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Blogs Comment On 'Common Ground' Bill, Abortion Coverage In Health Reform Legislation, Other Topics
The following summarizes selected women"s health-related blog entries.~ "Democratic Bill Could Be a Preview of Obama"s Abortion Plan," Dan Gilgoff, U.S. News & World Report"s "God and Country": A recently introduced bill aimed at reducing the need for abortion is "big news because moderate to liberal faith-based advocates are urging the White House to adopt the bill ... as the core of its forthcoming "common ground" plan on abortion and reproductive health," Gilgoff writes. Some conservative religious groups, including the Southern Baptist Convention and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, "have warned the White House" that the bill is a "deal breaker" for them because of its support for comprehensive sex education and contraception, he writes. The White House "has refused to say which way it"s leaning," Gilgoff writes, adding the Obama administration could "buck" the groups that support the bill and "get behind" the Pregnant Women Support Act, "which is generally considered more robust on reducing demand for abortions and which leaves out contraceptive funding." However, he concludes, "that would be a pretty big surprise" (Gilgoff, "God and Country," U.S. News & World Report, 7/23).~ "New Report: Abortion Providers = American Human Rights Defenders, Now Under Increasing Attack," Jodi Jacobson, RH Reality Check: A new Center for Reproductive Rights report "calls on both the federal and state governments to address the growing threats against and stigmatization and abuse of abortion providers throughout the United States," Jacobson writes. The report "focuses on a key obstacle to the realization of women"s reproductive rights ... and recognizes their work as human rights defenders," she writes, adding that the U.S. has "historically been a leader both in creating and in encouraging accountability to human rights principles throughout the world." However, "[a]ccess to reproductive health care generally and abortion care specifically are basic human rights largely ignored within the context of U.S. domestic politics," Jacobson writes, noting that abortion access in the U.S. "has been increasingly limited due to the range of obstacles created through anti-choice advocacy." The report highlights several "types of rights violations [that] are most pervasive in limiting women"s choices and the rights of abortion providers," including "intimidation and harassment," "stigma" and "legal restrictions." The report makes a "series of recommendations for change at the state and local level for changes in policy and in law enforcement practices, as well as for the federal government, medical community and non-governmental organizations," Jacobson concludes, adding that the report "makes a special plea for the United Nations Special Rapporteur to document violations of women"s human rights in the United States" (Jacobson, RH Reality Check, 7/22).~ "Sixteen Governors Call on Congress To Include Medicaid Family Planning State Option in Health Reform," Jodi Jacobson, RH Reality Check: "Sixteen governors have written a letter to both Senate and House Leadership "expressing strong support for the Medicaid Family Planning State Option,"" which is included in President Obama"s fiscal year 2010 budget proposal, Jacobson writes. The governors wrote, "Many of our states have created family planning expansion programs, though we have done so with great difficulty," adding, "Since the early 1990s, 27 states have been granted federal waivers to expand their Medicaid family planning coverage. These demonstration projects have been unqualified successes, providing care to millions of women while saving states [millions] of dollars." Jacobson continues, "The current Medicaid waiver process, however, "puts unnecessary roadblocks in the way of our efforts to maintain and expand coverage for family planning services,"" according to the governors. She adds, "Passing this law as part of health care reform "would give us the needed flexibility to quickly and efficiently expand cove

"Nature" And "Nurture" Variables Early Predictors Of AMD
Like many diseases, causes for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can be categorized as either "nature" or "nurture". Researchers think these factors, when used in the proper model, can be strong predictors of the disease.
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Sen. McConnell Says Filibuster Of Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor Remains Possible
Appearing on CBS" "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel (R-Ky.) said that Senate Republicans have not ruled out a filibuster on the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, The Hill reports. Although McConnell acknowledged that he has "consistently opposed filibustering judges," he added that the "precedent was established" when Democrats filibustered Miguel Estrada, an appeals court nominee under former President George W. Bush. When asked to clarify his statement, McConnell added, "The Democrats have firmly established that as a precedent, but that doesn"t mean you are going to use it" (Blake, The Hill, 6/14). McConnell also said that it is "way too early to be talking about whether or not anybody opposes this nominee" (Schieffer, "Face the Nation," CBS, 6/14).According to The Hill, McConnell is the first top GOP senator to state that a filibuster is a possibility, as most other Republicans have said only that it is too early to determine if it should be an option. Republicans "face a difficult path" if they choose to filibuster Sotomayor because party members have long decried judicial filibusters, The Hill reports (The Hill, 6/14).
Oncology

Versartis Publishes Preclinical Abstracts For Two Product Candidates At 2009 American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions

Versartis, Inc., a new company developing novel biologics with enhanced properties for patients with metabolic diseases, published abstracts for preclinical data on its two product candidates, VRS-859 (exenatide-rPEG) and VRS-808 (glucagon-rPEG), at the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions annual meeting beginning today in New Orleans. Versartis, through a unique licensing agreement with Amunix, Inc., uses the proprietary Amunix recombinant PEGylation (rPEG) technology to extend the half life of established biologics. The Versartis compounds in development have the potential for significantly less frequent dosing and fewer side effects than those products currently on the market or in development. "With VRS-859, we have a product candidate that may become a "best in class" GLP-1 analog for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. This compound has similar preclinical efficacy to exenatide in animal models; and the pharmacokinetics in four species support monthly dosing in humans. VRS-859 can also be administered in a small volume with a small gauge needle," said Jeffrey L. Cleland, Ph.D., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Versartis. "VRS-808 has the potential to prevent nocturnal hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes, an unmet medical need," Dr. Cleland continued. "VRS-859 and VRS-808 did not have significant toxicology at very high doses in preclinical studies, including a lack of immunogenicity in all studies. We look forward to moving these products rapidly into human clinical trials to benefit diabetes patients." ABSTRACTS Exenatide: 1994-PO -- "An Extended Half-life Exenatide Construct for Weekly Administration in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus" The current approved regimen of exenatide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus requires administration twice a day and is effective in reducing hemoglobin A1c and body weight. Common side effects of this treatment regimen for exenatide include nausea and hypoglycemia, possibly caused by the high peak levels (Cmax) of exenatide after each injection. The ideal dosage form of exenatide would maintain the exenatide blood level in the therapeutic window for at least one week without a high Cmax, which commonly occurs with depot dosage forms. We designed an extended half-life exenatide construct that contains a long unstructured tail of hydrophilic amino acids referred to as rPEG (Exenatide-rPEG; VRS-859). The rPEG tail both increases the serum half-life and provides a slower rate of absorption, thus reducing the peak-trough ratio significantly from the levels seen with twice daily injection of unmodified exenatide. Attachment of rPEG to a model protein (26.9 kDa) increased serum half-life to 75 hrs with a 99% absolute bioavailability following subcutaneous administration in cynomolgus monkeys. A similar half-life extension is expected with exenatide, enabling weekly or every two week dosing in humans. The preclinical efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and immunogenicity of VRS-859 will be presented. The results of these studies will enable rapid progress of the construct into human clinical trials. Glucagon: 2001-PO -- "An Extended Half-life Glucagon Construct for the Prevention of Nocturnal Hypoglycemia" Nocturnal hypoglycemia is a common problem for type I diabetics, especially children, often leading to death. Glucagon is typically used to treat acute hypoglycemia, but the short half-life of glucagon ( Versartis


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