News

Imaging May Spare Nerves in Prostate Cancer Surgery Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:00:00 GMT Preoperative MRI led to a change in surgical plan in 27% of robot-assisted prostatectomies

Dutasteride Delays Progression of Low-Risk Prostate Cancer Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:00:00 GMT For men with low-risk prostate cancer who undergo active surveillance, treatment with dutasteride delays the time to cancer progression, a study found.

Prostate Biopsies Rarely Lead to Hospitalization Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:00 GMT Hospital admissions related to a prostate needle biopsy (PNB) are on the increase, but they occur in less than 1% of men who undergo PNB and are not associated with excess mortality, researchers concluded in an online report in European Urology.

Observational Program to Assess Use of Intermittent Adjuvant Deprivation Therapy With Lucrin Depot in Patients With Advanced Prostate Cancer in Russia Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:01:00 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Observational Program to Assess Use of Intermittent Adjuvant Deprivation Therapy With Lucrin Depot in Patients With Advanced Prostate Cancer in Russia.

Evaluation of Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-Based PET Imaging of Primary Prostate Cancer Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:59:00 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Evaluation of Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA)-Based PET Imaging of Primary Prostate Cancer.

The CATCH Prostate Cancer Trial: Cabazitaxel And Tasquinimod in Men With Prostate Cancer Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:58:00 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: The CATCH Prostate Cancer Trial: Cabazitaxel And Tasquinimod in Men With Prostate Cancer.

Genetic Risk Profiling in Patients With Prostate Carcinoma Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:56:00 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Genetic Risk Profiling in Patients With Prostate Carcinoma.

Pilot Study of Secondary Causes of Osteopenia/Osteoporosis in Adults With Breast and Prostate Cancer Sun, 01 Jan 2012 18:54:00 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Pilot Study of Secondary Causes of Osteopenia/Osteoporosis in Adults With Breast and Prostate Cancer.

Surgery With or Without Docetaxel and Leuprolide or Goserelin in Treating Patients With High-Risk Localized Prostate Cancer Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:41:00 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Surgery With or Without Docetaxel and Leuprolide or Goserelin in Treating Patients With High-Risk Localized Prostate Cancer.

Radiation Therapy With or Without Androgen-Deprivation Therapy in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:30:00 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Radiation Therapy With or Without Androgen-Deprivation Therapy in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer.

Dutasteride in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:39:46 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Dutasteride in Treating Patients With Prostate Cancer.

Quality of Life Study for Prostate Cancer Patients Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:38:13 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Quality of Life Study for Prostate Cancer Patients.

Study of OGX-011 Given Prior to Radical Prostatectomy in Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:36:26 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Study of OGX-011 Given Prior to Radical Prostatectomy in Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer.

Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:34:35 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer.

Molecular Correlates of Sensitivity and Resistance to Therapy in Prostate Cancer Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:22:11 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Molecular Correlates of Sensitivity and Resistance to Therapy in Prostate Cancer.

Diet in Altering Disease Progression in Patients With Prostate Cancer on Active Surveillance Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:20:23 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Diet in Altering Disease Progression in Patients With Prostate Cancer on Active Surveillance.

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in Treating Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:18:34 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound in Treating Patients With Localized Prostate Cancer.

Safety Study & Effectiveness of Docetaxel With RAD001 and Bevacizumab in Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:16:25 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Safety Study & Effectiveness of Docetaxel With RAD001 and Bevacizumab in Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer.

Two-Arm Study of a DNA Vaccine Encoding Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP) in Patients With Non-Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer Mon, 03 Oct 2011 18:14:15 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Two-Arm Study of a DNA Vaccine Encoding Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP) in Patients With Non-Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Participation in Procurement of Tissue, Serum, Plasma, Cell Bank, DNA and RNA Samples, and Urine for Biological Studies Related to Prostate Cancer and Prostate Cancer Treatment Follow Up Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:00:01 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Participation in Procurement of Tissue, Serum, Plasma, Cell Bank, DNA and RNA Samples, and Urine for Biological Studies Related to Prostate Cancer and Prostate Cancer Treatment Follow Up.

Ferumoxytol Enhanced MRI for the Detection of Lymph Node Involvement in Prostate Cancer Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:58:27 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Ferumoxytol Enhanced MRI for the Detection of Lymph Node Involvement in Prostate Cancer.

MRI in Diagnosing Prostate Cancer Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:56:50 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: MRI in Diagnosing Prostate Cancer.

Evaluation of a Transrectal Scintigraphic Detector(ProxiScanTM) for Detection of Primary Prostate Cancer Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:54:39 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Evaluation of a Transrectal Scintigraphic Detector(ProxiScanTM) for Detection of Primary Prostate Cancer.

Outcome Assessment of an Active Surveillance Program for Low Risk Prostate Cancer: An Observational Study Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:52:51 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Outcome Assessment of an Active Surveillance Program for Low Risk Prostate Cancer: An Observational Study.

Impact of F-18-Fluorocholine PET/CT and MR Imaging/ Spectroscopy in the Management of Primary and Recurrent Prostate Cancer Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:50:47 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Impact of F-18-Fluorocholine PET/CT and MR Imaging/ Spectroscopy in the Management of Primary and Recurrent Prostate Cancer.

