Teeter Hang Ups Meet New UL Testing Standards for Inversion Tables

PUYALLUP, Wash., Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Teeter, manufacturer of inversion tables and inversion therapy products for over 30 years, announced that new safety testing and certification requirements have been implemented by UL specifically for inversion tables.

UL revised their current Standard for Safety for Massage and Exercise Machines, UL 1647, to fill a void that exists in quality testing standards for inversion tables. Though this specification is now fully operational, the option to pursue UL Listing remains voluntary. To date, Teeter offers the only inversion tables on the market to have passed these specifications.

Roger Teeter, founder and president of Teeter, says, “One inversion table may look the same as the next, but what may not be immediately obvious are vital design features for user protection and reliable function. The updated UL Listing 1647 is the safety and performance standard I’ve been advocating for in the inversion industry for over 30 years. The fact that we voluntarily submitted our products for review and they are now authorized to bear the UL mark is something to be proud of.”

UL’s standard was developed to evaluate the unique function of the inversion table and simulate “real world” use. Notable requirements for inversion table performance include:

  • Simulated-use test of 30,000 cycles under maximum rated user weight
  • Strength testing dependent on factors of maximum rated user weight (requiring a 4-times safety factor)
  • Endurance testing requiring 30,000 cycles of operation for the ankle closure device
  • “End-Stop Test” to ensure structural integrity under extreme conditions (inverts table 50 times at top speed loaded with maximum rated user weight)
  • Stability testing at various loads and stages of inversion
  • Uniform label and warning guidelines
  • Unscheduled quarterly inspections by UL at the factory to determine whether a manufacturer is continuing to follow standard requirements

Teeter inversion tables listed to UL 1647 and currently available to consumers include: Teeter Hang Ups EP-550, Teeter Hang Ups EP-550 Sport, Teeter Hang Ups EP-650, Teeter Hang Ups EP-850, Teeter Hang Ups EP-950, Teeter Hang Ups NXT-R, Teeter Hang Ups Contour L3, Teeter Hang Ups Contour Power, Teeter Hang Ups FitSpine System, and Teeter Hang Ups FitForm.

Why is the UL Listing important?

The disparity in product quality among inversion tables was emphasized by a 2010 report published by Dynamark Engineering, a product-testing firm that specializes in mechanical analysis and forensic engineering. Modeled after the UL 1647 safety standard, Dynamark’s performance tests were conducted on a selection of widely distributed models. In endurance and strength tests, ALL competing models experienced catastrophic failure resulting from torn or broken metal, falling far short of the UL standard. Only Teeter Hang Ups surpassed the minimum safety requirements.

UL’s commitment to consumer safety is clear from this statement on their website: “As consumers, we make important decisions every day about the products we purchase and use in our homes … Underwriters Laboratories is committed to the safety and protection of all consumers in their daily lives.”

Consumers now have the power to look for inversion tables that bear the UL Listing Mark, confident in their knowledge that UL rigorously tests representative samples to determine their compliance with the requirements of the new standard.

Doug Edwards, owner of The Comfort Store, says, “When customers ask our sales force why we like Teeter Inversion Tables the best, we tell them, ‘Because we value quality.’ The fact that Teeter brand inversion tables are UL Listed means a lot to us because we value our customers’ safety.”

About Teeter

With over 2 million users, Teeter Hang Ups leads the inversion market as the definitive inversion products brand. Founded in 1981 by Roger and Jennifer Teeter, Teeter is the longest continuous manufacturer of inversion products in the world, committed to creating the highest-quality, easiest-to-use inversion products for home and commercial use. Visit http://www.teeter-inversion.com.

About UL

UL is a premier global independent safety science company with more than 116 years of history. Additional information about UL may be found at http://www.UL.com.

Contact

Kimberly Grotzke, Marketing Dir.
800.847.0143, [email protected]

This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Teeter

K-V Pharmaceutical Company Announces the Completion of the Sale of Nesher Pharmaceuticals, Inc. its Generic Pharmaceutical Business

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — K-V Pharmaceutical Company (“the Company,” “K-V”) (NYSE: KVa/KVb) today announced the completion and closing of the previously announced sale of assets of Nesher Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Nesher”), the Company’s wholly-owned generic subsidiary, and the Company’s generic business and assets to Zydus Pharmaceuticals (USA), Inc and Zynesher Pharmaceuticals (USA) LLC (together, the “Buyer”).

The aggregate sales price for the transaction is $60 million (subject to possible adjustment to reflect the working capital of the business unit at closing) of which $7.5 million will be held in an escrow arrangement for post-closing indemnification purposes. The purchase includes the physical assets associated with the Company’s generic business, including certain manufacturing, packaging and laboratory facilities, certain intellectual property, existing and future product opportunities, as well as equipment specific to the generic business.

Separately, the Company has entered into a supply agreement with Zydus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to provide third-party manufacturing services for Clindesse® and Gynazole-1®.

Greg Divis, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President of Ther-Rx Corporation, stated, “This divestiture is in-line with our announced efforts to focus our future product roadmap in the specialty branded pharmaceutical sector. The net proceeds from the transaction will strengthen our financial position and liquidity, while exiting the generics business will immediately reduce our quarterly cash outlays. Moving forward, we will continue working towards making important progress with Makena(TM), returning our branded anti-infective products back to market and supporting additional growth potential for Evamist(TM).”

About K-V Pharmaceutical Company

K-V Pharmaceutical Company is a specialty branded pharmaceutical company with a primary focus in the area of women’s healthcare. As such, we are committed to advancing the health of women across all the stages of their lives.

For further information about K-V Pharmaceutical Company, please visit the Company’s corporate Website at www.kvpharmaceutical.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains various forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “PSLRA”) and that may be based on or include assumptions concerning the operations, future results and prospects of the Company. Such statements may be identified by the use of words like “plan,” “expect,” “aim,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “commit,” “intend,” “estimate,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “potential” and other expressions that indicate future events and trends.

All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including without limitation, statements about product development, product launches, regulatory approvals, governmental and regulatory actions and proceedings, market position, acquisitions, sale of assets, revenues, expenditures, resumption of manufacturing and distribution of products and the impact of the recall and suspension of shipments on revenues, and other financial results, are forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risk and uncertainties. In connection with the PSLRA’s “safe harbor” provisions, the Company provides the following cautionary statements identifying important economic, competitive, political, regulatory and technological factors, among others, that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those set forth or implied by the forward-looking statements and related assumptions.

Such factors include (but are not limited to) the following:

(1) the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern;

(2) compliance by the Company and the Buyer with their respective related contractual obligations under the definitive Asset Purchase Agreement, dated June 17, 2011 for the sale of Nesher assets, the Company’s generic products business and Nesher subsidiary;

(3) the impact of competitive, commercial, payor, governmental (including Medicaid program), physician, patient, public or political responses and reactions, and responses and reactions by medical professional associations and advocacy groups, to the Company’s sales, marketing, product pricing, product access and strategic efforts with respect to Makena(TM), (hydroxyprogesterone caproate injection), and its other products, including introduction or potential introduction of generic or competing products, or competition from unapproved therapies or compounded drugs, against products sold by the Company and its subsidiaries, including Makena(TM), and including competitive or responsive pricing changes;

(4) the impact of: (i) the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision to decline to take enforcement action with regards to compounded alternatives to Makena(TM), despite the Company’s orphan drug exclusivity; (ii) CMS policy permitting Medicaid program reimbursement of such products; and (iii) resulting coverage decisions by various state Medicaid and commercial payors, on the Company’s sales revenues for Makena(TM) and the resulting impact on the Company’s operations and financial results, including, without limitation, its ability to continue as a going concern;

(5) new product development and launch, including the possibility that any product launch may be delayed or unsuccessful, including with respect to Makena(TM);

(6) acceptance of and demand for the Company’s new pharmaceutical products, including Makena(TM), and for our current products upon their return to the marketplace, as well as the number of preterm births for which Makena(TM) may be prescribed and its safety profile and side effects profile and acceptance of the degree of patient access to, and pricing for, Makena(TM);

(7) the possibility that any period of exclusivity may not be realized, including with respect to Makena(TM), a designated Orphan Drug;

(8) the satisfaction or waiver of the terms and conditions for the continued ownership of the full U.S. and worldwide rights to Makena(TM) set forth in the previously disclosed Makena(TM) acquisition agreement, as amended;

(9) the consent decree between the Company and the FDA and the Company’s suspension of the production and shipment and the related nationwide recall affecting all of the other products that it manufactured, as well as the related material adverse effect on its revenue, assets and liquidity and capital resources, as more fully described in Part I, Item — 1 “Business — (b)Significant Developments — Discontinuation of Manufacturing and Distribution; Product Recalls; and the FDA Consent Decree” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011 (“2011 Form 10-K”);

(10) the two agreements between the Company and the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS OIG”) pertaining to the exclusion of our former chief executive officer from participation in federal healthcare programs and pertaining to the dissolution of our ETHEX subsidiary, in order to resolve the risk of potential exclusion of our Company, as more fully described in Part I, Item 1 — “Business — (b)Significant Developments — Agreements with HHS OIG” of the Company’s 2011 Form 10-K;

(11) the plea agreement between the Company and the U.S. Department of Justice and the Company’s obligations therewith, as well as the related material adverse effect, if any, on its revenue, assets and liquidity and capital resources, as more fully described in Note 1 — “Description of Business — Plea Agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2011 Form 10-K;

(12) changes in the current and future business environment, including interest rates and capital and consumer spending;

(13) the availability of raw materials and/or products, including Makena(TM) and Evamist®, manufactured for the Company under contract manufacturing agreements with third parties;

(14) the regulatory environment, including legislative, governmental or regulatory agency and judicial actions and changes in applicable laws or regulations, including the risk of obtaining necessary state licenses in a timely manner;

(15) fluctuations in revenues;

(16) the difficulty of predicting the pattern of inventory movements by the Company’s customers;

(17) risks that the Company may not ultimately prevail in litigation, including product liability lawsuits and challenges to its intellectual property rights by actual or potential competitors and challenges to other companies’ introduction or potential introduction of generic or competing products by third parties against products sold by the Company or its subsidiaries including without limitation the litigation and claims referred to in Note 15 — “Commitments and Contingencies” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2011 Form 10-K, and that any adverse judgments or settlements of such litigation, including product liability lawsuits, may be material to the Company;

(18) the possibility that our current estimates of the financial effect of certain announced product recalls could prove to be incorrect;

(19) whether any product recalls or product introductions result in litigation, agency action or material damages;

(20) the possibility of our loss of failure to supply claims by certain of the Company’s customers, that, despite the formal discontinuation action by the Company of its products, the Company should compensate such customers for any additional costs they allegedly incurred for procuring products the Company did not supply;

(21) the series of putative class action lawsuits alleging violations of the federal securities laws by the Company and certain individuals, as more fully described in Note 15 — “Commitments and Contingencies — Litigation and Governmental Inquiries” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2011 Form 10-K;

(22) the possibility that insurance proceeds are insufficient to cover potential losses that may arise from litigation, including with respect to product liability or securities litigation;

(23) the informal inquiry initiated by the SEC and any related or additional government investigation or enforcement proceedings as more fully described in Note 15 — “Commitments and Contingencies — Litigation and Governmental Inquiries” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2011 Form 10-K;

(24) the possibility that the pending investigation by the HHS OIG into potential false claims under the Title 42 of the U.S. Code as more fully described in Note 15 — “Commitments and Contingencies — Litigation and Governmental Inquiries” of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s 2011 Form 10-K, could result in significant civil fines or penalties, including exclusion from participation in federal healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid;

(25) delays in returning, or failure to return the Company’s approved products to market, including loss of market share as a result of the suspension of shipments, and related costs;

(26) the ability to sell or license certain assets, and the purchase prices, milestones, terms and conditions of such transactions;

(27) the possibility that default on one type or class of the Company’s indebtedness could result in cross default under, and the acceleration of, its other indebtedness;

(28) the risks that present or future changes in the Board of Directors or management may lead to an acceleration of the Company’s bonds or to adverse actions by government agencies or our auditors;

(29) the risk that even though the price and 30-day average price of the Company’s Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock currently satisfy the quantitative listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, including with respect to minimum share price and public float, the Company can provide no assurance that they will remain at such levels thereafter;

(30) compliance with debt covenants; and

(31) the risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company’s filings with the SEC.

This discussion is not exhaustive, but is designed to highlight important factors that may impact the Company’s forward-looking statements. Because the factors referred to above, as well as the statements included under the captions Part I, Item 1A — “Risk Factors,” Part II, Item 7 — “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in the Company’s 2011 Form 10-K, could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by the Company or on the Company’s behalf, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and the risk factors that are included under Part I, Item 1A — “Risks Factors” in the Company’s 2011 Form 10-K, as supplemented by the Company’s subsequent SEC filings. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and the Company is under no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this release.

New factors emerge from time-to-time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict which factors will arise, when they will arise and/or their effects. In addition, the Company cannot assess the impact of each factor on its future business or financial condition or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE K-V Pharmaceutical Company

NeurogesX, Inc. Secures $20 Million Debt Facility

SAN MATEO, Calif., Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — NeurogesX, Inc. (Nasdaq: NGSX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel pain management therapies, today announced that it has entered into a $20 million loan agreement with Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. (Nasdaq: HTGC). The loan agreement includes both a $5 million accounts receivable line of credit and a $15 million term loan.

Proceeds are expected to be used to further support commercialization activities for Qutenza® (capsaicin) 8% patch, the clinical development of the Company’s lead product candidate, NGX-1998, a non-patch topically applied liquid formulation of high-concentration capsaicin, as well as general corporate purposes.

Stephen Ghiglieri, Executive Vice President, COO and CFO, commented, “This debt facility is a key ingredient in our overall strategy to provide sufficient capital to advance the commercial efforts with Qutenza and the development of our NGX-1998 topical liquid formulation product candidate. We believe that this facility, together with the $20 million equity private placement completed on July 26, 2011, gives us the necessary cash to take us into 2013 and enables us to pursue strategic activities that could further support the advancement of Qutenza and NGX-1998.”

About NeurogesX, Inc.

NeurogesX, Inc. (Nasdaq: NGSX) is a San Francisco Bay Area-based biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel pain management therapies. NeurogesX was founded on the concept that use of prescription-strength capsaicin could help manage the pain associated with neuropathic pain conditions. Since its inception, NeurogesX has leveraged its passion to help people with pain to efficiently develop this concept, resulting in the commercial launch of Qutenza® (capsaicin) 8% patch in 2010. The Company continues to apply its knowledge and expertise in the development of other novel treatments for pain.

The Company’s lead product, Qutenza, is a localized dermal delivery system containing prescription strength capsaicin that is currently approved in the United States and the European Union. Qutenza is now available in the United States for the management of neuropathic pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN). In Europe, Qutenza is being marketed by Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd. (Astellas), the European subsidiary of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc., for the treatment of peripheral neuropathic pain in non-diabetic adults, either alone or in combination with other medicinal products for pain.

The Company is currently preparing to submit a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) to expand the U.S. label for Qutenza for the management of pain due to HIV-associated peripheral neuropathy (HIV-PN), also known as HIV-associated neuropathy or HIV-distal sensory polyneuropathy.

The Company’s most advanced product candidate, NGX-1998, is a topically applied liquid formulation containing a high concentration of capsaicin designed to treat pain associated with neuropathic pain conditions such as PHN. NGX-1998 has completed three Phase 1 clinical trials and patient enrollment and dosing has been completed in a Phase 2 clinical trial of NGX-1998 in PHN patients.

The Company’s early-stage pipeline includes pre-clinical compounds which include a number of prodrugs of acetaminophen. The Company has evaluated certain of these compounds in vitro and in vivo.

About Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc.

Hercules Technology Growth Capital, Inc. is a NASDAQ traded specialty finance firm providing customized loans to public and private technology-related companies, including clean technology, life science and select lower middle market companies at all stages of development. Since its founding in 2003, Hercules has committed over $2.4 billion in flexible financing solutions to over 170 companies, enabling these companies to maximize their equity by leveraging these assets. Hercules’ strength comes from its deep understanding of credit and the industries it serves, allowing it to partner with venture capital and private equity companies for a less dilutive source of growth capital helping companies to bridge through their critical stages of growth. Hercules offers a full suite of growth capital products at all levels of the capital structure, ranging from $500,000 to $30 million, lines of credit to term loans. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California and has additional offices in Massachusetts and Colorado. Providing capital to publicly-traded or privately-held companies backed by leading venture capital and private equity firms involves a high degree of credit risk and may result in potential losses of capital. For more information, please visit www.htgc.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the Act). NeurogesX disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and claims the protection of the Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Act. Examples of such statements include but are not limited to: statements regarding expected uses of the proceeds from the debt financing with Hercules, as well as the expected benefits resulting from such proceeds; NeurogesX’ ability to fund its operations, based on existing cash as well as the proceeds from the Hercules debt financing and the July 2011 private placement equity financing, into 2013; the potential pursuit of partnering activities for NGX-1998; expectations regarding the submission of the supplemental new drug application for label expansion of Qutenza; and the potential benefits of Qutenza and NGX-1998. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to: difficulties or delays in the further development of Qutenza for additional indications, including difficulties or delays in the submission of the sNDA to expand the U.S. label for Qutenza for the management of pain due to HIV-associated peripheral neuropathy (HIV-PN); market acceptance of Qutenza in already approved indications may not be sufficient to support further pursuit of an expanded label for Qutenza, including as a result of physician or patient reluctance to use Qutenza; Qutenza and NeurogesX’ other product candidates may have unexpected adverse side effects; unexpected or increased expenses in the commercialization and continued development of Qutenza or the development of NGX-1998; and risks and uncertainties associated with NeurogesX’ ability to meet conditions under the Hercules loan agreement which could trigger a repayment obligation or prevent access to additional funds under such facility. For further information regarding these and other risks related to NeurogesX’ business, investors should consult NeurogesX’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


    NeurogesX, Inc.                  The Ruth Group
    Stephen Ghiglieri                Stephanie Carrington (investors)
    Executive Vice President, COO    (646) 536-7017
    and CFO                          [email protected]
    (650) 358-3310
                                     Victoria Aguiar (media)
                                     (646) 536-7013
                                     [email protected]

SOURCE NeurogesX, Inc.

How Social Networks Can Both Help And Harm Our Kids

A new study has shown that too much social media time on websites such as Facebook may be bad for children.

Larry Rosen, a psychologist at Cal State Dominguez Hills, has been studying the effect of technology on people for more than 25 years. And recently, he has done several studies on how social networking sites such as Facebook affect children.

Speaking Saturday at the American Psychological Association’s annual convention in Washington, D.C., Rosen said teens who spend more time using the Internet and playing video games tended to have more stomach aches, sleeping issues, anxiety, and depression.

Rosen also found in his study that teens who logged onto Facebook constantly were more narcissistic since social networking is exactly what the narcissist seeks out. They can share themselves constantly on their terms using social networking.

“While nobody can deny that Facebook has altered the landscape of social interaction, particularly among young people, we are just now starting to see solid psychological research demonstrating both the positives and the negatives,” Rosen said.

The study: “Poke Me: How Social Networks Can Both Help and Harm Our Kids,” shows both the negative and positive effects social networks have on today’s youth and adults.

Among Rosen’s negative findings:

  • Teens who use Facebook more often show more narcissistic tendencies.
  • Young adults who use Facebook more frequently show more signs of psychological disorders, including antisocial behavior, mania and aggressiveness.
  • Daily overuse of media and technology has a negative effect on health of all children, preteens and teenagers by making them more prone to psychological disorders and future health problems.
  • Preteens, teenagers and young adults have a more difficult time studying for exams because they carry their mobile devices everywhere with them, giving them an out when they are bored with studying.
  • Students who checked their Facebook accounts while studying did worse on exams than those who stayed away from the social network while studying.

There were also some positive findings in Rosen’s study. Those include:

  • Young adults who spend more time on Facebook are better at showing “virtual empathy” to their online friends.
  • Online social networking can help introverted children learn how to socialize behind the safety of their computer or mobile device.

Rosen had advice for parents who have children at home who are constant social networking users. “If you feel that you have to use some sort of computer program to surreptitiously monitor your child’s social networking, you are wasting your time. Your child will find a workaround in a matter of minutes,” he said. “You have to start talking about appropriate technology use early and often and build trust, so that when there is a problem, whether it is being bullied or seeing a disturbing image, your child will talk to you about it.”

He encourages parents to assess their child’s activities on social networking sites, and discuss removing inappropriate content or connections to people who appear problematic. Parents also need to pay attention to online trends and the latest technologies, websites and apps children are using, he added.
ã
“Communication is the crux of parenting. You need to talk to your kids, or rather, listen to them,” Rosen said. “The ratio of parent listen to parent talk should be at least five-to-one. Talk one minute and listen for five.”

Other forms of social networking that parents also have to contend with are sending and receiving text messages. The average teen sends out more than 2,000 texts per month. Increased texting can lead not only to sleep and concentration issues, but also physical stress, according to experts.

Rosen cited an example of a Chicago teen who developed carpal tunnel syndrome and needed wrist braces and pain medication after sending an average of 100 texts per day.

The reason this form of messaging is so popular is that “kids have been raised on the concept of connection. To them, it’s not the quality that’s important, but the connection itself. Phone or face-to-face conversations allow for a minimal number of connections, while other tools let them connect to the world,” Rosen told the LA Times.

In other words, the return on their investment is much higher when they use communication platforms such as texting, Facebook and Twitter. Facebook alone has more than 750 million active users (more than twice the U.S. population).

On the Net:

HUYA Bioscience International and Shanghai Jiao Tong University King’s Lab Form Alliance

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — HUYA Bioscience International, a leader in globalizing China’s biopharmaceutical innovations, today announced a strategic partnership with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Pharmacy King’s Lab. The alliance with HUYA will assist King’s Lab in accelerating the development of their novel drugs to international standards.

The agreement provides HUYA with access to and first review of certain novel therapeutic candidates owned or controlled by King’s Lab. Correspondingly, King’s Lab gains access to HUYA’s expertise in drug development as well as its global network of pharmaceutical partners.

HUYA is one of the first companies to have recognized China’s potential to help meet the global need for new preclinical and clinical stage compounds. The company is committed to facilitating and promoting the global development and commercialization of novel pharmaceutical products originating in China. HUYA has established a series of collaborations with leading universities and research institutions throughout China and has pioneered in-licensing innovative compounds from the country, utilizing its expertise to advance these compounds for global markets.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Pharmacy King’s Lab is a research laboratory situated at Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Minhang campus. The university boasts a large number of renowned professors and scientists. The School of Pharmacy is one of the youngest but fastest growing pharmacy schools in China. The King’s Lab has been built for discovery and preclinical development of novel medicines for unmet medical needs. It is in collaboration with many leading domestic and international bio-pharmaceutical companies.

“Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Pharmacy differs from many traditional pharmacy schools in China by having systematic research and educational programs to investigate emerging therapeutic areas,” said Clement Gingras, HUYA’s CTO and COO, China. “HUYA and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Pharmacy King’s Lab mutually aspire to become the forefront of China’s push for creating a competitive bioscience industry with pharmaceutical innovations.”

Dr Yong X. Wang, Head of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Pharmacy King’s Lab, commented, “Our goal is to become a leading center for pharmaceutical innovation, with HUYA’s knowledge in developing China’s innovative drug candidates. We have recently discovered several new target molecules and novel leads for chronic pain.”

ABOUT HUYA BIOSCIENCE INTERNATIONAL

HUYA is the leader in global pharmaceutical co-development with Chinese partners. With seven offices strategically located in China, the most comprehensive Chinese compound portfolio, and a rapidly growing number of exclusive agreements with premier Chinese research and development organizations, HUYA is uniquely positioned to identify and license novel Chinese compounds. HUYA offers Western pharmaceutical companies efficient access to innovative therapeutic opportunities and helps to reduce deal-making complexity in China. The company has become a champion of guiding China’s biomedical innovations to the worldwide marketplace. HUYA has joint headquarter offices in San Diego, CA, USA and Shanghai, China. Additional information about the company is available at www.huyabio.com

ABOUT SHANGHAI JIAO TONG UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF PHARMACY KING’S LAB

Established in 2003, King’s Lab is located in the Minhang campus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. With a total area of more than 200 square meters, the King’s Lab is well equipped with advanced laboratory equipment including cell cultivation and experimental animal rooms. Its research focuses on Translational Pharmacology in the areas of pain including neuropathic pain and cancer pain, metabolic diseases including diabetes and obesity, and cancers, as well as DNA methylation gene silencing technology and PEGylation technology, funded by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China, National High-Tech “863” Program and the Mega New Drug Development Program of China. King’s Lab has published many peer-reviewed scientific papers in reputed journals such as Science, Pain, British Journal of Pharmacology (BJP) and Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (JPET). For more information, please visit www.pharm.sjtu.edu.cn/engpharmacy/research/wangyongxiang.html

CONTACT

USA:
Yung-Chih Wang, Ph.D., MBA
Vice President, Corporate Development, China
HUYA Bioscience International
+1.858.798.8800
[email protected]

China:
Qing (Vicky) Xia, MS, MBA
Senior Business Development Manager
HUYA Bioscience International
+86.21.51323312
[email protected]

SOURCE HUYA Bioscience International

Endologix Announces First U.S. Implant of AFX(TM) Endovascular AAA System

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Endologix, Inc. (Nasdaq: ELGX), developer and marketer of minimally invasive treatments for aortic disorders, announced today that the first U.S. commercial implant of the Company’s AFX(TM) Endovascular AAA System was performed at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in Chicago, IL. The procedure was performed by Ross Milner, M.D., F.A.C.S., Associate Professor and Chief of Vascular Surgery & Endovascular Therapy at Loyola University in Chicago, IL.

Dr. Milner commented, “We are excited to be the first hospital in the U.S. to bring the benefits of the new AFX system to a patient in our local community. The device builds on the compelling clinical evidence supporting Endologix’s unique anatomical fixation technology with an enhanced, lower profile delivery system and new graft material. The 17Fr introducer sheath and integrated delivery system make it easy to use in a wide range of patient anatomies. The AFX system performed very well during the procedure; the delivery and deployment of the stent graft was quick and precise, and post-procedure imaging confirmed that the aneurysm was effectively sealed.”

