Washington Week: Medicare More Solvent, Hospital Pay Cut

WASHINGTON (MedPage Today) — The healthcare reform law significantly improved the outlook for Medicare, according to the program’s trustees, who released their annual report this week.

Health Credit Card Draws New York AG’s Scrutiny

(MedPage Today) — A probe of possible fraud involving the CareCredit healthcare credit card program has been launched by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, with subpoenas issued to several ophthalmology and dermatology clinics, dental offices, and a chiropractic office.

Ironwood provides investor update for second-quarter 2010

Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today provided an update on its business activities for the second quarter of 2010.

EpiCept second-quarter net loss decreases to $4.9 million

EpiCept Corporation today announced operating and financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, and provided an update with respect to the Company’s key business initiatives.

Ardea Biosciences second-quarter total revenues decline to $3.5 million

Ardea Biosciences, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the development of small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of serious diseases, today reported recent accomplishments and financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010.

Orexigen second-quarter net loss decreases to $11.9 million

Orexigen® Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of obesity, today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2010. For the quarter ended June 30, 2010, Orexigen reported a net loss of $11.9 million, or $0.25 per share attributable to common stockholders, as compared to a net loss of $17.8 million, [...]

Halozyme second-quarter revenue increases to $3.2 million

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing and commercializing products targeting the extracellular matrix for the endocrinology, oncology, dermatology and drug delivery markets, today reported financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

Study generates promising data about sustained durability of Zyclara’s efficacy versus cryosurgery alone

Results from a randomized study with Zyclara following cryotherapy in the treatment of actinic keratoses (AK) demonstrated Zyclara complemented the effectiveness of cryosurgery in reducing total AK count and achieving complete clearance of AK, according to data presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Summer Academy Meeting 2010 (Summer AAD), August 4 - 8.

U.S. Senate passes I-ACT to enable patients with rare disease to participate in clinical trials

The U.S. Senate last night passed the “Improving Access to Clinical Trials Act” (I-ACT), a bipartisan piece of legislation championed by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, its advocates and 120 other health advocacy organizations.The legislation enables patients with rare diseases to participate in clinical trials without losing eligibility for public healthcare benefits.

NeurogesX net loss for second-quarter 2010 increases to $10.2 million

NeurogesX, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel pain management therapies, today reported results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2010.