Prostate Cancer Treatment and Obesity in Zoladex-Astrazeneca Treated Patients (PROTECT-Z) Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:48:57 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Prostate Cancer Treatment and Obesity in Zoladex-Astrazeneca Treated Patients (PROTECT-Z).

MR Image Guided Therapy in Prostate Cancer Mon, 03 Oct 2011 16:46:12 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: MR Image Guided Therapy in Prostate Cancer.

Efficacy and Safety Study of TOOKAD® Soluble for Localised Prostate Cancer Compared to Active Surveillance. (PCM301) Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:06:49 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Efficacy and Safety Study of TOOKAD® Soluble for Localised Prostate Cancer Compared to Active Surveillance (PCM301).

Anxiety in Black Men With Prostate Cancer: Validation of the Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer in an Sample of Black Men Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:58:54 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Anxiety in Black Men With Prostate Cancer: Validation of the Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer in an Sample of Black Men.

Prostate Cancer - Qatar (Prostate CA) Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:55:36 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Prostate Cancer - Qatar (Prostate CA).

Anxiety in Black Men With Prostate Cancer: Validation of the Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer in an Sample of Black Men Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:34:36 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Anxiety in African-American Men With Prostate Cancer: Validation of the Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer in an African-American Sample.

Study of Antioxidants on Prostate Tumors in Men Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:27:56 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Study of Antioxidants on Prostate Tumors in Men Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer.

An Epidemiological Study of Genetic Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer in African-American and Caucasian Males Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:04:17 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: An Epidemiological Study of Genetic Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer in African-American and Caucasian Males.

Safety Study & Effectiveness of Docetaxel With RAD001 and Bevacizumab in Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer Fri, 06 Feb 2009 16:24:31 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Safety Study & Effectiveness of Docetaxel With RAD001 and Bevacizumab in Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer.

The Impact of Androgen Ablation Therapy on Cognitive Functioning and Functional Status in Men With Prostate Cancer Age 65 and Older Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:27:00 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: The Impact of Androgen Ablation Therapy on Cognitive Functioning and Functional Status in Men With Prostate Cancer Age 65 and Older.

Active Surveillance in Prostate Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:25:00 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Active Surveillance in Prostate Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Safety Study & Effectiveness of Docetaxel With RAD001 and Bevacizumab in Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:23:00 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Safety Study & Effectiveness of Docetaxel With RAD001 and Bevacizumab in Men With Advanced Prostate Cancer.

New Stone Risk Found in VUR Patients Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:34:52 GMT Children with vesicoureteral reflux have a higher incidence of hypercalciuria, hyperuricosuria.

Diabetes May Hike Urinary Stone Risk Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:43:59 GMT Diabetes mellitus independently predicts an increased risk of urinary tract calculi (UTC), according to a population-based cohort study conducted in Taiwan.

Extracorporal Shockwave Lithotripsy Versus Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery for the Treatment of Kidney Stones Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:29:00 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Extracorporal Shockwave Lithotripsy Versus Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery for the Treatment of Kidney Stones.

Can a Spot Urine Replace or Improve 24 Hour Urine Collections in Kidney Stone Patients Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:30:00 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Can a Spot Urine Replace or Improve 24 Hour Urine Collections in Kidney Stone Patients.

Randall's Plaque Study: Pathogenesis and Relationship to Nephrolithiasis Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:27:00 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Randall's Plaque Study: Pathogenesis and Relationship to Nephrolithiasis.

Study of the Biological and Physical Manifestations of Spontaneous Uric Acid Kidney Stone Disease (IUAN) Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:56:38 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Study of the Biological and Physical Manifestations of Spontaneous Uric Acid Kidney Stone Disease (IUAN).

Safety and Efficacy of Herbmed Plus in Patients withRenal Calculi (HerbmedPlus) Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:54:37 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Safety and Efficacy of Herbmed Plus in Patients withRenal Calculi (HerbmedPlus).

Intraureteral Lidocaine for Post-Ureteroscopy Pain Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:52:25 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Intraureteral Lidocaine for Post-Ureteroscopy Pain.

Stone Centre Urine and Serum Bank Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:49:11 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Stone Centre Urine and Serum Bank.

Study of Herbmed Plus in Ureteral Stent Discomfort Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:43:22 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Study of Herbmed Plus in Ureteral Stent Discomfort.

Antibiotics Could Increase Kidney Stone Risk Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:00:00 GMT Antibiotics can decrease colonization of a common intestinal bacterium that metabolizes oxalate, perhaps rendering patients more susceptible to the formation of calcium oxalate kidney stones, according to researchers.

Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Versus Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:13:39 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy Versus Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy.

Visceral Pain From the Upper Urinary Tract - a Trial on the Effect of Morphine and Oxycodone in Patients Undergoing PCNL Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:09:58 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Visceral Pain From the Upper Urinary Tract - a Trial on the Effect of Morphine and Oxycodone in Patients Undergoing PCNL.

A Pilot Study Assessing The Feasibility Of Outpatient Tubeless Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:07:57 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: A Pilot Study Assessing The Feasibility Of Outpatient Tubeless Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL).

