GLG News by Hematologists who Treat Thrombocytopenias in the U.S.

Amgens Aranesp sales fell 26% and J & J's Procrit sales fell 23%."Yaron Werber, a biotechnology analyst at Citi Investment Research, estimated that the new label could reduce the use of Aranesp for cancer patients in this country — the drug is also used by people with kidney disease — by an additional...

Lung cancer screening does not appear to prevent death at least in this study.

"The filing is supported by data from the phase III Avado trial, which investigated Avastin in combination with docetaxel compared wwith docetaxel alone in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer, Roche said in a statement."

Sorafenib increases time to progression and median survival in HCC. (World wide a major neoplasm)

Peripheral blood in patients with metastatic non small cell lung cancer (NSCLCA) can determine the presence of EGFR mutations in circulating cancer cells that will reveal sensitivity to TKI's- Erbitux (ImClone & BMS), Tarceva (Genentech) and even Iressa (AZ).

Lung cancer patients who have increased gene copies of EGFR do better with Cetuximab than do those who do not.

Individualizing chemotherapy depending on histology (adenocarcinomas) shows that Alimta/CisPlatin appears to be more convenient and less toxic than its stablemate Gemzar.

For patients with antibodies that may make renal transplants problematic, Rituxan may make them possible!

GSK is discussing drug development with European countries and not the US. Implications???

Medicare will not cut physicians fees but will cut payments in HMO driven Medicare "advantage" plans. This means that the republicans will be unable to "feather the nest" of their insurer friends!