Recent Health Articles: August 2013

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Janet Blair Page: Eat, Love, Live

The pretty pyramid that beguiled business

Does this triangle really explain how we can become fulfilled? Read the full article.

Samuel J. Mann, M.D.: Recent Controversy Over Reducing Sodium Intake

Friday, August 30, 2013

Hygiene, sanitation tied to small effects on growth

Hygiene, sanitation tied to small effects on growth
By Kathleen Raven NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children from poor regions with clean water, hygiene and sanitation programs tend to be slightly taller than those who grow up in similar areas without such programs, according to a new review. Kids ages four and younger who washed their hands, drank clean water or used well-maintained toilets - or some combination of the three - were on average 0.2 inches taller than those lacking such protocols, the findings show. ...

Zymbiotix Review - For Faster and Healthier Detoxification

Zymbiotix Review - For Faster and Healthier Detoxification
I've been using Zymbiotix for the past three months and I'm satisfied with the results. I don't have a pot belly any longer and I feel much light now. You will learn more about this ...

Brain enzymes linked to autism

Brain enzymes linked to autism
A group of enzymes in the brain appears to be key to the activity of many genes linked to autism, a new study reveals.

Online tools may boost breast cancer patients' mood

By Kathleen Raven NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women with breast cancer who created a personal website about their health reported feeling less depressed, more positive and having a greater appreciation for life in a small new study. Though cancer patients have long benefited from support groups made up of fellow patients and survivors, researchers said, they may still have trouble talking about their experiences with family and friends - who may also feel uncomfortable broaching the subject. ... Source

Open Access Journals and Healthcare Information: Indexing and Archiving

HENDERSON, Nev., Aug. 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The main function of peer reviewed open access publishing platforms is to powerfully present the content online, making it available to all, and link this information with useful scientific data. The purpose is to increase public interest and make them available at one's disposal. The emergence and expansion of low quality/toll access indexing and archiving services has raised the active interest of open access publishers in the context of searching for the best service to index their resources and information.

The editorial team of OMICS Group Scholalry Journals, consisting of professors, researchers and the institutional heads recommended a selective list of OMICS Group journals to be indexed in quality databases. The list of recommendations for indexing journals in PubMed Central is available online.

OMICS Group International founded by Dr. Gedela S. Babu, an 'Open Access Publisher', publishes around 300 peer reviewed journals in different fields of medical, pharmaceutical, clinical and life sciences. With the help of 25,000 qualified and strong editorial systems, OMICS Journals strictly adhere to the standards of scholarly publishing. Pleased with the quality of articles published in a set of OMICS Group journals, the editorial team recommended the journals to be indexed in different free access healthcare databases.

Simple and easily accessible Google Scholar is the finest and foremost trusted indexing platform. Few more quality and specific open access medical research indexing platforms are required to handle and disseminate the knowledge.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

OMICS Group International
John Benson
contact.omics@omicsonline.org

SOURCE OMICS Group International

RELATED LINKS
http://www.omicsonline.org

Source: www.prnewswire.com

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Kidney stones increasing in women

More women are being diagnosed with kidney stones, and the obesity epidemic may help explain the increasing number of cases, a new study suggests. You can get the whole story here.

NFL, former players in $765 million deal to settle concussion suit

By Scott Malone BOSTON (Reuters) - The National Football League has agreed to pay $765 million to settle a lawsuit brought by thousands of former players, many suffering from dementia and health problems, who accused the league of hiding the dangers of brain injury while profiting from the sport's violence. ...

I tried to do headstands. This is what happened.

I would stand on my head for YOU! Or at least I’ll try? Never done a headstand before. O_O …now I feel like the headstand is a precursor to other cool things I’m going to do. Handstands are next! The Land of Doing Cool Things has some wide open spaces for us to roam free. […]

The post I tried to do headstands. This is what happened. appeared first on Yum Yucky.

I would stand on my head for YOU! Or at least I’ll try? Never done a headstand before. O_O

…now I feel like the headstand is a precursor to other cool things I’m going to do. Handstands are next! The Land of Doing Cool Things has some wide open spaces for us to roam free. There’s enough room for all of us.

√ Subscribe to YumYucky on YouTube

√ Like me on Facebook

√ Follow me on Twitter

The post I tried to do headstands. This is what happened. appeared first on Yum Yucky.

Get the whole story here.

Don Berwick's Newest Phase: Candidate, But Still Dr. Quality

Dr. Donald Berwick might be running for Governor of Massachusetts, but he's still got a foothold in his former life.

Berwick, most recently known as the acting chief of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, had a long record as the leading authority on health care quality, including being founder and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. And it was more in that capacity that the British Prime Minister David Cameron asked Berwick for his recommendations for improving safety and restoring confidence after higher-than-expected death rates at one hospital rocked the country.

The result? Berwick's "Letter to the people of England" explained his call for continuous learning without blame as the fastest route to improved quality within the National Health Service. The NHS needs national safe-staffing formulas that can be applied, with discretion, Berwick said, to avoid the dangers of understaffing at British hospitals. Berwick spoke, by phone, to a group of reporters about the health care and political lessons his work in the UK offers for Massachusetts.

Here are edited excerpts of that call.

Q: How do you think this report relates to people in Massachusetts. What do they take away from it?

A: Well…this report is not part of the campaign; I had agreed to do it prior to the announcement. But this is about large system change, I mean, here you have a system with 1.4 million employees. That’s the size of the NHS spending 100 billion pounds [approx. $160 billion]. So it’s a very relevant experience. I obviously was dealing with very senior leaders in a politicized environment, which of course as governor I would be doing constantly and helping build consensus.

