| EPCglobal US Supports FDA Initiative to Protect U.S. Drug Supply Chain from Counterfeit Drugs |
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Addressing significant challenges facing the health and life sciences industries, such as counterfeiting, the EPCglobal Inc(TM) Healthcare and Life Sciences Business Action Group....
Addressing significant challenges facing the health and life sciences industries, such as counterfeiting, the EPCglobal Inc(TM) Healthcare and Life Sciences Business Action Group has made the tracking and tracing of pharmaceutical pedigree a top priority in the development of Electronic Product Code(TM) (EPC) technology.
Today’s announcement by EPCglobal US, an affiliate of EPCglobal serving subscribers in the United States to help foster the adoption of the EPCglobal Network(TM) and leverage radio frequency technology (RFID) in the supply chain, comes on the heels of the U.S. Federal Drug Administration’s (FDA) announcement of a new initiative designed to protect the U.S. drug supply chain from counterfeit products.
Pharmaceutical pedigree is a record of a drug’s chain of custody, from the point of manufacture to the point of dispensing. Using EPC-based RFID to improve pharmaceutical pedigrees will allow wholesalers and retailers to rapidly identify, quarantine, and report suspected counterfeit drugs, a significant global issue.
The FDA published its Compliance Policy Guide (CPG), which outlines parameters by which Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) feasibility studies and pilot programs can proceed. According to the FDA, the CPG will allow for a more rapid deployment of pilot programs, as companies can consult the policy guidelines rather than requesting individual permission to begin piloting. The FDA said it will look to standards-making bodies such as EPCglobal to assist in efforts to help secure the nation’s drug supply chain.
Charged with supporting members to help comply with pedigree laws worldwide, the EPCglobal Healthcare and Life Sciences Business Action Group has outlined three key priorities: defining requirements for meeting pedigree laws and then ensuring that the EPCglobal Network can support those requirements; enabling trading partners to effectively track prescription drugs through the EPCglobal Network; and deploying EPC technology in a way that can be used effectively and safely in the hospital environment.
The FDA initiative is an important step in the development of a safe and secure drug supply chain in the United States. Now, more companies can evaluate how RFID and EPC will bring significant safety and cost benefits to their supply chains through new pilot implementations and testing, said Mike Meranda, president of EPCglobal US. Top healthcare industry firms in the United States are helping to lead the EPCglobal Healthcare and Life Sciences Business Action Group and will work with the FDA to build community-based standards that enable low-cost, efficient EPC implementations and ensure authentic pharmaceuticals pedigree for their customers.
Since July 2004, 16 of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies, leading medical device manufacturers, patient service providers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers have joined EPCglobal. More than 200 company representatives from 98 companies worldwide are participating.
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| Enzon to Present at Credit Suisse First Boston Healthcare Conference - Nov 17, 2004 12:10 IST |
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Enzon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ENZN) announced today that the company will participate in the Credit Suisse First Boston Healthcare Conference, which is being held November 17-19, 2004 in Phoenix, Arizona. Ken Zuerblis, Enzon’s chief financial officer, will give a 25-minute presentation on Wednesday, November 17, 2004 at 3:30 p.m. MST or 5:30 p.m. EST.
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| Commercial Viability of Phosphatase Enzyme Class as Therapeutic Targets Analysed - Nov 17, 2004 11:53 IST |
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Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c9232) has announced the addition of Phosphatases: Emerging Role in Signal Transduction, Human Therapeutics, & As Drug Targets to their offering.
Recently, several members of the phosphatase drug target class have been identified and classes of compounds have been screened with hits identified.
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| ``Pass the Potatoes’’ This Holiday Season and Lose Weight - Nov 17, 2004 11:51 IST |
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This holiday season, passing the potatoes doesn’t have to mean calorie counting and extra hours at the gym. Lately, potatoes have been a casualty in the carb-free, protein-centric diet craze, but recent clinical data shows that harnessing the power inside the potato can actually be a key component in the struggle to lose and manage weight. Video Available
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| Current uses of Green-Fluorescent Protein in Biopharmaceutical Industry Examined - Nov 17, 2004 11:47 IST |
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Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c9202) has announced the addition of A Guide to Green-Fluorescent Protein to their offering.
This resource-oriented practical Guide provides an all encompassing overview of the most important features and technological applications of Green-Fluorescent Protein and its variant forms. It seeks to describe Green-Fluorescent Protein’s usefulness in biomedical programs and applications.
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| New findings may redirect strategies for treatment of prostate cancer - Nov 17, 2004 11:41 IST |
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A new research study published in the November issue of Cancer Cell may have important implications for treatment of prostate cancer, the most common malignancy afflicting males in the United States. The research provides significant and somewhat surprising new information about modulation of the androgen receptor (AR), a key determinant of prostate cancer progression and an attractive target for prostate cancer therapies.
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| Autism may be caused by brain swelling due to immune system reaction - Nov 17, 2004 11:40 IST |
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Autism could be caused by an immune system reaction which causes the brain to swell, say researchers at John Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA. If this is so, we may one day be able to create a test for autism, and perhaps even develop treatment to prevent it.