Safety and Efficacy of Herbmed Plus in Patients with Renal Calculi (HerbmedPlus) Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:04:55 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Safety and Efficacy of Herbmed Plus in Patients with Renal Calculi (HerbmedPlus).

Renogram Study With Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PERC): Alterations in Renal Blood Flow as a Consequence of PERC Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:03:12 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Renogram Study With Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PERC): Alterations in Renal Blood Flow as a Consequence of PERC.

Use of Lapis Judaicus to Dissolve Kidney Stones Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:00:58 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Use of Lapis Judaicus to Dissolve Kidney Stones.

Effect of Sodium Thiosulfate on Urine Chemistries of Hypercalciuric Stone Formers Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:58:50 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Effect of Sodium Thiosulfate on Urine Chemistries of Hypercalciuric Stone Formers.

24 Hour Versus Spot Urine Study Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:54:35 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: 24 Hour Versus Spot Urine Study.

The Links Between Water and Salt Intake, Body Weight, Hypertension and Kidney Stones: a Difficult Puzzle Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:45:57 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: The Links Between Water and Salt Intake, Body Weight, Hypertension and Kidney Stones: a Difficult Puzzle.

Trial Comparing Three Different Devices for Kidney Stone Removal During Percutaneous Surgery Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:41:49 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Trial Comparing Three Different Devices for Kidney Stone Removal During Percutaneous Surgery.

Emergency Department Ultrasound in Renal Colic Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:48:09 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Emergency Department Ultrasound in Renal Colic.

Multicentred, Randomized Control Trial Comparing Narrow Versus Wide Focal Zones for Shock Wave Lithotripsy of Renal Calculi Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:43:57 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Multicentred, Randomized Control Trial Comparing Narrow Versus Wide Focal Zones for Shock Wave Lithotripsy of Renal Calculi.

Preoperative Use of Darifenacin (Enablex) to Alleviate Postoperative Ureteral Stent Pain Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:32:43 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Preoperative Use of Darifenacin (Enablex) to Alleviate Postoperative Ureteral Stent Pain.

A Clinical Study of the Living Renal Transplantation With Restored Kidneys Between Family Members Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:24:10 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: A Clinical Study of the Living Renal Transplantation With Restored Kidneys Between Family Members.

Study of Silodosin to Facilitate Passage of Urinary Stones Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:21:13 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Study of Silodosin to Facilitate Passage of Urinary Stones.

Study to Determine if There Are Specific Clinical Factors to Determine Stent Encrustation Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:09:16 GMT A look at the following clinical trial: Study to Determine if There Are Specific Clinical Factors to Determine Stent Encrustation.