Q: You know that your work in the UK was thrown back at you as a critique in Washington. I wonder how you read the climate in Massachusetts for drawing lessons from work, like what you’ve done in this report?

Berwick, speaking at the Massachusetts Democratic convention in Lowell, Mass., earlier this year (Photo by Aram Boghosian for The Boston Globe via Getty Images).

A: Well, first the critique in Washington always felt to me, more or less hogwash. It was more demagogic than informed. I did work [his work goes back to the mid-90s, he was Knighted in 2005] with the NHS, I’m proud to have done that, it’s a good system with flaws. They brought me there because of their flaws and what they wanted is to continually improve. It is not the case that you can take a system from one country, or from one state, let alone the country, and just import it to another one, so that was pretty much fabricated, the idea that somehow I had a plot with the NHS. I’m proud of that work.

I think Massachusetts is a state that has a history of learning and growth and development and one of the ways you do that is by reaching out and learning what others are doing. We don’t have a Mid Staffordshire problem of that exact type here in Massachusetts.

Q: Was this a pro-bono thing (the work for NHS), or did you get a substantial sum for—

A: It was pro-bono, I got no fee for this at all. I felt it was an honor to be able to do it, and this is a very valued system in that country and I was happy to be asked. Indeed, the whole committee worked pro-bono, that’s very important to know.

Q: I’d love to get your take on the state of play of the Affordable Care Act now. On the one hand, you have predictions of disaster, on the other hand, you have the administration saying, “It’s going to work, we’re going to wait and see.” And people will see once it’s implemented. I’d like your critique.

A: It really is true that I do not have an inside wire to information from CMS or for that matter, the White House. In many cases, you know more than I do. But my feelings right now, two things: First is, the Affordable Care Act has already done very important things for millions and millions of Americans. People have prevention coverage they never would’ve had without this bill, people can get access to prescription drugs they couldn’t have had, insurance companies are under more and proper surveillance, kids no longer have pre-existing condition threat when getting insurance, and as of next year, that’ll be true for anyone that wants insurance.

Massachusetts itself has gotten millions of dollars for prevention funds, for maternal and child care, for people to get access to better care. If the Republicans or anyone tried to take this law away, I think there’d be a sudden outpouring of rage as people realized what they were losing, what they’ve already gotten.

For the future, it’s a complex endeavor, we’re taking a $2.6 trillion system that serves the entire nation and trying to turn it into something that is universal, that is higher quality, that is more accountable, that is oriented toward outcomes not volume. That’s a big deal, and of course there’ll be adjustments.

As I watch – as an outsider now – the president make decisions about changes in timing, the delay of the employer mandates, for example, I don’t – of course there’ll be adjustments, they’re making decisions about how to help a very complicated thing get done well, I can’t second guess that.

I think this story is going to play out over time as a very important positive move for the country, and that the people who are trying to take the law away are not going to meet a happy public.

Q: The administration’s posture seems to be, “Well, we will let the people judge for themselves as it takes effect” and they don’t seem to have done a very good sales job explaining how the benefits work, why you need a mandate if you’re going to get rid of [insurance exemptions for] preexisting conditions, any of those tensions. Do you feel that they have sold this thing well?

A: I agree. I think there was, for reasons that are not clear to me, something that was missed in terms of explaining to the public, and helping the average person in the public understand how good this thing is, how much benefit this is going to bring to our nation, to our neighbors, to each individual. Why? I don’t know, the story is a very important story.

When I was able to get out and about, when I traveled the country as CMS administrator, to town hall meetings and meetings with providers or beneficiaries, it took five minutes to bring them around and help them see what they were really getting because of this law. It’s a very, very good piece of legislation despite the inevitable changes and tweaks that are going to be needed over time.

I think some opportunity was missed. I’ve seen in the efforts of the secretary over the past year, and the outreach now to get people enrolled, a really great story in terms of helping people understand what’s possible. But if we could go back to square one, I think a different, better messaging effort would’ve taken off.

Disease-Carrying Lone Star Ticks and Related Disease on the Rise in Tennessee

Can you identify a lone star tick? Check out DogsAndTicks.com to learn more about keeping your pets and your family safe from tick-borne disease! (PRNewsFoto/DogsAndTicks.com)

WESTBROOK, Maine, Aug. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Historically considered a southern and south-central U.S. parasite, the lone star tick is creating increasing concerns for pets and people in Tennessee. This tick, known for the white, star-like spot on the backs of the female, is an aggressive biter and can transmit diseases such as ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever to dogs, cats and people.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130618/CG34092LOGO)

"Lone star ticks become more and more widespread every year," said Michael Dryden, DVM, PhD, distinguished professor of veterinary parasitology at Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine who is considered one of the nation's foremost authorities on ticks that infect dogs and cats.

Recent data shows increasing cases of tick-borne diseases like ehrlichiosis in Tennessee. According to IDEXX Laboratories, veterinarians have reported more than twice as many cases of canine ehrlichiosis in Alabama to date in 2013 (884) as they did for the entire years of 2011 and 2012 (410). Records show that 1 out of every 21* dogs in Tennessee tests positive for ehrlichiosis (* as of August 1, 2013).

Some cases, however, go unreported, and many infected dogs go untested. Taking that into account, the nonprofit Companion Animal Parasite Council estimates these figures represent only about 30 percent of the actual incidence of ehrlichiosis in Tennessee, where people also are at risk.

Ehrlichiosis is a blood cell infection that can lead to joint pain and lameness. Canine symptoms may not be obvious and include loss of appetite, lethargy or reluctance to move. If left untreated, the disease could progress to a chronic infection that lasts days, months or even years – often without showing any symptoms.

