Canadians Receive $1.3 Million for Engineering
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted December 23, 2008)
Taking a bite out of arthritis, osteoporosis, etc…Dr. Douglas Hamilton, a dental researcher with the University of Western Ontario, has received substantial funding from The Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to engineer stronger bone and cartilage tissue to treat patients with traumatic injuries or bone disease.

Study: Pycnogenol® Reduces Marker in OA
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted December 22, 2008)
Another reason to make a pilgrimage to France…Horphag Research Ltd. is announcing that the third osteoarthritis (OA) study this year is showing that Pycnogenol® lowers the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP).

New AAOS Guideline for Knee OA
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted December 18, 2008)
Before you cut…AAOS is announcing the release of an evidence-based clinical practice guideline on “Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee,” a protocol that was explicitly developed to include only treatments which are less invasive than knee replacement surgery.

Nose to Bones: Tentative FDA Nod for Osteoporosis Spray
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted December 17, 2008)
MDRNA, Inc., a company focused on products based on RNA interference (RNAi), has announced that the FDA has granted tentative approval of its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for generic calcitonin-salmon nasal spray for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Cool Discovery: New Genetic Info on Low BMD
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted December 17, 2008)
Icelandic researchers from deCODE genetics, along with colleagues from Australia and Denmark are reporting the discovery of common single-letter variations (SNPs) in the human genome linked to low bone mineral density (BMD).

Zosano Ends “End-of-Phase 2” Meeting on Happy Note
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted December 11, 2008)
The pharma wizards at Zosano Pharma, Inc., have announced the completion of an End-of-Phase 2 meeting with the FDA regarding its ZP-PTH rapid delivery patch for the treatment of osteoporosis in women at high risk of fracture.

Strength in Numbers: Coalition to Address Osteoporosis
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted December 4, 2008)
Several powerful groups are joining forces to focus on the reason behind so many fractures—osteoporosis.

Study: Anorexia Impairs Adolescent Bone Development
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted November 20, 2008)
The effects of this psychological condition are bone deep…and long lasting. The Radiological Society of North America has announced that a new study in the December issue of Radiology is revealing that children and teens with even mild anorexia have abnormal bone structure.

FDA Says Bisphosphonates Not Linked to Atrial Fibrillation
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted November 14, 2008)
According to WebMD Health News, the FDA has found no proof that bisphosphonates are related to the heart rhythm problem known as atrial fibrillation.

Study: Osteoporosis Drugs May Cause Irregular Heartbeats
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted October 29, 2008)
As reported in ScienceDaily, a new study has found that individuals taking bisphosphonates for osteoporosis may be at risk for serious atrial fibrillation (AF).

Save a Pill? Study Says Vitamin K Doesn’t Prevent Bone Density Loss
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted October 16, 2008)
A multi-center study has found that while vitamin K does not protect against age-related decreasing bone density, it may protect against fractures and cancers in postmenopausal women.

Study on Osteoporosis Drug Canceled
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted September 28, 2008)
Let’s call the whole thing off…Biotechnology company NPS Pharmaceuticals Inc. is announcing that its partner GlaxoSmithKline will end a midstage study on a prospective osteoporosis (OA) drug because it is not effective.

Study Says: No A+ for Artrhoscopy
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted September 15, 2008)
The University of Western Ontario and Lawson Health Research Institute are announcing a study showing that osteoarthritis patients can’t necessarily rely on arthroscopy to reduce joint pain or improve joint function.

Smurfs and Mice: Researchers Find How RA Destroys Bone
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted August 25, 2008)
According to BrightSurf.com (“Researchers discover how rheumatoid arthritis causes bone loss”), scientists from the University of Rochester have discovered new information about how rheumatoid arthritis (RA) destroys bone. The results were published in the August 22 edition of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

A Pain in More Than the Esophagus…Acid Reflux Meds Could Elevate Fracture Risk
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted August 13, 2008)
According to a recent article in the Globe and Mail, a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has found that drugs for acid reflux disease may significantly increase the risk of fractures in people suffering from osteoporosis.

Computers as Prognosticators of Bone Fracture Risk
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted July 21, 2008)
Instead of the genie predicting the future, it is the Blue Gene…supercomputer, that is. As reported on ScienceDaily, using a Blue Gene supercomputer, scientists of ETH Zurich and the IBM Zurich Research Laboratory demonstrated the most extensive simulation yet of actual human bone structure.

New Bone Growth and Possible Help for Those With Osteoporosis
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted July 17, 2008)
Activating sensors, re-activating patients…As reported on Physorg.com, a new drug that “opens the taps” for the release of useful hormones could stimulate new bone growth and perhaps even help osteoporosis patients.

Study Shows HIV Patients Susceptible to Osteoporosis
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted May 30, 2008)
According to an article on ScienceDaily. HIV Patients Suffer More From Osteoporosis), a study in the Spanish publication Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica [Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology] shows an increase in prevalence of osteoporosis in HIV-1 infected patients.

Surgeon Attitudes on Implant Removal
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted May 28, 2008)
Tell Mrs. Jones with the old hip device that the jury is still out. Recently published research sheds new light on surgeons’ thoughts about implant removal.

