Category: Biotechnology
Despite a recession, the number of jobs in Washington state’s life sciences sector rose 9 percent from 2007 through the first quarter of this year, according to a report released at the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Associations 2011 Governor’s Life Sciences Annual.
After more than a year of deliberations, the FDA has revoked approval of the biotech blockbuster Avastin, a medicine that chokes off the blood supply to various cancer cells, as a treatment for metastatic breast cancer.
So far this year, shortages of 200 drugs — treatments for conditions ranging from cancer to high blood pressure — have been reported. How many patients have been affected? Try 550,000 cancer patients alone for the year that ended June 30.
96 percent responding that they believe enhancing the quality of life for seriously ill patients is more important than extending life as long as possible.
A new drug, called ivacaftor or VX-770, significantly improves lung function and other symptoms in cystic fibrosis patients with a specific mutation — Seattle Childrens/UW study finds
Federal funding for medical research, disease prevention and a host of public health initiatives could be sharply reduced if the congressional super committee fails to agree on a deficit-reduction package, triggering automatic cuts.
How does biological science relate to society? Join your neighbors in new community discussion series that starts tonight, Oct. 18th The events, organized by the Northwest Association for Biomedical Research, are free and open all.
Take one pill a day can more than halve the risk that an uninfected partner will contract HIV from an infected sexual partner, a University of Washington study has found.
The longer a woman has a breast implant, the more likely she is to have complications and need to have the implants removed or replaced, the FDA says.
Certain races are thought to be of higher risk for certain diseases, but a study of 1,000 people who identified themselves as European American, African-American, or Hispanic finds that the genetic variability within racial groups was so great that racial labels would not be a reliable guide for medical treatment.
Professional groups like the Heart Rhythm Society write guidelines on treatments and the use of medical devices, but researchers say their acceptance of sponsorships and grants from drug and device makers poses a conflict of interest that many patients never consider.
Program was inspired in part by the online multi-player game World of Warcraft.
LocalHealthGuide is a health news and information web service for Seattle and the Puget Sound Region. We are independent and unaffiliated with any hospital, medical association or insurer. If you have questions or if your group has an upcoming event that you would like us to cover, please let us know by going to our "Contact Us" page and dropping us a note. -- Michael McCarthy, Editor
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