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| Egg donors could be paid £1,000, UK - Nov 17, 2004 11:39 IST |
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Women who donate their eggs to infertile couples could be paid up to £1,000 under new proposals from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).
Although the sale of gametes is illegal, the EU Tissues and Cells Directive, which comes into force from next April, says donors may receive compensation for the inconvenience of the procedure.
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| Faith in God is down to your genes, says Researcher - Nov 17, 2004 11:38 IST |
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Whether or not you are religious and believe in God is down to your genes, says Dean Hamer, National Cancer Institute’s Gene Structure Regulation Unit, USA. He reckons Jesus, Mohammed (the prophet) and Buddha probably carried the ‘God Gene’ in them. Church representatives have criticised Dean Hamer’s findings.
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| Arthritis patients ’failed’ by NHS, UK - Nov 17, 2004 11:38 IST |
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The NHS is failing to provide adequate support for those suffering with musculoskeletal conditions (MSCs), according to new research.
A study conducted by the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA) found that many patients are being subjected to poor standards of care and provided with little support to help them deal with their condition.
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| Charities call for smoking ban - Nov 17, 2004 11:37 IST |
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The UK’s leading cancer charities are calling on the Government to introduce a full ban on public smoking.
Macmillan Cancer Relief, the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, the British Lung Foundation and Marie Curie Cancer Care are jointly requesting that England follow the example of Ireland and Scotland and impose an outright smoking ban in enclosed public places such as bars and restaurants.
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| Reid denies health plans will restrict freedom, UK - Nov 17, 2004 11:36 IST |
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The Government aims to protect public health but its plans will not restrict people’s freedom of choice, health secretary John Reid has said.
Tomorrow’s White Paper on public health is expected to suggest how to tackle the increasing problems of childhood obesity and smoking-related illnesses.
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| Inactive form of scatter factor protein found to suppress tumor growth and spread - Nov 17, 2004 11:35 IST |
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Scatter factor (SF) is a growth factor that controls the proliferation and survival of many tissues by promoting invasive growth in both normal and disease-related biological processes.
Produced in a precursor form, pro-SF must be cleaved in order to activate its receptor, Met tyrosine kinase.
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| Take the Dust Mite Quiz! - Nov 17, 2004 11:34 IST |
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To help people learn about and reduce dust mites from their homes, the American Lung Association and ProTeam, maker of high-performance vacuum cleaners, have launched a simple online quiz that will test consumers’ Dust Mite I Q.
With a time limit of 30 seconds per question, visitors quickly choose from multiple-choice answers to questions that test their knowledge about dust mite basics: where they live in your home, what they feed on, how they can affect your breathing, and how to control them. Click here to take the quiz!
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| MS Patients Benefit from Pumping Iron - Nov 17, 2004 11:34 IST |
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Researchers in Melbourne, Australia, have found that exercise can have significant benefits for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), challenging the conventional medical wisdom.
Doctors normally do not recommend that patients with MS do strenuous exercise.
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| UN Fails to Reach Compromise on Human Cloning Issue - Nov 17, 2004 11:32 IST |
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United Nations diplomats on Thursday said that talks aimed at reaching a compromise on a proposed human cloning ban have failed and, as a result, a General Assembly panel on Friday is expected to vote on the U.S.-supported total cloning ban, Reuters reports (Arieff, Reuters, 11/11).
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| Combination treatment helps thyroid cancer patients live longer - Nov 17, 2004 11:32 IST |
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Combining radiation therapy with surgery and chemotherapy helps patients with rare forms of thyroid cancer live longer, according to a study published in the November 15, 2004, issue of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics, the official journal of ASTRO, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.
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| Good Intentions Versus Bad Habits: Why the Old Ways Win Out - Nov 17, 2004 11:31 IST |
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Why are old habits so hard to break? A new study suggests that over time, our bad habits (such as smoking cigarettes or over eating) become automatic, learned behaviors. Even if we consciously try to put new good intentions into place, those previously learned habits remain stronger in more automatic, unconscious forms of memory.
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| Ban on TV junk food ads - Nov 17, 2004 11:30 IST |
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Adverts for junk foods could be banned from being shown on television before the 9pm watershed as part of a Government strategy to tackle obesity.
Sunday newspaper reports suggest that the proposal will form part of the Government’s Public Health White Paper to be published tomorrow.
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| Radio tagging drug bottles to combat counterfeiting, USA - Nov 17, 2004 11:29 IST |
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Medicine bottles in the USA are going to have miniscule radio antennas (mini masts) as manufacturers try to combat growing counterfeiting of drugs. The antennas will emit radio signals so that the drug companies that make them can keep tags on where they are. The aim is to stop criminals getting hold of the bottles.
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| How happy are you with your lot in life? New WHO study asks - Nov 17, 2004 11:28 IST |
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Researchers are asking people throughout Britain to describe how happy they are with their lot in life to help improve the effect of the healthcare they receive.
The researchers have set up an online survey to collect information on the factors that contribute to the quality of life of people in Britain. (The survey is at: http://www.bath.ac.uk/whoqol/questionnaires).
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