Month: March 2012

Merck blood clot drug in limbo after mixed results

Your Health Matters

A view of the Merck & Co. campus in Linden, New JerseyCHICAGO (Reuters) – Impressive efficacy but worrisome bleeding was seen for a new type of blood clot preventer tested by Merck & Co in one of the largest heart-drug studies ever conducted, researchers said on Saturday, raising questions whether the company will seek approval of the drug and whether it can pass muster with regulators. Vorapaxar has been dogged by bleeding concerns since January 2011, when a safety committee overseeing the 26,449-patient study said the new type of anti-platelet drug was not appropriate for patients who had suffered a stroke, due to bleeding risk. …

Statins in the time of heart damage

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CHICAGO (Reuters) – Patients who view images of their hearts and see for themselves the buildup of calcium within their artery walls become more compliant about taking their cholesterol-fighting drugs and are more likely to lose weight, researchers said on Saturday. The finding resulted from two studies presented at the annual scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology in Chicago. Researchers took images of hearts using coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring with cardiac computed tomography, a test that uses a CT scanner to take detailed pictures of the heart. …

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Breast cancer fundraising lags after abortion dispute

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. breast cancer charity Susan G. Komen for the Cure is feeling a pinch on donations following a controversy over its funding for Planned Parenthood, a leading provider of birth-control and abortion services. A few of the group’s flagship “Race for the Cure” fundraising events have failed to meet targets, a Komen spokeswoman said on Friday. Separately, at least five of the group’s leaders have stepped down in recent weeks. …

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