"The lone star tick is a very aggressive tick, and it actively seeks out people and pets to feed on," said Michael J. Yabsley, MS, PhD, F.R.E.S. (Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society), associate professor at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia. "It's one of the most common ticks that people find on themselves and their dogs, so everyone should take precautions – especially in the new areas of invasion."

Parasitologists like Dryden and Yabsley say the reason for the lone star tick expansion, which began about 25 years ago, is multi-faceted and complex, citing such factors as milder winters, suburbanization and the proliferation of white-tailed deer and wild turkeys – common hosts for lone star ticks. With deer and turkey populations increasing and spreading and more people moving closer to woodlands and wildlife, conditions are conducive for lone star tick proliferation and interaction with domestic animals and their owners.

Ticks, including the lone star, are most active in the spring. It's important, however, to remain vigilant year-round about protecting dogs from ticks. They go dormant during the winter but don't die – even when there's a hard freeze – and they can come out to feed on mild days.

"By the time you notice ticks on dogs, it's often too late," said Dryden. "All it takes is one bite."

Even if pet owners use tick preventives, infections can still occur if owners' mistime or forget an application or dose. The two most common pathogens the lone star tick can transmit to both animals and humans are the causative agents of ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF). RMSF symptoms include arthritis-like stiffness and neurological problems. If not treated early, both diseases can become chronic and even result in death.

While it's difficult to tell if a dog has a tick-borne disease, veterinarians can screen for them. They recommend testing annually for these diseases, which usually can be successfully treated with antibiotics.

People who want to learn more about how to protect their families and pets should consult their veterinarians and www.DogsAndTicks.com, a helpful website with information about tick-bite prevention and tick diseases – including how prevalent some of them are in their own neighborhoods. Since early diagnosis and treatment are keys to longer and higher-quality lives for dogs, the online resource also teaches people how to recognize difficult-to-distinguish signs of infection, how to properly check for ticks and remove embedded ticks.

The veterinarians and veterinary parasitologists who support and develop content for www.DogsAndTicks.com are committed to educating pet owners about the prevalence and risks of tick-borne diseases. The website does not endorse any individual product but serves as an informational source, with tools that include interactive prevalence maps for tick-borne diseases based on diagnostic screenings from across the country.

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., is a global market leader in pet healthcare innovation, helping practicing veterinarians around the world advance medical care with a broad range of diagnostic products and services. IDEXX created www.DogsAndTicks.com as a resource for pet owners.

SOURCE DogsAndTicks.com

RELATED LINKS
http://www.dogsandticks.com

Source: www.prnewswire.com

Cooking Light: How One New Mom Is Losing the Baby Weight With a Total Mind-Shift

Could The Bacteria In Your Gut Control Your Weight?

Should everyone over 65 take a statin?

Even seniors without known cardiovascular disease may benefit from cholesterol-lowering drugs, a new study suggests. For full post, click here.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Murad Skin Care Product Spotlight: Acne Spot Treatment

No matter how effective your acne treatment regimen may be, the occasional angry spot blemish sometimes forms. Whether it’s the result of stress, a week of unhealthy diet or a hormonal surge, when an inflamed blemish makes its way to the surface of your skin, the only thing that you want to do is to get rid of it as fast as possible. That’s why Murad developed its sulfur-based Acne Spot Treatment. This travel-sized blemish killer is strong enough to quickly and effectively dry out blemishes even before they surface but also gentle enough to reduce irritation, redness and flaking. After reading our product spotlight on Murad Acne Spot Treatment, we think you’ll agree that using it as part of a comprehensive acne treatment regimen can help you to get clear, stay clear for skin that’s Better Every Day™.

�

About Murad Acne Spot Treatment

Murad Acne Spot Treatment combines the powerful clear skin ingredients Salicylic Acid and Sulfur. Salicylic Acid allows the acne-fighting medications to penetrate beneath the surface of the skin for maximum effectiveness, meaning that blemishes can be combatted when they’re still at the pore or hair follicle level. Sulfur is an age old (even the Romans used it!) skin treatment that dries your blemish so that it will gently flake away while also soothing and healing the skin around it. But Salicylic Acid and Sulfur aren’t the only ingredients that make this spot treatment more effective than competitors. Murad Acne Spot Treatment also includes:

Licorice Root and Allantoin: These anti-inflammatories soothe redness and irritation surrounding your blemish.

�

Vitamin-C and Vitamin-E: Antioxidants protect skin and restore skin’s overall health.

�

Hydrolized Oat Flour: While some dryness and flaking is necessary, this ingredient minimizes dryness and flaking to reduce the chance of acne scars or post-acne marks.

�

Murad Acne Spot Treatment also comes in a conveniently small size (you only need a dab) so that it’s easy to have with you whenever you need it. Throw it in your purse and treat blemishes as soon as you begin to feel them forming under the skin so that they never turn into large, inflamed pimples.

�

Who Should Use Murad Acne Spot Treatment? If you ever get blemishes – ever – then this product is for you. From providing an ongoing spot treatment for chronic or cyclical breakouts until you find the right acne treatment regimen to giving you an arsenal for the occasional “stress zit,” this tube is a must-have for anybody who ever has to deal with blemish control.

�

How to Use Murad Acne Spot Treatment: Just cleanse the affected area and apply a thin layer one to three times daily or as needed.

�

Murad Clarifying Body Spray Reviews

There are over 300 product reviews of Murad Acne Spot Treatment on Murad.com, but we’ve included some of the best ones below for you. How does Murad Clarifying Body Spray help you to get clear, stay clear? Read below and find out.