Buyout of bankrupt Peninsula Hospital threatened Fri, 3 Feb 2012 15:35:24 EST Barbara Benson - Peninsula Hospital's planned rescue by a for-profit health care company could be derailed by the hospital's creditors. The unsecured creditors of the bankrupt Queens hospital this week asked a judge for permission to have a say in the hospital's restructuring. If the bankruptcy court judge grants that request, Peninsula's financing deal with a Revival Home Health Care entity could well unravel. Robert Hirsh, a partner at law firm Arent Fox who represents the unsecured creditors, said he wants the court to grant the unsecured creditors “co-exclusivity” with Peninsula to find restructuring alternatives. “It is appropriate to have shared exclusivity to determine if there are other transactions out there to maximize value to creditors,” Mr. Hirsh told Crain's on Thursday. Peninsula and Revival Funding Co., the financing arm of Revival Home Health, told the unsecured creditors committee that they are unaware of alternatives. But the creditors have disagreed with that position for months. Peninsula has not “pursued any possible avenues—other than a deal with Revival,” reads a motion filed this week by Mr. Hirsh. The unsecured creditors said they plan to hire investment banker Fuel Break Capital Partners to find other deals, in part because they have little confidence that the Revival deal will actually go through and let them recoup some of their money. Revival's proposed debtor-in-possession financing is set to expire in about six weeks, and if Revival “decides not to continue to operate the debtors' businesses or pulls its commitment to fund the plan,” Peninsula and its creditors “will have few options,” wrote Mr. Hirsh. A hearing is set for Feb. 14. Howard Fensterman of Abrams Fensterman, Peninsula's bankruptcy counsel, called the unsecured creditors' request “injurious” to Peninsula. “It is a debtor's role to obtain proper financing and a restructuring plan,” he said, adding that negotiations continue. He believes the issue will be resolved prior to the court hearing. The new strategy by the unsecured creditors coincides with the release this week of a 50-page report by a court-appointed examiner who was hired to investigate Peninsula after serious questions were raised by the Office of the U.S. Trustee over possible conflicts of interests. The relationship between Peninsula Hospital and Revival Home Health Care has “at minimum the appearance of conflicts of interest” between the hospital's current management and the hospital, concluded the examiner, Richard McCord of the law firm Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman. Mr. McCord said the bankruptcy court must determine whether Peninsula's board of directors and its management have done enough to “dispel any appearance of a conflict of interest between the debtors and Revival, as the debtors owe fiduciary duties to all creditors, not only to Revival, and whether current management is properly managing the debtors.” Those statements by the examiner “cannot be taken lightly,” wrote Mr. Hirsh, adding the unsecured creditors believe “that the conclusions of the examiner reinforce the concerns with relying solely on Revival.” The examiner was appointed in December in the Peninsula bankruptcy case after the U.S. Trustee objected to elements of the Revival deal. Both the U.S. Trustee and the state Department of Health have had serious concerns about Peninsula because Todd Miller was named its president at a time when he worked for Revival. The U.S. trustee alleged last year in a court document that under Revival, Peninsula lacks “independent leadership, which is preventing [it] from making any meaningful progress toward reorganization.” In response, Mr. Miller resigned from Revival. As Peninsula's bankruptcy counsel, Mr. Fensterman disagreed with the trustee, saying at the time that Peninsula's board, not Revival, controls the hospital. The examiner's investigation had a limited scope. He looked at the pre-bankruptcy relationship and transactions with affiliates of Revival Home Health Care; whether Peninsula's proposed post-bankruptcy transaction with Revival and its affiliate is in the best interests of creditors; and whether Peninsula's current management and board can properly manage the hospital and exercise their duties. The examiner concluded that the original terms drafted between the hospital and Revival last September were problematic, and that there was a conflict because of Mr. Miller's employment by Revival. He noted that Peninsula took steps to mitigate the appearance of conflicts. Aside from Mr. Miller's resignation from Revival, during the one-month investigation by the examiner, Peninsula and Revival renegotiated the terms of their loan agreement and withdrew the original September acquisition agreement between the two. The examiner also said he found that Peninsula's board was correctly performing its fiduciary duties and running the hospital, and that there was no evidence of fraud or “undue influence” in Revival Funding's dealings with Peninsula, or of a pre-bankruptcy relationship between Revival and Peninsula. The report, said Peninsula's counsel Mr. Fensterman, “was unequivocal that the board is running that hospital on a daily basis.” The examiner also addressed Steve Zakheim, the controversial health services entrepreneur who is married to the owner of Revival Home Health Care. Mr. Zakheim is providing unpaid consulting services to the hospital's management, Mr. Miller said. His role was the subject of a Nov. 7 Crain's article that probed Peninsula's financing deal with Revival. Crain's also questioned whether Revival has taken control of the hospital instead of merely investing in it. As Crain's reported, Mr. Zakheim saw Peninsula as the means of advancing his plans for expansion in New York's health care marketplace. State records show that Revival affiliates filed for certificates of incorporation for a pharmacy business and for a home-based infusion business within 11 days of signing the Peninsula deal. In November, Crain's quoted Dr. Ronald Gade, a hospital restructuring expert who Revival had asked to run Peninsula: “His game plan, which was related to me, is to use the hospital and get it successful and integrate his resources to create a larger group of health care entities….[Mr. Zakheim] spoke about the different businesses he was getting into and how they would be interrelated.” The examiner's report offers evidence of that strategy. Peninsula made three deals with entities Mr. Zakheim controls. The examiner uncovered a June payment from Peninsula to Metropolitan Home Health Products for $625,500. Peninsula's director of finance said Metropolitan was contacted after Peninsula filed for bankruptcy “because it was the only medical supply company that offered seven-day payment terms” until new accounts could be created with big suppliers. The finance director said she was unaware if Metropolitan was connected to Revival companies. But the examiner's report states that Mr. Zakheim was the chairman or CEO of Metropolitan. Peninsula also asked the court to reject its current home health care contract with New York Home Health Care—and then signed a contract with Revival Home Health. In the third Zakheim deal, Peninsula negotiated a 10-year lease with the Ahava Group II, of which Mr. Zakheim is the sole member, and which does business as Peninsula Pharmacy Center, according to the report. The base rent for the pharmacy would by $10,200 a year. The lease has an unusual provision that if Peninsula determines within 90 days that the rent is too low compared with “fair rental value,” it can notify Ahava what it thinks the rent should be. Mr. Fensterman, Peninsula's counsel, said that lease provision is necessary to ensure the agreement is for fair market value, and not a “sweetheart” deal. He said that Mr. Zakheim's other deals mentioned in the examiner's report have been made “at no profit to him.” Revival's financing package also beat the terms of competing offers. “There is this sense that Mr. Zakheim is gaining something,” Mr. Fensterman said. “The Revival entities, time and time again, come in as in the best interests of Peninsula. Each time, the best offer coming in has been from Revival.” The hospital now has more than 80 patients on a daily basis, a vast improvement over its near-closure this summer, Mr. Fensterman said. Mr. Zakheim, he added, “facilitated this hospital moving into a healthier state.”