John McDermott, President and Chief Executive Officer of Endologix, commented, “We are pleased with the results from the initial implant and would like to thank Dr. Milner and his team for performing the procedure. We look forward to providing this exciting new endovascular device to physicians and patients in the U.S. in September.”

About Endologix, Inc.

Endologix, Inc. develops and manufactures minimally invasive treatments for aortic disorders. The Company’s focus is endovascular stent grafts for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). AAA is a weakening of the wall of the aorta, the largest artery in the body, resulting in a balloon-like enlargement. Once AAA develops, it continues to enlarge and, if left untreated, becomes increasingly susceptible to rupture. The overall patient mortality rate for ruptured AAA is approximately 75%, making it a leading cause of death in the U.S. Additional information can be found on Endologix’s Web site at www.endologix.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the planned launch of the AFX system, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to risks and uncertainties, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond the control of Endologix. Many factors may cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results, including the uncertainties related to the introduction and clinical acceptance of new products. The Company undertakes no obligation to update its forward looking statements. Please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, and the Company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for more detailed information regarding these risks and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied.


    COMPANY CONTACT:                 INVESTOR CONTACTS:
    Endologix, Inc.                  The Ruth Group
    John McDermott, CEO              Nick Laudico (646) 536-7030
    (949) 595-7200                   Zack Kubow (646) 536-7020
    www.endologix.com

SOURCE Endologix, Inc.

World Wide Web Turns 20

On Saturday, the World Wide Web celebrated its 20th birthday, as it was on August 6, 1991, that Tim Berners-Lee first posted a project-summary, using Hypertext Mark-Up Language (HTML), on a computer network that utilized a so-called web of hyperlinks, various media outlets reported.

On that date, CNET’s Devin Brown reported Saturday, the World Wide Web (W3) “made its debut as a publicly available service on the Internet.”

Berners-Lee, who was born in London on June 8, 1955, is credited as the primary creator of the Web, and the system of text links that would ultimately turn the Internet into a useful tool for the masses. He wrote the original software for the W3 in 1990 before publishing it the following year. He would go on to join the MIT Laboratory for Computer Science and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to technology and the Web’s lasting legacy.

“There have been some definite downsides to the Web, such as online predation and a reduction in privacy, but the good has far outweighed the bad,” Brown wrote. “Web companies have created millions of jobs across the globe, opened people up to different cultures and ideas, and created a level of transparency in politics that’s never quite been achieved before.”

“Through social, economic, and political actions online, the world has become entirely different than it was two decades ago,” he added. “News travels faster than ever; every single person with access to the Internet has a voice to vent frustration or foster a following; and social interactions have become more varied and far-reaching”¦ The Web has changed the way people think and revolutionized the world as we know it in a remarkably short period of time.”

TechCrunch’s John Biggs also reflected on the occasion.

“In the past two decades we’ve been given ecommerce and spam, we’ve torn down the music, news, and publishing industries, and we’ve LOLed at more CATS than we can count,” he wrote. “We’ve seen empires rise and fall, the dissolution of the line between public and private, and the end of enforceable copyright. We’ve seen new modes of communication drive out unwanted regimes at home and abroad and we’ve heard the endless howl of a million voices calling out at once.”

According to the website Electronista, there are an estimated 17.91 billion web pages that have been indexed on Internet search engines, and counting non-indexed pages and global Intranets, that number increased to nearly 50 billion worldwide.

“From clunky modems to smartphones, Web-based technology has come a long way,” said Brown. “The only question is how far will it continue to evolve in the next 20 years?”

On the Net:

PAMELA Satellite Detects Antimatter Surrounding Earth

For the first time, researchers have confirmed the existence of antimatter in the Earth’s magnetosphere, BBC News reported on Sunday.

Writing in Astrophysical Journal Letters, the researchers report that they discovered a thin band of antiprotons lying in between the inner and outer Van Allen radiation belts using the PAMELA (Payload for Antimatter Matter Exploration and Light-nuclei Astrophysics) satellite.

Though the British news organization claims that only a small number of antiprotons were discovered, they say that the discovery “confirms theoretical work that predicted the Earth’s magnetic field could trap antimatter” and that the researchers claim that “there may be enough to implement a scheme using antimatter to fuel future spacecraft.”

The paper, entitled “The Discovery of Geomagnetically Trapped Cosmic-Ray Antiprotons,” is set for publication in the August 20, 2011 edition of the journal. An international team of authors, including scientists from Italy, Russia, Germany, and Sweden, worked on the research.

“The existence of a significant flux of antiprotons confined to Earth’s magnetosphere has been considered in several theoretical works,” they wrote in the paper. “These antiparticles are produced in nuclear interactions of energetic cosmic rays with the terrestrial atmosphere and accumulate in the geomagnetic field at altitudes of several hundred kilometers.”

“A contribution from the decay of albedo antineutrons has been hypothesized in analogy to proton production by neutron decay, which constitutes the main source of trapped protons at energies above some tens of MeV,” they added. “This Letter reports the discovery of an antiproton radiation belt around the Earth. The trapped antiproton energy spectrum in the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) region has been measured by the PAMELA experiment for the kinetic energy range 60-750 MeV.”

“A measurement of the atmospheric sub-cutoff antiproton spectrum outside the radiation belts is also reported. PAMELA data show that the magnetospheric antiproton flux in the SAA exceeds the cosmic-ray antiproton flux by three orders of magnitude at the present solar minimum, and exceeds the sub-cutoff antiproton flux outside radiation belts by four orders of magnitude, constituting the most abundant source of antiprotons near the Earth,” the researchers concluded.

PAMELA, which cost more than $30 million to build and was launched on June 15, 2006, is the first satellite-based experiment dedicated to detecting cosmic radiation–specifically, antimatter components such as positrons and antiprotons.

According to the project’s official website, PAMELA is “a powerful particle identifier using a permanent magnet spectrometer with a variety of specialized detectors” as well as “an instrument of extraordinary scientific potential that is measuring with unprecedented precision and sensitivity the abundance and energy spectra of cosmic rays electrons, positrons, antiprotons and light nuclei over a very large range of energy from 50 MeV to hundreds GeV, depending on the species.”

“These measurements, together with the complementary electromagnetic radiation observation that will be carried out by AGILE and GLAST space missions, will help to unravel the mysteries of the most energetic processes known in the Universe,” that website also said.

Image Caption: Simulated Van Allen Belts generated by a plasma thruster in tank #5 Electric Propulsion Laboratory at the then-called Lewis Research Center, Cleveland, Ohio. Credit: NASA

On the Net:

New Coast Dental Practice Opens in Marietta, Georgia

MARIETTA, Ga., Aug. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Min Kwak, DDS, is offering free exams and x-rays to new patients who do not have dental insurance in the new Coast Dental Cheatham Hill practice that just opened next to Starbucks in Battlefield Village, 1721 Powder Springs Road. The Cheatham Hill practice is the 30th Coast Dental practice to open in Georgia. Dr. Kwak provides comprehensive family dentistry services to adults and children starting at age 6. Office hours are Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The practice accepts more than 200 dental insurance plans and can usually accommodate dental emergencies the same day. For an appointment call (770) 293-0605 or visit www.CoastDental.com/CheathamHill.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110603/FL13944LOGO )

Dr. Kwak chose to become a general dentist because of the opportunity it offers to positively impact patients’ lives. “I find it so rewarding to help patients achieve and maintain optimal oral health and improve the appearance of their smile,” said Dr. Kwak. “An attractive smile boosts a patient’s confidence. Professional whitening is one of the quickest ways to improve a smile. I offer BriteOn! professional whitening, a new product that incorporates photodynamic technology to get teeth up to eight shades whiter in about 30 minutes with little to no discomfort. It’s safe and effective and, at under $200, an affordable option for many patients.”

Dr. Kwak offers other services to help patients maintain healthy and beautiful smiles. Included are dental exams, cleanings, periodontal (gum) therapy, fillings, aesthetic crowns, bridges, dentures, partials, teeth whitening, veneers, bonding, implant restorations, extractions and root canals.

She also provides advanced oral cancer screening exams with Identafi, the world’s first and only multispectral imaging device for detecting oral cancer in the early stages. Oral cancer is one of the most curable forms of cancer if treated in the early stages. Instances of the disease are on the rise, especially among sexually active people who have been exposed to the human papilloma virus (HPV16).

Coast Dental Cheatham Hill is offering other grand opening special offers to help patients get started on a regular program of good oral hygiene. Download the offers on the office’s website. For patients without dental benefits, Coast Dental will waive the first-year membership fee in its exclusive discount dental plan, Smile Plus, when patients enroll in the office. The practice is also giving away an InteliSonic power toothbrush with built-in sanitizer to the first 100 patients who complete treatment valued at $100. Patient financing and payment plans are available to qualified applicants. Contact the office for complete details.

About Dr. Kwak

Dr. Kwak earned her dental degree at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in New York City. She is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and stays current by attending dental training courses in new dental products and technology applications to further enhance her practice.

About Coast Dental

Coast Dental PA, with its professional associations, is one of the largest providers of general and specialty dental care in the U.S. with 182 affiliated dental practices in Florida ,Georgia, California, Nevada and Texas. Coast Dental Services Inc. is a privately-held practice management company that provides comprehensive, non-clinical business and administrative services to its affiliated dental practices. The company was founded by Dr. Adam Diasti and Dr. Derek Diasti and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. For more information, visit www.CoastDental.com.

About Smile Plus®

In addition to accepting most dental insurance plans, Coast Dental offers Smile Plus®, a discount dental plan, to patients who do not have dental insurance. Patients who join Smile Plus save an average of 30 to 60 percent annually on dental services. Smile Plus® is a discount dental plan, not a registered insurance plan. Smile Plus is accepted only at Coast Dental practices and cannot be used in combination with dental insurance or other discount dental plans. The free membership offer applies only to the first year enrollment and is available only in the Cheatham Hill office. The offer expires July 31, 2012. Patients must receive treatment at the Cheatham Hill practice to be eligible. Smile Plus memberships expire one year from the date of enrollment. For more information, visit www.CoastDental.com/CheathamHill/SmilePlus.

Smile Plus is a registered trademark of Coast Dental Services, Inc. Identafi is a registered trademark of DentalEz Group. IntelSonic and BriteOn! are registered trademarks of DentistRx.

SOURCE Coast Dental Services, Inc.

Driver Or Car To Blame For Google Car Crash?

An accident involving one of Google’s self-driving cars last week may have been caused by human error, but the incident has not stopped technology experts from expressing their doubts and concerns surrounding the technology involved.

The incident occurred near the company’s Mountain View, California headquarters, Paul Suarez of PCWorld reported on Friday. It was a minor fender-bender when a Toyota Prius equipped with the Google self-driving technology rear-ended a second Prius.

NBC Bay Area’s online coverage of the accident included an interview with an eye-witness to the accident, a woman named Tiffany Winkelman, who reports that not only did the Google Prius collide with a second Prius, but the force of the collision propelled the second Prius into the Honda Accord in which she was a passenger, and pushed it into a fourth vehicle as well.

Initially, several media outlets reported that the accident was the first caused by Google’s self-driving car, which prompted the company to release a statement assuring that the car had been flipped into manual mode during the time of the wreck, making it the fault of the driver.

“Striking a car with enough force to trigger a four-car chain reaction suggests the Google car was moving at a decent clip,” Justin Hyde of Jalopnik reported Friday. “Google says it’s unable to provide us with a copy of any official accident report, but that may be the only way to know what happened for sure.”

“This is precisely why we’re worried about self-driving cars,” Hyde added, pointing out that Google “has never answered the question of who’s ultimately responsible for any accidents that happen while the software controls the vehicle.”

“Google can’t be hoping to have its software legally blamed for a slice of the traffic crashes that cost more than $160 billion a year in this country,” he pointed out. “Yet if the operators of Google’s self-driving cars retain all legal responsibility, simply turning the system on would be seen in court as a sign they weren’t paying attention.”

In an article dated August 5 Chris Matyszczyk of CNET also raised the question of whether or not the person behind the wheel should automatically be assumed to be at fault just because the car was operating in manual mode at the time of the crash.

“Is it unreasonable to imagine that the human who was ‘driving’ stepped in because the robot was, well, having a moment?” he asked, suggesting that the driver may have assumed control of the car in a last ditch effort to try and avoid the collision.

He reportedly contacted Google, asking them for more details of the crash in order to prove “that a careless human brought needless embarrassment to one of the world’s most progressive companies. Or not.” Google responded to his request by merely reiterating that the car was in manual mode at the time of the crash, without further explanation as to what actually occurred at the time of the wreck.

On the Net:

Study Finds Long History Of El Niño In East Africa

A new study published in the Friday edition of the journal Science has found that East Africa has been affected by the ENSO phenomenon (El Niño Southern Oscillation) known as El Niño/La Niña for more than 20,000 years.

The work, which was completed by scientists from Germany, Switzerland, the US, the Netherlands, and Belgium, studied Lake Challa, a crater lake near Mt. Kilimanjaro. According to a press release from the University of Hawaii School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST), which participated in the research, the mud found at the lake’s bottom shows yearly layers of sedimentation that vary in color and thickness, and “reflect ENSO behavior.”

“During the cold phase of La Niña, there is marginal rainfall and stronger winds in East Africa, while the El Niño warm phase leads to weak wind conditions with frequent rain,” noted a second press release, this one from the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. “Moreover, during the coldest period of the last ice age about 18 000 to 21 000 years ago, East Africa’s climate was relatively stable and dry.”

Currently, the researchers said, many locations throughout Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia are in the midst of a “catastrophic drought” attributed to La Niña that lasted from June 2010 through May of this year in the Pacific. As a result, food security in these areas is threatened, and millions of people require assistance immediately, the University of Hawaii press release states.

“During La Niña, rainfall is sparse and the winds over Lake Challa are strong,” author Christian Wolff of the University of Potsdam, Germany, said in a statement. “The winds enhance upwelling of nutrients, intensifying the seasonal blooms of algae. After dying and sinking, they form thick layers of light-colored sediments. During El Niño events, on the other hand, rainfall is frequent and the winds are weak, resulting in thinner white layers in the sediment.”

The scientists claim that their findings “fit the growing consensus” that global warming will eventually have a large-scale impact on rainfall patterns, and that their observations are consistent with 21st century climate-based computer models simulating the development of East Africa in response to increased greenhouse gas levels. They believe that the rainy period, which currently lasts from October to November, could ultimately get even shorter as the temperatures increase and the atmosphere begins to hold more water.

“Will these projected changes affect East Africa’s unique biodiversity in its national parks, such as the Serengeti?” We do not yet know, but there are fascinating links to explore further,” added co-author Axel Timmermann, Professor at the University of Hawaii’s International Pacific Research Center and the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology.

Image Caption: Lake Challa with Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background. The white speck on the lake is the sediment-core drilling platform. Credit: Photo courtesy Stephan Opitz

On the Net:

Sony, Stuxnet Big ‘Winners’ At Pwnie Awards

In a year where their online gaming network was hacked, the credit card numbers of customers were compromised, and their popular video game console was forced offline for a considerable amount of time, Sony was presented with a dubious award for the “Most Epic Fail” of the year.

The award, known as a “Pwnie” — fashioned after a small horse and named in honor of the slang term for totally dominating someone — was presented to the Japanese electronics giant during a Thursday gathering of computer security professionals in Las Vegas, according to the AFP’s Glenn Chapman.

“After learning the hard way that their PlayStation Network was about as porous as air, Sony had to shut it down for over two months to rebuild it from scratch,” Pwnie judges said, according to Chapman. “In doing so, they made everyone from your eight-year old cousin to your barber learn about the importance of security”¦ Hooray for us, sorry Sony shareholders.”

Their victory in the category should not be a surprise, not only because the attack on their PlayStation Network was widely considered a public relations nightmare, permitted hackers to access personal data from an estimated 100 million accounts, and cost the Sony an estimated $1 billion, but also because, as John D. Sutter of CNN.com points out, the Tokyo-based corporation was the only nominee.

They were hardly the only “winners”, however.

Stuxnet, the virus that reportedly was created in order to play havoc with nuclear facilities in Iran, was honored with the “Pwnie for Epic 0wnage” (i.e. best hack job). According to Sutter, no one came to the stage to accept the awards. While it has been suggested that the US and Israel were behind the worm, it has not been proven, and the identity of the malware’s creator is unknown.

Chapman notes that George “GeoHot” Hotz was honored for his response to a lawsuit filed against him by Sony. Hotz was sued for cracking the defenses of the PlayStation 3, and replied to the company with a rap song. He has since been hired by Facebook.

RSA, the security division of EMC Corporation, was presented with a Pwnie for “Lamest Vendor Response” due to accusations that they tried to dismiss a cyberattack earlier this year–one that ultimately led to an attack against Lockheed-Martin.

A complete list of the Pwnie award winners is available online at http://pwnies.com/winners/

On the Net:

US Physician Practices Spend 4 Times Canadian Practices

Gap ascribed to administrative costs of interacting with multiple payers

Physicians in the United States spend nearly four times as much dealing with health insurers and payers compared with doctors in Canada. Most of the difference stems from the fact that Canadian physicians deal with a single payer, in contrast to the multiple payers in the United States.

These findings are published in the August issue of the journal Health Affairs — the result of a research collaboration among Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University”“Ithaca, the University of Toronto, and the Medical Group Management Association.

Administrative costs are high in the United States due to the fact that different payers have different prior authorization requirements, pharmaceutical formularies, and rules for billing and claims payment, the researchers report. Conversely, physicians in Ontario (where the investigators conducted their survey of Canadian physician practices) generally interact with a single payer that offers one product and more standardized procedures for billing and payment, and that does not routinely require prior authorization of medical services for patients.

“The major difference between the United States and Ontario is that non-physician staff members — nurses, medical assistants and clerical staff — in the United States spend large amounts of time obtaining prior authorizations and on billing,” says lead author Dr. Dante Morra, medical director of the Centre for Innovation in Complex Care and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Toronto.

As a result, say the investigators, per capita health spending in the U.S. is 87 percent higher than in Canada — $7,290 vs. $3,895 annually. Administrative costs incurred by U.S. physicians and staff are estimated to be at least $82,975 per physician each year.

“If U.S. physician practices had administrative costs similar to those in Canada, the total savings for U.S. health spending would be about $27.6 billion per year,” says senior author Dr. Lawrence Casalino, chief of the Division of Outcomes and Effectiveness Research in the Department of Public Health at Weill Cornell Medical College.

“Many factors contribute to the high cost of health care in the United States, but there is broad consensus that administrative costs are high and could be reduced,”

Dr. Casalino continues. “Short of adopting a single-payer system, reducing these costs can be achieved by realizing efficiencies, such as by adopting standardized rules for transactions between physicians and health plans and communicating through electronic systems.”

The authors provide several specific recommendations, including standardizing transactions as much as possible and conducting them electronically rather than by mail, fax and phone. These measures would not only reduce costs but would also reduce the so-called “hassle factor” of physician and staff interruptions for phone calls that interfere with patient care, say the authors. In addition, the authors cite Affordable Care Act changes such as bundled payments, and the creation of accountable care organizations as potentially decreasing administrative burdens over the long term.

Additional findings from the study, “U.S. Physician Practices Spend Nearly Four Times as Much Money Interacting With Health Plans and Payers Than Do Their Canadian Counterparts”:

    * On average, U.S. doctors spent 3.4 hours per week interacting with health plans while doctors in Ontario spent about 2.2 hours. Nurses and medical assistants in the U.S. spend 20.6 hours per physician per week on administrative tasks related to health plans, nearly 10 times the time spent by those in Ontario.

    * U.S. clerical staff spend 53.1 hours per physician per week on administrative tasks related to insurance, compared with 15.9 hours in Ontario. Most of the difference comes from the time U.S. clerical staff spend on billing (45.5 hours) and obtaining prior authorizations (6.3 hours).

    * Senior administrators in the U.S. spend much more time per physician than their Canadian counterparts on overseeing claims and billing tasks: 163.2 hours a year in the U.S. compared with 24.6 hours a year in Ontario.

On the Net:

Recalled DePuy ASR Hip Implant Failure Leads to Lawsuit Filed by the Law Offices of John David Hart

PECOS, N.M., Aug. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Carlotta Vigil filed suit today against DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., DePuy Inc., DePuy International, Ltd., Johnson & Johnson, Inc., Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson International, Inc., seeking compensation for injuries caused by the failure of her DePuy ASR Hip System.

John David Hart of the Law Offices of John David Hart in Fort Worth, Texas, is the attorney representing Carlotta Vigil in the lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio – Western District. In December 2010, the cases pending in Federal Court against DePuy and J&J regarding the ASR devices were transferred to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio before Judge David Katz. Judge Katz is presiding over the Multi-District Litigation pertaining to the DePuy ASR devices. If Ms. Vigil’s case proceeds to trial, her case may be transferred to the United States District Court for the State of New Mexico- Santa Fe Division.

DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson, Inc., recalled its ASR Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Systems on August 24, 2010. DePuy identified reasons for the failure of the devices as component loosening, malalignment, infection, fracture of the bone, dislocation, metal sensitivity and pain. The DePuy ASR devices have also been associated with increased metal ion levels in the blood. Recent information published by the British Orthopaedic Association indicates that failure rates for the ASR devices may be as high as 49% at six years.

In September 2009, at the age of 48, Ms. Vigil underwent hip replacement surgery to have a DePuy ASR Hip System implanted in her left hip. Since the implantation of the device, Ms. Vigil has suffered hip pain, limping, swelling, inflammation, pain in her opposite hip and problems sitting and standing. These problems have affected all areas of her life, including her work as a registered nurse at the local hospital.

Ms. Vigil was diagnosed with multiple neuroendocrine tumors of her liver and intestines shortly after her hip replacement surgery. Her doctor has advised her that she cannot undergo a revision surgery, if recommended, to remove the defective ASR device because of this condition.

“Ms. Vigil is another victim of this unsafe device,” said attorney John David Hart. “She has suffered constant pain and has no surgical options available to remove the defective device. She is in essence, stuck with a faulty ASR device for the rest of her life.”

John David Hart and the Law Offices of John David Hart represent many individuals in the United States who have been injured as a result of this defective hip replacement system. The Law Offices of John David Hart is a group of experienced and dedicated legal professionals working to protect the rights of people wronged by the acts of others. Across the country, the firm represents individuals in cases of catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, dangerous drugs and medical products, automobile and truck accidents and oil and gas litigation. For more information, please contact John David Hart at 800.961.4278 or [email protected] or visit www.hiprecallinfo.com.

SOURCE Law Offices of John David Hart

Getting Along With Co-workers Can Increase Your Lifespan

Companies like Google and Zappos.com are famous for their “work hard, play hard” attitudes and friendly work environments, but are their employees healthier too? According to a Tel Aviv University researcher, a positive relationship with your co-workers has long-term health benefits.

Dr. Sharon Toker of the Department of Organizational Behavior at TAU’s Leon Recanati Graduate School of Business Administration says that employees who believe that they have the personal support of their peers at work are more likely to live a longer life. “We spend most of our waking hours at work, and we don’t have much time to meet our friends during the weekdays,” explains Dr. Toker. “Work should be a place where people can get necessary emotional support.”

Dr. Toker and her TAU colleagues Prof. Arie Shirom and Yasmin Alkaly, along with Orit Jacobson and Ran Balicer from Clalit Healthcare Services, followed the health records of 820 adults who worked an average of 8.8 hours a day through a two-decade period. Those who had reported having low social support at work were 2.4 times more likely to die sometime within those 20 years, says Dr. Toker.

The study has been published in the journal Health Psychology.

Reaching out

820 study participants were drawn from adults aged 25 to 65 who came into their local HMO office for a routine check-up. Researchers controlled for various psychological, behavioral or physiological risk factors, such as smoking, obesity and depression, and administered a questionnaire to participants, who were drawn from a wide variety of professional fields including finance, health care and manufacturing.

Researchers asked about employees’ relationships with their supervisors, and also assessed the subjects’ evaluation of their peer relationships at work, and whether their peers were friendly and approachable, a reflection of emotional and professional support. Dr. Toker suspects that the perception of emotional support was the strongest indicator of future health.

During the course of the study, says Dr. Toker, 53 participants died, most of whom had negligible social connections with their co-workers. A lack of emotional support at work led to a 140% increased risk of dying in the next twenty years compared to those who reported supportive co-workers, she concluded.

While building a supportive environment for employees may seem intuitive, Dr. Toker says that many workplaces have lost their way. Despite open concept offices, many people use email rather than face-to-face communication, and social networking sites that may provide significant social connection are often blocked.

How to make an office friendlier to your health? Dr. Toker suggests coffee corners where people can congregate to sit and talk; informal social outings for staff members; an internal virtual social network similar to Facebook; or a peer-assistance program where employees can confidentially discuss stresses and personal problems that may affect their position at work “” anything that encourages employees to feel emotionally supported, she says.

Power burdens women, frees men

The study also addressed “control issues” in the workplace, Dr. Toker says. Study participants were asked if they were able to take initiative at work and if they had the freedom to make their own decisions on how tasks should be accomplished. Results indicate that while men flourished when afforded more control over their daily work tasks, women with the same control had a shorter lifespan. Those women who reported that they had significant control over their tasks and workflow had a 70 percent increased risk of dying over the 20-year period.

In one sense, explains Dr. Toker, power at work is a good thing. “But there is a lot of responsibility on your shoulders,” she adds. “If you have to make important decisions with no guidance, it can be stressful.” Women in high power positions, she adds, may be overwhelmed with the need to be tough at work, and still be expected to maintain stressful duties when at home.

On the Net:

Alexza Announces Resubmission of AZ-004 (Staccato® Loxapine) NDA

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALXA) announced today that it has resubmitted its AZ-004 New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in response to a Complete Response Letter (CRL) received in October 2010. The Company believes this is a Class 2 resubmission with a six-month review cycle. AZ-004 is being developed for the rapid treatment of agitation in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder patients.

In addition to the data from the original NDA and additional analyses of some of those data, the AZ-004 resubmission contains new data from the successfully completed human factors study, stability data from new production batches manufactured late last year, updated manufacturing and controls sections addressing findings from the Company’s Pre-Approval Inspection, and updated draft labeling and a comprehensive REMS proposal.

About Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Alexza is a pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of novel, proprietary products for the acute treatment of central nervous system conditions. Alexza’s technology, the Staccato® system, vaporizes unformulated drug to form a condensation aerosol that, when inhaled, allows for rapid systemic drug delivery through deep lung inhalation. The drug is quickly absorbed through the lungs into the bloodstream, providing speed of therapeutic onset that is comparable to intravenous administration, but with greater ease, patient comfort and convenience. (Click here to see an animation of how the Staccato system works.)

