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Exelixis Reports Encouraging Phase 1 Data To Be Presented At ASCO For XL228, A Multi-Targeted Inhibitor Of Key Cancer Signaling Kinases
Exelixis, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXEL) today reported encouraging data from an ongoing Phase 1 dose-escalation trial of XL228 in patients with advanced malignancies. XL228 is a small molecule inhibitor of insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor (IGF1R), SRC, Aurora kinases, and fibroblast growth factor receptor types 1, 2, and 3 (FGFR1-3), which are associated with cancer cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis. The compound also inhibits BCR-ABL, including the T315I mutant form which is resistant to currently approved inhibitors. David Smith, MD, Professor of Medicine at the University of Michigan, an investigator on the Phase 1 trial, will present the data in an oral session (Abstract #3512) beginning at 4:15 p.m. local time on Saturday, May 30, 2009, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, which is being held May 29-June 2 in Orlando.
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When Is It Time For Cataract Surgery?
Almost everyone who lives a long life will develop cataracts at some point. As more Americans live into their 70s and beyond, we all need to know a few cataract basics: risks and symptoms, tips that may delay onset, and how to decide when it is time for surgery, so good vision can be restored.
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Terry O'Neill Elected New "National Organization for Women" President
The National Organization for Women on Saturday during its annual conference elected Terry O"Neill as the group"s new president, the Indianapolis Star reports. O"Neill succeeds Kim Gandy, who has served two four-year terms as NOW president. The group has grown to include about 500,000 advocate members since its founding in 1966.During the conference, participants discussed a number of women"s rights issues, including same-sex marriage, equal pay and health insurance affordability. O"Neill raised the issue of "conscience" clauses, which allow health care workers to refuse to provide information or services on moral or religious grounds. O"Neill said, "Conscience clauses, where pharmacists refuse birth control sales because it"s against their conscience, must go. Guess what? Women have a constitutional right to birth control," adding, "There is no constitutional right to be a pharmacist" (Jacobs, Indianapolis Star, 6/21).O"Neill served as NOW"s vice president for membership from 2001 to 2005. She most recently served as chief of staff for a county council member in Montgomery County, Md. O"Neill in a prepared statement said that she is "honored and eager" to lead NOW (AP/Google.com, 6/21).
Cardiovascular

Recession-Battered States Cut Funding For Health Services

Under economic pressure, states are slashing funding for health services from Connecticut to California. The cuts frustrate providers and lawmakers are looking for ways to limit harm. The Associated Press reports: "Washington is pouring $87 billion in federal stimulus money into the states to help maintain state-run Medicaid health care for the needy - and to handle the expected surge in enrollment. But Connecticut and other cash-strapped states say they still must slash spending on health care to cover massive budget deficits. At least 21 states have already restricted low-income children"s and families" eligibility for health insurance or their access to services; at least 22 states and the District of Columbia are cutting services for low-income elderly or disabled patients." AP also reports: "The programs that do face cuts are diverse. And the reductions come at a time when the demand for government health care is expected to rise as the unemployment rate climbs and people lose their private health coverage. ... Many of the programs facing cutbacks or elimination were hard-won by advocates over the years." The story highlights approaches to cuts in Louisiana, Illinois, Ohio, Maryland and Washington state (Haigh, 7/29). San Diego Union Tribune: "San Diego County health care providers say they are outraged and devastated by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger"s line-item veto of $394 million in state spending for health and welfare programs. The cuts will affect programs including those for child abuse and neglect, AIDS prevention and treatment, and health insurance for poor children. ... The move is ill-timed, clinic officials say, because layoffs stemming from the recession have boosted the number of needy patients." Some of the budgets cuts cited include $61 million from County funding to administer Medi-Cal; $52 million from AIDS prevention and treatment and $50 million from Healthy Families, California"s health insurance program for poor children (Su, 7/30). The New York Times: "Massachusetts trimmed its ambitious plan to provide health care for virtually all its residents on Wednesday when the legislature failed to restore enough money to the budget to provide full benefits for 30,000 legal immigrants. It did, however, provide for partial coverage, relieving some supporters of the program, who had feared that the cuts would be deeper. Last month, to help close a gaping deficit, the legislature eliminated health insurance for the immigrants, which cost about $130 million a year. Wednesday"s vote restored $40 million - about 30 percent - leaving unclear just how much care the affected immigrants would qualify for. Those affected are permanent residents who have had green cards for less than five years. It was the first retreat for the health care experiment just as Congress looked to the state as a model" (Goodnough, 7/29). The Eagle Tribune: "Small businesses in New Hampshire are struggling to provide affordable health care for their employees - and the state is doing something about it. As of Oct. 1, small-business owners could save up to 20 percent on health care costs, thanks to a new health care reform plan enacted by Gov. John Lynch. ... The new program, New Hampshire Healthcare First, was first introduced during the 2008 legislative session. It will give businesses with fewer than 50 employees additional health care incentives - health questionnaires, disease management programs and wellness incentives - to keep workers healthy and insurance costs low" (LaFay, 7/30). This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org. © Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.


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