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News From The American Chemical Society, May 13, 2009
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NexMed Announces Decision For Anti-Fungal Product
NexMed, Inc. (Nasdaq: NEXM), a developer of products based on the NexACT® technology, announced the mutual decision with Novartis to terminate the licensing agreement for NM100060, a topically-applied treatment for onychomycosis, commonly known as nail fungus. NexMed entered into the exclusive, worldwide agreement with Novartis in September 2005, under which Novartis assumed all clinical development, regulatory, manufacturing and commercialization responsibilities for NM100060.
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Pledges To Reduce Health Care Costs, Spending Growth Could Violate Antitrust Laws, Lawyers Say
U.S. antitrust laws could affect health care industry groups" efforts to work together to rein in health care costs, the New York Times reports (Pear, New York Times, 5/27). In a letter sent to President Obama on May 10, a coalition of groups -- the American Medical Association, the American Hospital Association, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the Advanced Medical Technology Association, America"s Health Insurance Plans and the Service Employees International Union -- pledged to reduce the annual health care spending growth rate by 1.5%. The groups did not elaborate on what specific measures they would use to achieve such reductions, but the Obama administration has requested specific plans from the groups by June 1 (Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 5/26). According to the Times, many of the plans being considered by the health care industry would require greater cooperation across health care providers. Robert Leibenluft, a former Federal Trade Commission official, said, "Any agreement among competitors with regard to prices or price increases -- even if they set a maximum -- would raise legal concerns." In addition, while Obama is asking for specific plans from the health care industry, the administration has not offered any relief from antitrust laws, the Times reports. Furthermore, during his campaign Obama pledged to increase enforcement of antitrust laws, according to the Times.Antitrust laws have had a negative effect on previous health reform efforts, the Times reports. In 1993, the drug industry established a voluntary cost control plan that limited each drug company"s annual increase in the average price of prescription drugs to the increase in the Consumer Price Index, but the Department of Justice ruled that the proposal would violate antitrust laws. DOJ officials said that the U.S. Supreme Court made it clear that setting price maximums was akin to setting price minimums, which is illegal. In a letter to the Senate Finance Committee, AHA wrote that uncertainty regarding the enforcement of antitrust laws "makes it difficult for a hospital and doctors to collaborate to improve care" and reduce costs. AMA has asked Congress to amend antitrust laws to allow physicians to collectively negotiate with insurers over fees and other concerns, but FTC repeatedly has designated the practice illegal price-fixing, according to the Times. FTC officials said that consumers could benefit from cooperation among health care industry groups but that cooperation also could lead to increased bargaining power for physicians and hospitals, making it easier for them to set prices and eliminate competition (New York Times, 5/27). Reform Developments
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Document Examines Health Status Of Native American Indians Of Alabama

A newly published document, titled "Health Survey of American Indians of Alabama 2008: Keeping the Circle Healthy," compiles the self-reported health findings of the nine Native American Indian tribes in Alabama. This 62-page report contains the results of a survey of more than 1,200 households and a total population of almost 3,000 people who are members of the tribes. The names of the tribes surveyed are as follows: Cher-O-Creek Intra Tribal Indians, Cherokee Tribe of Northeast Alabama, Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama, Machis Lower Creek Indian Tribe of Alabama, Mowa Band of Choctaw Indians, Piqua Shawnee Tribe, Poarch Creek, Star Clan of Muscogee Creeks, and United Cherokee Ani-Yun-Wiya Nation. The document provides a first-time depiction of self-reported profiles that contains the risk factors, health status and lifestyle behaviors of Alabama Native American Indians. The interviews used to collect the data were performed by community health navigators who represented the tribes recognized by the state. The Alabama Indian Affairs Commission provided the tribal support and monitored the training of these local tribal representatives. The survey tool was developed by the Office of Minority Health and Center for Health Statistics of the Alabama Department of Public Health, and the Alabama Rural Health Association. This survey tool is patterned after the recognized Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, conducted in each state and territory, and is developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The survey uncovered important differences between the health of native Alabama American Indians and the health of the general population, as well as differences within each Indian tribe"s population. The survey also showed variations in access to health care, geographic location, and socioeconomic status. This document can help policy makers, clinician and researchers better understand the health status of Alabama Indians in order to impact changes that can improve their health status. Eloise Josey, executive director of the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission, said, "The Alabama Indian Affairs Commission board and staff commend the Alabama Department of Public Health, Office of Minority Health, for its invaluable support and willingness to pursue and present for the first time the health issues that Alabama"s Indian people suffer, and for shining a light on Alabama"s invisible minority." Many of Alabama"s Indian health practices are based upon a combination of traditional healing practices and modern Western medicine. The survey concludes that rigorous efforts are needed to reduce the risk of disease and to minimize higher rates of chronic disease such as diabetes, hypertension and congestive heart failure on this population. The publication was produced by the Office of Minority Health and Center for Health Statistics of the Alabama Department of Public Health; Alabama Rural Health Association; and University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health. Alabama Department of Public Health


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