AZ-004 (Staccato loxapine) is Alexza’s lead program, which is being developed for the rapid treatment of agitation in schizophrenia or bipolar disorder patients. Alexza has completed and announced positive results from both of its AZ-004 Phase 3 clinical trials and submitted the AZ-004 NDA in December 2009. In October 2010, the Company received a Complete Response Letter, or CRL, from the FDA, regarding its NDA for AZ-004. The Company completed an end-of-review meeting with the FDA in late December 2010 and a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) guidance meeting with the FDA in April 2011. Alexza believes that the AZ-004 NDA is a Class 2 resubmission and the review period will be 6 months, and that the FDA will likely present the AZ-004 application to an Advisory Committee during the review period.

For more information about Alexza, the Staccato technology or the Company’s development programs, please visit www.alexza.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

The anticipated news release and conference call will contain forward-looking statements that involve significant risks and uncertainties. Any statement describing the Company’s expectations or beliefs is a forward-looking statement, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and should be considered an at-risk statement. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, particularly those inherent in the process of developing and commercializing drugs, including the adequacy of the Company’s capital to support the Company’s current operations, the potential of the Company’s planned AZ-004 NDA resubmission to adequately address the issues in the CRL, the timing of the FDA’s review of the NDA and the eventual prospects that AZ-004 will be approved for marketing. The Company’s forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they prove incorrect, would cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning Alexza’s business are described in additional detail in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, and the Company’s other Periodic and Current Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

SOURCE Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Cyberstalking & Cyberbullying Have Lasting Effects

(Ivanhoe Newswire) — If you’ve been stalked, bullied, or harassed online, your health could suffer.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, about 850,000 adults are targets of cyberstalking each year. About 20 percent of online stalkers use social networking sites to stalk their victims. Now, new research shows individuals who are stalked or harassed online experience higher levels of stress and trauma than people who are stalked or harassed in person.

“Increasingly, stalkers use modern technology to monitor and torment their victims, and one in four victims report some form of cyberstalking, such as threatening emails or instant messaging,” Elizabeth Carll, Ph.D., was quoted as saying.

Researchers say responses to the stress and trauma experienced by the victims may include ongoing stress, anxiety, fear, nightmares, shock and disbelief, feelings of helplessness, hyper-vigilance, changes in eating, and sleeping difficulties.

“It is my observation that the symptoms related to cyberstalking and e-harassment may be more intense than in-person harassment, as the impact is more devastating due to the 24/7 nature of online communication, inability to escape to a safe place, and global access of the information,” Carll said.

Dr. Carll also said the same technologies that are used to harass individuals may also be used to intervene and prevent harassment. “Imagine a cell phone application that can tell you if someone threatening you is nearby,” Carll said. “That could be life-saving.”
In a second study, researchers found 36 percent of students had been cyberbullied at least once in the last year. Students were more likely to be negatively affected by the cyberbullying if it was anonymous and one-sided (such as a blog).

“The results revealed that cyberbullying makes students socially anxious, lonely, frustrated, sad and helpless,” YeoJu Chung, Ph.D., of South Korea’s Kyungil University, was quoted as saying.

Those who said they obsessed about the cyberbullying were more likely to suffer serious stress. Students who focused on more positive thoughts were able to recover more quickly and cope better. The research also showed students who were cyberbullied by others were more likely to cyber bully themselves.

SOURCE:  119th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association

AviCoS Replaces Vehicle Owner’s Manuals

Virtual assistant supports car drivers

The avatar is displayed on the monitor of the Audi Mulitmedia Interface that comes standard in all new Audi models. The virtual figure understands complete sentences. Using artificial intelligence, AviCoS interprets questions by the vehicle occupants and answers in spoken language. The driver can view descriptive images or videos on-screen and the avatar points to the relevant areas during the explanation.

A further option ““ in addition to speech ““ for communicating with AviCoS is a Touch&Tell mode. If a driver is unfamiliar with a specific control element, a simple touch is all it takes to cue the avatar to provide background information on the function in question. “This is a tool to explain control elements in an quick and easy, hands-on way. It is particularly useful in unfamiliar vehicles,” says Professor Helmut Krcmar, Chair of the TU Muenchen Institute of Business Informatics.

Underway at high speeds

AviCoS can also be used while driving. To avoid distracting the driver’s attention from traffic, as the vehicle speed increases, first the animations and later all graphical output is suppressed. Albeit, voice communication with the avatar remains available at all times.

Investigations carried out in the context of the research project attest to the virtues of AviCoS. Compared to looking up information in the owner’s manual, car drivers can find the information they need faster and more accurately. And AviCoS is simply more fun to use. “Overall, AviCoS provides comfortable and interactive access to multimedia content that goes far beyond the information contained in printed manuals. The self-explanatory system can be used without training, making it easy to get familiar with the operation of a vehicle,” says Dr. Michael Schermann, director of the Automotive Services research group at the Institute for Business Informatics.

Language as a mood meter

The natural language interaction between drivers and vehicles will be extended in the future. The vision: A system that recognizes and adapts to the driver’s state of mind. AviCoS analyses the driver’s tone of voice and speech rhythm to determine if the driver is challenged by the current traffic situation. When it detects that the driver is stressed, it reduces the degree of multimodal output, e.g. by suppressing animations. Other devices in the car, such as electronic navigators, can also be integrated by indicating the directions earlier on and more frequently.

AViCoS was developed in the context of a three-year research project. The Department of Process and System Integration for Electrical and Electronic Systems of the Audi AG and the TU Muenchen Institute of Business Informatics took part in the project. The researchers worked at the TU Muenchen Regional Competence Center INI.TUM. This branch of the TU Muenchen, located in Ingolstadt, works in close collaboration with Audi AG to foster and strengthen the link between science and business.

On the Net:

Sequenom, Inc. Reports Financial Results for the Second Quarter of 2011

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM), a life sciences company providing innovative genetic analysis solutions, today reported revenue of $13.3 million for the second quarter of 2011, an increase of 17% compared to revenue of $11.4 million for the second quarter of 2010. Net loss for the second quarter of 2011 was $20.9 million or $0.21 per share, as compared to net loss of $59.1 million, or $0.86 per share for the same period in 2010.

Gross margin for the second quarter of 2011 was 67% of revenue as compared to gross margin of 60% for the second quarter of 2010. This improvement reflects increased revenues in both operating segments. For our genetic analysis business, the improvement is associated with a larger installed base of MassARRAY systems, which resulted in increased consumables sales; while the increase in diagnostic revenue is attributable to growth in testing sales volumes.

Total operating expenses for the second quarter were $29.9 million, as compared to total expenses of $65.8 million for the second quarter of 2010. This reduction was primarily the result of a decrease in litigation settlement expense of $41.8 million for the second quarter of 2010, which is non-recurring in 2011. Research and development expense increased to $17.1 million for the second quarter from $10.3 million during the same period in 2010, primarily due to an increase of $4.3 million, attributable to higher research-related intellectual property licensing and collaboration costs in the second quarter of 2011. Total stock-based compensation expense was $3.5 million for the second quarter of 2011, an increase from the $2.8 million recorded during the second quarter of 2010.

“Results for the quarter were in line with our expectations, as we met our goals of continued revenue growth and effective cost controls through the first half of 2011. We continue to move forward on the path toward additional product commercialization,” said Paul V. Maier, Sequenom’s CFO. “Once again our conservative approach to cash management allowed us to maintain our strong cash balances as we head into the second half and the implementation of our molecular diagnostics commercialization strategy and further development of our infrastructure to expand that business unit.”

First Half Results

For the first half of 2011, the company reported revenue of $26.8 million, an increase of 22% compared to revenue of $22.0 million for the first half of 2010. Net loss for the first half of 2011 was $33.6 million or $0.34 per share, as compared to net loss of $76.1 million, or $1.17 per share for the same period of 2010.

Gross margin for the first half of 2011 was 64% of revenue as compared to gross margin of 55% for the first half of 2010. This improvement is associated with a larger installed base of MassARRAY systems, which resulted in increased consumables sales and the higher average selling prices for our MassARRAY 4 system, higher consumable sales and increased sales volumes in our diagnostics business.

Total operating expenses for the first half of 2011 were $51.4 million, as compared to total expenses of $88.0 million for the same period in 2010. This reduction was primarily the result of a decrease in litigation settlement expense, which was non-recurring in 2011, but was $41.8 million for the first half of 2010.

Research and development expense increased to $27.8 million for the first half from $21.4 million during the same period in 2010. The incremental expense is related primarily to the increase of research-related intellectual property licensing and collaboration agreements executed during the second quarter of 2011; an increase of $1.4 million in laboratory supply expenses associated with Sequenom CMM pre-launch development activities for the trisomy 21 laboratory developed test (LDT); and $1.3 million in salary expense related to headcount increases. Total stock-based compensation expense was $6.1 million for the first half of 2011, an increase from the $5.8 million recorded during the first half of 2010.

As of June 30, 2011, total cash, cash equivalents and investment securities were $114.4 million. Net cash used in operating activities was $20.2 million for the first half of 2011, while purchases of capital equipment for the same period totaled $6.9 million, funded primarily through utilization of the company’s credit facility.

Operational Updates

Today, Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine (Sequenom CMM), a Sequenom subsidiary, announced that it has selected MaterniT21 as the brand name for its proprietary noninvasive trisomy 21 laboratory developed test (LDT). The LDT is a noninvasive blood test used to detect an overabundance of chromosome 21, the chromosomal abnormality associated with Down syndrome, in high risk pregnant women. Sequenom CMM is expected to launch testing services commercially in late 2011 or early 2012.

“Sequenom CMM continues to make steady progress as it prepares for the commercial launch of its proprietary MaterniT21(TM) LDT,” said Harry F. Hixson, Jr., Ph.D., Chairman and CEO of Sequenom. “We are taking important steps toward bringing a noninvasive prenatal test for trisomy 21 to the market independently and building the capacity to meet the commercial opportunity that lies ahead in the United States. We are continuing to expand our organizational capabilities, hiring specialists in the Sequenom CMM CLIA-certified, CAP accredited laboratory and by adding to our sales team and building relationships with key suppliers. Sequenom is working with potential partners as we look forward to providing noninvasive prenatal testing services around the world.”

In May of 2011, Sequenom announced it had secured a $30.0 million financing commitment from Silicon Valley Bank. The proceeds will be used to support the development and commercialization of new laboratory developed tests and to fund working capital, accounts receivable and inventory requirements.

In the same month, the Sequenom CMM laboratory in San Diego, Calif. received accreditation by the Accreditation Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), while the laboratory based in Grand Rapids, Mich. received its third accreditation renewal based on the results of recent onsite inspections.

In July of 2011, Sequenom announced the signing of a supply agreement with Illumina, Inc. (San Diego), who will provide sequencing equipment and consumables for noninvasive prenatal testing over the next three years. Illumina will also work collaboratively with Sequenom in the submission process as we seek regulatory approval for our in vitro diagnostic product for the detection of fetal chromosomal abnormalities, including the MaterniT21 test.

Also during the quarter, Sequenom CMM launched the RetnaGene(TM) AMD test to assess the risk of developing the wet form of AMD, a common eye disorder of the elderly that can lead to blindness. The launch coincided with publication of the manuscript, “Clinical Validation of a Genetic Model to Estimate the Risk of Developing Choroidal Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration” in Human Genomics.

Additionally, Sequenom announced the acceptance for publication of the manuscript titled, “Fetal RHD Genotype Detection from Circulating Cell-Free Fetal DNA in Maternal Plasma in Non-Sensitized RhD Negative Women.” The study, conducted by Sequenom CMM, showed that fetal RHD genotyping can be accurately determined using ccff DNA in the first and second trimester of pregnancy.

Conference Call Information

To access the live teleconference call, dial 800-860-2442 in the U.S., 866-605-3852 in Canada (both are toll free), and 412-858-4600 for other international callers. Please specify to the operator that you would like to join the “Sequenom Second Quarter 2011 Earnings Conference Call.” If you are unable to listen to the live webcast, a teleconference replay will be available through Friday, August 12, 2011. Interested parties can access the rebroadcast by dialing 877-344-7529 or 412-317-0088 internationally and entering the conference number 10002555.

The conference call webcast is accessible through the “Investors” section of the Sequenom website at http://ir.sequenom.com. An online replay will be available following the initial broadcast until Thursday, September 1, 2011.

About Sequenom

Sequenom, Inc. (NASDAQ: SQNM) h a life sciences company committed to improving healthcare through revolutionary genetic analysis solutions. Sequenom develops innovative technology, products and diagnostic tests that target and serve discovery and clinical research, and clinical molecular diagnostics markets. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in San Diego, California. Sequenom maintains a Web site at http://www.sequenom.com to which Sequenom regularly posts copies of its press releases as well as additional information about Sequenom. Interested persons can subscribe on the Sequenom Web site to email alerts or RSS feeds that are sent automatically when Sequenom issues press releases, files its reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission or posts certain other information to the Web site.

SEQUENOM®, Sequenom CMM®, MaterniT21(TM), SensiGene®, SEQureDx(TM), RetnaGene(TM) and MassARRAY® are trademarks of Sequenom, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

About Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine

Sequenom Center for Molecular Medicine (Sequenom CMM®) has two CAP accredited and CLIA-certified molecular diagnostics reference laboratories dedicated to the development and commercialization of laboratory developed genetic testing services for prenatal and eye conditions. Utilizing innovative proprietary technologies, Sequenom CMM provides test results that can be used as tools by clinicians in managing patient care. Testing services are available only upon request to physicians. We work closely with key opinion leaders and experts in obstetrics, retinal care and genetics. Our scientists use a variety of sophisticated and cutting-edge methodologies in the development and validation of tests. Sequenom CMM is changing the landscape in genetic diagnostics. Visit http://www.scmmlab.com for more information on laboratory services.

Forward-Looking Statements

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, including statements regarding Sequenom’s expected launch and commercialization of new products including the expected commercial launch and timing of launch of its MaterniT21 laboratory developed test to detect Trisomy 21, expected infrastructure development, molecular diagnostics business unit expansion, capacity build-out, and organizational capability expansion, building relationships with key suppliers and working with potential partners, providing noninvasive prenatal testing services in the United States and around the world, the development and commercialization of new laboratory developed tests, the use of proceeds from the financing commitment from Silicon Valley Bank, performance expectations under and the duration of the supply agreement regarding sequencing equipment and consumables for noninvasive prenatal testing, the expected submission for regulatory approval of an in vitro diagnostic product for the detection of fetal chromosomal abnormalities, Sequenom’s commitment to improving healthcare through revolutionary genetic analysis solutions and dedication to development and commercialization of laboratory-developed genetic testing services for prenatal and eye conditions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the risks and uncertainties associated with reliance upon the collaborative efforts of other parties, Sequenom’s ability to develop and commercialize new technologies and products, particularly new technologies such as AMD, prenatal and other diagnostics and laboratory developed tests, Sequenom’s ability to manage its existing cash resources or raise additional cash resources, competition, intellectual property protection and intellectual property rights of others, government regulation particularly with respect to diagnostic products and laboratory developed tests, obtaining or maintaining regulatory approvals, ongoing litigation and investigations and other risks detailed from time to time in Sequenom’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are based on current information that may change and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, and Sequenom undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the issuance of this press release.

[Financial tables follow]

                                        SEQUENOM, INC.
                       CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                         (unaudited)
                            (in thousands, except per share data)

                                 Three months ended     Six months ended
                                      June 30,              June 30,
                                    2011           2010     2011     2010
                                    ----           ----     ----     ----
    Revenues:
        Genetic analysis
         products and            $11,731        $10,968  $23,575  $21,374
        services
        Diagnostic services        1,601            444    3,267      648
                  Total revenues  13,332         11,412   26,842   22,022
                                  ------         ------   ------   ------

    Costs and expenses:
        Cost of genetic analysis
         products and              4,425          4,568    9,529    9,931
        services and diagnostics
         services
                  Gross Margin     8,907          6,844   17,313   12,091
                                   -----          -----   ------   ------

        Research and development  17,146         10,320   27,777   21,406
        Selling and marketing      7,678          7,318   13,738   13,506
        General and
         administrative            5,038          6,405    9,876   11,298
        Litigation settlement          -         41,799        -   41,799
    Total operating expenses      29,862         65,842   51,391   88,009


    Loss from operations         (20,955)       (58,998) (34,078) (75,918)

    Other income (expense),
     net                              29            (63)     433      (58)
                                     ---            ---      ---      ---
    Loss before income tax       (20,926)       (59,061) (33,645) (75,976)
    Income tax (expense)
     benefit                         (12)           (77)      37     (111)
                                     ---            ---      ---     ----
    Net loss                     (20,938)       (59,138) (33,608) (76,087)

    Net loss per share,
     basic and diluted            $(0.21)        $(0.86)  $(0.34)  $(1.17)

    Weighted average shares
     outstanding, basic and
     diluted                      99,083         68,421   99,012   65,270


                                   SEQUENOM, INC.
                       CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                    (unaudited)
             (in thousands except for par value and share information)

                                         June 30,    December 31,
                                                2011          2010
                                                ----          ----
    Assets:
        Cash, cash equivalents,
         marketable securities              $114,364      $135,480
        Restricted cash                           77         1,404
        Accounts receivable, net               6,749         6,911
        Inventories, net                       5,873         5,605
        Other current assets and prepaid
         expenses                              3,182         2,387
                                               -----         -----
                   Total current assets      130,245       151,787

        Equipment and leasehold
         improvements, net                    15,133        11,038
        Other assets                          11,498        11,454
                   Total assets             $156,876      $174,279
                                            ========      ========

    Liabilities and Stockholders'
     Equity:
        Accounts payable                      $9,887        $5,958
        Accrued expenses and current
         liabilities                          10,293         9,947
        Deferred revenue                       2,570         2,624
        Current portion of debt and
         obligations                              85           938
                                                 ---           ---
    Total current liabilities                 22,835        19,467

        Long-term liabilities                  8,138         4,080
        Stockholders' equity                 125,903       150,732
                  Total liabilities and
                   stockholders' equity     $156,876      $174,279
                                            ========      ========


(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20040415/SQNMLOGO)

SOURCE Sequenom, Inc.

Mayo Clinic Finds New Bacterium Causing Tick-Borne Illness Ehrlichiosis In Wis., Minn.

A new tick-borne bacterium infecting humans with ehrlichiosis has been discovered in Wisconsin and Minnesota. It was identified as a new strain of bacteria through DNA testing conducted at Mayo Clinic. The findings appear in the Aug. 4 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Doctors at Mayo Clinic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin, and state and local health departments say the new species from the Ehrlichia genus can cause a feverish illness in humans. The new bacterium, not yet named, has been identified in more than 25 people and found in black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks (Ixodes scapularis), in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Researchers used culture and genetic analyses.

“Before this report, human ehrlichiosis was thought to be very rare or absent in Minnesota and Wisconsin,” says Bobbi Pritt, M.D., a Mayo Clinic microbiologist and director of the Clinical Parasitology and Virology Laboratories who helped coordinate the multi-agency team. “Therefore, physicians might not know to look for Ehrlichia infections at all.”

Ehrlichia infect and kill white blood cells and may cause fever, body aches, headache and fatigue. More severe disease may involve multiple organs such as the lungs, kidneys and brain and require hospitalization. Ehrliochosis rarely results in death.

All four patients described in the New England Journal of Medicine article suffered fever and fatigue. One patient, who had already received a bilateral lung transplant, was hospitalized briefly for his illness. All four patients recovered following antibiotic treatment with doxycycline, the drug of choice for treating ehrlichiosis. Although more than 25 cases have been identified, many more have likely been missed or unreported, Dr. Pritt says.

The investigation began after Carol Werner, then a technologist at Mayo Clinic Health System’s Eau Claire hospital, noted an abnormal Ehrlichia Polymerace Chain Reaction (PCR) result in 2009 and raised the first red flag. Mayo Clinic then began investigating with the CDC, the universities and several public health departments. The Minnesota Department of Health last year put out a health advisory alerting people that it and its Wisconsin counterpart were seeing increasing reports of ehrlichiosis in humans.

“As the deer tick population continues to spread and increase across Wisconsin, we are likely to see increasing incidence of this new infection, just as we have seen with Lyme disease and anaplasmosis which are transmitted by the same tick species,” says co-author Susan Paskewitz, Ph.D, an entomologist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

To date, thousands of blood samples from across the United States have been screened by Mayo Clinic laboratory technologists, and the bacterium has been detected only in specimens collected from Wisconsin and Minnesota. Thousands of ticks across the country have also been analyzed, and only those from the two states have been carriers.

Because the bacterium is likely transmitted through the bite of an infected tick, Dr. Pritt cautions that people should apply insect repellent and wear pants and long-sleeved shirts when active outdoors.

Doctors need to know to test for ehrlichiosis in the two states so the diagnosis is not missed. However, traditional blood antibody tests may offer misleading results and fail to accurately identify the new species. A specific antibody test for the new bacterium has been developed by the CDC but isn’t widely available. Instead, a molecular blood test that detects DNA from the new Ehrlichia species is the preferred method for detecting this disease in symptomatic patients.

When testing for this new Ehrlichia species, physicians should also consider testing for other tick-borne diseases, such as Lyme disease, babesiosis and anaplasmosis, all prevalent in Minnesota and Wisconsin, Dr. Pritt says.

Genetically, the new bacterium bears closest similarity to another species of Ehrlichia — E. muris — that infects small rodents and deer in Eastern Europe and Asia. E. muris rarely infects humans, and no cases have been reported in North America.

On the Net:

Global Pharm Holdings Group Completes Acquisition of Pacific Asia Pharm Investment Group Co., Ltd.

SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — Global Pharm Holdings Group, Inc. (OTCBB:GPHG) (“Global Pharm” or the “Company”), a China-based growing vertically integrated pharmaceutical company engaged in pharmaceutical-related products distribution, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (“TCM”) herbs cultivation and processing business through its subsidiaries in Anhui, Jilin and Shandong provinces, today announced that, on August 1, 2011, the Company entered into a Share Purchase Agreement (the “Acquisition Agreement”) with each of eight shareholders (each a “Seller” and collectively the “Sellers”) and completed the acquisition. Pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement, the Sellers agreed to sell and the Company agreed to purchase the aggregate of 50,000 ordinary shares (“Sale Shares”) in Pacific Asia Pharm Investment Group Co., Limited, a company incorporated and existing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands (“Pacific Asia Pharm”), representing the entire issued share capital of Pacific Asia Pharm. The consideration for the Sale Shares is US$42,000,000, to be paid in full by Global Pharm by issuing the Consideration Shares (as defined under the Acquisition Agreement) to the Sellers within 90 days after the Closing Date (as defined under the Acquisition Agreement). The number of the Consideration Shares to be issued to the Sellers shall be equal to US$42,000,000 divided by the fair market value of Global Pharm’s issued and outstanding common stock as at the Closing Date, as determined by a third-party valuer selected by Global Pharm at its discretion. With the completion of this acquisition, Pacific Asia Pharm becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

On the date of the Acquisition Agreement, Global Pharm and the Sellers also entered into a Share Pledge Agreement pursuant to which the Sellers pledge 10% of the Consideration Shares to Global Pharm to secure the Sellers’ covenants and undertakings in relation to Pacific Asia Pharm’s financial performance for the financial year ending December 31, 2011 as set forth in the Acquisition Agreement.

Pacific Asia Pharm owns 100% equity interest of Hong Kong Rich Fortune Chain Drugstores Assets Management Co., Ltd. (“Rich Fortune”), a Hong Kong company who owns 100% equity interest of Guangzhou Hairui Xiexin Investment Consulting Co., Ltd. (“Hairui Xiexin”). Hairui Xiexin has entered into a number of contractual arrangements with Guangdong Guo Yao Pharmaceutical Franchises Co., Ltd. (“GDGY”) and the shareholders of GDGY, pursuant to which Hairui Xiexin acts as the management company for GDGY, a PRC company mainly engaged in the business of managing and supplying retail drugstores and franchised drugstores in Guangdong province of PRC. With the completion of the acquisition, GDGY is indirectly managed by the Company.

Based on the Wind Information statistics for 2009, the market share of TCM herbal pieces products in Guangdong province accounted for approximately RMB 4 billion, nearly 1/10 of its total market shares in China, with an increasing rate of 20% annually. On June 6, 2001, GDGY was incorporated in Guangzhou City, the capital city of Guangdong province, under the law of the PRC. As of June 2011, it manages and supplies 1,234 chain drugstores in Guangdong province, ranked the largest pharmaceutical franchise in number of opened stores in Guangdong province. GDGY manages and supplies its chain drugstores through the Target Management Contract, pursuant to which the manager of each store independently operates its business and assumes the full responsibility of operating risk. The drugstore manager shall either choose to purchase its goods directly from GDGY, or pay a franchise fee to GDGY at a pre-determined amount.

“Given GDGY’s intensive retail sales channel coverage in Guangdong province, and the retailing management expertise of its employees, Pacific Asia Pharm is an excellent addition to Global Pharm, extending our integrated value chain into pharmaceutical retailing sector,” stated Mr. Yunlu Yin, Chief Executive Officer of Global Pharm. “Combined with our strong goods purchase power and high profit Traditional Chinese Medicine (“TCM”) products portfolio, the acquisition adds further value for our distribution business segment and offers extensive retail channel for our quality TCM herbs products obtained directly from our TCM business entities in Bozhou City. This acquisition enhances Global Pharm’s competence as well as position in the rapid consolidating Chinese pharmaceutical industry.”

About Pacific Asia Pharm

Pacific Asia Pharm incorporated in the British Virgin Islands on April 8, 2010, controlled 100% equity interest of Rich Fortune, a Hong Kong holding company, was incorporated on January 12, 2009 under the law of Hong Kong, controlled 100% equity interest of Hairui Xiexin. Hairui Xiexin was incorporated on June 3, 2011 under the law of PRC. Effective on July 11, 2011, Hairui Xiexin entered into series of contractual arrangements with GDGY and the shareholders of GDGY, pursuant to wvhich Hairui Xiexin acts as the management company and operation trustee for GDGY, and GDGY conducts the principal operations of the business. The contractual agreements effectively transferred the preponderance of the economic benefits of GDGY over to Hairui Xiexin, and Hairui Xiexin assumed effective control and management over GDGY.