�

can’t live without

“This product really works and in hours. As soon as you feel acne coming on you apply a small dab onto it and it stops it in its tracks instantly!!!! This is one product I will not go without.” Maddie07, California

�

I LOOOOVVVVEE THIS!!!

“So I picked this up on an impulse while I was waiting in line to purchase my makeup last night. I decided that since I wasn’t going anywhere I’d wash my face and put this on. WOW!!!!! The acne I had on my cheek and chin area was minimized by 80% within hours!!! No joke!! I am dead serious people. I have sensitive skin and products I put in my hair (sometimes even the hair I buy) will make my face breakout something fierce. I’ve had bumps on my face for well over 3 weeks now, regularly cleansing, mindful to keep my hair off my face but nothing was working. And nothing in history has ever worked this fast. Instead of large bumps on my cheeks I now have teeny tiny bumps that I’m sure will be gone by the end of this week (that’s just 3 more days). I’m mad that I didn’t remember to bring it with me to work today but I’ll never forget again. I truly truly love this product!!!” Tweety77, Pennsylvania

�

Gentle & effective!

“With sulfur as the main ingredient, this product is gentle enough for sensitive acne-prone skin. Other brands use harsh benzoyl peroxide, which I am allergic to so I am happy to have found Murad’s spot treatment! It also works fast to take down the redness & bump.” Shaun, Colorado

�

The Need

“I have been struggling with acne for years! I am also a picker. Whenever I feel a pimple coming on I fight the urge to pick at it and use my amazing on the spot treatment on it as many times as I need to and I slowly disappears. I will get the under the skin pimples that hurt and this on the spot will eliminate it. I take it everywhere I go since it’s so convenient with the size of the bottle. It goes on clear so you can fight pimples all day and no one knows it! I would recommend this product to anyone struggling with embarrassing acne!” Crites, Nebraska
Love this stuff!

“This acne spot treatment is amazing! It works super fast and doesn’t dry out or irritate my skin. Definitely recommend this to anyone like me, who will wake up with a new breakout on their face. I’ve tried to cover up breakouts with makeup, but then just end up looking cake-like and like I have a mask on. Actually TREATING the problem with this stuff is awesome. I use all the steps in the acne treatment set and this I believe is my favorite part. If you have acnes problems, you definitely want to try this stuff out right away. You will definitely not be disappointed.” Girby7, Connecticut

�

Best INVISIBLE acne spot treatment on the market!

“I love this product because it actually works to speed up any potential blemish from forming and growing! I use it even when I see i tiny little bump, a clogged pore, or even that annoying blemish that may have already surfaced and you just want to speed up its lifespan on your face:) Second best, it’s practically invisible which is a must if you’re going anywhere after using it. This is such an advantage because you can wear alone or under your make-up and it can’t be seen, yet it’s actively working on your blemish all throughout the day and no one knows it but you! My blemishes lifespan when using this product twice a day is usually 1-2 days tops!” Neveah, California

�

Definitely Recommended!!

“This product works perfect for on the spot treatment for pimples and blemishes. It doesn’t leave your skin irritated, although you may see some dryness of the areas you put it on, however, that is what acne creams do! It decreases the size of pimples, and makes them disappear quickly! I loved this product with the acne complex kit, but I changed to the sensitive acne kit, and that kit did not come with it. I wish it did though! I really miss using this product!!!” VDgal, New Mexico

�

Related Info

All Murad Acne Treatment Products

Acne Treatments with Salicylic Acid

Acne Masks

Hormonal Acne Treatments

�

Source

ACOs’ Coordinated Care Savings May Be Contagious

ACOs’ Coordinated Care Savings May Be Contagious
Accountable care organizations (ACOs) may actually be the unicorns we’ve been waiting for, spreading their cost-saving magic throughout the health system. An early cost-sharing program in Massachusetts designed to cut costs for private Blue Cross Blue Shield patients also lowered costs for Medicare patients who were seen by the same providers, according to a study published [...]

Accountable care organizations (ACOs) may actually be the unicorns we’ve been waiting for, spreading their cost-saving magic throughout the health system.

An early cost-sharing program in Massachusetts designed to cut costs for private Blue Cross Blue Shield patients also lowered costs for Medicare patients who were seen by the same providers, according to a study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

An ACO is a network of doctors and hospitals that shares responsibility for providing care to a specific group of patients. The idea is to pay the providers for the quality of the services they provide, rather than the volume – in other words, to veer away from the fee-for-service system. The ACO is offered a bonus for giving patients high quality care at a reduced cost. But if they fail to hit certain quality targets or do not manage to reduce the cost of care, they will be paid less.

There are already more than 428 ACOs in the US, serving an estimated 14 percent of the population, including both Medicare and private-insurance patients.

But usually only a portion of patients in a health system are actually in the ACO—the rest of the patients served by a network remain in the regular old fee-for-service system. Still, researchers at the Harvard Medical School say there appears to be a “spillover savings” for other patients in the health system.

Within two years, providers in the private BCBS Alternative Quality Contract, an ACO-like effort also achieved a significant savings (more than 3 percent) for the Medicare patients they saw, relative to a control group of Medicare patients seen by providers at other Massachusetts hospitals. The average savings in outpatient care was $73 per patient, and “included significant differential changes in spending on office visits, emergency department visits, minor procedures, imaging, and laboratory tests.”

“The spillover savings in Medicare that we found suggest that at least some of the interventions providers adopted in response to the AQC [the private BCBS Alternative Quality Contract] changed the way care was delivered for all patients,” assistant professor J. Michael McWilliams, said in a press release.

The quality of the care for the Medicare patients in the study group, however, did not seem to have changed significantly, while it did for the private patients.

