Evotec AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange: EVT; NASDAQ: EVTC) and Roche (SWX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) announced today that they have entered into an agreement for Phase II clinical development of EVT 101 in patients with treatment-resistant depression. The potential value of this transaction exceeds USD 300 million.
Evotec will be responsible for conducting Phase II studies for EVT 101, a compound originally discovered by Roche and (more…)

The higher incidence of chronic illnesses in Europe and the consequent increase of patient population in intensive care units has amplified the need for equipment that measure vital signs such as blood pressure during surgeries. This rise in the number of people requiring critical care has escalated the demand for catheters and transducers.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.patientmonitoring.frost.com
), (more…)

Individuals with diastolic blood pressure under 70 mm Hg coupled with an elevated systolic blood pressure may have a greater risk of heart attack and stroke than indicated by the systolic blood pressure values alone, according to a UC (more…)

A receptor for glutamate, the most prominent neurotransmitter in the brain, plays a key role in the process of "unlearning," report researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. Their findings, published in the current issue of the Journal of Neuroscience, could eventually help scientists develop new drug therapies to treat a variety of disorders, including phobias and anxiety disorders, particularly post-traumatic stress (more…)

To help millions of Americans deal with the stress created by the tough economic times, Mental Health America is recommending strategies to help people feel better and protect their mental health.
One recent poll reported that nearly 60 percent of respondents said the current economic situation is a cause of stress in their lives. And one-quarter indicated (more…)

Why do some people always look on the bright side of life when others seem to focus on the negatives? According to new research, it could be down to their genes. The findings, published in the Royal Society journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, help to explain why some people respond better to stress than others and why some are more prone to emotional disorders such as depression.
A (more…)

ALK-Abell?? Ltd announced today that Grazax®, grass-pollen allergen tablet, is now available for use in children and adolescents aged 5 to 17.
Grazax is the only non-injection immunotherapy licensed to treat children suffering from severe grass pollen induced seasonal allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis or severe hay fever1. In addition, it is the first immunotherapy tablet to address the underlying cause of grass pollen allergy2,3. It is a once daily (more…)

The federal government should make preventing mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders and promoting mental health in young people a national priority, says a new report from the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine. These disorders — which include depression, anxiety, conduct disorder, and substance abuse — are about as common as fractured limbs in children and adolescents. (more…)

China Pharma Holdings, Inc. ("China Pharma") (OTC Bulletin Board: CPHI), which develops, manufactures, and markets specialty pharmaceutical products in China, announced today that the company has initiated clinical trials for the generic version of the leading hypertension drug Candesartan.
The clinical trials for this product are anticipated to require approximately 18 months to complete. (more…)

UT Southwestern Medical Center neurological surgeons have begun implanting patients as part of a clinical study that is investigating whether deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy may help people who suffer from major depressive disorder, a severe form of depression.
The BROADEN™ (BROdmann Area 25 DEep brain Neuromodulation) study is a controlled, multi-site, blinded, clinical study that is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of DBS therapy in (more…)