About GDGY

GDGY, established on June 6, 2001, engages in the business of managing its chain drugstores, and supplying following products to its chain drugstores: TCM products, biochemical medicine, biological products (excluding the vaccinum), chemical medicine, antibiotic (date of expire of the above items: November 10, 2014), medical devices and instruments, prescription medicine and nonprescription medicine, hygienic products, general merchandise and cosmetics. As of June 2011, GDGY manages and supplies up to 1,234 chain drugstores in Guangdong province, owns approximately 5,000 square meters (53,820 square feet) of GSP certified warehouse, and distributes up to 6,000 types of products to its chain drugstores.

About Global Pharm

Global Pharm Holdings Group, Inc., a growing integrated pharmaceutical company, is engaged in pharmaceutical distribution, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herb plantation, TCM herbal pieces processing business in China. Headquartered in Shenzhen, Global Pharm operates its pharmaceuticals distribution business through six subsidiaries, operates its TCM herbs cultivation business through three subsidiaries, and operates its herbal pieces processing business through one subsidiary, located in Shandong, Anhui, and Jilin provinces. At March 31, 2011, Global Pharm owns GSP-certified, modern logistics distribution centers totally occupying approximately 237,400 square feet, manages over 9,000 inventory products, and leases approximately 1,800 acres of herbal cultivation land. The Company focuses on building regional distribution channels, as well as local capillary sales network with high-margin products portfolio. Currently, its sales network covers Shandong, Jilin and Anhui provinces, as well as other developed provinces in China. Global Pharm intends to establish an integrated value chain in pharmaceutical industry through strategic acquisitions within TCM production, pharmaceutical distribution and retail sectors. Global Pharm anticipates it will achieve a solid distribution capacity and develop into a major rapid-growing and profitable pharmaceutical company. For further information, please visit the Company’s corporate website at http://www.globalpharmholdings.com.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements set forth in this press release contain or may contain forward-looking statements and information that are based upon beliefs of, and information currently available to, our management as well as estimates and assumptions made by our management. Such statements reflect the current view of our management with respect to future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors as they relate to our industry, our operations and results of operations, plans for future facilities, capital-expenditure plans and any businesses that we may acquire. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Except as required by applicable law, including the U.S. federal securities laws, we do not intend to update any of the forward-looking statements to conform them to actual results.


    For Additional Information Contact

    Global Pharm Holdings Group, Inc.
    Ms. Susan Liu
    Phone: +86-755-3693-9373 (Shenzhen, China)
    Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Global Pharm Holdings Group, Inc.

Pet Owners May Not Live Happier, Healthier Lives

A new U.S. study claims pet owners may not actually live happier, healthier and longer than those who have no pets.

Howard Herzog, a professor of psychology at Western Carolina University, says past studies trying to prove that owning a pet leads to a healthier life have conflicting results.

“While pets are undoubtedly good for some people, there is presently insufficient evidence to support the contention that pet owners are healthier or happier or that they live longer” than people without pets, Herzog wrote in the August issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science.

“While some researchers have reported that positive effects accrue from interacting with animals, others have found that the health and happiness of pet owners is no better, and in some cases worse, than that of non-pet owners.”

He used several studies that claimed there were benefits to owning a pet, including one from 1980 which showed that heart attack victims who had a pet were around four times more likely to survive for a year after the event than those who were petless.

“While the media abounds with stories extolling the health benefits of pets, studies in which pet ownership has been found to have no impact or even negative effects on human physical or mental health rarely make headlines,” he wrote.

The researcher said one study conducted last year found that pet owners were more likely to die or suffer from heart attacks.

Another study found no difference in blood pressure between older pet-owners and the petless. 

According to Herzog, other large-scale studies conducted in the U.S., Australia, Sweden and Finland appeared to show few benefits to physical or psychological health.

Herzog said more research is needed to truly understand the effects that pets have on a human life. 

He said animals are important in many aspects of human life, and research on human-animal relationships is important because it “offers a window into really big issues in human psychology.”

On the Net:

UPMC Health Plan Officially Opens New Erie Office with Open House

ERIE, Pa., Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — UPMC Health Plan celebrates the official opening of its new Northwest Pennsylvania regional retail sales office in downtown Erie with a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning followed by an open house and family wellness fair at its new location in the Boston Store, located at 716 State St.

Diane P. Holder, President and CEO of UPMC Health Plan, and Erie Mayor Joseph E. Sinnott will officially cut the ribbon in a ceremony scheduled for 10:15 a.m. today.

UPMC Health Plan – a Pittsburgh-based health insurer which has had offices in Erie since 2000 – moved to its new location at the Boston Store earlier this year. Previously, its offices were located at the Village West in Millcreek.

The Boston Store location will be the regional retail sales office for UPMC for Life, (UPMC Health Plan’s Medicare product), UPMC for Kids (UPMC Health Plan’s Children’s Health Insurance Plan product), UPMC Small Business Advantage, and UPMC Individual Advantage, its individual plan.

This retail location offers high-touch service to those interested in UPMC Health Plan products. It also offers UPMC Health Plan members one-on-one interaction with a customer service account specialist who can assist them with their personal needs, from finding a doctor, to scheduling a medical appointment, to providing information on their benefits.

The office features advanced self-service technology with enhanced information on state-of-the art kiosks. The public and members can explore options and receive information at their leisure via touch-screen technology.

“We want to welcome all our members as well as everyone in Northwest Pennsylvania to come and see our attractive new space and celebrate the official opening of this new Erie office,” said Ms. Holder.

“The enhanced services available at this new location help us fulfill our mission to better deliver unmatched quality and value to our members and the community.”

UPMC Health Plan earned the award for “Highest Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in Pennsylvania” in 2011, according to a study on member experience by J.D. Power and Associates, a global marketing information company that represents the voice of the customer.

The Health Plan ranked above all the other ten health insurers in the highly competitive Pennsylvania region. The measurement factors included customer service information and communication, approval processes, provider choice, among others.

(For J.D. Power and Associates award information, go to jdpower.com.)

UPMC Health Plan’s Erie regional sales office has a 10-person staff headed by Ki Kim, Office Manager. Other staff includes Rob Watson, Customer Service Account Specialist; Sheri Simmons, Mid-Market Account Manager; Bill Reichert, Medicare Broker Manager; Brian Allegretti, Associate Network Manager for Dental and Vision Products; Dana McIntire, Physician Account Executive; Doreen Buckel, Small Market Account Manager; Jody Dickerson, Mid-Market Sales Executive; Lee Martell, Community Relations; and Kirsten Knorr, Administrative Assistant.

UPMC Health Plan’s office occupies 7,600 square feet on the first floor of the Boston Store. The office includes retail space as well as a 70-seat meeting room.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., UPMC Health Plan members and the community are welcome to attend a wellness fair that will include adult health screenings. The public is invited to stop by to learn about the enhanced services that will be available at the new office.

In addition, tonight’s Erie SeaWolves’ baseball game is UPMC Health Plan Member Appreciation Night presented by UPMC Health Plan. The SeaWolves play the New Britain Rock Cats at 7:05 p.m. at Jerry Uht Park.

About UPMC Health Plan

UPMC Health Plan, the second-largest health insurer in western Pennsylvania, is owned by UPMC, one of the nation’s top-ranked health systems. The integrated partner companies of the UPMC Insurance Services Division – which includes UPMC Health Plan, UPMC WorkPartners, LifeSolutions (EAP), UPMC for You (Medical Assistance), and Community Care Behavioral Health – offer a full range of group health insurance, Medicare, Special Needs, CHIP, Medical Assistance, behavioral health, employee assistance, and workers’ compensation products and services to nearly 1.6 million members. Our local provider network includes UPMC as well as community providers, totaling more than 125 hospitals and more than 11,500 physicians throughout Pennsylvania and parts of Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland. For more information, visit www.upmchealthplan.com.

SOURCE UPMC Health Plan

ActiveCare, Inc. Receives Approval to Deploy Next Generation Technology

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — ActiveCare, Inc. (ACAR.OB) a leader in senior care technology, today announced the FCC approval of its second generation PAL (Personal Assistance Link) handset, the ActiveOne+. The ActiveOne+ utilizes state-of-the-art tracking and vital sign monitoring technologies that allows ActiveCare to respond to seniors’ acute health needs no matter where they may be – at home or on the go.

Partnering with one of the world’s most advanced technology manufacturers, this generation of PAL is the culmination of over a year of development work. The ActiveOne+ is one of numerous products and services that ActiveCare will be introducing to the senior market in the coming months. This new wave of products and services that ActiveCare is introducing will allow seniors to better manage their lives giving them freedom, independence and the ability to age with a peace of mind that their health problems are being addressed.

“We offer a one-of-a-kind solution that truly redefines what it means to age,” said Jim Dalton, chairman and CEO of ActiveCare. The combination of GPS locating and now cellular triangulation combined with health monitoring technologies allow CareSpecialists to track and dispatch help no matter where the member may be, at home, around town or while traveling. “We have a comprehensive portfolio that addresses the needs of the growing senior population, that offers seniors the freedom to remain independent living in their own home, aging in place,” continued Dalton.

About ActiveCare:

ActiveCare, Inc., (www.activecare.com) is the service leader in care for the elderly, disabled or chronically ill providing deserved freedom while allowing members to remain living independently longer. ActiveCare incorporates cellular, GPS and fall detection technologies to provide a wide selection of concierge like services for members delivered by way of a hand-held or wearable PAL (Personal Assistance Link) device. The PAL connects ActiveCare members to the CareCenter at the touch of a button or when a fall is detected, providing immediate service and peace of mind, 24 hours a day, seven days a week – at ANY time or location. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, ActiveCare is committed to providing consistent excellence in quality and safety as well as friendly care for members and caregivers, alike.

To learn more about ActiveCare, Inc. visit www.activecare.com or contact investor/media relations at 877-219-6050.

SOURCE ActiveCare, Inc.

Harris Corporation Awarded $4.3 Million IT Services Contract by U.S. Army Dental Command

WASHINGTON and MELBOURNE, Fla., Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ —

Highlights:

  • Harris services will ensure dental health of all soldiers serving in the U.S. Army
  • Contract fulfills the DENCOM Commander’s responsibility to maintain a reliable and accessible enterprise-wide, web-based system to facilitate the collection, analysis, dissemination, and storage of dental treatment and workload information
  • Award demonstrates Harris’ proven capabilities as an enterprise-wide IT solution provider

Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS), an international communications and information technology company, has been awarded a one-year, $4.3 million recompete IT services contract to support the U.S. Army Dental Command at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and U.S. Army dental clinics around the world.

Under the contract with the U.S. Army Dental Command, Harris will provide IT services to operate, maintain, and sustain the U.S. Army’s dental systems in accordance with requirements. These systems include the Corporate Dental Application (CDA) and database, the Digital Enterprise Viewing and Acquisition Application (DEVAA) and database, the U.S. Army Dental Command (DENCOM) web page, the digital web portal for disaster recovery, and an asset management solution. Harris also will help develop dental enterprise digital radiography programs and global support to DENCOM customers’ dental clinics as needed.

“The award of this recompete demonstrates Harris’ success as an enterprise-wide IT solutions provider for the U.S. Army,” said John Heller, president, Harris IT Services. “Harris will continue to support this global command.”

The latest contract is a recompete of the $12 million contract won in 2008 and was awarded under the Network-Centric Solutions (NETCENTS) contract vehicle.

In IT Services, Harris designs, deploys and operates customer-centric, secure communication systems and information networks with optimal reliability and affordability for high-profile customers in government and commercial markets. Well-credentialed professionals deliver expertise in Program Management, Enterprise Services Management and Information Assurance worldwide.

About Harris Corporation

Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets worldwide. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has approximately $6 billion of annual revenue and more than 16,000 employees — including nearly 7,000 engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and services. Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at www.harris.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management’s current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. Such statements are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future trends to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements about the expected value of the program to Harris are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. Harris disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.


    Contact Information:
    --------------------
    Jackie Berger                             Jim Burke
    Harris IT Services                        Harris Corporation
    [email protected]                  [email protected]
    703-483-8839                              321-727-9131

SOURCE Harris Corporation

PhotoMedex Covers XTRAC Laser Treatment Co-Pay for Children with Psoriasis

MONTGOMERYVILLE, Pa., Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — PhotoMedex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PHMD), an innovator of medical devices, today launches a co-pay reimbursement offer* to assist the families of children who suffer from psoriasis. In honor of the National Psoriasis Awareness Month in August (and continuing through November), children, who may not have been able to afford treatments, will have their XTRAC® Excimer Laser (www.XTRACLaser.com) treatment co-pays covered by PhotoMedex. All major insurance companies reimburse for XTRAC laser treatments, and now with co-pays covered, new hope is available for this underserved population.

For many children, the disease goes beyond the physical painful red dry patches of scaly, thickened skin and can create emotional scars. Nearly 50 percent of children with psoriasis report that they have been bullied because of their disease. In a National Psoriasis Foundation survey of children with psoriasis, 44 percent reported that they have been bullied by their peers, and 38 percent stated the abuse was a direct result of their psoriasis. Of those bullied, 65 percent said it caused anxiety, and nearly one-quarter had a decrease in academic performance.

About 20,000 children under the age of 10 are diagnosed with psoriasis every year in the United States. The XTRAC laser treatment provides relief from itching, redness and pain; without the negative side-effects commonly associated with other treatments, ranging from premature aging of healthy skin to the risk of malignancies and tuberculosis. The XTRAC laser is the only clinically proven, FDA-cleared, dermatology excimer laser with independent safety and quality certifications. It provides targeted phototherapy treatment for psoriasis; offering safe, effective and lasting results.

“Over 7.5 million Americans currently suffer from psoriasis and for children the emotional side-effects of the disease can outweigh the physical pain it causes,” said Dr. Alan Menter with Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. “The XTRAC laser is an important treatment option because it is safe, quick and painless and allows children to get back to simply being a kid.”

Patients who use the XTRAC often see a 75 percent or greater improvement in affected areas in six to ten brief treatment sessions, delivered twice a week. The laser is effective even on areas that are difficult to treat, such as elbows, knees and the scalp, as well as widespread psoriasis covering as much as 20 percent of body surface area.

To obtain the co-pay reimbursement offer, consumers can visit www.xtraclaser.com or call 1-800-800-4758 to connect with the XTRAC TeleCare Center to find a participating physician in their area. The rebate offer includes up to $50 reimbursement per treatment for up to 10 treatments. Treatments must be received between August 1, 2011 and December 1, 2011. Please see full terms and conditions. PhotoMedex is offering a $100 co-pay rebate coupon for adults over the age of 18 that are not eligible for the children co-pay reimbursement offering.

PhotoMedex is also holding the “Itching to Win” contest** through August 14, 2011, in honor of National Psoriasis Awareness Month. Psoriasis patients can enter to win a full series of treatments with the XTRAC Excimer Laser by submitting a 250-word essay and photo. Six winners nationwide will be selected to receive the treatments from a local physician.

For more information about the XTRAC excimer laser, visit www.XTRACLaser.com. The website features a TeleCare Center where patients can speak directly to our highly experienced clinical specialists about the XTRAC laser therapy. These specialists can also assist those interested in making appointments with physicians experienced in providing XTRAC laser treatments.

Learn more PhotoMedex promotions on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Xtrac-Psoriasis-Vitiligo/159178087466723

Connect with XTRAC on Twitter – www.Twitter.com/XTRACPsoriasis and on

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Xtrac-Psoriasis-Vitiligo/159178087466723

*Terms and conditions may apply. Please read full promotion rules at www.XTRAClaser.com/childrencopay

**Terms and conditions may apply. Please read full contest rules at www.XTRAClaser.com/contest

About PhotoMedex

PhotoMedex is a leader in the development, manufacturing, and global marketing of dermatology products and techniques focused on advancing cost-effective technologies that provide patients with better outcomes and a higher quality of life. The company is uniquely positioned to research and commercialize therapies that innovatively combine both medical devices and science-based aesthetic products. Medical devices include the XTRAC® Excimer Laser for the treatment of skin diseases like psoriasis and vitiligo and the Omnilux(TM) non-laser light-emitting diodes (LED) for the treatment of clinical and aesthetic dermatological conditions, including acne, photodamage, skin rejuvenation, and wound healing. Adding to these therapies, the company markets a broad range of specialty skin-care products based upon its clinically proven DNA + Copper Peptide technologies for skin heath and Copper Peptide Complexes for hair and wound care, including its NEOVA®, DNA Damage Control(TM), Tricomin® and Graftcyte® brands. PhotoMedex sells directly to dermatologists; plastic and cosmetic surgeons, spas; salons; and, through strategic partners, in the consumer market. In addition, the company manufactures and distributes surgical lasers and disposables to hospitals and surgery centers for procedures in urology, gynecology, orthopedics and other surgical specialties. For more information please visit www.photomedex.com.

SOURCE PhotoMedex, Inc.

Lifetime Impact of Rape and Sexual Violence

(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Violence against women is a major public health concern, contributing to high levels of illness and death worldwide. A new study has found that women who experience gender-based violence (GBV), such as rape, sexual assault, intimate partner violence and stalking, have a higher lifetime occurrence of mental health disorders, dysfunction, and disability.

“In the United States, 17 percent of women report rape or attempted rape and more than one-fifth of women report intimate partner violence (IPV), stalking, or both. There is mounting evidence that each of these forms of gender-based violence is associated with mental disorder among women, although methodological shortcomings of existing studies constrain the inferences that can be drawn,” the study’s authors write.

Lead study author, Susan Rees, Ph.D., of the University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and her colleagues analyzed the data of 4,541 women, ages 16-85 years, from the Australian National Mental Health and Well-being Survey of 2007. They studied the association of a composite index of gender-based violence, including rape, sexual abuse, IPV, and stalking, with a range of lifetime mental disorders.

The team found that the lifetime prevalence for any mental disorder was 37.8 percent. A total of 27.4 percent reported experiencing at least one of the types of GBV assessed in this study. The lifetime prevalence rates were 14.7 percent for sexual assault, 10 percent for stalking, 8.1 percent for rape, and 7.8 percent for IPV. Women who had been exposed to one form of GBV reported a high rate of lifetime mood disorder at 30.7 percent, lifetime anxiety disorder at 38.5 percent, lifetime substance use disorder at 23 percent, lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder at 15.2 percent, and any lifetime mental disorder at 57.3 percent.

The researchers also found that GBV was associated with more severe current mental disorders, higher rates of three or more lifetime disorders, physical disability, mental disability, impaired quality of life, an increase in disability days, and overall disability.

“Our data underlines the observation that mental health disorders in women who have experienced GBV tends to be more severe and associated with co-morbidity characteristics that require expert and comprehensive approaches to treatment. Therefore, there is a need to ensure that expert mental health care is a central component of GBV programs. Similarly, psychiatric services need to be better equipped to assist women with mental health disorders who have experienced GBV,” the authors write.

SOURCE: JAMA, August 4, 2011.

Thoratec Reports Second Quarter Revenue Increase of 17 Percent

PLEASANTON, Calif., Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Thoratec Corporation (NASDAQ: THOR), a world leader in device-based mechanical circulatory support therapies to save, support and restore failing hearts, said today revenues for the second quarter of 2011 were $111.2 million, a 17 percent increase over revenues of $95.1 million in the second quarter of 2010.

Results for all periods of fiscal 2010 exclude contributions from the company’s International Technidyne Corporation (ITC) Division. Thoratec completed the divestiture of ITC in November of 2010.

For the quarter ended July 2, 2011, Thoratec reported net income on a GAAP basis of $21.8 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, versus GAAP net income of $17.5 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the same period a year ago. Non-GAAP net income, which is described later in this press release, was $27.4 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2011, versus non-GAAP net income of $22.4 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, in the second quarter a year ago.

For the first six months of fiscal 2011, revenues were $210.7 million, an increase of eight percent over revenues of $194.4 million in the same period a year ago. On a GAAP basis, Thoratec reported net income of $38.2 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, for the first six months of 2011. For the first six months of 2010, the company reported GAAP net income of $30.9 million, or $0.52 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income in the first six months of 2011 was $49.2 million, or $0.77 per diluted share, compared with non-GAAP net income of $40.9 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, in the first six months of 2010.

“We had an excellent quarter with double digit revenue growth both year-over-year and sequentially, driven by the continued market penetration of the HeartMate II® LVAS (Left Ventricular Assist System) for Destination Therapy (DT),” said Gary F. Burbach, president and chief executive officer.

“We were particularly pleased with HeartMate II unit growth of 21 percent in the U.S. and 20 percent internationally, demonstrating healthy underlying market trends and HeartMate II’s strong competitive position. This growth is being fueled by the compelling long-term patient outcomes achieved with the device, as well as the impact of our programs to facilitate referral activity, support capacity expansion at existing centers, and foster VAD programs at new centers,” he added.

The company said it ended the second quarter of 2011 with 272 HeartMate II centers globally, including 135 in the U.S. and 137 internationally, versus a total of 254 centers, including 130 in the U.S. and 124 internationally, at the end of fiscal 2010. In addition, 99 centers in the U.S. have now received CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) certification for DT reimbursement, or an increase of nine versus the end of fiscal 2010.

Burbach said the company continues to invest in its long-term growth strategies. “During the quarter, we expanded our field organization to support our broad array of market development efforts, and we continued to hit important milestones in our product development and clinical programs. For example, the full commercial launch of our sealed grafts for the HeartMate II, which occurred late in the first quarter, has gone very well, generating highly positive feedback from the clinical community in terms of ease of use, reduction in operating room time and reduced rates of peri-operative bleeding.”

Also during the quarter, Thoratec announced a technology development agreement with WiTricity Corporation related to WiTricity’s proprietary wireless resonant energy transfer technology for application in the field of mechanical circulatory support. “This agreement is an important milestone for our fully implantable HeartMate II program, which represents a key component of our effort to advance the HeartMate II’s leadership position,” Burbach noted.

Burbach said the company has selected the first eight centers for a new clinical study and expects initial enrollment to occur later this fall. Called ROADMAP, or Risk Assessment and Comparative Effectiveness Of Left Ventricular Assist Device and Medical Management in Ambulatory Heart Failure Patients, this post-market study will enroll up to 200 ambulatory advanced heart failure patients who meet the HeartMate II’s existing indication for DT, but who are not being referred for LVAD therapy in meaningful numbers. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of the HeartMate II versus the existing standard of care, Optimal Medical Management, in these patients.

During the quarter, Thoratec announced the retirement of all the outstanding Senior Subordinated Convertible Notes due 2034, through the payment of $164.4 million of cash and the issuance of 2.4 million shares of common stock. As a result of this transaction, the company’s diluted share count, which previously included 7.2 million shares attributable to the convertible debt, was reduced by 4.8 million shares.

Separately, Thoratec today announced the acquisition of the medical business of Levitronix LLC (“Levitronix Medical”). This acquisition follows a successful strategic partnership between the two companies. Since 2006, Thoratec has provided distribution and clinical support in the U.S. for the CentriMag® Acute Circulatory Support System, Levitronix Medical’s flagship product, under an agreement that would have expired at the end of 2011. Levitronix Medical and Thoratec have also collaborated on the development of the fully magnetically levitated motor technology employed in the HeartMate® III left ventricular assist system, which is currently in preclinical testing. Details of this transaction can be found in a separate press release issued today, and the anticipated financial impact of the transaction for the remainder of 2011 has been incorporated into the “Guidance” section of this release.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Thoratec reported revenues of $111.2 million in the second quarter of 2011 compared with revenues of $95.1 million in the second quarter of 2010, or an increase of 17 percent. Revenues from the HeartMate product line were $97.6 million versus $82.5 million, or an increase of 18 percent, in the same period a year ago. Sales of the Thoratec® product line, which includes the PVAD and IVAD, were $7.6 million, an increase of four percent over revenues of $7.3 million in the second quarter of 2010. CentriMag® Blood Pump sales were $5.3 million compared with $4.6 million a year ago, or an increase of 15 percent. Graft sales were $678,000 compared with $726,000 a year ago. Revenues from pump sales were $77.8 million versus $64.4 million in the second quarter a year ago, or an increase of 21 percent. Non-pump revenues were $32.7 million in the second quarter of 2011 versus $30.0 million in the same period a year ago, or an increase of nine percent. Revenues in the U.S. were $93.0 million versus $79.9 million in the same quarter a year ago, or an increase of 16 percent, while international revenues were $18.2 million versus $15.2 million a year ago, an increase of 20 percent. Foreign exchange fluctuation rates had a favorable effect of $1.1 million in the second quarter of 2011 versus the second quarter of 2010.

For the first six months of fiscal 2011, revenues were $210.7 million, an increase of eight percent versus revenues of $194.4 million in the same period a year ago. The breakout of year-to-date revenues by product line included HeartMate product line sales of $184.9 million versus $168.6 million in the same period a year ago, or an increase of 10 percent. Sales of the Thoratec product line were $14.9 million versus $16.1 million a year ago, or a decrease of seven percent. CentriMag Blood Pump sales were $9.7 million versus $8.3 million in the first half of 2010, an increase of 17 percent. Graft sales were $1.2 million, compared to $1.4 million in the first six months of 2010. Revenues from pump sales were $148.6 million, an 11 percent increase over pump sales of $133.9 million in the first half of 2010. Non-pump revenues were $60.9 million versus $59.1 million a year ago, or an increase of three percent. Revenues in the U.S. were $175.5 million, an increase of eight percent over revenues of $162.1 million a year ago, while international revenues were $35.2 million, a nine percent increase over revenues of $32.3 million in the first six months of 2010. For the first six months of 2011, foreign exchange rate fluctuations had a $0.6 million favorable impact on revenues versus the same period in 2010.

GAAP gross margin for the second quarter of 2011 was 70.9 percent versus 67.8 percent a year ago. Non-GAAP gross margin, which is described later in this press release, was 71.2 percent versus 68.2 percent a year ago. The increase in non-GAAP gross margin was due to favorable pump to non-pump mix and volume based efficiencies, and lower inventory reserves.

Operating expenses on a GAAP basis in the second quarter of 2011 were $44.6 million versus $35.3 million a year ago. On a non-GAAP basis, operating expenses in the second quarter of 2011 were $37.5 million versus $30.2 million in the second quarter a year ago. Operating expenses on a non-GAAP basis are described later in this press release. The year-over-year increase in non-GAAP operating expenses was due primarily to the increased spending on product and market development initiatives, including the continued expansion of our research and development and field organizations, and investment in our next generation pump and fully implantable pump platforms.