Researchers noted several possible strategies adopted by the AQCs that could have also affected Medicare beneficiaries, including rewarding doctors for efficient practices, shifting care away from expensive outpatient facilities and redesigning care to eliminate waste.

The good news is that the findings “suggest that provider groups are willing – and able – to make systemic changes that result in higher-value care for patients across the board.” And that means they’ll likely be willing to enter into similar contracts with additional insurers, which could mean a rapid transition to coordinated care throughout the system.

But there may be a downside for insurers backing an ACO: their competitors may get the spillover benefits of hard-earned efficiency. Other insurers operating in the same hospital could become “free-riders” that can offer lower premiums without incurring the costs of managing an ACO.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Isabel Foxen Duke: 5 Ways To Eat Like A 'Normal' Person (That Dieters Just Don't Get)

The Determination To Face The Change Post Obesity Surgery

Undergoing a weight loss surgery has a great impact on one's life and surroundings. It has the ability to alter every aspect of your life. It makes you feel better, look better and be more energetic. You can get the whole story here.

Ryan Lost 193 Pounds: 'I Had To Learn How To Eat'

You Need to Know About This. 8/27/13

Come with me, my peoples. Let us enter into the fancy realm that goes beyond health & fitness. Here’s some news you need to know about. Information is power. Stay informed, my friends. THE GOOD Care to gouge out someone’s eyes? Smash some groins? A crush to the windpipe, perhaps? This may all seem terribly […]

The post You Need to Know About This. 8/27/13 appeared first on Yum Yucky.

Come with me, my peoples. Let us enter into the fancy realm that goes beyond health & fitness. Here’s some news you need to know about. Information is power. Stay informed, my friends.

THE GOOD

Care to gouge out someone’s eyes? Smash some groins? A crush to the windpipe, perhaps? This may all seem terribly bad, but there’s a buffet of good fighting tactics you can use to kick an assailant’s ass. This article was right on time since the hubs recently taught me the proper technique to gouge out eyeballs. >>FULL STORY

THE BAD

“Each day, for 882 days, nearly 72,000 gallons of polluted (radioactive) water has flowed into the Pacific Ocean.”

Bad enough for you yet? To say the Fukushima situation is out of hand is an understatement. This problem didn’t go away when mainstream media stopped reporting on it two years ago. It got worse. And now? It’s back in mainstream news again because Fukushima is undeniable. The truth cannot be contained, much like the radioactive water flowing into the Pacific. My post on Facebook shows the path of the contaminated water as it lingers along the Pacific Coast of the United States. While one person labeled this an ELE (Extinction Level Event), all I know is, there’s no fixing it. Keep this issue on your radar. >> FULL STORY

This snippet from SurvivalGearStop.com sums it up perfectly: “The current crisis going on at the Fukishima Nuclear Facility in Japan has been raised to a level three emergency. The water that is being used to cool the melted towers is now rapidly pouring into the Pacific Ocean. This water is so toxic that anyone standing near the water for several hours will get radiation poisoning. At this time there is no solution to the problem. You must be prepared for problems with the food chain, shipping, and even fall out. No one is sure what will happen now that this toxic water has entered the ocean.”

THE ABSURD

Big Pharma is lusting for more pill-popping power over the masses. Their newest scheme is Shift Work Disorder. There’s a pill for that. You’ll be a basket case of incompetence if you don’t treat this “disorder” with their magic pill, NUVIGIL tablets. Never mind that the pills might lead to death as a side effect. It’s no biggie, yo. >> FULL STORY

—-

√ Like me on Facebook

√ Follow me on Twitter

√ Subscribe to YumYucky on YouTube

The post You Need to Know About This. 8/27/13 appeared first on Yum Yucky.

Source

Why do haters have to hate?

Research has delved into the reasons why some people seem to dislike everything and others like everything. You can get the whole story here.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Penny Jones Open Golf Tournament to Benefit Kansas-based Hospital

Proceeds from the Penny Jones Open golf tournament will go towards upgrades at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. (PRNewsFoto/Briggs Auto Group)

LAWRENCE, Kan., Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- The Lawrence Memorial Hospital Endowment Association will once again be hosting the Penny Jones Open golf tournament. The event is scheduled for Friday September 6, 2013 and will take place at the captivating Alvamar Golf and Country Club in Lawrence. The registration deadline is this Saturday, August 31 and the registration fee is $175 for each player. There will be a choice of two tee times, one at 8 am and another at 1:15 pm.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130826/MN69491)

Participants will be provided with a variety of activities. On top of the 18 holes will be a putting contest, multiple on-course skill prizes, a tournament gift, refreshments throughout the course and an award ceremony. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for all participants. Also included in the fee is the chance to win a brand new car courtesy of Briggs Auto, one of the sponsors of the tournament. The auto group will be giving a car to the first participant lucky enough to sink a hole in one shot.

The tournament committee has set a goal to raise $115,000 in net proceeds to go towards community programming and equipment for the hospital. Since it began more than 30 years ago, the Penny Jones Tournament has raised more than one million dollars. Money from last year's tournament went towards a variety of upgrades including a wireless fetal monitoring system, new vital signs monitors and recliners for patient rooms. Tournament proceeds also funded a large window in the hospital's nursery to allow families of special needs babies to keep an eye on their newest addition.

Participants who don't happen to sink a hole in one shot still have the chance to get a car from Briggs Auto. The Kansas-based auto group offers a variety of different models, both new and used. The professionals at Briggs can be reached at (888) BRIGGS-1 or through their website at www.briggsauto.com.