Planned Parenthood's $3M bonanza Fri, 3 Feb 2012 09:21:52 EST Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s decision to cut off grants to Planned Parenthood—which the breast cancer organization reversed Friday after a firestorm of criticism—has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Over the last three days, Planned Parenthood has raised more than $3 million in emergency funding from thousands of people across the country for its breast health fund, according to the New York-based nonprofit. “Every dollar we receive for this fund will go directly for breast exams, diagnostic services, breast health outreach, and education, so that more women can receive this critical care,” a spokesman for Planned Parenthood said. The bulk of the funds have come from small donations made online from thousands of people. But they are bolstered by gifts from three major donors. The Amy and Lee Fikes’ Foundation, run by the head of Dallas-based Bonanza Oil Co. pledged $250,000; Credo, a mobile-phone company, pledged $200,000; and Mayor Michael Bloomberg made a $250,000 matching grant. A spokeswoman for Mr. Bloomberg said the mayor had no plans to withdraw his grant now that Komen had reversed its decision to cut Planned Parenthood's funding. The new funds more than make up the losses that Planned Parenthood would have incurred. Komen grants paid for about 4.3% of the 4 million breast exams and 9% of the 70,000 mammogram referrals provided at Planned Parenthood clinics in the past five years, Planned Parenthood said. The media storm around the fight between the two organizations may also fuel further donations, as it put the issue of women’s rights front and center for their supporters. “We think the reaction over the last 48 hours really demonstrates the power for women when we act together and speak loudly,” said Julie Burton, president of the Women’s Media Center. Sources close to Planned Parenthood said the organization had been trying to resolve the funding issue with Komen quietly for the past two months to avoid a damaging public fight. But the issue became public earlier this week. In a blog post Friday, Komen’s founder and CEO Nancy Brinker said she was reversing the group’s decision to stop its grants to Planned Parenthood. “We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives,” Ms. Brinker wrote. “We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics—anyone’s politics.” Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards issued a statement about Komen’s announcement Friday morning saying “the outpouring of support for women in need of lifesaving breast cancer screening this week has been astonishing and is a testament to our nation’s compassion and sincerity.” “In recent weeks, the treasured relationship between the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation and Planned Parenthood has been challenged, and we are now heartened that we can continue to work in partnership toward our shared commitment to breast health for the most underserved women,” Ms. Richards said.

Growing health care firms dominate leasing ranks Fri, 3 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST Health care providers dominated the list of largest Manhattan leases of 2011 signed by not-for-profit and public-sector tenants, according to a new report. Three of the five largest leases in those two sectors were inked by health care-related tenants, according to data from brokers Cassidy Turley, which called it confirmation that “the health industry is in expansion mode.” New York University's Langone Medical Center led the pack with a lease renewal and expansion that brought the facility to 420,000 square feet at 1 Park Ave. Leases for Columbia Doctors and Continuum Health Partners also made the top five. Columbia's lease was for 120,000 square feet at 1290 Sixth Ave., while Continuum signed on for 113,000 square feet at 555 W. 57th St. While the total amount of space leased in Manhattan by not-for-profits and public-sector tenants held flat last year, the average size of the deals rose. The largest such deal of all in 2011, however, was not even in Manhattan, but was in Brooklyn. There the city's Human Resources Administration leased 400,000 square feet in Fort Greene. Robair Reichenstein, a Cassidy Turley managing director, said this was a departure from previous years, noting that it is “not normal” for the largest public lease to be for space in an outer borough. Mr. Reichenstein also noted that a number of not-for-profits are getting priced out of midtown south, where vacancy rates are the lowest in the entire nation, and are heading downtown and or to midtown south's western fringes. “Those [midtown south buildings] have become themselves more expensive, so [organizations] have been moving farther south and maybe farther west,” Mr. Reichenstein said. Cassidy Turley's data showed 2011's nonprofit and public leasing activity to be mainly concentrated in midtown and the financial district.

Manhattan Chamber's ex-chair charged with theft Thu, 2 Feb 2012 17:36:19 EST Aaron Elstein - A former chairman of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce was charged Thursday with stealing millions from a separate nonprofit organization to pay for personal expenses. Jeffrey Bernstein was charged with one count of grand larceny and two counts of money laundering, according to the Manhattan district attorney's office. At an arraignment Thursday afternoon, bail was set at $1 million and a hearing scheduled for April 11, a spokeswoman said. Mr. Bernstein's lawyer, Patrick Smith, wasn't available for comment. Prosecutors said that Mr. Bernstein, 62, stole more than $2.5 million from the Albert Ellis Institute, an organization that provides research and continuing education for mental health professionals and affordable psychotherapy for the public. Mr. Bernstein, who served as president of the institute's board and director of administration, allegedly arranged nearly 80 wire transfers of organization funds into three business accounts he controlled. He used the money to repay loans, make payments to family members and splurge on such items as car expenses and condo fees, prosecutors said. Albert Ellis Institute Director Kristene Doyle said her organization worked closely with authorities investigating the theft of $2.56 million. “We are now in the process of trying to recover this money so we can continue providing mental health services for children, adults and families in our community,” she said. Nancy Ploeger, president of the Manhattan chamber, said in a statement: “We at the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce have no involvement in or knowledge about this matter. Our thoughts are with [Mr. Bernstein] and his family at this difficult time.” Mr. Bernstein was in the fast-food business for many years and owned such franchises as Burritoville and Pudgie's Famous Chicken before selling his company, True Foods, in 2008. That same year, he was named chairman of the Manhattan Chamber. He had been named president of the Albert Ellis Institute board two years earlier. According to a biography available online, he served as chairman of the American Heart Association's Long Island region and on the franchise relations committee of the International Franchise Association. His legal problems came to light last year when the Albert Ellis Institute filed a lawsuit against its bank, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., for allowing Mr. Bernstein to make the transfers. Chase sued Mr. Bernstein in December. The publisher of Crain's serves on the board of the Manhattan Chamber.