On a GAAP basis, other expense was $1.3 million in the second quarter of 2011 versus $2.0 million in the same period a year ago. On a non-GAAP basis, other expense was $35,000 versus $22,000 a year ago. Other expense on a non-GAAP basis is described later in this press release.

The company’s GAAP effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2011 was 33.9 percent versus 35.4 percent a year ago. The non-GAAP tax rate, which is described later in this press release, was 34.2 percent versus 35.4 percent in the second quarter of 2010. The decrease in the GAAP and non-GAAP tax rates reflects the company’s inability in the second quarter of 2010 to recognize federal research and development credits in the absence of enacted legislation.

Cash and investments at the end of the second quarter of 2011 were $298.5 million versus $438.0 million at the end of the first quarter of 2011 and $469.5 million at the end of fiscal 2010. The decline in cash and investments from year end was due to the retirement of the company’s convertible debt and the share repurchase activity in the first quarter of 2011.

GUIDANCE

The following statements are based on current expectations. These statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially. For a more detailed discussion of forward-looking statements, please see the additional information below. The company updated guidance for the full year.

The company expects that revenues for fiscal 2011 will be in the range of $422 to $430 million. This represents an increase from prior guidance and reflects the contribution from the first half of the year, and the expectation for ongoing growth in the second half of the year, along with $4 million in incremental revenues attributable to the acquisition of Levitronix Medical.

Gross margin is expected to increase to a range of 68.5 to 69.5 percent on a GAAP basis and 69 to 70 percent on a non-GAAP basis, reflecting the strong gross margin performance during the first half of 2011 and the expectation for moderation in the second half of the year.

GAAP operating expenses are expected to increase 17 to 19 percent over 2010, while non-GAAP operating expenses are expected to increase approximately 15 to 17 percent versus 2010. This reflects higher operating expenses expected in the second half of 2011 as the company continues to invest in market development initiatives and advancement of the product development pipeline. In addition, this guidance includes operating expenses from the acquired Levitronix Medical business for the remainder of the year.

GAAP net income per diluted share is expected to be in the range of $1.05 to $1.15. On a GAAP basis, net income per diluted share includes transaction costs related to the acquisition of Levitronix Medical; however, it does not reflect any income statement impact from the purchase price allocation as this has not been finalized for this transaction. The purchase price allocation is not expected to have a material impact to the income statement. Non-GAAP net income per diluted share is expected to be in the range of $1.40 to $1.50, reflecting increased operating leverage, continued investment in the business, and the neutral impact from the Levitronix Medical acquisition in 2011.

CONFERENCE CALL/WEBCAST INFORMATION

Thoratec will hold a conference call to discuss its financial results and operating activities for all interested parties at 1:30 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time (4:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time), today. The teleconference can be accessed by calling (719) 325-2350, passcode 6542882. Please dial in 10-15 minutes prior to the beginning of the call. The webcast will be available via the Internet at http://www.thoratec.com. A replay of the conference call will be available through Wednesday, August 10, via http://www.thoratec.com, or by telephone at (719) 457-0820, passcode 6542882.

GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION

Thoratec management evaluates and makes operating decisions using various measures. These measures are generally based on revenues generated by the company’s products and certain costs of producing those revenues, such as costs of product sales, research and development and selling, general and administrative expenses. We use the following measures, which are not calculated in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”): non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP other income and expense, non-GAAP tax rate, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income per diluted share and non-GAAP shares used to compute diluted net income per share. These are non-GAAP financial measures under Section 101 of Regulation G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These non-GAAP financial measures are calculated by excluding certain GAAP financial items that we believe have less significance to the day-to-day operation of our business. The company has outlined below the type and scope of these exclusions and the limitations on the use of the non-GAAP financial measures as a result of these exclusions.

Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures for financial and operational decision making, including in the determination of employee annual cash incentive compensation, as a means to evaluate period-to-period comparisons, as well as comparisons to our competitors’ operating results. Management also uses this information internally for forecasting and budgeting, as it believes that the measures are indicative of Thoratec core operating results. Management also believes that non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information to management and investors regarding the performance of the company’s business operations, provide a greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in its decision making, facilitate comparisons of results for current periods and guidance for future periods with our historical operating results, and assist in analyzing future trends.

Non-GAAP net income consists of GAAP net income, excluding, as applicable, the tax effected impact of share-based compensation expense, amortization of purchased intangibles, expenses associated with the accounting for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion, including partial settlements in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 470-20, Debt, and Levitronix transaction costs.

Non-GAAP net income per diluted share is defined as non-GAAP net income divided by the weighted average number of shares on a fully-diluted basis.

Non-GAAP shares used to compute diluted net income per share consists of GAAP shares used to compute diluted net income per share adjusted for any inclusions made in conjunction with dilutive impact of Thoratec’s convertible debt instruments and any exclusions made in conjunction with the application of the two-class method for calculating net income per share.

Non-GAAP gross profit and gross margin consist of GAAP gross profit and gross margin excluding share-based compensation expense.

Non-GAAP operating expenses consist of GAAP operating expenses excluding share-based compensation expense, amortization of purchased intangibles, and Levitronix transaction costs.

Non-GAAP other income and expense consists of GAAP other income and expenses excluding expenses related to the accounting for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion, including partial settlements, in accordance with ASC 470-20, Debt.

Non-GAAP tax expense consists of the GAAP tax expense adjusted for the tax effect of the adjustments from GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income.

Management believes that it is useful in measuring Thoratec’s operations to exclude amortization of intangibles. These costs are primarily fixed at the time of an acquisition and, unlike other fixed costs that result from ordinary operations, are the result of infrequent and irregular events.

Because of varying valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions and the variety of award types that companies can use, Thoratec management believes that providing non-GAAP financial measures that exclude share-based compensation allows investors to compare Thoratec’s recurring core business operating results to those of other companies and over multiple periods. The exclusion also enhances investors’ ability to review Thoratec’s business from the same perspective as Thoratec management, which believes that share-based compensation expense is not directly attributable to the underlying performance of the company’s business operations.

Due to the subjective assumptions used to develop non-cash interest expense related to the accounting for convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion, including partial settlements, in accordance with ASC 470-20, Debt, Thoratec management believes that providing non-GAAP financial measures that exclude such expense allows investors to compare Thoratec’s recurring core business operating results to those of other companies and over multiple periods. The exclusion also enhances investors’ ability to review Thoratec’s business from the same perspective as Thoratec management.

To enable investors to compare Thoratec’s recurring core business operating results to those of other companies and over multiple periods, Thoratec has excluded Levitronix transaction costs as they are infrequent in nature.

There are a number of limitations related to the use of non-GAAP financial measures. First, non-GAAP financial measures exclude some costs, namely share-based compensation, that are recurring expenses. Second, share-based compensation is part of an employee’s compensation package and as such may be useful for investors to consider. Third, the components of costs that we exclude in our non-GAAP financial measures calculations may differ from components that our peer companies exclude when they report their results from operations.

Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for measures of financial performance in accordance with GAAP. However, these measures may provide additional insight into Thoratec’s financial results. Investors and potential investors are strongly encouraged to review the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures contained within this press release with their most directly comparable GAAP financial results and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.

The reconciliations of the forward looking non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures in the tables below include all information reasonably available to Thoratec at the date of this press release. These tables include adjustments that we can reasonably predict. Events that could cause the reconciliation to change include acquisitions and divestitures of business, goodwill and other asset impairments and sales of marketable equity securities.

The following table includes the GAAP income statement for continuing operations for the three and six month periods ending 2011 and 2010:

                                   THORATEC CORPORATION
                Condensed Consolidated Statements of Continuing Operations
                                       (Unaudited)
                        (in thousands, except for per share data)

                                               Three Months Ended
                                               ------------------
                                           July 2,        July 3,
                                             2011           2010
                                          --------       --------

    Product sales                          $111,221        $95,098
    Cost of product sales                    32,410         30,579
    Gross profit                             78,811         64,519
                                             ------         ------
    Operating expenses:
        Selling, general and
         administrative                      26,559         21,065
        Research and development             15,799         11,812
        Amortization of purchased
         intangible assets                    2,197          2,468
    Total operating expenses                 44,555         35,345
                                             ------         ------
    Income from operations                   34,256         29,174
    Other income and (expense):
        Interest expense                     (1,767)        (3,275)
        Interest income and other               488          1,293
        Impairment on investment                  -            (46)
    Income before income taxes               32,977         27,146
        Income tax expense                  (11,195)        (9,609)
                                            -------         ------
    Net income from continuing
     operations                              21,782         17,537

    Net (loss) from discontinued
     operations (net of tax)                      -         (1,583)
                                                ---         ------

    Net Income                              $21,782        $15,954
                                            =======        =======

    Net income (loss) per share-
     Basic:
        Continuing operations                 $0.37          $0.30
        Discontinued operations                   -          (0.02)
                                                ---          -----
        Net Income                            $0.37          $0.28
                                              =====          =====

    Net income (loss) per share-
     Diluted:
        Continuing operations                 $0.36          $0.29
        Discontinued operations                   -          (0.02)
                                                ---          -----
        Net Income                            $0.36          $0.27
                                              =====          =====


    Shares used to compute net (loss)
     income per share:
        Basic                                58,186         57,635
        Diluted                              63,213         66,436


                                                Six Months Ended
                                                ----------------
                                           July 2,        July 3,
                                             2011           2010
                                          --------       --------

    Product sales                          $210,751       $194,370
    Cost of product sales                    62,145         62,150
    Gross profit                            148,606        132,220
                                            -------        -------
    Operating expenses:
        Selling, general and
         administrative                      51,213         42,906
        Research and development             31,553         31,803
        Amortization of purchased
         intangible assets                    4,499          4,880
    Total operating expenses                 87,265         79,589
                                             ------         ------
    Income from operations                   61,341         52,631
    Other income and (expense):
        Interest expense                     (4,647)        (6,155)
        Interest income and other             1,243          2,899
        Impairment on investment                  -         (2,046)
    Income before income taxes               57,937         47,329
        Income tax expense                  (19,696)       (16,428)
                                            -------        -------
    Net income from continuing
     operations                              38,241         30,901

    Net (loss) from discontinued
     operations (net of tax)                      -         (2,514)
                                                ---         ------

    Net Income                              $38,241        $28,387
                                            =======        =======

    Net income (loss) per share-
     Basic:
        Continuing operations                 $0.66          $0.54
        Discontinued operations                   -          (0.05)
                                                ---          -----
        Net Income                            $0.66          $0.49
                                              =====          =====

    Net income (loss) per share-
     Diluted:
        Continuing operations                 $0.63          $0.52
        Discontinued operations                   -          (0.04)
                                                ---          -----
        Net Income                            $0.63          $0.48
                                              =====          =====


    Shares used to compute net (loss)
     income per share:
        Basic                                58,060         57,139
        Diluted                              64,590         65,986

The following table presents our quarterly revenues from continuing operations by source for the first and second quarter of fiscal 2011 and for the full year of fiscal 2010:

                     THORATEC CORPORATION
     Quarterly Revenue Analysis from Continuing Operations
                          (Unaudited)
                         (in millions)

                                        Three Months Ended
                                        ------------------
                           July 2,         April 2,        January 1,
                             2011             2011            2011
                          --------        ---------       -----------

    Revenue by Product
     Line
      HeartMate               $97.6            $87.3             $83.9
      PVAD & IVAD               7.6              7.3               7.2
      CentriMag                 5.3              4.4               5.7
      Other                     0.7              0.5               0.8
      Total                  $111.2            $99.5             $97.6
                             ======            =====             =====

    Revenue by Category
      Pump                    $77.8            $70.8             $67.8
      Non-Pump                 32.7             28.2              29.0
      Other                     0.7              0.5               0.8
                                ---              ---               ---
      Total                  $111.2            $99.5             $97.6
                             ======            =====             =====

    Revenue by
     Geography
      United States           $93.0            $82.5             $78.8
      International            18.2             17.0              18.8
                               ----             ----              ----
      Total                  $111.2            $99.5             $97.6
                             ======            =====             =====


                                 Three Months Ended
                                 ------------------
                           October 2,       July 3,       April 3,
                              2010            2010           2010
                          -----------      --------      ---------

    Revenue by Product
     Line
      HeartMate                  $80.6         $82.5          $86.1
      PVAD & IVAD                  6.2           7.3            8.8
      CentriMag                    3.7           4.6            3.7
      Other                        0.5           0.7            0.7
      Total                      $91.0         $95.1          $99.3
                                 =====         =====          =====

    Revenue by Category
      Pump                       $62.6         $64.4          $69.5
      Non-Pump                    27.9          30.0           29.1
      Other                        0.5           0.7            0.7
                                   ---           ---            ---
      Total                      $91.0         $95.1          $99.3
                                 =====         =====          =====

    Revenue by
     Geography
      United States              $76.4         $79.9          $82.2
      International               14.6          15.2           17.1
                                  ----          ----           ----
      Total                      $91.0         $95.1          $99.3
                                 =====         =====          =====

The following table presents our quarterly pump units from continuing operations by geography for the first and second quarter of fiscal 2011 and for the full year of fiscal 2010:

                  THORATEC CORPORATION
     Quarterly Pump Units from Continuing Operations
                       (Unaudited)

                                     Three Months Ended
                        July 2, 2011 April 2, 2011      January 1, 2011
                        ------------ -------------      ---------------

    Units by Geography
      United States              753            677                 613
      International (1)          193            182                 223
      Total (2)                  946            859                 836
                                 ===            ===                 ===


                                     Three Months Ended
                        October 2, 2010        July 3, 2010   April 3, 2010
                        ---------------        ------------   -------------

    Units by Geography
      United States                 605                   617            662
      International (1)             161                   178            202
      Total (2)                     766                   795            864
                                    ===                   ===            ===


    (1) Within the International geography, Canada accounted for 13, 26,
    10, 22, 16, and 15 units for the three months ended July 2, 2011,
    April 2, 2011,
    January 1, 2011, October 2, 2010, July 3, 2010, and April 3, 2010,
    respectively.
    (2) Excludes CentriMag units

The following table reconciles the specific items excluded from GAAP net income from continuing operations in the calculation of non-GAAP net income from continuing operations and diluted net income per share from continuing operations for the periods shown below:

                               THORATEC CORPORATION
     Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Net Income from Continuing Operations
                                   (Unaudited)
                    (in thousands, except for per share data)

                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                   ------------------
    Net income reconciliation              July 2, 2011       July 3, 2010
                                           ------------       ------------

    Net income from continuing
     operations on a GAAP
     basis                                       $21,782            $17,537
        Share-based compensation
         expense:
           -Cost of product sales                    373                359
           -Selling, general and
            administrative                         2,509              1,895
           -Research and development                 958                809
        Amortization of purchased
         intangibles                               2,197              2,468
        Impact of ASC 470-20                       1,244              2,006
        Levitronix transaction
         costs                                     1,392                  -
        Income tax effect of non-
         GAAP income before tax                     (124)                 -
        Income tax effect of non-
         GAAP adjustments                         (2,944)            (2,668)
    Net income from continuing
     operations on a non-GAAP
     basis                                       $27,387            $22,406
                                                 =======            =======

                                                 Three Months Ended
                                                 ------------------
    Diluted net income from
     continuing operations per
     share reconciliation                  July 2, 2011       July 3, 2010
                                           ------------       ------------

    Diluted net income from
     continuing operations per
     share on a GAAP basis                         $0.36              $0.29
        Share-based compensation
         expense:
           -Cost of product sales                   0.01               0.01
           -Selling, general and
            administrative                          0.04               0.03
           -Research and development                0.02               0.01
        Amortization of purchased
         intangibles                                0.03               0.04
        Levitronix transaction
         costs                                      0.02                  -
        Income tax effect of non-
         GAAP income before tax                    (0.00)                 -
        Income tax effect of non-
         GAAP adjustments                          (0.04)             (0.04)
    Diluted net income from
     continuing operations per
     share on a non-GAAP
     basis                                         $0.44              $0.34
                                                   =====              =====

                                                 Three Months Ended
                                                 ------------------
                                           July 2, 2011       July 3, 2010
                                           ------------       ------------
    Shares used to compute
     diluted net income from
     continuing operations per
     share reconciliation

    Shares used in calculation
     of diluted net income per
     share --GAAP                                 63,213             66,436
        Weighted average unvested
         restricted stock awards
         (1)                                          91                342
    Shares used in calculation
     of diluted net income
     from continuing
     operations per share --
     non-GAAP                                  63,304          66,778
                                                  ======             ======


                                                  Six Months Ended
                                                  ----------------
                                                               July 3,
    Net income reconciliation             July 2, 2011          2010
                                          ------------        --------

    Net income from continuing
     operations on a GAAP
     basis                                     $38,241          $30,901
        Share-based compensation
         expense:
           -Cost of product sales                  703              626
           -Selling, general and
            administrative                       5,038            4,216
           -Research and development             2,062            1,811
        Amortization of purchased
         intangibles                             4,499            4,881
        Impact of ASC 470-20                     3,127            4,040
        Levitronix transaction
         costs                                   1,398                -
        Income tax effect of non-
         GAAP income before tax                   (122)            (184)
        Income tax effect of non-
         GAAP adjustments                       (5,721)          (5,406)
    Net income from continuing
     operations on a non-GAAP
     basis                                     $49,225          $40,885
                                               =======          =======

                                                Six Months Ended
                                                ----------------
    Diluted net income from
     continuing operations per                                 July 3,
     share reconciliation                 July 2, 2011          2010
                                          ------------        --------

    Diluted net income from
     continuing operations per
     share on a GAAP basis                       $0.63            $0.52
        Share-based compensation
         expense:
           -Cost of product sales                 0.01             0.01
           -Selling, general and
            administrative                        0.08             0.06
           -Research and development              0.03             0.03
        Amortization of purchased
         intangibles                              0.07             0.07
        Levitronix transaction
         costs                                    0.02                -
        Income tax effect of non-
         GAAP income before tax                  (0.00)           (0.00)
        Income tax effect of non-
         GAAP adjustments                        (0.07)           (0.06)
    Diluted net income from
     continuing operations per
     share on a non-GAAP
     basis                                       $0.77            $0.63
                                                 =====            =====

                                                Six Months Ended
                                                ----------------
                                                               July 3,
                                          July 2, 2011          2010
                                          ------------        --------
    Shares used to compute
     diluted net income from
     continuing operations per
     share reconciliation

    Shares used in calculation
     of diluted net income per
     share --GAAP                               64,590           65,986
        Weighted average unvested
         restricted stock awards
         (1)                                       130              418
    Shares used in calculation
     of diluted net income
     from continuing
     operations per share --
     non-GAAP                                64,720        66,404
                                                ======           ======



    ______________________________________________________________________
    (1)  The company adopted the two-class method in calculating net
    income per share on a GAAP basis, which excludes the
          weighted average unvested restricted stock awards outstanding of
          90,540 and 342,305 for the three months ended July 2,
          2011 and July 3, 2010, respectively, and 129,881 and 418,432 for the
          six months ended July 2, 2011 and July 3, 2010,
          respectively.

The following table reconciles the specific items excluded from GAAP gross profit and gross margin from continuing operations in the calculation of non-GAAP gross profit and gross margin from continuing operations for the periods shown below:

                              THORATEC CORPORATION
        Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Gross Profit from Continuing
                                   Operations
                                  (Unaudited)
                                 (in thousands)

                               Three Months Ended
                               ------------------
                          July 2,
                           2011             July 3, 2010
                         --------           ------------



    Gross profit
     from continuing
     operations on a
     GAAP basis            $78,811    70.9%      $64,519    67.8%
        Share-based
         compensation
         expense               373                   359
    Gross profit
     from continuing
     operations on a
     non-GAAP basis        $79,184    71.2%      $64,878    68.2%
                           =======               =======



                            Six Months Ended
                            ----------------
                        July 2,            July 3,
                          2011               2010
                       --------            --------



    Gross profit
     from continuing
     operations on a
     GAAP basis         $148,606    70.5%  $132,220    68.0%
        Share-based
         compensation
         expense             703                626
    Gross profit
     from continuing
     operations on a
     non-GAAP basis     $149,309    70.8%  $132,846    68.3%
                        ========           ========


The following table reconciles the specific items excluded from GAAP operating expenses from continuing operations in the calculation of non-GAAP operating expenses from continuing operations for the periods shown below:

                        THORATEC CORPORATION
     Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Operating Expenses from
                        Continuing Operations
                             (Unaudited)
                           (in thousands)

                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                   ------------------
                                                July 2, 2011   July 3, 2010
                                                ------------   ------------


    Operating expenses from continuing
     operations on a GAAP basis                       $44,555        $35,345
        Share-based compensation expense:
           -Selling, general and administrative        (2,509)        (1,895)
           - Research and development                    (958)          (809)
        Amortization of purchased intangibles          (2,197)        (2,468)
        Levitronix transaction costs                   (1,392)             -
    Operating expenses from continuing
     operations on a non-GAAP basis                   $37,499        $30,173
                                                      =======        =======



                                                           Six Months Ended
                                                           ----------------
                                                      July 2,        July 3,
                                                        2011           2010
                                                     --------       --------


    Operating expenses from continuing
     operations on a GAAP basis                        $87,265        $79,589
        Share-based compensation expense:
           -Selling, general and administrative         (5,038)        (4,216)
           - Research and development                   (2,062)        (1,811)
        Amortization of purchased intangibles           (4,499)        (4,881)
        Levitronix transaction costs                    (1,398)             -
    Operating expenses from continuing
     operations on a non-GAAP basis                    $74,268        $68,681
                                                       =======        =======


The following table reconciles the specific items excluded from GAAP other income and expense from continuing operations in the calculation of non-GAAP other income and expense from continuing operations for the periods shown below:

                           THORATEC CORPORATION
     Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Other Income and Expense from
                          Continuing Operations
                               (Unaudited)
                              (in thousands)

                                               Three Months Ended
                                               ------------------
                                            July 2,        July 3,
                                              2011           2010
                                           --------       --------


    Other income (expense) from continuing
     operations on a GAAP basis              $(1,279)       $(2,028)
        Impact of ASC 470-20                   1,244          2,006
    Other income (expense) from continuing
     operations on a non-GAAP basis             $(35)          $(22)
                                                ====           ====



                                                          Six Months Ended
                                                          ----------------
                                                       July 2,       July 3,
                                                         2011          2010
                                                      --------       --------

    Other income (expense) from continuing operations
     on a GAAP basis                                    $(3,404)      $(5,302)
        Impact of ASC 470-20                              3,127         4,040
    Other income (expense) from continuing operations
     on a non-GAAP basis                                  $(277)      $(1,262)
                                                          =====       =======


The following table reconciles the GAAP tax expense adjusted for the tax effect of the adjustments from GAAP net income from continuing operations to non-GAAP net income from continuing operations:

                               THORATEC CORPORATION
     Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Tax Expense from Continuing Operations
                                    (Unaudited)
                                  (in thousands)

                                     Three Months Ended
                                     ------------------
                              July 2, 2011          July 3, 2010
                              ------------          ------------


    Tax expense from
     continuing
     operations on a GAAP
     basis                          $(11,195) 33.9%         $(9,609) 35.4%
        Share-based
         compensation expense
         and other                    (1,532)                (1,041)
        Amortization of
         purchased
         intangibles                    (879)                  (987)
        Impact of adoption of
         ASC 470-20                     (497)                  (802)
        Levitronix
         transaction costs              (557)                     -
        Excess compensation
         limitations                     397                    162
    Tax expense from
     continuing
     operations on a non-
     GAAP basis                     $(14,263) 34.2%        $(12,277) 35.4%
                                    ========               ========



                                      Six Months Ended
                                      ----------------
                              July 2, 2011          July 3, 2010
                              ------------          ------------


    Tax expense from
     continuing
     operations on a GAAP
     basis                          $(19,696) 34.0%        $(16,428) 34.7%
        Share-based
         compensation expense
         and other                    (3,236)                (2,737)
        Amortization of
         purchased
         intangibles                  (1,799)                (1,952)
        Impact of adoption of
         ASC 470-20                   (1,251)                (1,616)
        Levitronix
         transaction costs              (559)                     -
        Excess compensation
         limitations                   1,002                    716
    Tax expense from
     continuing
     operations on a non-
     GAAP basis                     $(25,539) 34.2%        $(22,017) 35.0%
                                    ========               ========


The following table reconciles the guidance on a GAAP basis and non-GAAP basis from continuing operations for the periods shown below:

                        THORATEC CORPORATION
    Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP  Forward-Looking Guidance
                            (Unaudited)
             (in thousands, except for per share data)

    Gross margin                      For the Fiscal Year Ended 2011
                                      ------------------------------
                                      From                   To
                                      ----                   ---

    Gross margin on a GAAP
     basis                                68.50%                69.50%
        Share-based
         compensation expense              0.50%                 0.50%
    Gross margin on a non-
     GAAP basis                           69.00%                70.00%
                                          =====                 =====


    Operating expenses
     growth                        For the Fiscal Year Ended 2011
                                   ------------------------------
                                      From                   To
                                      ----                   ---

     Increase in operating
      expense on a GAAP basis             17.00%                19.00%
        Share-based
         compensation expense             -1.00%                -1.00%
        Amortization of
         intangibles                      -0.70%                -0.70%
        Levitronix transaction
         costs                            -0.30%                -0.30%
     Increase in operating
      expense on a non-GAAP
      basis                               15.00%                17.00%
                                          =====                 =====





    Net income per diluted
     share reconciliation          For the Fiscal Year Ended 2011
                                   ------------------------------
                                      From                   To
                                      ----                   ---

    Net income per diluted
     share on a GAAP basis                $1.05                 $1.15
        Share-based
         compensation expense              0.18                  0.18
        Amortization of
         purchased intangibles             0.09                  0.09
        Impact of adoption of
         ASC 470-20                        0.03                  0.03
        Levitronix transaction
         costs                             0.04                  0.04
        Income tax effect of
         non-GAAP income before
         tax                               0.01                  0.01
    Net income per diluted
     share on a non-GAAP
     basis                                $1.40                 $1.50
                                          =====                 =====

    Shares used  in
     calculation of net
     income per diluted
     share --GAAP and non-
     GAAP                                63,000           63,000


Thoratec is a world leader in therapies to address advanced-stage heart failure. The company’s products include the HeartMate LVAS and Thoratec VAD (Ventricular Assist Device) with more than 18,000 devices implanted in patients suffering from heart failure. Thoratec is headquartered in Pleasanton, California. For more information, visit the company’s web site at http://www.thoratec.com.