Media Contact: Kory Suppes, Briggs Auto Group, (913) 677-3300, kory.suppes@briggsauto.com

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

SOURCE Briggs Auto Group

Washington State Launches Ad Blitz Promoting Health Exchange

With five weeks left until Washington state launches its online health-insurance exchange, many residents may have heard little about the program designed to offer coverage to the uninsured. That’s begun to change. The state began rolling out the first phase of its ad campaign last week to let the public know about the exchange, a central part of the [...]

With five weeks left until Washington state launches its online health-insurance exchange, many residents may have heard little about the program designed to offer coverage to the uninsured.

That’s begun to change.

The state began rolling out the first phase of its ad campaign last week to let the public know about the exchange, a central part of the federal Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

The campaign, aimed at signing up , began airing radio spots last Tuesday and online ads last Wednesday. The aim is to sign up 130,000 uninsured people by the end of this year and 280,000 people in 2014 to buy coverage in the online marketplace, called Washington Healthplanfinder.

The campaign is drawing from $26.3 million in federal funds the state has received to support marketing and outreach efforts.

The exchange was created under provisions of the law that delegated the establishment of such marketplaces to states that chose to build them. Beginning Oct. 1, Washington residents will be able to go to the Healthplanfinder website to compare 31 health plans, apply for subsidies to pay the premiums and enroll in coverage to take effect Jan. 1.

State officials hope the ad campaign, combined with an array of outreach and marketing efforts, will drive a large number of Washingtonians to the website, and not just those who are uninsured.

“Our goal is to have the more than 6½ million residents of this state go to Healthplanfinder to see what opportunities are there for them or someone they know,” said Michael Marchand, communications director of the health-benefit-exchange agency.

The hope is that people will go to the website and pass on what they learn to friends and family members who do not.

“Everyone knows someone who can take advantage of the opportunities the Healthplanfinder will provide,” Marchand said.

Marchand’s agency is working with a variety of community groups and organizations to spread the word about the Healthplanfinder website.

The exchange agency has been posting regular updates on its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/WAhealthplanfinder) and through its Twitter feed (@WAplanfinder).

“We’re also looking at leveraging YouTube for certain elements of the campaign,” Marchand said.

State officials recognize they face a big challenge in trying to persuade people who are uninsured to sign up for coverage.

“We recognize they’re a very hard-to-reach population,” says Marchand. Many of them have had little experience with health insurance and may be unfamiliar with how it works. Others have tried to get coverage in the past, but without success.

Market research found that many of Washington’s uninsured are skeptical about their chances of finding a health plan that is affordable, said David Smith, a partner at GMMB, a strategic communications firm with offices in Seattle and Washington, D.C., which is coordinating the advertising and marketing campaign.

To address these doubts, the ads emphasize that Healthplanfinder offers the uninsured a new opportunity to enroll in affordable coverage and that financial assistance is available.

“There’s a first time for everything,” one radio spot tells listeners. “Like this October, when you might qualify for low-cost or even free health insurance for the first time.”

The ad campaign is starting small but will kick into high gear by mid- to late September.

In addition to radio and online ads, print ads will appear the week after Labor Day in community-based publications, including African-American newspapers and foreign-language publications. Ads will be translated into Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Spanish and Russian.

Television commercials also won’t hit the airwaves until after Labor Day, and possibly not until mid-September, Marchand said.

That puts Washington behind states such as Colorado and Oregon, which have been running television commercials about their programs for several weeks.

But there are strategic reasons to delay, according to Marchand.

State officials do not want to launch an ad blitz before there are resources in place to answer people’s questions about Healthplanfinder, which the ads are expected to stimulate.

“Other states went up with ads early, but there was really nothing for them to share other than the message ‘this is coming soon,’ and that isn’t enough,” Marchand said.

The state is setting up a toll-free hotline and a call center in Spokane scheduled to go live Sept. 3. Television commercials will start airing sometime after that.

Washington officials also don’t want to stimulate people’s interest in Healthplanfinder too far in advance of when they can actually sign up for coverage.

“Washington is certainly not alone in deciding not to do a big advertising push until there is a functional website, a call center, and real options that people can act on to start purchasing coverage,” said Caroline Pearson, vice president at Avalere Health, a Washington, D.C., consulting firm that is tracking marketing and outreach efforts across the country.

The $26.3 million Washington has in federal funds for advertising and outreach through 2014 is “a robust amount,” Pearson said.

The amount includes nearly $19 million awarded to GMMB, most of which is expected to be spent on buying ad placements, Marchand said.

This story is part of a collaboration that includes The Seattle Times and Kaiser Health News.

Get the whole story here.

Faster mental decline in depressed diabetics

Faster mental decline in depressed diabetics
In a study of older people with type 2 diabetes declines that are often linked to later dementia happened faster in those who were depressed.

How Much Does It Cost To Get Stretch Marks Removed?

Over half of all the population will experience stretch marks at some time or another in their lives. Find out just how much you can expect to spend, when trying to get rid of your stretch marks. Read more...

Accelerated Physical Therapy Helps Concussed Athletes Return-To-Play and Heal From Serious Concussions

Company Logo, Putting Patients First. (PRNewsFoto/Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers)

CHICAGO, Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- With football and soccer seasons here and more than one million youth athletes expected to sustain a concussion this year, head injuries are top of mind for many parents. And, if a child does sustain a concussion, how do parents know when it is safe for kids to return to their sport?

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120118/CG37630LOGO)

A recent study shows that almost one-third of concussed athletes are released to play before they are ready. According to the study's authors, almost one-third of the student-athletes experienced neurocognitive symptoms (including memory loss) even though they had been asymptomatic after rest and had been cleared to play.

