Category Archives: industry news

The International Society of Feline Medicine and the American Association of Feline Practitioners formed a team of feline experts to develop a set of guidelines for meeting the environmental needs of domestic cats. The guidelines, published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (15, 219–230; 2013), are primarily intended for veterinarians, owners and othersContinueContinue reading “Guidelines address feline environmental needs”

On 8 April 2013, the Rally for Medical Research (http://www.rallyformedicalresearch.org/) united almost 200 organizations and millions of people across the US in support of biomedical research. They joined together to advocate sustained government investment in the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) to “spur more progress, inspire more hope and save more lives.” Lab Anim.ContinueContinue reading “Thousands rally for medical research”

A frustrating facet of biomedical research is that therapies that show promising results in animal models sometimes turn out to be ineffective or even dangerous in clinical trials. Failures of this sort represent wastes of time, effort, money and animals, and slow the development of therapies for many human diseases. In an effort to minimizeContinueContinue reading “Improving ‘translatability’ of mouse studies”

Because they are our closest animal relatives, the use of chimpanzees in research has brought about both valuable advances for human health and intense ethical controversy. The US is one of very few countries that currently allow research on chimpanzees. Both the European Union and the UK already prohibit invasive research on chimpanzees. In 2010,ContinueContinue reading “State of the (research) chimp”

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) Congress, held 31 March through 3 April 2011 in Birmingham, UK, brought together more than 8,600 visitors to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the world’s first veterinary school. L’Ecole Nationale Veterinaire de Lyon (France) was founded by Claude Bourgelat in 1761 and was presented withContinueContinue reading “Veterinary science celebrates 250 years”

The tiny fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has achieved more celebrity than lab animals ten times its size. Its name is mentioned in countless texts and research articles, and its contributions to our understanding of the most basic tenets of genetics and inheritance are unparalleled. But this favored status as a model organism may not help Drosophila to keep itsContinueContinue reading “A fly by any other name”

FDA happenings: First “upstream” embolic protection system gains clearance; Cryoablation system deemed approvable with conditions; Shelhigh stops distribution; and more Reimbursement issues: Medicare members indecisive on paying for renal artery stenting Around the industry: Kensey Nash terminates its embolic protection line; DES sales continue to decline; Endeavor meets primary endpoint in pivotal trial; and moreContinueContinue reading “Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics industry round-up August 2007”

FDA happenings: FDA to review late thrombosis in drug-eluting stents; Agency grants HUD exemption to implantable artificial heart; Agency approves integrated IVUS-imaging technology Around the industry: J&J sues BSC, Abbott over Guidant acquisition; HUD exemptions for PFO devices withdrawn; FoxHollow acquires Kerberos; and more Proceedings of TCT 3, 15-16 (2006). view PDF

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are considering an expansion of coverage for carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) with embolic protection to include, among other groups, patients at high risk for the surgical alternative (carotid endarterectomy, CEA) who have asymptomatic carotid stenosis of at least 80%. A key consideration that will drive thisContinueContinue reading “CMS considers expanding carotid stenting coverage”

FDA happenings: Agency to increase oversight of heart devices; Agency approves Micro-Driver stent; Introducer sheath gains clearance; and more Around the industry: Safety advisories issued for Guidant products; CMS reimbursement changes threaten device industry; India to regulate implantable devices; and more Proceedings of TCT 3, 10-12 (2006). view PDF