GE and Orthocrat to Offer Integrated Templating
By Elizabeth Hofheinz (posted May 21, 2008)
The workflow wizards are at it again. Israel-based Orthocrat Ltd, a company focused on orthopedic preoperative templating software, is partnering with GE Healthcare-Dynamic Imaging Solutions, a unit of General Electric Company, to introduce an integrated digital image management and surgical planning solution for orthopedic surgeons.

Pioneer Raises $15 Million for NuBac IDE Study
Pioneer Surgical is getting a helping hand from the State of Michigan. The Upper Peninsula device company has raised $15 million in new investments to pay for an FDA pivotal study for its NuBac nucleus replacement device.

FDA Holiday Present for ReGen Biologics
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and Happy New Year ReGen Biologics shareholders. We’ll also throw in a Happy Kwanzaa and Solstice for good measure. ReGen needs all the friends it can get.

Synovial Celebration: MabThera Inhibits Joint Destruction in RA
Hope flowing from the lab…MabThera. Roche is announcing today that MabThera (rituximab) has been shown to significantly inhibit structural damage to joints in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have not been treated with methotrexate (MTX), the current standard of care for RA treatment.

Canadians Receive $1.3 Million for Engineering
Taking a bite out of arthritis, osteoporosis, etc…Dr. Douglas Hamilton, a dental researcher with the University of Western Ontario, has received substantial funding from The Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) to engineer stronger bone and cartilage tissue to treat patients with traumatic injuries or bone disease.

Congressional Healthcare Reform: Irresistible Forces and Immovable Objects
Those who believe that Congress will move quickly and dramatically during the first days of the Obama Administration on comprehensive national healthcare reform got a cold shower on December 19.

Study: Pycnogenol® Reduces Marker in OA
Another reason to make a pilgrimage to France…Horphag Research Ltd. is announcing that the third osteoarthritis (OA) study this year is showing that Pycnogenol® lowers the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP).

Daschle Will Lead Health Care Reform for Obama
Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota will be the country's new health care czar. He’ll be health care czar who has written that “doctors and patients might resent any encroachment on their ability to choose certain treatments, even if they are expensive or ineffective compared to the alternatives.”

Medtronic’s Excellent China Spine Adventure
Medtronic's toe in China just got a little wetter. The company announced on December 18th that it had completed its equity investment in China's Weigao Group Medical Polymer Company Limited.

Baring the Medical Soul: Disclosure Summit
The first annual summit on disclosure, transparency and aggregate spend for drug, device and biotech companies will be held March 5 and 6, 2009 at the Renaissance Washington D.C. Hotel…and now they are announcing the keynote faculty, agenda and Disclosure Training Program.

Centinel Spine Continues Transformation
Centinel Spine, the descendant of Raymedica, continues to morph into its new form. On December 16, Centinel Spine announced that the company was on track to see increased revenue by early 2009 due to having secured exclusive distribution rights to market STALIF TT™ (Stand Alone Lumbar Interbody Fusion) products for the entire globe.

Orthofix Defends Itself and Dumps Debt
As Orthofix fights off a hedge fund threatening to board its corporate ship, the company announced that it was going to dump some ballast by paying off some debt early.

New AAOS Guideline for Knee OA
Before you cut…AAOS is announcing the release of an evidence-based clinical practice guideline on “Treatment of Osteoarthritis of the Knee,” a protocol that was explicitly developed to include only treatments which are less invasive than knee replacement surgery.

Nose to Bones: Tentative FDA Nod for Osteoporosis Spray
MDRNA, Inc., a company focused on products based on RNA interference (RNAi), has announced that the FDA has granted tentative approval of its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for generic calcitonin-salmon nasal spray for the treatment of osteoporosis.

Cool Discovery: New Genetic Info on Low BMD
Icelandic researchers from deCODE genetics, along with colleagues from Australia and Denmark are reporting the discovery of common single-letter variations (SNPs) in the human genome linked to low bone mineral density (BMD).

MA Plans Bring $1.3 Billion Extra Profits to Insurers
Congress stuck another fork into the Medicare Advantage (MA) program on December 11. House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee Chair, Congressman Pete Stark of California, had requested an analysis from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) about the MA plans' profits for 2006.

Gang of Four Named To Challenge Orthofix Directors
We recently reported that hedge fund Ramius LLC was threatening to call a special meeting of Orthofix shareholders. At the meeting, if called, they would vote to throw four of ten current Orthofix board members overboard and replace them with Ramius' own slate of candidates.

Direct Hit: BioMimetic Achieves Enrollment Target
BioMimetic Therapeutics, Inc. has announced that the company has completed the enrollment of 396 patients in its North American pivotal clinical study for its lead orthopedic product candidate Augment™ Bone Graft. The study is designed to assess the safety and efficacy of Augment for the treatment of hindfoot and ankle fusions as compared to autograft.

U.S. Army Aiming for ‘Disruptive Technologies’
Who knew there was a U.S. Army Science Conference?  In the shadow of Disneyworld no less. But, sure enough, it does exist and this past week a number of cool, futuristic, and potentially “disruptive” medical technologies were on display at the U.S. Army Science Conference in Orlando, Florida.

People in the News

Dr. Andrew Lynn Garners Entrepreneurial Award

Dr. Richard D. Scott Joins ConforMIS Board

Pete Wehrly Lands at Medingo

Upcoming Conferences

5th Annual Emerging Technologies Spine Education Summit
February 4 - 7, 2009 – Steamboat Springs, Colorado

4th Annual Stem Cell Summit
February 17, 2009 – New York

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