And, another recent study argues that there is even more to be concerned about. It shows that young athletes who sustain two or more concussions -- or worse yet, sustain them in the same year -- can take up to two or three times longer to recover.

The new Concussion Management Program at Accelerated Physical Therapy helps concussed athletes return to play safely and provides physical therapy solutions to those with serious concussions. The program offers a return-to-play protocol and multi-disciplinary treatment for athletes with first-time or multiple concussions – and for those who have symptoms that have not resolved.

"For asymptomatic and first-time concussions, we work with physicians on a customized return-to-play protocol to ensure that the patient isn't released to play too soon," explains Paul Schroeder, Accelerated Concussion Management specialist. Schroeder heads the company's Return-to-Play (RTP) program which works in tandem with physicians and evaluates a patient's cognitive, musculoskeletal, sensory, balance and oculomotor skills.

But, some concussions are more serious. "Most concussion symptoms resolve themselves after three weeks of rest," explains Tim Rylander, Accelerated Concussion Management and vestibular specialist. "However, for those with serious concussions, we provide manual, vestibular and neuromuscular therapy to help them heal and get back to normal."

The Accelerated Concussion Management program is a highly-detailed customized approach towards treatment. It uses current, evidence-based treatment techniques in order to develop a comprehensive and effective management plan.

Accelerated's Concussion Management Program includes:

Musculoskeletal evaluation: Addresses possible contributing factors of the craniocervical complex and cervical spine to post-concussive symptoms, including headaches and dizziness.
Sensory evaluation: Assesses an individual's vestibular, visual and somatosensory systems as well as balance and dizziness.
Oculomotor evaluation: Investigates the influence of dynamic vision and optokinetic stimulation on dizziness, difficulty with concentration, visual disturbance and headaches.

In order to offer a comprehensive treatment plan, physical therapists use a variety of therapies, including:

Manual Therapy: utilization of hands-on manual therapy geared toward improving spinal mobility and spinal mechanics, while simultaneously reducing soft tissue and myofascial restrictions to reduce headache and pain.
Vestibular Rehabilitation Exercises: Therapeutic exercises designed to reduce impairments in balance, and symptoms of dizziness.
Neuromuscular Re-education Strategies: Therapeutic activities to improve oculomotor coordination and gaze stability to reduce visual disturbances, improve headaches and fogginess.

Once patients are symptom-free, Accelerated physical therapists will administer an ImPACT test, a neurocognitive test specifically designed for concussion management, in addition to a five-step, Return-To-Play program for athletes to achieve medical clearance.

For more information on Accelerated's Concussion Management Program, visit acceleratedrehab.com or call 877-97-REHAB.

About Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers

Chicago-based Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers is a premier provider of a wide array of comprehensive patient services and specialized rehabilitation programs. Since 1989, Accelerated has grown to over 230 outpatient rehabilitation centers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, Ohio and Arizona, becoming the top choice for many professional athletes, large employers and busy professionals. For more information about Accelerated, call 877-97-REHAB, or visit www.acceleratedrehab.com.

CONTACT: Ann Pitcher
ann@pscommunicationsinc.com
630.234.4150

SOURCE Accelerated Rehabilitation Centers

RELATED LINKS
http://www.acceleratedrehab.com

Source: www.prnewswire.com

Walking to Work Could Cut Diabetes Risk by 40% and More

Walking to Work Could Cut Diabetes Risk by 40% and More
Recent research suggests walking or biking to work could significantly decrease your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure - by up to 40%.

fitness walking 263x164 Walking to Work Could Cut Diabetes Risk by 40% and More For more than one reason, walking or biking could be far better for us than driving – especially in the morning to avoid stressful traffic. Being in the fresh air among the singing birds has obvious benefits over road rage and exhaust, but recent research from the UK suggests walking or biking to work could significantly decrease your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

Researchers looked at 20,000 survey respondents from across England, taking note of their health statistics and how they traveled to and from work. Those who walked were, by many accounts, the healthiest.

Here is a breakdown of the study results.

Study Breakdown

Those workers who walked or biked were less likely to be overweight than those who traveled by car. 19% percent of drivers were obese, compared with 15% of walkers and 13% of cyclists.

In addition to being slimmer, walkers also had a 17% lower risk of high blood pressure.

Most significantly, walking was tied to a 40% reduction in risk of type 2 diabetes, where cycling was tied to about half the risk when compared with drivers.

The research was published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.

“This study highlights that building physical activity into the daily routine by walking, cycling, or using public transport to get to work is good for personal health,” said the study’s lead researcher.

Unfortunately, if you live in the suburbs and work in the city, for instance, walking to work may be out of the question. But, fitting a daily walk in shouldn’t be. Try parking further away from your job to create that walk. Or, use half of your lunch hour to walk around the city blocks. The key is getting active, not necessarily doing it on your way to or from work. And if you really want to benefit your health, try forest bathing – simply walking through the forest or woods, through nature.

“Next to not smoking, general regular physical activity is arguably the best thing you can do for your health,” according to the Harvard School of Public Health.

So, walk to the store, the park, your neighbor’s house, or aimlessly around the neighborhood. But, walk somewhere.

Additional Sources:

MedicalNewsToday

Diet Doc Now More Closely Tailors Its Medically Supervised Diet Plans...

Diet Doc has introduced a new way to lose weight fast, improving on outdated weight loss plans and establishing itself as one of the most reliable diet providers on the market by offering all patients...