Mayor's budget plan lacks drama, with one exception Thu, 2 Feb 2012 15:56:55 EST Jeremy Smerd - Surest sign it's Groundhog Day? Mayor Michael Bloomberg's new budget could close 20 fire companies. Mr. Bloomberg visited Staten Island Chuck Thursday morning. In the afternoon, he presented a $68.7 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, calling it “responsible” though it exhausts the last $1 billion of the city's rainy-day fund. Gone were the threats of mass layoffs he made last year. Still, the City Council pointed to cuts that threaten fire companies, libraries and day care. “Thank goodness we had the reserve,” said the mayor, focusing his presentation at City Hall on the city's growing pension obligations. He touted Gov. Andrew Cuomo's legislation in Albany to reduce retirement benefits for future workers. But Mr. Bloomberg's no-drama budget drew heated rebukes from critics who pounced on potential cuts that they say could close fire companies, harm libraries and squeeze social services—a reprise of past years' battles. City Council Speaker Christine Quinn focused on a $40 million reduction for fire companies that was restored with much fanfare during last year's budget negotiations but returned in the 2013 proposal. The cuts objected to by the Council were initially proposed by the mayor in November. Ms. Quinn also said increased fines and fees were being used to raise revenue, not simply enforce the law. “This is not their intended purpose, and we shouldn't be harassing business and property owners with frivolous violations to bring in more revenue,” she said in a statement. On the whole, however, the cuts were relative small—tens of millions of dollars. The mayor bemoaned increases in what his administration calls non-controllable expenses, mainly pensions, health care, Medicaid and debt service, which grew by 7.5% or $2 billion over the past year. Mr. Bloomberg said the biggest issue was exploding pension costs. He said that for the first time ever, the cost of pensions and fringe benefits for all uniformed workers would exceed the amount spent on wages. “That is simply not sustainable,” he said. The city's pension costs have grown six-fold over the past decade—an annualized growth of 18%. A new pension tier proposed by Mr. Cuomo would save the city $30 billion over the next 30 years, though it would save almost nothing next year. The Council must pass a budget prior to July 1.

Brooklyn workers' lockout is major test for Obama Thu, 2 Feb 2012 13:38:40 EST Daniel Massey - Porters and handymen who have been locked out of their jobs at a Brooklyn housing complex have found themselves at the center of Republicans' charge that President Barack Obama's recess appointments to the National Labor Relations Board are unconstitutional. Paul Clement, who served for three years as solicitor general under President George W. Bush, has filed a motion in federal court in Brooklyn asking a judge to dismiss the board's request for an injunction that would force the owners of Flatbush Gardens to bring the workers back at their old salaries and benefits. “The National Labor Relations Board lacks the statutorily required quorum of three members necessary to authorize the filing of the petition,” the motion argues. The move comes a week after the labor board filed a petition in federal court seeking an injunction to end the 15-month lockout at Flatbush Gardens, a 59-building complex in East Flatbush. The labor board was scheduled to go into court Thursday afternoon to argue in favor of the injunction. The lockout at the sprawling complex, which is home to 10,000 New Yorkers, began in November 2010, after the workers, who are members of 32BJ SEIU, refused to accept a wage cut of more than 30% and reductions to benefits that would have left most of them without health care coverage. In its request for the injunction, the board said that owner Renaissance Equity illegally locked out the workers, improperly subcontracted out work that was supposed to be part of a unionized bargaining unit, and failed to negotiate in good faith with the union. It asked that a judge order the company to take back the workers and bargain in good faith. The move to seek a so-called 10(j) injunction was the first such injunction sought since President Barack Obama made three appointments to the board last month while the Senate was in recess. Republicans had threatened to challenge the constitutionality of the appointments, but have since backed off. However, two pro-business groups filed legal challenges, and Renaissance is now following suit. That Renaissance, which is controlled by real estate investor David Bistricer, got Mr. Clement to file a pro hac vice motion on its behalf is a sign that the case has taken on significance beyond the 70 workers in Brooklyn. Republicans, angry about a case the board brought against Boeing and the board's new rules to speed up union elections, had vowed not to confirm Obama appointees, which would have disabled the board. Mr. Clement argues in the motion that the Senate was not technically in recess when the president appointed Deputy Labor Secretary Sharon Block, union lawyer Richard Griffin and National Labor Relations Board counsel Terence Flynn to the board last month. The board was down to two members, not enough for a quorum. “The problem here is that the president's attempted appointment of Ms. Block and Messrs. Flynn and Griffin occurred when the Senate was in session, and without the Senate's advice or consent,” the motion argues. Mr. Clement did not respond to a request for additional comment. A spokeswoman for the labor board did not have an immediate comment. A lawyer for Mr. Bistricer did not return a call. A spokesman for 32BJ said that the lockout has wreaked havoc on its members' lives and that by taking this case to court, the labor board is affirming the union's view that the Flatbush Gardens lockout of workers is unlawful. Ruthann Robson, a professor of law at the City University of New York Law School, said the decision would be a very technical one about whether the Senate was in recess. “The clear text of the Constitution says there should be a recess appointment,” she said. “Now the question is, ‘Can the Senate still be in session when there's one person who's planted there to come in and read one thing a day so it's never in recess?' The point of that is to circumvent the recess requirements.” In a memo released last month, the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel wrote that Mr. Obama was justified in making the appointments. “The convening of periodic pro forma sessions in which no business is to be conducted does not have the legal effect of interrupting an intrasession recess,” the memo says. “The president therefore has discretion to conclude that the Senate is unavailable to perform its advise-and-consent function.”

