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Rates Of Severe Childhood Obesity Have Tripled
Rates of severe childhood obesity have tripled in the last 25 years, putting many children at risk for diabetes and heart disease, according to a report in Academic Pediatrics by an obesity expert at Brenner Children"s Hospital, part of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

Congress Introduces Bill To Ensure Continuous Domestic Supplies Of Common Medical Isotope
SNM and a coalition of eight other organizations have issued a white paper urging Congress to take steps to maintain adequate supplies of Molybdenum-99 (Mo-99), a radioactive substance that is the basis for a common medical isotope used in more than 80 percent of all nuclear medicine procedures.
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New York Agency Loses Grant To Expand Services For Families Affected By HIV/AIDS
AIDS Community Services of Western New York (ACS), a Buffalo-based agency that provides medical treatment and social services for individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS, has lost a $288,500 grant from the Junior League of Buffalo that was to be used to expand a primary care center, the Charlotte Business Journal reports. The Junior League of Buffalo cited a contract agreement that said construction was to be completed by Dec. 31, 2008 as the reason for the decision; construction has yet to begin. ACS President Ronald Silverio said the agency will move forward with its expansion plans, although they will be further delayed, and anticipates that they will receive other funding to replace the loss. Since the ACS began planning this project, they have also experienced cuts in state funding, according to the Journal (Drury, Charlotte Business Journal, 6/19).
Sexual Health

ZymoGenetics Reports Encouraging Preliminary Results From Phase 2 Study Of IL-21 In Metastatic Melanoma Conducted By NCIC

ZymoGenetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZGEN) announced that Interleukin 21 (IL-21) demonstrated an impressive overall response rate in the treatment of metastatic melanoma. In interim Phase 2 results from 24 patients, 29 percent showed a partial response, with an additional 33 percent of patients showing stable disease in this difficult to treat disease. "We are seeing promising anti-tumor response with IL-21 in patients with metastatic melanoma in this Phase 2 study," said Nicole Onetto, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of ZymoGenetics. "The response rate is favorable, particularly when compared to those of approved agents. Patients with advanced melanoma have few effective treatment options, so a clear need exists for new agents to manage this disease." Results from the Phase 2 clinical trial in patients with metastatic melanoma were presented at the World Congress on Melanoma meeting in Vienna, Austria. The single-agent multi-center clinical trial is being conducted by the NCIC Clinical Trials Group in Canada and is evaluating three dosing regimens of IL-21 in patients with no prior systemic therapy for metastatic melanoma. The primary endpoint is efficacy, as measured by objective response or lack of early disease progression. To date 7 of the 24 patients (29%) had a partial response (5 confirmed by RECIST criteria). Eight patients (33%) had stable disease. The most common adverse events were mild or moderate fatigue and rash. Two schedules testing 50 mcg/kg were evaluated in a total of 10 patients but were poorly tolerated due to adverse events including neutropenia and skin rash. The trial will be completed with a full cohort of 30 patients to be treated at the 30 mcg/kg dose, which is tolerable for outpatient dosing and active as assessed by tumor response. About Interleukin 21 (IL-21) IL-21, a cytokine that enhances CD8+ T cell and NK cell activity, has single-agent anti-tumor activity (J Clin Oncol 26:2034, 2008). ZymoGenetics has worldwide rights to IL-21 and is developing IL-21 for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma and metastatic melanoma. ZymoGenetics


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