Thoratec, the Thoratec logo, HeartMate, HeartMate II and GoGear are registered trademarks of Thoratec Corporation. CentriMag and PediMag are registered trademarks of Thoratec LLC, and PediVAS is a registered trademark of Levitronix Medical GmbH, which is being renamed as Thoratec Switzerland GmbH in connection with the transaction.

Many of the preceding paragraphs, particularly but not exclusively those addressing guidance for fiscal 2011 financial results or future performance, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements can be identified by the words, “believes,” “views,” “expects,” “plans,” “projects,” “hopes,” “could,” “will,” and other similar words. Actual results, events or performance could differ materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of factors, many of which are beyond Thoratec’s control. Therefore, readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these statements. Investors are cautioned that all such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including risks related to regulatory approvals, the development of new products and new markets including Destination Therapy, the growth of existing markets for our products, customer and physician acceptance of Thoratec products, changes in the mix of existing markets for our products and related gross margin for such product sales, the ability to improve financial performance, the effects of FDA regulatory requirements, our ability to address issues raised by FDA inspections adequately and on a timely basis without a recall of products or interruption of manufacturing or shipment of products, the effects of healthcare reimbursement and coverage policies, the effects of seasonality on Thoratec product sales, the effects of competition and the effects of any merger, acquisition and divestiture related activities. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release should be considered in light of these factors and those factors discussed from time to time in Thoratec’s public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as those discussed under the heading, “Risk Factors,” in Thoratec’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and in Thoratec’s first quarter 2011 quarterly report on Form 10-Q, and as may be updated in subsequent SEC filings. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Thoratec undertakes no obligation to publicly release the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

SOURCE Thoratec Corporation

Research Explores How Breast Cancer Spreads And New Ways To Treat It

Innovative studies to prevent and slow metastatic breast cancer presented at the Era of Hope conference

Research into new methods to prevent and slow metastatic breast cancer will be presented this week at the Era of Hope conference, a scientific meeting hosted by the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program (BCRP). Approximately 6 percent of women with breast cancer will have metastatic disease upon diagnosis, and up to 30 percent of node-negative and 70 percent of node-positive breast cancers will relapse. 1 Common sites for breast cancer to spread are to the lungs, liver, brain and bones.

Studies presented at Era of Hope evaluate early research on a vaccine for HER2+ breast cancer that has stopped responding to treatment is entering human clinical trials later this year will also be discussed.

“New treatments for metastatic breast cancer are needed, as many patients become resistant to existing therapies,” said Captain Melissa Kaime, M.D., Director of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP), under which the BCRP is managed. “The novel studies presented at Era of Hope explore a number of promising pathways for treatment and new targets for preventing the spread of cancer.”

Dissecting Tumor Stromal Interactions in Breast Cancer Bone Metastasis
Principal Investigator: Yibin Kang, PhD, Princeton University

Between 60 and 80 percent of late-stage breast cancer patients eventually face bone metastasis. 2 Discovering bone metastasis genes that are clinically relevant and functionally important are critical for the development of novel therapeutics for breast cancer patients.

In this study, a multidisciplinary approach was applied to analyze the molecular basis of breast cancer bone metastasis, combining tools to analyze genomic information with animal models and clinical analysis of cancer metastasis. Candidate genes, including one dependent on EGFR 3 (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor), and a TGFb (Transforming Growth Factor-beta) target gene called Jagged1 were identified. The study revealed a network of molecular crosstalk between tumor and bone cells using Jagged1 in tumor cells, EGFR in bone cells and TGFb released from damaged bone. Such pathological tumor-host tissue interactions eventually lead to tumor expansion and bone destructions. Targeting these pathways can reduce the development of bone metastasis and provide new avenues for managing the progression of the disease to the bones.

“We are excited to have identified new genetic markers for patients at high risk for bone metastasis, which may provide additional potential targets for preventing and treating the disease,” said Dr. Yibin Kang of Princeton University.

Rapid Translation of a Novel and Potent Vaccine in HER2+ Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients
Principal Investigator: Kim Lyerly, MD, Duke Medical Center

Approximately 20 percent of breast cancers are HER2+, meaning they over-express the HER2 gene, resulting in a particularly aggressive form of the disease.4 The first targeted treatment approved to treat HER2+ breast cancer was Herceptin® (trastuzumab) “” in which the BCRP provided the early funding for research leading to the development of monoclonal antibodies against the HER2 receptor. However, despite its specificity, many patients experience resistance.5 Researchers at Duke University Medical Center evaluated a novel viral vector vaccine combination for testing in trastuzumab-refractory breast cancer patients.

Viruses attack and invade host cells by injecting their DNA as part of their replication process. In vaccine development, viruses can be used in this way to bring disease-fighting genetic information inside human cells.6 In this study, the two viral vectors, an adenovirus construct (Ad-HER2) and an alphavirus VRP construct (VRP-HER2), when used together in animal models have shown to elicit potent immune responses capable of halting the growth of and directly killing human breast cancer cells that are resistant to trastuzumab. Duke researchers, in seeking to prepare and submit an Investigational New Drug (IND) application for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have demonstrated through preclinical research that the vaccine is potent, does not cause tumor development, and is compatible with lapatinib, another treatment specifically targeting HER2+ breast cancer. Both viral vectors are currently undergoing preclinical toxicology studies and are expected to enter the clinic in the third quarter of 2011.

“Patients with HER2+ breast cancer often face the reality of relapse,” said Dr. Kim Lyerly of Duke University Medical Center. “We are excited about continuing this translational-based, cutting-edge vaccine strategy, and potentially bringing them a new way to fight the disease.”

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New Research Shows Crying About It Doesn’t Help

Researchers claim that despite popular sayings, having a good cry does not make anyone feel better.

The researchers collected data from 97 Dutch women between the ages of 18 and 48.  The participants kept diaries monitoring their moods and crying for up to 73 days.

The team looked at the 1,004 “detailed crying episodes,” and showed that nearly two-thirds of women studied did not feel better after crying.

During the study, crying days were marked by generally worse moods than on other days. 

The negative mood following crying lasted for up to two days.

Sixty-one percent of women did not report an improved mood after crying.  However, they also did not report feeling any worse afterwards.

Nine percent of the participants said crying made them feel worse, while 30 percent felt better after crying.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the average women cried 10 times during the study, while one woman cried 52 times.

Crying with one other person was reported to be more positive than crying alone.

A third of the participants who did feel better after crying said “screaming and body movements” was even more beneficial.

Jonathan Rottenberg, an associate professor of psychology at the University of South Florida in Tampa, and the study’s lead author, said rather than encouraging people to cry, it makes more sense to encourage them to reach out to their group of friends.

“When crying helps it’s likely not because of the tears but because it recruits social support and draws attention to important problems,” Rottenberg told MSNBC.

The research was published in the Journal of Research in Personality.

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First Large Study To Find HIV Epidemic Among Gays In The Middle East

HIV epidemics are emerging in several countries in the Middle East and North Africa among men who have sex with men, a term that encompasses gay, non-gay identified homosexual men, and transgendered and bisexual men.

Though HIV infection levels were historically very low in the Middle East and North Africa, substantial levels of HIV transmission have been found, beginning in 2003, among men who have sex with men, a hidden and stigmatized population in this part of the world. These findings are published today in PLoS Medicine and represent the first study of its kind.

“The Middle East and North Africa can no longer be seen as a region immune to the HIV epidemic. Based on multiyear analysis of thousands of data sources, we documented a pattern of new HIV epidemics that have just emerged among men who have sex with men in the last few years in several countries of the region,” said Ghina Mumtaz, main author of this study and senior epidemiologist in the infectious disease epidemiology group at Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar.

The study reports that rates of HIV infection among men who have sex with men vary across the region but have already exceeded 5 percent, the threshold defining concentrated epidemics, in several countries such as Egypt, Sudan and Tunisia. In one area of Pakistan, the infection rate among men who have sex with men has already reached 28 percent. Moreover, by 2008, transmission of HIV via anal sex among men was responsible for more than a quarter of reported cases of HIV in several countries in the region. Not all countries, however, conducted studies to assess the level of HIV infection among men who have sex with men, thereby limiting the understanding of the full scale of the problem in the region.

“The level of HIV infection among men who have sex with men tells only half of the story. We also documented high levels of risky practices that will likely expose this population to further HIV transmission in the coming years,” said Dr. Laith Abu-Raddad, principal investigator of the study and Assistant Professor of Public Health at the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group at Weill Cornell Medical College”“Qatar.

Roughly 2ð”Æ’Â percent of males were found to engage in anal sex with other males, a rate that is comparable to that in other regions. These males were typically involved in several types of HIV-related, high-risk behavior. For example, they had between 4 and 14 sexual partners in the past six months and their rates of consistent condom use were generally below 25 percent. In addition, between 20 and 75.5 percent of men who have sex with men exchanged sex for money, and these men commonly had several female sexual partners. The researchers also found a considerable level of intravenous drug use among men who have sex with men.

“There is a narrowing window of opportunity to prevent further epidemics. Policy-makers in the Middle East and North Africa should address this growing health challenge from a public health perspective. This will also limit the potential for HIV transmission to spread to other population groups,” said Ms. Mumtaz.

A few countries in the region have started to develop creative means of dealing with this public health issue through the establishment of surveillance systems and support for non-governmental organizations that deliver HIV services. However, the authors emphasized that these programs need to be expanded in scale and initiated in all countries to achieve a substantial impact.

“There is no escaping that countries in the region need to massively expand HIV surveillance systems and access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment services. We need to be ahead of the epidemic, not trailing behind it and wishing we had acted earlier,” stressed Dr. Abu-Raddad.

“This work by Dr. Abu-Raddad, Ms. Mumtaz, and their colleagues is of very high importance, not least because of its timeliness,” remarks Dr. Alvin I. Mushlin, chairman of the Department of Public Health at Weill Cornell Medical College and the Nanette Laitman Distinguished Professor of Public Health and professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, and public health physician-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. “As Dr. Abu-Raddad notes, effective public health efforts to prevent or curtail infectious disease epidemics depend on both understanding the epidemiology and putting into place proactive interventions based on the findings of these studies.”

Key Scientific Findings of the Study

    * The fraction of men who have sex with men who are infected with HIV ranged between 0 and 28 percent across the Middle East ““ North Africa region.

    * The HIV epidemics among men who have sex with men have emerged after 2003 and some of them have grown rapidly. Increasingly, case notification reports document a rising contribution of anal sex between men as the mode of HIV transmission.

    * Roughly 2-3 percent of men engage in sexual relations with other men in this region, and these men are typically involved in several types of HIV-related high-risk behavior. This indicates a potential for further epidemics and HIV transmission among this population group.

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Texas Children’s Hospital Leads the Way By Feeding 100 Percent Breast Milk to Low Birth Weight Infants in NICU

Experts believe breast milk is still best, especially for premature babies. Hospital encourages moms to donate excess milk to local milk bank

HOUSTON, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Because of the proven health benefits for infants, Texas Children’s Hospital advocates feeding breast milk to babies and encourages breastfeeding moms nationwide to donate to their local milk bank. Not only does the hospital provide numerous breastfeeding support services, it also follows a protocol of feeding 100 percent breast milk to its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) babies weighing less than 3.3 pounds and relies on donated breast milk from moms to supply critically ill NICU babies with the nutrients they need.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110803/DC46793 )

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110802/MM45495 )

Studies have shown that premature infants who are exclusively fed human breast milk have lower incidences of developing an often fatal intestinal infection called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and other complications such as gastrointestinal disturbances. Since implementing the feeding protocol in 2009, Texas Children’s Hospital reports that NEC rates in its NICU have decreased from the national average of 10-12 percent to just two percent.

“We are fortunate to have some of the world’s experts in human milk feeding in premature infants and human donor milk is part of our comprehensive nutritional program at Texas Children’s Newborn Center to ensure the safe growth of our high-risk infants,” said Dr. Stephen E. Welty, chief of neonatology and head of the Newborn Center at Texas Children’s Hospital’s and professor of pediatrics-neonatology in the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. “We have seen marked improvement in outcomes of our high risk infants since implementing our feeding protocol,” he said.

Because shortages of breast milk often occur, breastfeeding expert Nancy Hurst, Ph.D., RN and director of Women’s Support Services at Texas Children’s, encourages breastfeeding mothers nationwide to consider donating their extra breast milk to a milk bank in their area to help save lives and ensure that vulnerable babies have the best outcomes.

“The evidence is overwhelming that a mother’s milk is absolutely the best nutrition a baby can have, which is why we feed only breast milk to the babies in our NICU,” said Hurst, who is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. “We depend on the generous women who see the need and donate their extra breast milk to our critically ill babies — their gift touches so many lives.”

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, says Hurst, an ideal time to raise awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding and underscore the ongoing need for donated breast milk. Texas Children’s is dedicated to providing a variety of lactation and breastfeeding support services to families and patients including a milk bank, breastfeeding classes, lactation support via email and breast pumps.

Nationally recognized as a leading pediatric hospital, Texas Children’s Hospital is preparing to move into its new Pavilion for Women, expanding its maternity and women’s services. The new pavilion will also be a 100 percent breast milk facility and is scheduled to begin delivering babies in spring 2012. Currently in the final stages of construction in the Texas Medical Center, the 15-story, state-of-the-art Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women will be one of the nation’s premier facilities for women’s, fetal and newborn health, offering a full continuum of comprehensive family-centered care, beginning before conception and continuing after delivery. Outpatient services are scheduled to be open first, in winter 2011 with inpatient services slated for next spring.

About Texas Children’s Hospital
Texas Children’s Hospital, a not-for-profit organization, is committed to creating a community of healthy children through excellence in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the nation, Texas Children’s has recognized Centers of Excellence in multiple pediatric subspecialties including the Cancer and Heart Centers, and operates the largest primary pediatric care network in the country. Texas Children’s is completing a $1.5 billion expansion, which includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; and Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston. For more information on Texas Children’s, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news from Texas Children’s by visiting the online newsroom and on Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.


    Contact:   Veronika Javor Romeis         or   Christy Brunton
               Carbonara Group                    Texas Children's Hospital
               713-837-6289  (c)                  281-684-3184  (c)
               713-524-8170  (o)                  832-473-6380  (o)
                [email protected]       [email protected]

Available Topic Experts: For information on the listed experts, click appropriate link.
Nancy Hurst – http://www.profnetconnect.com/Nancy_Hurst
Stephen Welty – http://www.profnetconnect.com/Stephen_Welty

SOURCE Texas Children’s Hospital

New Survey Reveals Pharmacists Are Increasingly Struggling to Care for Patients Amid Predatory Audits, Unfair Reimbursement Practices

Trend Threatens Pharmacists’ Participation in Medicare, Health Plans

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A new survey of 1,850 members of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) released today has identified two rising problems that are increasingly undermining the trusted, cost-saving patient care that millions of seniors and other Americans rely on from independent community pharmacists.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100106/DC33253LOGO)

NCPA asked community pharmacists about their experiences with pharmacy audits and generic-drug reimbursement limits (known as “maximum allowable costs” or MACs). Employers and health plans often contract audit and MAC-setting responsibilities to controversial, middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which also operate mail order facilities that compete with local pharmacies.

The survey produced two main findings. First, the pharmacy audits, rather than concentrating on true fraud, often punish pharmacies severely for trivial issues (e.g., a busy physician misspelling a patient’s name or writing the incorrect date). Second, pharmacies are not privy to basic reimbursement (MAC) methodology prior to signing contracts with health plans and find that, during the life of contract, those MAC limits are both lowered arbitrarily and raised belatedly in response to generic drug cost increases. The 1,850 survey respondents represent a significant increase from the 107 responses received to a similar survey in 2010, which would seem to indicate that the severity of these issues is rising.

“Ostensibly, pharmacies are audited to guard against fraud, whereas payment caps are established to ensure appropriate reimbursement for generic drugs,” said NCPA Executive Vice President and CEO B. Douglas Hoey, RPh, MBA. “However, this survey indicates that both have gone well beyond their intended purpose, while padding windfall PBM profits. Left unchecked, these practices will further undermine both the pharmacists’ ability to care for patients, as well as the viability of small business, community pharmacies and the local jobs and taxes they provide.”

Among the survey’s findings:

  • Excessive audits are decreasing the time pharmacists can devote to patients. Illustrating the compliance burden, 62 percent considered the audit requirements to be completely inconsistent from one health plan to another; 48 percent of pharmacists report auditors asking them to justify claims that are two years old or older; and, of the pharmacists who report having appealed a PBM audit, 81 percent describe that process as burdensome and unsatisfactory;
  • 98 percent say PBM record keeping requirements go beyond state and federal law and that even minor, incidental instances of noncompliance are harshly penalized by commission-driven auditors;
  • Community pharmacies must sign “blind”, take-it-or-leave-it contracts with large PBMs to maintain access to patients. Nearly all (91 percent) community pharmacists report receiving little or no information justifying how PBMs arrive at reimbursement rates for generic drugs and how often the prices will be updated to reflect a pharmacy’s cost;
  • 71 percent of pharmacists tried to use the PBM’s appeals process when they believed that the reimbursement caps, or MACs, did not reflect the pharmacy’s costs. Many pharmacists complained about the one-sided nature of the appeals process and noted that MAC-based reimbursement can take months to increase after drug costs spike (and is virtually never done retroactively), but is reduced immediately when prices go down; and
  • Finally, when asked how PBM reimbursement and auditing practices affect pharmacists’ ability to provide patient care and remain in business, 97 percent said it was a significant or very significant factor.

To see pharmacist quotes which are representative of the findings above read “2011 PBM Audit Survey Stories” available here.

“The inappropriate use of prescription medication is already estimated to cost as much as $290 billion annually,” Hoey added. “In addition, community pharmacists dispense lower-cost generic drugs over 20 percent more often than mail order, which favors more expensive alternatives. Government and private payers deserve measures that prevent fraud but the survey suggests that PBMs are overplaying their market dominance and picking the pocket of small business owners based on technicalities and rules rigged to penalize legitimate prescriptions. The survey also looked at the PBM’s appeals processes and the findings suggest that they are mostly window dressing designed to frustrate pharmacies until they give up. Considering the emphasis PBMs place on moving prescription business out of communities and into their own mail order pharmacies, one has to wonder if there is underlying motivation.

Hoey concluded, “Medicare, in particular, is a program in which community pharmacists play a vital role helping seniors. We urge the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to use their authority to issue guidance to plans about legitimate audits designed to catch true fraud and require a prompt appeals process. For these and other reasons, Congress should move to hold hearings and pass the bipartisan Pharmacy Competition and Consumer Choice Act.”

The Pharmacy Competition and Consumer Choice Act of 2011 (S. 1058/H.R. 1971) would attempt to address these abusive practices. The bill, opposed by the major PBMs due to its potential affect on their earnings and their executives’ Wall Street-inspired compensation packages, would:

  • Prohibit unfair penalizing of pharmacies for typographical/recordkeeping errors and keep the focus of audits on the actual pursuit of fraud.
  • Prohibit forcing patients to use a specific pharmacy (retail, mail, specialty) if the PBM has an ownership interest in that pharmacy (or vice versa).
  • Prohibit PBMs from requiring more stringent recordkeeping than state or federal law/regulation.
  • Allow for a written appeals process and require disclosure of audit recoupment to the sponsor.
  • Allow pharmacies access to basic methodology for determining reimbursement rates and require those rates to be updated frequently.

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA®) represents the interests of America’s community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 independent community pharmacies, pharmacy franchises, and chains. Together they represent a $93 billion health-care marketplace, have more than 315,000 employees including 62,400 pharmacists, and dispense over 41% of all retail prescriptions. To learn more go to www.ncpanet.org or read NCPA’s blog, The Dose, at http://ncpanet.wordpress.com.

SOURCE National Community Pharmacists Association

Lifestyle Of Centenarians Not Always Healthier

According to researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in New York, regular exercise, drinking in moderation and watching what you eat makes no difference to your chances of reaching the century mark.

Researchers studied nearly 500 people between the ages of 95 and 109 and compared them with more than 3,000 others born during the same period. They found that those who lived long lives ate, drank and smoked just as much as those who hadn’t lived as long, and also had just as little exercise and were as likely to be overweight as their long-gone counterparts.

The findings, published Wednesday in the online edition of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, suggests that protective longevity genes may be more important than lifestyle behaviors when it comes to living a long life.

Nir Barzilai, M.D., the Ingeborg and Ira Leon Rennert Chair of Aging Research and director of the Institute for Aging Research at Einstein, and his colleagues interviewed 477 Ashkenazi Jews who were living independently and were 95 years old or older — 75 percent of which were female. The participants were enrolled in the college’s Longevity Genes Project, an ongoing study that seeks to understand why centenarians live as long as they do.

Descended from a small founder group, Ashkenazi Jews are more genetically uniform than other populations, making it easier to spot gene differences that are present.

The elderly participants were asked about their lifestyles at age 70, considered representative of the lifestyle they had followed for most of their adult lives. They answered questions on their weight and height so the researchers could calculate their body mass index (BMI). The participants also provided information about their alcohol use, smoking habits, physical activity, and their diets.

To compare these individuals with the general population, the team used data from more than 3,100 people who had been born around the same time as the centenarians and were examined between 1971 and 1975 while participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The researchers found that overall, people with exceptional longevity did not have healthier lifestyle choices than the comparison group in terms of BMI, smoking, physical activity, or diet. They found that 27 percent of the elderly women and an equal percentage of women in the general population attempted to eat a low-calorie diet. Among long-living men, 24 percent consumed alcohol on a daily basis, compared with 22 percent of the general population. And only 43 percent of male centenarians reported engaging in regular exercise of moderate intensity, compared with 57 percent of men in the comparison group.

“In previous studies of our centenarians, we’ve identified gene variants that exert particular physiology effects, such as causing significantly elevated levels of HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol,” said Dr. Barzilai, who is also professor of medicine and of genetics at Einstein. “This study suggests that centenarians may possess additional longevity genes that help to buffer them against the harmful effects of an unhealthy lifestyle.”

The research did find, however, that overweight centenarians tended to have lower rates of obesity than the control group. Although male and female centenarians were just as likely to be overweight as their counterparts in the general population, the centenarians were significantly less likely to become obese. Only 4.5 percent of male centenarians were obese compared with 12.1 percent of controls; and for women, 9.6 percent of centenarians were obese versus 16.2 percent of controls. Both of these differences are statistically significant.

“Although this study demonstrates that centenarians can be obese, smoke and avoid exercise, those lifestyle habits are not good choices for most of us who do not have a family history of longevity,” said Dr. Barzilai. “We should watch our weight, avoid smoking and be sure to exercise, since these activities have been shown to have great health benefits for the general population, including a longer lifespan.”

But critics argued the individuals themselves had lived healthier lives than others, and it was this that was more important for longevity.

While longevity genes may protect centenarians from bad habits, a vast majority of the population rely heavily on healthier lifestyle choices.

Prof Barzilai emphasized that the research did not mean most people could live unhealthy lives and not expect to pay a price in the end. “Although this study demonstrates that centenarians can be obese, smoke and avoid exercise, those lifestyle habits are not good choices for most of us who do not have a family history of longevity,” he told the Telegraph.

“We should watch our weight, avoid smoking and be sure to exercise, since these activities have been shown to have great health benefits for the general population, including a longer lifespan,” said Barzilai, noting he was horrified when, after a television appearance, a man addressed him in Starbucks and said he would never exercise again, because his grandmother had lived to 102.

The group of centenarians in the study said they believed good genes were the main reason they were able to live a long life, followed by diet and physical activity. And surprisingly enough, “God, religion or spirituality” did not get much credit, cited by only seven percent of women and 2.5 percent of men in the study.

The US Census Bureau estimates there were nearly 425,000 people aged 95 or older in the US in 2010. That is only a fraction of the 40 million US adults over the age of 65.
ã

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SO-VIM, Inc. Launches Soma Greens & Grains, the First True Super Food Concentrate

BOCA RATON, Fla., Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — So-Vim, Inc. (www.so-vim.com ) expands product line with Soma Greens & Grains, a revolutionary 100% all natural super food concentrate. It is the first product of its kind in the world. The product is in a category of its own because of its trade secret nutrient extraction and formulation process. So-Vim extracts the beneficial nutrients from 20 different lettuces and 10 kinds of sprouts. The extracted nutrients come in an easy to use palatable liquid concentrate. So-Vim starts with organic seeds that are grown in organic soil. The produce comes straight from the farm at its highest nutritional state for the extraction process. No heat, light, or harsh solvents are used. Our proprietary manufacturing method ensures maximum benefit to every cell, gland, organ and system in the body. This combination of food extracts delivers hundreds upon hundreds of vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, enzymes, amino acids, chlorophyll, flavonoids, antioxidants and a treasure of phytonutrients.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110803/FL46267 )

According to Steve Kushner, Ph.D., Nutritional Formulator and Director of R& D of So-Vim, Inc.: “Soma Greens& Grains is unlike anything that has ever been available in the marketplace. In formulating So-Vim products, my priority is to create the highest quality innovative nutritional products that help people and have a positive impact on their health.”

Soma Greens & Grains is the third product for So-Vim, Inc. The dynamic new network marketing company is rocketing to great heights. Founded in January 2011 by well recognized and respected industry leaders the company is experiencing unprecedented growth. So-Vim’s other products to date are SomaPower and SomaLean.

For more information on So-Vim products or how to become a So-Vim Independent Distributor, visit www.so-vim.com or call 877-359-8617.

Follow us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/sovimproducts


    Contacts:                                 So-Vim, Inc.
                                              John Neubauer, CEO
                                              Email:  [email protected]

                                               Susan Gorstayn, Administrative
                                               Director
                                              Phone:  877-359-8617
                                              Email:   [email protected]

SOURCE SO-VIM, INC.

Merck Chimie to Deliver CardioGenics Beads to Select Customers for Testing

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — CardioGenics Holdings Inc. (OTCBB: CGNH) announced today that Merck Chimie has informed the Company that it intends to begin shipping commercial lots of CardioGenics’ proprietary magnetic beads (with CardioGenics’ proprietary encapsulation) to select Merck Chimie customers on or about September 30, 2011.