Merck profit beats Street on diabetes drug sales Thu, 2 Feb 2012 08:43:31 EST (Bloomberg) - Merck & Co., the second-largest U.S. drugmaker, reported fourth-quarter profit that topped analyst estimates on higher sales of diabetes medicines. The company forecast 2012 earnings that matched estimates. Net income was $1.51 billion, or 49 cents a share, compared with a loss of $531 million, or 17 cents, a year earlier when Merck took a $1.7 billion charge to write down the value of an experimental blood thinner, the Whitehouse Station, N.J.- based company said today in a statement. Earnings excluding one- time items of 97 cents a share beat by 2 cents the average of 18 analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Merck forecast full-year earnings excluding one-time items of $3.75 to $3.85 a share, in range of analyst estimates of $3.84. The company trimmed jobs to reduce costs as it prepares for generic competition to the asthma medication Singulair, which loses patent protection in August. The company is testing drugs for insomnia, osteoporosis, and raising good cholesterol. It introduced a hepatitis C drug last year and is working on another. “Overall performance for the quarter looks OK; it is nothing heroic,” said Seamus Fernandez, an analyst at Leerink Swann & Co. in Boston, in a phone interview before the results were announced. “The key historic drivers all look solid.” Revenue rose 1.7% to $12.3 billion. Analysts had estimated $12.5 billion. Sales of Januvia for diabetes rose 42% to $960 million. Revenue of the company's human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil increased 24% to $274 million. In July, Merck said it would eliminate another 12,000 to 13,000 jobs by 2015, expanding a restructuring program that cut 11,500 positions in 2010.

Coming soon: over-the-counter oral AIDS test Wed, 1 Feb 2012 05:59:00 EST Gale Scott - Safe sex could get safer. With HIV infection remaining a major health concern in New York City, many public health researchers are clamoring for an over-the-counter oral test for the virus. The thinking is that a home kit would let people test themselves, or to insist that partners or potential partners take and pass the test as a condition of having unprotected sex. That test could arrive soon, if the FDA rules favorably on an application from OraSure Technologies. The Bethlehem, Penn., company has asked permission to have its OraQuick rapid HIV test approved for retail sale—much like a home pregnancy test. The product is widely used in clinical settings and is expected to sell for around $20 if approved. Though many companies sell rapid HIV tests, OraSure is the only one that sells both blood and oral tests. Six others sell blood tests. "Our market share is 70% to 80% in public health and 50% to 60% in hospitals. We are the market leader" said OraSure CEO Douglas Michels. FDA approval could come this year, ending a process that started when the company approached the FDA in 2004 with market research that showed a $500 million potential U.S. sales-demand for a home test. The company submitted its final module of clinical tests results to the FDA in last month. Physically, the process would be simple: wipe a swab inside the mouth, dip it into a container, wait 20 minutes. One line means HIV negative, two lines means it is positive. In terms of manners however, it would be anything but simple, according to a study by Columbia University researchers published Wednesday. Alex Carballo-Diéguez, Timothy Frasca and colleagues at the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies at the New York State Psychiatric Institute recruited subjects from a high-risk group, men who have sex with men. Though the HIV test would be marketed to heterosexuals as well, the researchers chose homosexual and bisexual men because the virus is spreading more quickly in that demographic. Of 3,481 new HIV diagnoses in New York City in 2010, 52.1% were among these men, versus 47.4% in 2009, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. In the Columbia study, researchers offered these men the OraQuick test in their office and then interviewed them about their attitudes toward using it. Most—over 80% of the men—said they would use the kit to test sexual partners or themselves if it became available over the counter. But there was little agreement on how to broach the subject with a partner, how to handle an unexpected positive result, or deal with other situations. “The most surprising thing was how people would use it,” said Mr. Carballo-Diéguez, “Some people said they would use it with casual partners, others said they would want there to be familiarity, and would use it only with their main partner.” The study, published in the Journal of Sex Research, included remarks and explanations from the test subjects, identified only by age and ethnicity. Asked how they would bring up the topic of taking the test, some said they would be blunt and direct. The study quoted a Latino man, age 25, as planning to say, “Well, I'm interested in sexual health, well-being; would you mind taking this, you know, with me?” Another said he would use persuasion, talking up the uniqueness of the test and “how great it is.“ Others said they would make the test a condition of forgoing condom use or as a sign that a relationship had moved to steady from casual status. Most saw a common problem in using the test with casual partners in spontaneous situations. “To wait 20 minutes to see what would happen would put the brakes on whatever crescendo you're having,” said a 40-year-old white man. “It's a buzz killer.” A more serious concern, one raised by the test's opponents, is how users would react to a positive test. “There's a lot of potential opposition and clinics might not be crazy about direct access in a private setting with no personnel with them if they get a positive result,” said Mr. Carballo-Diéguez. OraSure's Mr. Michels said he had heard those concerns, but felt they were not an obstacle. "Those objections have been raised and discussed, there has been an opportunity for public comment, but there is broad support for this test." Mr. Frasca added, “There has been a progressive loosening of restrictions on HIV testing,” and that many people feel the FDA will approve the application. In announcing its latest FDA submission, OraSure cited federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics on the need to expand testing. There are approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. who have HIV and about 240,000 are unaware of their status, according to the company. Meanwhile, the test subjects had different ideas on the best strategy for dealing with a positive test. Some said they would offer deep sympathy and ask how to help. A minority said they'd be out the door. “Man, got to go,” said a 21-year-old black man describing his likely reaction. The researchers are now following up with a second study in which they have distributed tests for home use and will later ask subjects to report on their experiences using them. So far they have not studied the heterosexual population, but said it could have widespread use. They could even see a scenario—remote—in which a person could test a partner surreptitiously. “It's come up; I guess you could swab someone when they were sleeping, but it would very difficult,” said Mr. Carballo-Diéguez.

