes and assisted living facilities that house Alzheimer’s patients still do not have a dynamic physically and mentally stimulating environment. (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1253221 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:51:29 +0100 1253221 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1133967&cid=t_160934_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F212729443%2F CPR…very pertinent, important information for each and every person out there! Have you ever actually witnessed someone out and about fall into cardiac arrest? The majority of you are shaking your heads no, but for all that have been a part of this… it is plain out scary. I live, I mean live for a good code, cardiac arrest or respiratory distress call. I am after all a cardiac critical nurse through and through, but not outside of those hospital walls. It is just as scary for me as anyone else… CPR-especially on a stranger. Another study has concluded that chest compressions alone are more beneficial in this situation then mouth to mouth combined with compressions. That is great info. How many of you would want to put your lips around a strangers lips and start blowing aw... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1133967 Mon, 07 Jan 2008 18:43:11 +0100 1133967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1096136&cid=t_160934_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2007%2F12%2F14%2Ffriday-flashback-for-december-14-2007%2F Well, we got our first real snow here in New England this past week, so Friday presented us with a beautiful winter’s day to dig out, trundle our way into the office, just so we could bring you today’s Flashback. We’ll save some snow for you, okay? Just tell us where to mail it… 10 Years Ago on Psych Central The Trouble with Technology: How Come It Doesn’t Work? While I was complaining about trying to get some new version of software to work right with my old files, it seems that most of the more serious software compatibility issues have been resolved (e.g., I don’t have to worry about converting Word documents every time I upgrade Word). However, with the release of seriously-slow Vista and keeping an eye on laptop specifications over the past ye... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1096136 Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:32:23 +0100 1096136 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=848357&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F09%2Fdiscovery-channel-and-fine-tuning.html For Carolyn and David - hope your translation powers are up to par?“I have been dah discovered!”“Really? What have you discovered dear?”“I have discovered……dat…….I am not liking dah green eggs and ham.” I look at him. Is he telling something that I don’t already know? Something that he didn’t know? Or is this just a way of exercising the use of a new favourite word ‘discovered’?“Well thank you so much for telling me that dear.” It’s genuine, I really am glad that he now wishes to share little matters of a trivial or social nature.“D’you know wot?”“What dear?”“Dere are uvver fings dat I am discovered too!”“I’m sure there are. Would you like to tell me some of them perhaps?”“No! Dey are dah secret discovered.”“Secrets. Oh you should... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=848357 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 23:46:00 +0100 848357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=828188&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F08%2Fpower-of-ten.html Last weekNow that their speech delays are less delayed, they will often ask questions, which is a monumental leap forward for everyone. Their willingness to try and communicate with words, is still hard work for them. As parents, we have to make their attempts at communication successful. The theory goes, that the more success they achieve, the more willing they will be to keep going or give it another try.Both my boys have a tendency to ask very precise questions for which they require specific and instant answers. Failure by the parent, frequently results in a meltdown in the child. If you are a child and you have a speech delay, talking, or using your words, is hard work. On the whole it is usually much easier for you to get what you want by skipping the words stage and screaming instea... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=828188 Tue, 28 Aug 2007 20:21:00 +0100 828188 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=660497&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F06%2Fwading-through-treacle.html Let me just say at the beginning, that I have long been aware that my children, like many others, are not the kind of children that can be hurried. Although I have the standard stock of phrases at my disposal to engender hurrying, I have yet to detect any crumbs of evidence, that they are effective. [translation = in any way whatsoever] For some strange reason, I continue to use them, frequently. [translation = very old dog sticking with ancient non-functioning tricks]Elderly brains are quickly confused. If the mother in question visually witnesses a great kerfuffle, [translation = children bouncing around the place] she may mistakenly interpret this as movement. A wiser mother would recognize this phenomenon as prevarication and avoidance. [translation = think zebra herd blending] No-one ... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=660497 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 03:02:00 +0100 660497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=580670&cid=t_160934_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F04%2Fmotor-mouth-who-knew-speech-delay-could.html I most certainly am. Or usually I am, quite a chatterbox, but lately I’ve had my "jaws" strung together with elastic. 3 months now, and believe me, it’s no laughing matter, even if I could open my mouth to do so. Dis abled? What a politically charged term. But I have the medical charts to prove it. Has my quality of life been impaired? You bettya! Liquid diet and no bits, is about as boring as you can possibly get. My condition is a temporary one. Furthermore, I only have myself to blame, as the jaw surgery was a choice, self induced. Maybe I should have had brain surgery first to forestall such foolishness? For others, their circumstances did not involve an element of choice nor is it temporary. I could give you a list of my chums over the years who are categorized into this or that l... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=580670 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 02:52:00 +0100 580670