The CardioGenics beads are being shipped to select customers for testing. After testing the beads, Merck Chimie’s customers will then have the opportunity to purchase commercial lots of the CardioGenics beads for their continued use. In the mean time, Merck Chimie will continue refining its encapsulation of CardioGenics’ magnetic beads.

“We are very pleased that Merck Chimie has finalized a timetable for getting CardioGenics’ proprietary beads into the hands of its customers for testing,” said Dr. Yahia Gawad, CEO of CardioGenics. “Testing of our magnetic beads by these select customers is a key step in opening the door for volume sales to Merck Chimie’s substantial customer base,” continued Dr. Gawad.

The Company also announced that it will be scheduling an “online investor conference” shortly, at which Dr. Gawad will be making a presentation on the status of the Company’s magnetic beads business, which is operated through its Luxspheres subsidiary. The details for the online conference will be confirmed in a future press release.

About CardioGenics Holdings Inc.

Through its operating subsidiaries, the Company develops ultra-sensitive analyzers and other products targeting the immunoassay segment of the Point-Of-Care IVD testing market. It has developed the QL Care(TM) Analyzer, a proprietary and ultra-sensitive Point-Of-Care immuno-analyzer, which will run a number of diagnostic tests under development, the first of which will be a series of cardiovascular diagnostic tests. As part of its core proprietary technology, the Company has also developed a proprietary method for silver coating paramagnetic microspheres (a fundamental platform component of immunoassay equipment), which improve instrument sensitivity to light. The Company’s proprietary microspheres technology and SAVAsphere(TM) magnetic beads are developed and marketed through the Company’s Luxspheres subsidiary. The Company’s principal offices are located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. For more information please visit www.cardiogenics.com and www.luxspheres.com.

Safe Harbor Statement – Certain statements made herein that are not historical are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and may contain forward-looking statements, with words such as “anticipate, “believe,” “expect,” “future,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “plan,” “projected,” “intend,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on the Company’s beliefs and the assumptions it made using information currently available to it. Because these statements reflect the Company’s current views concerning future events, these statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The actual results could differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. In any event, undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this press release. Accordingly, reference should be made to the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

SOURCE CardioGenics Holdings Inc.

USANA Awarded the NutriSearch Gold Medal of Achievement(TM)

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NYSE: USNA), a global nutritional supplement company, today announced it was named “Editor’s Choice” in the 5th edition of Lyle MacWilliam’s Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements and has received its prestigious NutriSearch Gold Medal of Achievement. The guide compares over 1,500 nutritional products in North America to an independent nutritional benchmark and tests not only the nutrients included in a supplement, but also “the balance of those ingredients [and] manufacturing practices.”

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110110/LA27593LOGO)

“This is the second year in a row we’ve been awarded the Gold Medal of Achievement from NutriSearch, and we’re honored to continue receiving their highest distinction of honor,” says Dan Macuga, USANA vice president of marketing and public relations. “When you manufacture your own products like we do, it’s always a great feeling to be recognized for a job well done.”

“We believe strongly that quality manufacturing is just as important–maybe even more important–than what’s on the label,” explains the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements website. “That’s where the NutriSearch Medal of Achievement Program comes in… To reach GOLD status, [supplement manufacturers] not only have to demonstrate the highest quality standards, but also subject their product to a third-party, certified analysis of label claims to prove that what’s on the label is also in the bottle.”

USANA, which recently acquired FDA Drug Establishment Registration allowing it to produce over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, models its manufacturing processes after pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The company credits its stringent and well-tuned manufacturing standards for the many third-party approvals and accolades it receives each year.

In the second quarter of 2011, USANA won 15 awards in two months, including “Best Dietary Supplements” from the Utah Best of State Awards. It was their 7th win since 2003. USANA also recently received approval for its CoQuinone 30 and its popular multivitamin, The Essentials, from another third-party organization, ConsumerLab.com–the same organization that named USANA “#1 Overall Merchant for Customer Satisfaction” earlier this year.

“Many companies outsource their manufacturing to a vendor,” says Jim Brown, vice president of international operations. “Since we manufacture the majority of our products in house, we are directly accountable to the FDA and to our users. So it goes without saying that we take safety and quality very seriously.”

For more information about USANA’s products and company, visit www.USANA.com.

About USANA: USANA Health Sciences develops and manufactures high-quality nutritionals, personal care, energy and weight management products that are sold directly to Preferred Customers and Associates throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Learn more at our website (www.USANA.com), read our blog (www.whatsupUSANA.com), like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/usanahealthsciences), or follow us on Twitter (@usanainc)

About the Author: Lyle MacWilliam, MSc, FP, is an author, educator and biochemist who serves as a consultant and public advocate to the natural health products industry. A former Canadian Member of Parliament and provincial Member of the Legislative Assembly for British Columbia, Mr. MacWilliam served at the behest of Canada’s former Minister of Health to help develop an innovative regulatory framework for natural health products, ensuring Canadian consumers access to safe, effective and high quality nutritional supplements. As a consultant to the natural health products industry, he continues to work with major nutritional manufacturers in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and China. Mr. MacWilliam has also served as a contributory writer to Life Extension Foundation, a leading advocate of anti-aging medicine, and has been a consultant to Environment Canada, Human Resources Development Canada, and the British Columbia Science Council. He is a member of the Society of Industry Leaders, an international organization bringing together authorities from all fields in a global network connecting industry veterans and academic professionals with institutional investors.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Ashley Collins
USANA Director of Marketing, Public Relations & Social Media
(801) 954-7629
Ashley.Collins (at) us.usana.com

SOURCE USANA Health Sciences, Inc.

What You Don’t Know About Calcium Supplements May Shock You, According to Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND

HOUSTON, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — As children we’re taught that our bodies need calcium to grow tall and healthy. As adults, we learn that calcium helps keep our bones strong and our minds sharp. By the time we reach our golden years, most of us will be taking dietary calcium supplements and consuming plenty of calcium foods under doctor’s recommendation. The problem is some popular forms of calcium may actually cause the body more harm than good.

“People have a false sense of security when it comes to vitamins and minerals, especially calcium supplements,” says Dr. Edward Group III, DC, ND a leading authority on alternative and complementary medicine. “They assume that simply because calcium supplements have made it onto store shelves, that they’re effective and safe.”

The bulk of calcium supplements found in stores are made from either calcium carbonate or calcium citrate. Both of which are difficult for the body to utilize, and carry side effects with excessive use.

Besides dietary supplements, calcium carbonate is commonly found in chalk, antacids, masonry, and commercially manufactured paper. It has also been associated with increased risk of heart attack, especially in older women. Calcium citrate, also common in over-the-counter supplements, carries similar risks and is known to be toxic in larger doses.

“Calcium orotate is by far the most bio-available and safest form of the mineral,” says Dr. Group. “Unlike other forms, calcium orotate is completely non-toxic and able to penetrate deep into the cells, bones, cartilage and other tissues.” He also points out that quality calcium supplements also usually contain other minerals that help the body absorb and make use of calcium.

“We’re not just talking about vitamin D here either,” expands Dr. Group, “Magnesium, specifically the orotate form, is a good one to keep an eye out for. It’s usually the sign of a top-shelf calcium supplement and the only one I would recommend for healthy living.”

When it comes to taking a calcium supplement, you should always take a close look at what kind of calcium is listed on the label. There are many differences in the various types of calcium, so what you may be taking, may not be giving you the benefits you desire.

SOURCE Dr. Group

Vantage Health South African Subsidiary Negotiates Supply Agreement With Major South African Retail Group

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Aug. 02, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Vantage Health (OTC:BB – ticker symbol VNTH), (“Vantage”), announced today that its 51% owned South African subsidiary, Moxisign (PTY) Ltd., (“Moxisign”), is finalizing a pricing structure for a Supply Agreement with the generic pharmaceutical division of a major Johannesburg Stock Exchange listed retail group. The umbrella Supply Agreement, (“contract”) with the various appendices detailing each pharmaceutical product to be supplied is expected to be fully executed before the end of September, 2011. Because of the time required to have each of Moxisign’s drug dossiers registered with South Africa’s Medicine Control Council (“MCC”) before supply can begin, the contract is expected to run from January 2013 for a renewable five year term, and will cover various generic pharmaceutical products. As such, and subject to the final Supply Agreement being executed by all relevant parties, revenues from this contract will only be generated once MCC approves each drug dossier. The contract provides for additional generic drugs to be added by Moxisign for the duration of the contract term.

Dr. Lisa Ramakrishnan, President and CEO of Vantage Health, noted: “It has always been our intention to have our Moxisign subsidiary focused on the South African private sector as an adjunct to its public sector efforts. In terms of volume potential, we had, as one of our main priorities, the goal of partnering with an established and significant South African retail entity.”

About Vantage Health

Vantage Health is an African based health care products and medical consumables supply company focused on building its core supply business through government and local partnerships, and alleviating the burden of HIV/AIDS and disease on the African continent. The company currently has two subsidiaries, Moxisign (PTY) Ltd., a South African entity 49% owned by Kopano Ke Matla Investment Company, the investment arm of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (“COSATU”), and Vantage Health Tanzania Limited, 49% owned by Tanzanian investors. Vantage Health intends to create a healthcare company with a dominant presence in sub Saharan Africa in the pharmaceutical/medical supply and manufacturing sectors, as well as the construction of hospitals, maternal obstetric units, and clinics.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that, if they never materialize or if they prove incorrect, could cause the Company’s results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any projections of earnings, revenue, or other financial items, any statements of the plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations, any statements concerning proposed new products, services or developments, any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance, statements of belief and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. These statements are based on expectations as of the date of this press release. Actual results may differ materially from those projected because of a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligations and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

Vantage Health is a US company (OTC:BB – ticker symbol VNTH) recently incorporated and public since February 2011 with the goal of providing healthcare related products and services in sub Saharan Africa.

For more information about Vantage Health, please contact:
Dr. Lisa Ramakrishnan / Karen Sylvester
Tel: +27 (0) 21 813 6863
Fax: +27 (0) 86 604 7593
[email protected]
www.vantagehealthgroup.com

SOURCE Vantage Health

Caliper Life Sciences Reports Second Quarter 2011 Results

HOPKINTON, Mass., Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: CALP) today reported its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011. Second quarter revenue increased to $38.3 million, or 32%, from $29.1 million in the same period of 2010. Organic revenue, which excludes the effects of acquisitions, divestitures and currency changes, grew by 23% over the second quarter of 2010 (24% on a year-to-date basis). Caliper reported a second quarter net loss of $0.06 per share compared to net income per share of $0.18 in the same period of 2010, which resulted from the gain on the divestiture of Caliper’s former specialty products business. Caliper had second quarter non-GAAP adjusted earnings of $1.0 million, or $0.02 per diluted share compared to break-even non-GAAP adjusted earnings per share in the same period of 2010, as well as EBITDA of $2.7 million in the second quarter, which was an 84% improvement over the second quarter of 2010.

Please refer to the tables included under “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for itemized reconciliations between GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures appearing in this release.

Among recent business highlights:

  • Caliper announced on July 26 that its LabChip Dx instrument has achieved CE IVD registration which allows the LabChip Dx to be used to process clinical patient samples in Europe. The LabChip Dx currently runs tests from the Seeplex® menu of diagnostic assays from Seegene Inc. and is marketed outside of the United States through Seegene’s international distributor network.
  • Caliper announced new collaborations during the second quarter for NGS sample preparation and quality control platforms with Roche Nimblegen, EdgeBio and The Genome Analysis Centre, involving the use of Caliper’s NGS platform solutions, including the Sciclone® NGS workstation and the LabChip GX and LabChip XT instruments.
  • Caliper completed the integration and transfer of Cambridge Research & Instrumentation, Inc.’s (CRi) manufacturing operations from Woburn, Mass. to its Hopkinton, Mass. headquarters, resulting in closure of the Woburn facility in the second quarter. The shutdown occurred one quarter earlier than initially projected.
  • Caliper hosted its 2011 annual Caliper Owners Group (COG 2011) meeting on May 17 and 18 at its Hopkinton headquarters. This thought-leadership conference brought together leaders in life sciences research, drug discovery, and diagnostics to discuss the technologies and discoveries that are transforming the detection and treatment of disease, and making personalized medicine a reality. More than 350 customers attended the event, which featured 45 presentations from researchers representing life sciences companies, universities and other institutions.

“We are pleased with our second quarter financial results and the strategic progress we made in the quarter,” commented Kevin Hrusovsky, President and CEO of Caliper Life Sciences. “We had a robust quarter in our Research business unit due to strong ongoing adoption of our NGS sample preparation solutions, molecular diagnostics penetration with the LabChip Dx, and continued LabChip GX adoption driven by biotherapeutic and vaccine development. In addition, our recently announced CE IVD approval opens up new market opportunities in Europe for the LabChip Dx, and enhances our clinical diagnostics long-term growth potential. We are particularly pleased that our strategic transformation designed to commercialize disruptive technologies for revolutionizing and personalizing medicine is gaining momentum and traction in all target markets,” added Hrusovsky.

Analysis of Second Quarter 2011 Results

  • GAAP revenue increased 32% in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the same period in 2010. Non-GAAP revenues grew 37% in the second quarter of 2011 compared to the same period of 2010, comprised of 23% organic growth, 10% acquisition-driven growth and 4% favorable currency benefit. Non-GAAP revenue growth for each of Caliper’s three principal business units was as follows:
    • Research revenue grew 52%, comprised of microfluidics (LabChip) and automation product line growth of 51% and 53%, respectively. Both LabChip and automation growth was driven by end market demand for Caliper’s analytical and preparative NGS sample preparation and quality control platforms. LabChip revenues also benefitted from increasing market adoption of Caliper’s LabChip Dx instrument for multiplex molecular diagnostic analysis, for which CE IVD approval was recently received, and an increase in microfluidics intellectual property license revenue.
    • Imaging revenue grew 23% driven primarily by tissue imaging products added to Caliper’s imaging platform capabilities as a result of its acquisition of CRi in December 2010. In vivo imaging revenues were relatively flat quarter over quarter due primarily to some delayed funding situations in certain academic and commercial accounts, and to a lesser extent to the product mix sold during the quarter.
    • Services (CDAS) revenue grew 82% primarily attributable to revenues from CDAS’ contract with the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) under the EPA’s ToxCast(TM) screening program.
  • Total gross margin was relatively flat at 52% compared to the second quarter of 2010 due to unfavorable changes in revenue and sales channel mix which partially offset the incremental contribution that overall higher revenues had upon gross margin.
  • Operating expenses (research and development, and selling, general and administrative costs) increased 27% to $19.1 million, from $15.0 million in the same period in 2010. Approximately one-half of the increase was attributable to incremental operating expenses incurred as a result of the addition of CRi’s operations. The remainder of the expense increase resulted primarily from increased investment in sales and marketing efforts and increased legal expenses due to litigation which was ongoing during the second quarter.
  • Caliper recorded a restructuring charge of approximately $1.3 million in the second quarter related to the closure of the CRi facility in Woburn, Mass. Caliper also recorded a charge of approximately $1.1 million, in addition to scheduled amortization, to write-off certain in-process research and development assets deemed to no longer have value.

2011 Guidance

Caliper is currently projecting 2011 full year GAAP revenue between $146 and $152 million. In addition, the Company estimates third quarter revenues in the range of $33 to $36 million. Caliper will provide further details on its business outlook during the conference call today.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Caliper supplements its GAAP financial reporting with certain non-GAAP financial measures. Reconciliations of Caliper’s GAAP to non-GAAP revenue and earnings per share are provided at the end of this release under “Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Certain revenue growth percentages in this press release are derived from non-GAAP revenues which exclude the impact of revenue from product and services lines which were divested in the second quarter of 2010. Caliper believes that providing this additional information enhances investors’ understanding of the financial performance of the Company’s operations and increases the comparability of its current financial statements to prior periods.

Caliper will discuss its second quarter results in a conference call to be held today at 5:00 pm ET. Participants should call 888.680.0860 five to ten minutes prior to the call and use the participant passcode of 39159073. International callers can access the call by dialing 617.213.4852 and entering the same passcode. You may also pre-register for the call at https://www.theconferencingservice.com/prereg/key.process?key=P8J9TBCRA.

A live webcast of the call can be accessed at www.earnings.com or on the Caliper website at www.caliperLS.com in the Events section of the Investor Relations page. A webcast replay of the call will remain available until Caliper’s earnings call for the third quarter of 2011.

Telephone replays of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the completion of the call. To access a telephone playback of the proceedings from August 2 to August 9, dial 888.286.8010 and passcode 70172145. International callers can access the playback by dialing 617.801.6888 and using the same participant passcode.

About Caliper Life Sciences

Caliper Life Sciences is a premier provider of cutting-edge technologies enabling researchers in the life sciences industry to create life-saving and enhancing medicines and diagnostic tests more quickly and efficiently. Caliper is aggressively innovating new technology to bridge the gap between in vitro assays and in vivo results, enabling the translation of those results into cures for human disease. Caliper’s portfolio of offerings includes state-of-the-art microfluidics, lab automation & liquid handling, optical imaging technologies, and discovery & development outsourcing solutions. For more information please visit www.caliperLS.com.

The statements in this press release regarding future events, including Caliper’s 2011 full year and third quarter GAAP revenue projections, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors, including that Caliper’s expectations regarding demand for its products and services may not materialize if capital spending by Caliper’s customers declines, if customers do not purchase the recently acquired CRi products as rapidly as Caliper believes that they will, or if competitors introduce new competitive products, or if Caliper is unable to convince potential customers regarding the superior performance of its microfluidic and imaging systems and products. Further information on risks faced by Caliper are detailed under the caption “Risks Related To Our Business” in Caliper’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010. Our filings are available on a web site maintained by the Securities and Exchange Commission at http://www.sec.gov. Caliper does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking or other statements in this release or the conference call.

NOTE: Caliper, LabChip and Sciclone are registered trademarks of Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. CRi is a registered trademark of Cambridge Research & Instrumentation, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Caliper Life Sciences, Inc. ToxCast is a trademark of the Environmental Protection Agency. Seeplex is a registered trademark of Seegene, Inc.

                           CALIPER LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
                          SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                                   (unaudited)

                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                      (In thousands, except per share data)

                                                Three Months
                                                   Ended
                                                 June 30,
                                                 --------
                                               2011               2010
                                               ----               ----
    Revenue:
    Product revenue                         $26,711            $20,486
    Service revenue                           6,823              5,343
    License fees and contract
     revenue                                  4,807              3,221


    Total revenue                            38,341             29,050

    Costs and expenses:
    Cost of product revenue                  13,602             10,101
    Cost of service revenue                   3,916              3,317
    Cost of license revenue                     971                521
    Research and development                  5,510              4,299
    Selling, general and
     administrative                          13,542             10,745
    Amortization of intangible
     assets                                   2,503              1,226
    Restructuring charges, net                1,399                603


    Total costs and expenses                 41,443             30,812


    Operating loss                           (3,102)            (1,762)
    Interest expense, net                       (50)               (72)
    Gain on divestitures                          -             11,424
    Other income (expense), net                  91                (37)
    Provision for income taxes                 (178)              (316)

    Net income (loss)                       $(3,239)            $9,237


    Net income (loss) per share,
     basic                                   $(0.06)             $0.18
    Net income (loss) per share,
     diluted                                 $(0.06)             $0.18
    Shares used in computing net
     income (loss) per common
     share, basic                            52,417             50,070
    Shares used in computing net
     income (loss) per common
     share, diluted                          52,417             52,002



                                             Six Months Ended
                                                 June 30,
                                                 --------
                                               2011               2010
                                               ----               ----
    Revenue:
    Product revenue                         $51,653            $40,854
    Service revenue                          14,055             10,424
    License fees and contract
     revenue                                  8,453              6,424


    Total revenue                            74,161             57,702

    Costs and expenses:
    Cost of product revenue                  26,497             20,396
    Cost of service revenue                   7,612              6,507
    Cost of license revenue                   1,616                926
    Research and development                 10,902              8,646
    Selling, general and
     administrative                          27,262             21,604
    Amortization of intangible
     assets                                   3,944              2,480
    Restructuring charges, net                2,263                634


    Total costs and expenses                 80,096             61,193


    Operating loss                           (5,935)            (3,491)
    Interest expense, net                       (85)              (202)
    Gain on divestitures                          -             11,424
    Other income (expense), net                 403               (389)
    Provision for income taxes                 (217)              (323)

    Net income (loss)                       $(5,834)            $7,019


    Net income (loss) per share,
     basic                                   $(0.11)             $0.14
    Net income (loss) per share,
     diluted                                 $(0.11)             $0.14
    Shares used in computing net
     income (loss) per common
     share, basic                            52,236             49,776
    Shares used in computing net
     income (loss) per common
     share, diluted                          52,236             51,812

    Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (unaudited)

    Non-GAAP Earnings and Earnings per Share (see explanation of
    adjustments below)(in thousands except per share data)

                                                        Three Months
                                                            Ended
                                                          June 30,
                                                          --------
                                                        2011            2010
                                                        ----            ----

    GAAP income (loss)                               $(3,239)         $9,237
    GAAP EPS - Basic                                  $(0.06)          $0.18
       Adjustments:
         Acquisition related intangible amortization
          (1)                                         $2,503          $1,226
         Restructuring and severance costs (2)         1,399             603
         Purchase accounting and acquisition related
          costs (3)                                      226               -
         Gain on divestiture of product lines (4)          -         (11,424)
         Taxes related to divestiture gain(4)              -             300
                                                         ---             ---
    Total Adjustments                                 $4,128         $(9,295)

    Per share effect of adjustments, basic             $0.08          $(0.19)
    Non-GAAP adjusted earnings (loss)                   $889            $(58)
    Non-GAAP adjusted earnings (loss) per
     share, basic and diluted                          $0.02          $(0.00)

    Shares used in computing non-GAAP adjusted
     earnings (loss) per share, basic                 52,417          50,070
    Shares used in computing non-GAAP adjusted
     earnings (loss) per share, diluted               56,606          52,002



                                                Six Months Ended
                                                    June 30,
                                                    --------
                                                 2011               2010
                                                 ----               ----

    GAAP income (loss)                        $(5,834)            $7,019
    GAAP EPS - Basic                           $(0.11)             $0.14
       Adjustments:
         Acquisition related intangible
          amortization (1)                     $3,944             $2,480
         Restructuring and severance costs
          (2)                                   2,263                634
         Purchase accounting and acquisition
          related costs (3)                       844                  -
         Gain on divestiture of product lines
          (4)                                       -            (11,424)
         Taxes related to divestiture gain(4)       -                300
                                                  ---                ---
    Total Adjustments                          $7,051            $(8,010)

    Per share effect of adjustments,
     basic                                      $0.13             $(0.16)
    Non-GAAP adjusted earnings (loss)          $1,217              $(991)
    Non-GAAP adjusted earnings (loss)
     per share, basic and diluted               $0.02             $(0.02)

    Shares used in computing non-GAAP
     adjusted earnings (loss) per share,
     basic                                     52,236             49,776
    Shares used in computing non-GAAP
     adjusted earnings (loss) per share,
     diluted                                   56,097             51,812

We use the term “adjusted earnings per share” or “adjusted EPS” to refer to GAAP earnings per share excluding amortization of intangible assets, impairment charges and restructuring and severance costs. Adjusted earnings per share is calculated by subtracting the total per share effect of these adjustments from GAAP EPS.

The adjustments are as follows:

(1) We exclude amortization of intangible assets from this measure because intangible asset amortization charges do not represent what our management believes are the costs of developing, producing, supporting and selling our products and the costs to support our internal operating structure.

(2) We exclude restructuring and severance costs from this measure because they tend to occur as a result of specific events such as acquisitions, divestitures, repositioning our business or other unusual events that could make comparisons of long-range trends difficult and are not reflective of our internal investments and the costs to support our operating structure.

(3) We exclude purchase accounting adjustments and acquisition related costs from this measure because they occur as a result of specific events and are not reflective of our internal investments and the costs to support our operating structure. The costs within 2011 relate to CRi and consist of purchase accounting adjustments to value acquired inventory at fair value as well as a charge to terminate a CRi distributor relationship.

(4) We exclude the net gain related to divestitures of product and service lines from this measure because they tend to occur as a result of specific events and also do not represent what our management and our investors believe are the costs of developing, producing, supporting and selling our products and the costs to support our internal operating structure.

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (unaudited, continued)

Non-GAAP Revenues (in thousands) for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2011


                          GAAP
                          ----
                     2011         2010    Non-GAAP
                     ----         ----    --------
                                       Adjustments
                                                     (1)
                                       ------------
                                             2010
                                             ----
     Imaging      $18,206      $14,826  $         -

       LabChip     11,183        7,412            -
       Automation   7,135        5,811       (1,152)
                    -----        -----       ------
     Research      18,318       13,223       (1,152)

     Services
      (CDAS)        1,817        1,001            -
                    -----        -----          ---
     Total
      revenue     $38,341      $29,050      $(1,152)
                  =======      =======      =======



                           Non-                         Non-
                           GAAP           GAAP          GAAP
                             ----         ----           ----
                                            %
                             2010                   Chg.         % Chg.
                              ----         -----        ------
      Imaging              $14,826            23%           23%

        LabChip              7,412            51%           51%
        Automation           4,659            23%           53%
                             -----           ---           ---
      Research              12,071            39%           52%

      Services
       (CDAS)                1,001            82%           82%
                             -----
      Total
       revenue             $27,898            32%           37%
                           =======

Non-GAAP Revenues (in thousands) for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2011


                          GAAP
                          ----
                     2011         2010    Non-GAAP
                     ----         ----    --------
                                       Adjustments
                                                     (1)
                                       ------------
                                             2010
                                             ----
     Imaging      $37,607      $28,291  $         -

       LabChip     20,013       14,182            -
       Automation  12,464       13,060       (3,610)
                   ------       ------       ------
     Research      32,477       27,242       (3,610)

     Services
      (CDAS)        4,077        2,169            -
                    -----        -----          ---
     Total
      revenue     $74,161      $57,702      $(3,610)
                  =======      =======      =======



                           Non-                         Non-
                           GAAP           GAAP          GAAP
                             ----         ----           ----
                                            %
                             2010                   Chg.         % Chg.
                              ----         -----        ------
      Imaging              $28,291            33%           33%

        LabChip             14,182            41%           41%
        Automation           9,450           (5)%           32%
                             -----           ---           ---
      Research              23,632            19%           37%

      Services
       (CDAS)                2,169            88%           88%
                             -----
      Total
       revenue             $54,092            29%           37%
                           =======


          For purposes of comparing growth rates for each of the three
          principal product and service groups within of our business, the
          above non-GAAP table reconciliations exclude revenues related to
    (1)   the TurboVap and RapidTrace product lines divested in May 2010.
          Currency effects contributed to the above Research growth rates by
          7% and 4% and the above Imaging growth rates by 3% and 2% during
    (2)   the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively.