Pfizer 4Q net falls by half after generic Lipitor Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:17:24 EST Pfizer Inc. said Tuesday that its fourth-quarter profit fell by half due to one-time charges and a drop in U.S. revenue, which was hurt by blockbuster cholesterol drug Lipitor losing patent protection. It still beat Wall Street expectations, but the drugmaker trimmed its full-year earnings outlook. The maker of Viagra said net income was $1.44 billion, or 19 cents per share, down from $2.89 billion, or 36 cents per share, a year earlier. Adjusted income was $3.86 billion, or 50 cents a share, down from $3.74 billion, or 47 cents a share, a year earlier. They typically exclude one-time items. Revenue was $16.7 billion, down from $17.4 billion in 2010's fourth quarter. Earnings and revenue topped expectations of 47 cents per share on revenue of $16.61 billion. The company forecast 2012 earnings per share of $2.20 to $2.30, down a nickel from its last forecast. Patent losses cost the company $5 billion, CEO Ian Read said in a statement. While Pfizer now has generic competition to several former blockbusters, the key hit was to Lipitor, whose U.S. patent expiration on Nov. 30 was the most closely watched event in the industry last year. With just a month left in the quarter after that, Lipitor sales still fell 42% in the U.S. and 24% worldwide. The world's top-selling drug ever, Lipitor brought Pfizer $10.7 billion in 2010, most of that from the U.S. The world's biggest drugmaker fought to retain much of that money for the time being with an unprecedented strategy, continuing consumer ads for the popular pill and offering patients and insurers big discounts to stay on brand-name Lipitor. It also jointly marketed an authorized generic version with Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Wyckoff CEO rips into own board Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:59:00 EST Barbara Benson - If there were a poster child for Gov. Andrew Cuomo's controversial push for the power to seize control of hospital boards with significant management failures, it may be Wyckoff Heights Medical Center. With net assets of minus-$91 million, Wyckoff is fighting for survival. Yet its 22-member board is insisting the hospital remain independent, a stance that jeopardizes a state-backed plan to merge it with two other financially shaky Brooklyn medical centers. Wyckoff's board could also be described as shaky. The chairman resigned his leadership post in January after scores of doctors at the Brooklyn hospital complained he had long tolerated conflicts of interests among trustees and management. Another Wyckoff board member, Dr. A.C. Rao, the hospital's chief of surgery until his resignation in December, is facing an investigation by the Brooklyn district attorney of his business dealings. Also being investigated are the hospital's former President and Chief Executive Ragiv Garg and its former General Counsel David Hoffman. Mr. Garg was ousted in December. Into this disarray stepped interim president Ramon Rodriguez, a health care and insurance executive with experience in hospital turnarounds. A mere three weeks into his new job, Mr. Rodriguez chastised Wyckoff's trustees in a blistering 1,700-word email obtained by Crain's New York Business. The missive leaves no doubt of his opinion of the hospital's board, its blunt tone apparently fueled by the 5 a.m. hour of its drafting. Characterizing the board as “dysfunctional,” Mr. Rodriguez alleged “dozens of inappropriate dealings” and a board culture that permitted “multiple generations of CEOs to corrupt this institution.” Some longtime trustees, he added, “used the hospital almost as a toy, to be played with or ignored.” And two board members could be implicated in “possibly criminal conduct,” he wrote. Mr. Rodriguez charged in the email that former chief surgeon Dr. Rao “used his position on the board to his advantage” by keeping other surgeons from working at Wyckoff. One of Mr. Rodriguez's first acts as Wyckoff's interim CEO was to demand Dr. Rao's resignation as chief of surgery, a post that paid the physician almost $360,000 in 2009, according to the latest public records. With Dr. Rao's resignation, five general surgeons are preparing to join the hospital, Mr. Rodriguez wrote.