EBITDA (in thousands)

We use the term “EBITDA” to refer to GAAP earnings excluding interest, depreciation, amortization, non-cash stock compensation and other special items (e.g., restructuring charges). The following is a reconciliation of this Non-GAAP measure:


                            Three Months
                                    Ended         Six Months Ended
                                  June 30,            June 30,
                                  --------            --------
                               2011           2010      2011          2010
                               ----           ----      ----          ----

    GAAP Operating
     Loss                   $(3,102)       $(1,762)  $(5,935)      $(3,491)
         Depreciation and
          amortization        3,169          1,812     5,265         3,708
         Non-cash stock
          compensation          959            790     1,948         1,802
         Purchase
          accounting and
          acquisition
          related costs         226              -       844             -
         Restructuring and
          severance charges   1,399            603     2,263           634
                              -----            ---     -----           ---
    EBITDA (Non-GAAP)        $2,651         $1,443    $4,385        $2,653
                             ======         ======    ======        ======


           CALIPER LIFE SCIENCES, INC.
          SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                  (in thousands)
                                             June         December
                                              30,              31,
                                                2011             2010
                                                ----             ----
                                         (unaudited)          *
    Assets
    Current assets:
         Cash, cash equivalents and
          marketable securities              $34,330          $34,846
         Accounts receivable, net             25,939           26,544
         Inventories                          15,358           14,004
         Other current assets                  3,863            2,916
                                               -----            -----

    Total current assets                      79,490           78,310
    Property and equipment, net                9,810            9,765
    Intangible assets, net                    23,853           27,797
    Goodwill                                  27,958           27,958
    Other assets                                 631              592
                                                 ---              ---

    Total assets                            $141,742         $144,422
                                            ========         ========

    Liabilities and
     stockholders' equity
    Current liabilities                      $42,099          $42,404
    Other long-term obligations               11,661           11,330
    Stockholders' equity                      87,982           90,688
                                              ------           ------

    Total liabilities and
     stockholders' equity                   $141,742         $144,422

    *Note: Derived from audited financial statements for the year ended
    December 31, 2010.

SOURCE Caliper Life Sciences, Inc.

NOAA Expedition Discovers New Deep-Sea Coral Mounds

Last month, NOAA scientists used acoustic sonar to map several areas of the outer continental shelf edge off the coast of Florida. The team, on the latest mission of the research expedition “Extreme Corals 2011,” found and explored new coral mounds north of the Oculina Bank. With the help of a remotely operated vehicle””basically, an underwater robot””the team determined that the nearly 100 deep-sea coral mounds are Oculina varicosa. This is a branching stony coral species that builds mounds and acts as important habitat for economically important fish species such as grouper and snapper.

Deep-sea corals are threatened by damage from fishing gear such as bottom trawls, cable-laying activities, and energy exploration. Increased human impacts make it that much more important to further map, characterize, and protect these habitats. According to the expedition’s chief scientist, NOAA’s Andrew David, “Our goal is to better understand the location, distribution, status, and health of deep-sea coral and sponge ecosystems. This information will help to guide future conservation and management decisions.”

This is the first time these coral mounds have ever been mapped and explored. The finding is also significant to the regional fishery management council, as it deliberates the future of deep-sea coral Habitat Areas of Particular Concern off the southeastern coast of the U.S. A large portion of the Oculina Bank is already enclosed in a marine managed area, meaning it’s closed to fishing practices that may damage corals. The protected area currently extends from off the coast of Fort Pierce, Florida, north to near Cape Canaveral.

An educator from NOAA’s Teacher-at-Sea program was also on the NOAA Ship Pisces for the 12-day expedition. Sue Zupko of Huntsville, Alabama, conducted live interactive video teleconferences with schools in Alabama and North Carolina during the dives. She also maintained a blog detailing the phases of the mission.

NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program, through the Deep-Sea Coral Research and Technology Program, sponsored the research expedition in June as a part of a three-year regional effort conducted by NOAA and academic scientists.

Image Caption: Oculina Varicosa also known as Ivory Tree Coral.

On the Net:

Study Shows That Salt Lake City Based Company Has Program That Enhances Brain Activity

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — There is a company nestled in one of the major canyons of the Salt Lake Valley that is making strides in helping activate a usually dormant area of the brain by rather unconventional means. Infinite Mind, creators of the eyeQ Speed Reading and Brain Enhancement program, has conducted an independent study in connection with Cal Tech Pasadena and discovered astonishing results by measuring the difference in brain activity as a person reads before and after using eyeQ.

Doctors at Cal Tech Pasadena used a Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to test the brain activity of a healthy native-English speaker. First, the study assessed the baseline activity of brain regions involved in word reading. The subject was given a series of words while simultaneously scanning his/her brain in the scanner. A typical network of brain areas was involved in reading meaningful words, including the visual cortex and Broca’s area, which are associated the production and comprehension of speech.

The focus was then shifted to see how training with the eyeQ brain enhancement software changes the brain’s response to reading. To test this, doctors then had the participant complete a 7-minute session of the eyeQ program inside the scanner, although no brain activity was measured during this time. After the eyeQ session was complete, the participant then repeated the same reading task that was given in the first phase of the test, but using new words similar in length and lexical frequency. Test results showed that the same area of the brain was activated after training; however, brain activity was now significantly higher in visual cortex and Broca’s area. The visual cortex processes complicated visual patterns and is essential for the fast recognition of visual symbols, such as written words. Increased activity in this area suggests that the brain now devoted more resources to the visual cortex, which explains why eyeQ users are able to read faster and focus better.

Broca’s area is involved in the higher-level processing of language and words. It is a supermodal structure which processes language information from both the visual and auditory modalities. It is involved in the production and comprehension of speech. Increased brain activity in this cortical area suggests that eyeQ training might have positive effects on language comprehension.

The study also found that eyeQ training balances the use of both hemispheres of the brain. This balance helps the brain read much quicker and focus better. Therefore, the results from this functional neuroimaging studies supports the claim that eyeQ training facilitates both the sensory and cognitive processing of language during reading.

For more information, please visit our website at http://www.eyeQadvantage.com

SOURCE Infinite Mind

Biotech Developer Divine Skin (DSKX) Debuts New Hair-Growth Molecule Nanoxidil

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Hair-growth developer Divine Skin Inc. (DSKX) introduced a new molecule, Nanoxidil, designed to stimulate follicles at the vertex of the scalp and surpass minoxidil for efficacy and tolerability. The innovative new compound offers unique advantages for penetration and persistence because its molecular weight is lower than that of minoxidil, a chemical on the market for 30 years now.

“This is a significant step forward in topical therapy, and we are very excited,” said Daniel Khesin, CEO of Divine Skin.

He added that new products could be brought to market quickly since Nanoxidil did not require health-agency approval in most countries. He anticipated that Divine Skin would see significant revenue from Nanoxidil, which resulted from a five-year research-and-development effort.

Spectral.DNC-N, part of the DS Laboratories brand, would be the first treatment to employ Nanoxidil 5%, which could eventually succeed minoxidil as the new standard for topical treatment.

Nanoxidil’s precise mechanism of action is still under study. Researchers expect it to potentiate desirable properties and mitigate side effects, compared to minoxidil. Studies of minoxidil have shown it to open ion channels, induce resting follicles into growth phase, increase follicle size, relax vascular smooth muscle, and stimulate vascular endothelial growth factor. Nanoxidil’s lower molecular weight may boost its absorption properties for greater efficacy.

“We expect Nanoxidil to become a powerful force in the fight against thinning and shedding hair, working faster and better with enhanced tolerability,” predicted Khesin. “It may allow more patients to maintain their hair, and it may work for patients who have not responded to standard minoxidil therapy.”

About Divine Skin

Divine Skin Inc. leads in the development of biotechnology for topical, nutritional, and pharmaceutical therapies. It markets worldwide through online and specialty retailers, cosmetics wholesalers, salons, and medical offices. The fast-growing company went public in 2009.

DS Laboratories, its flagship brand, offers high-performance topical solutions to restore growth and radiance to hair, suppress dandruff and unwanted hair, control acne, improve hygiene, and reduce cellulite and wrinkles. Bioavailability is enhanced through encapsulation (www.dslaboratories.com).

The Sigma Skin brand sells through upscale retailers like Neiman Marcus in the United States and Harvey Nichols in the United Kingdom. The topical products address hair loss and other signs of aging (www.sigmaskin.com).

Polaris Research Laboratories makes high-potency minoxidil-based hair-growth formulas (www.polarisresearchlabs.com).

The Pure Guild offers purity with performance: Botanical compounds proven effective in clinical trials are extracted without industrial solvents or damaging heat and are sold through premium retailers (www.thepureguild.com).

NutraOrigin blends nutritional supplements that address the health concerns expressed by consumers, including fatigue, headache, obesity, mobility, menopause, erectile dysfunction, and others. In clinical trials for the US government, its Omega line proved to enhance mental function (www.nutraorigin.com).

Contact:
Abner Silva
Investor Relations
Divine Skin Inc.
1.407.342.4112
[email protected]

SOURCE Divine Skin Inc.

Pathogenica CSO Speaks at IBC Life Sciences Drug Discovery & Diagnostic Development Week

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Pathogenica, Inc. announced that the Company’s Chief Scientific Officer, Graeme Doran, Ph.D., is speaking today at the IBC Life Sciences Drug Discovery & Diagnostic Development Week, in San Francisco.

During the conference, the only event on the application of next generation sequencing technology for research, diagnostic development, and patient care, Dr. Doran will speak on “Next Generation Sequencing & Genomic Medicine.” He will present the development of Pathogenica’s next generation sequencing assays for clinical diagnostics for greater accuracy at reduced cost. He will focus on Pathogenica’s Human Papillomavirus sequencing panel, and demonstration of HPV identification from ThinPrep clinical samples.

“This is a significant demonstration of the utility of our assay for clinical specimens in combination with NGS,” said Yemi Adesokan, Ph.D., Pathogenica’s CEO. “Our work so far demonstrates that NGS can be applied to routine HPV screening specimens to precisely identify viral sub-types relevant to therapeutic decision-making. The Pathogenica DxSeq probe panels achieve comprehensive coverage of >30 high and low risk HPV strains from a single assay.”

The Pathogenica test identified the presence of several HPV sub-types amongst the samples tested (HPV 16, 18, 31, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 67, 68, 97), and was able to identify multiple strains infecting a single individual. HPV plays a causative role in a number of cancers, and multiple infections may be of clinical significance and correlate with higher-grade lesions. Sequencing’s ability to rapidly identify and quantify multiple infections is a significant advantage for clinicians to understand the impact of these viral subtypes.

In his talk, Dr. Doran will also preview forthcoming clinical applications of next generation sequencing for viral and bacterial genotyping.

Dr. Doran received undergraduate and D.Phil degrees from the University of Oxford, and has worked as a postdoctoral scientist on non-coding RNA biology and RNA sequencing at the David H. Koch Center for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT, and the Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School. He has contributed book chapters, multiple peer-reviewed publications, presentations at international conferences, and currently serves as associate editor for the Journal of RNAi and Gene Silencing, and the Journal of Molecular and Genetic Medicine. He joined Pathogenica in 2010.

Pathogenica is preparing for CLIA approval and a commercial launch of its diagnostic tests in 2012.

About Pathogenica

Pathogenica, based in Cambridge, MA, was founded in 2009 to pioneer commercial applications of pathogen sequencing. Pathogenica applies next generation DNA sequencing technology for rapid multiplex identification of pathogens, drug resistance genes, and toxins in patient samples. The founding scientific advisory board (SAB) is comprised of distinguished scientists in the field, including George Church, Harvard Medical School; Ron Davis, Stanford University; W. Ian Lipkin, Columbia University; Andrew Onderdonk, Harvard Medical School; and Kun Zhang, University of California.

Pathogenica’s high throughput pathogen detection system is expected to enable rapid and highly sensitive detection of a wide variety of pathogens from patient samples using just a common assay protocol. http://www.pathogenica.com

Contact:
Daniel Jackson
908-433-2628
djackson[at]pathogenica.com

This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Pathogenica, Inc.

Chesapeake Urology Associates Welcomes Dr. Julio G. Davalos, Kidney Stone Specialist

OWINGS MILLS, Md., Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Dr. Sanford J. Siegel, president and CEO of Chesapeake Urology Associates, is pleased to announce that Dr. Julio G. Davalos has joined the practice’s Glen Burnie office. He is certified by the American Board of Urology and is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Dr. Davalos treats all aspects of adult urology. His special interest is in kidney stone disease and he specializes in providing comprehensive surgical, medical and preventive care for kidney stones with the treatment goal of rendering patients 100 percent stone free. Dr. Davalos utilizes Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for the surgical treatment of large and complex kidney stones, renal and prostate cryotherapy for cancer, laparoscopic techniques for renal surgery, and laser ablation and holmium laser enucleation for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Prior to joining Chesapeake Urology, Dr. Davalos practiced with the Charleston Area Medical Center, in Charleston, West Virginia, where he was the director of the Kidney Stone Center, vice chief of the department of urology and a urology residency clinical professor. Previously, he was in private practice in Charleston and was a clinical professor with the West Virginia University School of Medicine, Charleston Division.

Dr. Davalos earned his undergraduate from West Virginia University, and his Doctor of Medicine degree from West Virginia University School of Medicine. He completed his general surgery internship and his urology residency at West Virginia University, Department of Surgery, and Section of Urology. He also is a new product consultant for several leading companies for the development of new medical devices. Additionally, he has worked on advancing scope technology for the endourologic treatment of stones and other urologic conditions.

Dr. Davalos is accepting new patients. He is located at Chesapeake Urology’s Glen Burnie office at 806 Landmark Drive, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 and may be reached at 410-760-9400. Same and next day appointments are available for urgent conditions as needed.

Chesapeake Urology Associates is the largest urology practice in Maryland and the mid-Atlantic region. Our urologists deliver the most innovative and compassionate urology care available. Composed of more than 45 of the mid-Atlantic region’s top urologists, including many who are fellowship trained, 4 radiation oncologists, and a urologic pathologist, Chesapeake Urology provides the convenience of 15 urology centers and 14 surgical centers throughout the greater Baltimore, Maryland area. Our experienced, board-certified urologists use advanced treatments to manage all types of urological problems for adults and children including prostate cancer, enlarged prostate, kidney stones, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections, hematuria, erectile dysfunction, male infertility and sexual health, vasectomy and vasectomy reversal, pelvic pain and clinical trials for urologic conditions.

For information on Chesapeake Urology, please visit http://www.ChesapeakeUrology.com.

SOURCE Chesapeake Urology Associates

Exaggerated Dangers of Circle Lenses Can’t Stop Its Popularity From Ticking Along

MANCHESTER, England, Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Circle lens are colored contact lenses designed to enlarge the iris of the eye as well as changing the color of the iris. Concerns about their effects on eyesight rise up again after a girl from New York lost her sight using illegally purchased colored lenses. Although circle lenses are not approved by the FDA yet, and are illegal to be sold in the US without a professional license, their popularity is just soaring up nowadays.

In the United States the sale of any type of contact lens is prohibited without a prescription from a registered eye-doctor. However, circle lenses can be bought online from overseas sites and they are relatively inexpensive. A spokesman of Korea lenses manufacturer explained, the girl probably got an eye infection due to improper use. According to the news, she was taught by a guide the improper way to clean the lenses. If instructions for the lenses are followed, the danger of using circle lenses is no different than using regular corrective lenses. However he added, there are indeed ‘fake’ lenses in the market, which are produced by irresponsible makers without considering the quality of the lenses.

When the US decided against selling circle lenses, Korea and few countries found motivating reasons to approve these lenses despite purported dangers associated to using these lenses. Most circle lenses are exported from Korea, with figures of up to millions annually; they are sold worldwide, and have been approved by the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA).

Florence from LensVillage.com, owner of an online circle lens store based in Asia, seems perplexed why these beautiful lenses, which are getting sold worldwide like hot cakes, have not been ratified by the FDA yet. She adds that getting a pair of KFDA certified circle lenses at $20-$30 is possible but customers should make sure that they are well prescribed before purchase. Her company is committed to assess the authenticity and usability of the colored contact lenses, by checking whether the products they sell are produced only by the authentic Korean manufacturers. The circle lens market is expected to grow continuously while manufacturers continue to work on getting approval by the FDA.

http://www.lensvillage.com

SOURCE LensVillage.com

Spine Pain Management, Inc. Adds Fifth Affiliated Center in Jacksonville, Florida

HOUSTON, Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Spine Pain Management, Inc. (OTC.BB: SPIN), through its Chief Executive Officer, William F. Donovan, M.D., is pleased to announce the opening today of a new SPIN affiliated diagnostic center in Jacksonville, Florida. This is SPIN’s fifth affiliated center and the third to open in just the past six months.

Through this relationship, the company will be able to provide financial management services to doctors providing medical spine injection procedures to patients from the northeast Florida area. Since the inception of the company’s current business model in August 2009, the company has formed relationships with a total of five spine pain diagnostic centers, including centers in Houston and McAllen, Texas and the Tampa Bay and Orlando areas of Florida. The new center in Jacksonville began treating patients on August 1. Like the other centers, the Jacksonville center uses a fellowship trained pain doctor to provide spine diagnostic injections, with assistance from Emergency Medical Technicians and specialized radiological personnel.

Dr. Donovan stated, “The Jacksonville center was opened by the same group that opened the Tampa Bay and Orlando centers. Once again, we are particularly pleased that this group, who fully understands our business model, continues to add centers at such a rapid rate. We could not ask for a more solid endorsement of our business strategy.”

Second Quarter financial results will be announced in the next two weeks which will be followed by a Conference Call. These results will include full quarter results from the Houston, McAllen and the Tampa Bay centers, plus June operations from the Orlando center.

More information about the company is available on the company’s website at: http://www.spinepaininc.com.

About Spine Pain Management:

We are a medical marketing, management, billing and collection company facilitating diagnostic services for patients who have sustained spine injuries resulting from traumatic accidents. We deliver turnkey financial management solutions to spine surgeons, orthopedic surgeons and other healthcare providers that provide necessary and appropriate treatment of musculo-skeletal spine injuries resulting from automobile and work-related accidents. Our financial management services help reduce the financial burden on healthcare providers that provide patients with early-stage diagnostic testing and non-invasive surgical care, preventing many patients from being unnecessarily delayed or inhibited from obtaining needed treatment. We believe our patient advocacy will be rewarding to patients who obtain needed relief from painful conditions, and moreover, provides spine surgeons and orthopedic surgeons a solution to transfer to us the financial risk associated with their accounts receivable.

Through our financial management system, we purchase medical receivables from the spine surgeons, orthopedic surgeons and other healthcare providers that diagnose and treat patients with musculo-skeletal spine injuries. We have affiliations with certain centers that provide the spine diagnostic injections and treatment. These centers have a contract with us that allow them to shift to us the financial risk in collecting the accounts receivable for the medical procedures. That is, the doctors at the centers are willing to factor their receivable to us shortly after completion of each procedure, providing them with immediate cash flow. On the other hand, we take the risk of a rare, but possible “no settlement,” along with having to wait for months until payment of all or some portion of the patient’s bill at the time of final settlement.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release includes forward-looking statements as determined by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that the company believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include general economic and business conditions, the ability to acquire and develop specific projects, the ability to fund operations, healthcare services demands, changes in healthcare practices, government regulation, and other factors over which the company has little or no control. The company does not intend (and is not obligated) to update publicly any forward-looking statements. The contents of this press release should be considered in conjunction with the warnings and cautionary statements contained in the company’s recent filings with the SEC.

Contact:
Spine Pain Management, Inc.
William F. Donovan, M.D.
Chief Executive Officer
713-521-4220
[email protected]

SOURCE Spine Pain Management, Inc.

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. Launches BenchMark ULTRA With New Ultimate Reagent Access (URA) for Enhanced Processing of IHC and ISH Patient Samples

TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (Ventana), a member of the Roche Group, announced today the launch of BenchMark ULTRA with new Ultimate Reagent Access (URA). BenchMark ULTRA with URA is the world’s first platform that allows laboratories to process individual immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) samples as soon as they arrive in the lab. This enhancement allows labs to quickly respond to unpredictable changes in workflow, improving test turnaround time and reducing stress associated with day-to-day laboratory variability.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110802/LA45276)

“As pathology labs continue to strive for improved workflow efficiency and flexibility, Ventana responded with the URA enhancement to its BenchMark ULTRA, to offer labs greater control over handling fluctuations in daily test requests. In addition, BenchMark ULTRA with URA positions labs to be highly responsive to the growing demand for STAT cases without impacting overall turnaround time,” says Lawrence Mehren, SVP, Head of Global Business at Ventana.

BenchMark ULTRA with URA provides a new elegantly-designed software and hardware package which provides the operator full workflow control by allowing access to any slide, any reagent, anytime. URA eliminates the need to batch slides, reduces pre-planning requirements, and allows late-arriving slides to be run STAT.

BenchMark ULTRA with URA is also the first IHC/ISH system worldwide that provides unprecedented workflow control, allowing lab technicians the ability to add and remove slides and reagents at any time throughout the day. URA now completes the total system access of ULTRA, increasing overall slide turnaround time since instrument preparation tasks can be managed while slides are processing. Multi-parameter testing, such as dual and triple stains, may be performed independent of other slides, allowing for rapid patient results. With URA, labs can manage workflow with random access to 30 individual staining chambers, allowing for real-time STAT processing.

“The BenchMark ULTRA with URA is an excellent addition to the wide range of market-leading diagnostic products offered by Ventana,” adds Mehren. “With URA, Ventana is uniquely positioned to optimize lab workflow and help pathologists improve patient care.”

For more information on BenchMark ULTRA with the new URA go to www.benchmarkultra.com.

About Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.

Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (“VMSI”) (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), a member of the Roche Group, innovates and manufactures instruments and reagents that automate tissue processing and slide staining for cancer diagnostics. VENTANA solutions are used in clinical histology and drug development research laboratories worldwide. The company’s “Smart Systems” – intuitive, integrated staining and workflow management platforms that optimize laboratory efficiencies to reduce errors – support diagnosis and inform treatment decisions for anatomic pathology professionals. Together with Roche, VMSI is driving personalized medicine through accelerated drug discovery and the development of “companion diagnostics” to identify the patients most likely to respond favorably to specific therapies. Visit www.ventana.com to learn more.

VENTANA, the VENTANA logo, and BenchMark are trademarks of Roche.

Ventana Media Relations
Jacqueline Bucher
Director, Corporate Communications
Phone: 520-877-7288
e-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.

Sandy Jesse Joins Haemonetics as Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

BRAINTREE, Mass., Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Haemonetics Corporation (NYSE: HAE) announced that Sandra Jesse will join Haemonetics effective September 6, 2011 as Vice President and Chief Legal Officer replacing Lisa Lopez who retired earlier this year.

Ms. Jesse, age 59, has been Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts (“BCBS”) since 1995. Prior to BCBS, she was a Partner at Choate, Hall & Stewart and an Associate at Bingham, Dana & Gould.

She has a law degree from Boston College and a BA in journalism from Indiana University.

Haemonetics’ CEO Brian Concannon said, “Sandy is an experienced attorney and business executive with considerable background which will be relevant to our Company’s blood management vision. Early in her career she was a newspaper reporter, Congressional legislative assistant and Press Secretary in Washington, DC. More recently she helped BCBS navigate the changes in Massachusetts healthcare reform and prepare for national healthcare reform. In the interim, her legal experience in private practice focused on the finance, strategic alliance and M&A needs of corporate clients. We are delighted to have someone of her talent and background join our team.”

Ms. Jesse will join Haemonetics’ Executive Council and Operating Committee, assuming responsibility for the Company’s world wide legal affairs, including compliance, internal audit and environmental health & safety.

CONTACT:
Bryanne Salmon
Tel. (781) 356-9613
Alt. (617) 633-2297
[email protected]

SOURCE Haemonetics Corporation

Coast Dental Completes Acquisition of SmileCare

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Coast Dental Services, Inc., has completed the acquisition of the assets of Dental Technology, Inc. (DTI), doing business as SmileCare, and Community Dental Services, Inc., a California licensed health care service plan. DTI and its subsidiaries operate 57 SmileCare dental practices in California, Nevada and Texas, and employ 1,200 staff members, including 130 dentists. All SmileCare dental centers will continue to operate under the SmileCare brand name. SmileCare offers a full range of family dental care, including general dentistry, hygiene and specialty care, such as orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, periodontics, endodontics, and pedodontics.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110603/FL13944LOGO)

The addition of the SmileCare practices makes Tampa-based Coast Dental the fifth largest provider of dental practice support in the U.S. with 182 affiliated practices and 2,200 employees. Prior to the acquisition, Coast Dental, with its professional associations, was the leading dental provider in the Southeast with 125 affiliated practices in Florida and Georgia.

Coast Dental CEO Thomas J. Marler said, “The transaction creates a national presence for Coast Dental and strengthens our position as a leader in the dental industry. We are excited about the opportunity this gives our affiliated dental practices to deliver a better experience to a broader base of patients.”

Adam Diasti, DDS, Coast Dental’s Founder, and President of Coast Dental PA, said, “Coast Dental brings a successful track record of business management, practice support and innovation that will enhance the quality of care delivered to SmileCare patients.”

About Coast Dental

Coast Dental PA, with its professional associations, is one of the largest providers of general and specialty dental care in the United States with 182 affiliated dental practices in Florida, Georgia, California, Nevada and Texas. Coast Dental Services Inc. is a privately-held dental practice management company that provides comprehensive, non-clinical business and administrative services to its affiliated dental practices. The company was founded in 1992 by Dr. Adam Diasti and Dr. Derek Diasti and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. For more information, visit www.CoastDental.com.

SOURCE Coast Dental Services, Inc.