(PRWeb August 26, 2013)

Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/diet-plans/weight-loss/prweb11058485.htm

Cell Surface Markers Market is Expected to Reach USD 23.03 Billion Globally in 2019: Transparency Market Research

ALBANY, New York, August 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a new market report published by Transparency Market Research (http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com) "Cell Surface Markers Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2013 - 2019," the global cell surface markers market was valued at USD 13.2 billion in 2012 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.1% from 2013 to 2019, to reach an estimated value of USD 23.03 billion in 2019.

Browse the full report at http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cell-surface-markers-market.html

Cell surface markers are expressed on the surface of cells and function as identifiers of certain type of cells. The presence of cell markers also assists in the determination of cell type expression of specific receptors vital for biological response. Cell surface marker analysis is also essential in determination of experimental drug or ligand response. Rapid development in healthcare technology, growing preference for reduction of healthcare expenditure by lowering the cost of diagnosis, reduction in the risk of misdiagnosis, rapid and efficient decision making for therapies for specific diseases are some of the major factors which support the growing acceptance of cell surface marker analysis worldwide.

On the other hand, complexity of high-end flow cytometers and high cost of reagents, controls and analysis systems result into lowering the adoption of sophisticated cell marker analysis solutions, particularly in economically lagged countries. Increased market consolidation, simplification of analysis products, cost containment of such products and introduction of cheaper products in less developed markets are the major market strategies which are being adopted by the existing and emerging market players to sustain the cell surface markers market.

The global cell surface markers market can be categorized into instruments and reagents, kits and controls used for cell marker analysis. Flow cytometers and hematology analyzers are the prime cell marker analysis equipment used. Flow cytometry is the most prominently used tool for cell marker analysis. Availability of a wide range of flow cytometers and their efficacy in both research and drug discovery are the major factors driving the demand for flow cytometers. It is expected that the global market for flow cytometers will grow at a CAGR of more than 8% from 2013 to 2019 with a cumulative installed base of approximately over 85,000 units by 2019.

Disease diagnosis and identification and research and drug discovery are the two prime application areas of cell surface marker analysis. Cell markers analysis is essential in drug discovery and its use in R&D by pharmaceutical manufacturers and researchers widespread. Thus in terms of allocations, drug discovery and research segment is expected to dominate the global cell surface markers during the given period of forecast.

Geographically, North America is the dominant regional market for cell surface markers with almost half of the market share. Emerging countries of Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Middle-East are expected to undergo rapid market growth by 2019. Improvement in healthcare infrastructure and growing preference for safer and easier targeted therapies are the major factors which will fuel the market growth in these regions.

Related & Recently Published Reports by Transparency Market Research

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/in-vitro-diagnostic-tests.html

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pain-management-drugs-devices.html

http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/microscopes-market.html

The cell surface markers market is highly fragmented and consists of many large and small players. The competition in this market is characterized by market consolidation activities, partnerships and intensive mergers and acquisitions. Some of the major companies in the cell surface markers market include Abbott Laboratories, Beckman Coulter, BD Biosciences, Bio-Rad, Seimens Healthcare, Nihon Kohden Corporation, Sysmex Corporation and Roche Diagnostics.

The global cell surface markers market is segmented as follows:

Cell Surface Markers Market, by Instruments and Reagents

Flow Cytometers
Hematology Analyzers
Reagents and Kits

Cell Surface Markers Market, by Applications

Disease Diagnosis and Identification
Research and Drug Discovery

Cell Surface Markers Market, by Geography

North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Rest of the World (RoW)

Browse all Medical Devices Market Research Reports@ http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/medical-devices-market-reports-6.html

About Us

Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We are privileged with highly experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information.

Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.

Contact

Sheela AK
90 Sate Street, Suite 700
Albany, NY 12207
Tel: +1-518-618-1030
USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453
Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com
Visit: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/

SOURCE http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/

Source: www.prnewswire.com

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Ovarian cancer test 'has potential'

A new method of screening for ovarian cancer is showing "potential", according to researchers in the US. You can get the whole story here.

Immune Pharmaceuticals Completes Merger with EpiCept Corporation

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Aug. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Nasdaq OMX Stockholm Exchange: IMNP and OTCQX: EPCTD) (the "Company") announced today the completion of the merger of Immune Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and EpiCept Corporation. The merger combines Immune's antibody therapeutic platform focused on the treatment of inflammatory diseases and cancer with EpiCept's early stage cancer program and its late-stage topical pain product, AmiKet™.

Daniel G. Teper, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "It is very gratifying to witness the culmination of our work over the past several months. Not only have we successfully completed our merger with EpiCept, but our common stock has also commenced trading in the United States and Sweden. Although we are thrilled to reach these two major milestones in our company's history, we understand that our work is just beginning as we prepare for the start of the Phase II clinical trials of bertilimumab in ulcerative colitis and bullous pemphigoid, and continue the ongoing research in our NanomAb® program. We are looking forward to executing on these initiatives and to achieving the numerous milestones we have set for ourselves in 2014 and beyond."

In connection with the merger, the Company has issued approximately 9.8 million shares of its common stock in exchange for 100% of the outstanding shares of Immune Pharmaceuticals Ltd, and will exchange the outstanding common stock warrants and options of Immune Pharmaceuticals Ltd. for warrants and options of the Company exercisable for an aggregate of approximately 4.0 million shares of the Company's common stock. The Company's total outstanding common stock was approximately 12.6 million shares immediately following the closing of the merger. The Company's common stock commenced trading on August 21, 2013 on the Nasdaq OMX Stockholm Exchange under the symbol IMNP and on the OTCQX under the symbol EPCTD. The Company's trading symbol on the OTCQX will revert to IMNP on September 19, 2013.

The Company also announced today that, in connection with the closing of the merger, the composition of the Company's board of directors has changed and increased to seven persons. Daniel Teper, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, has joined the board of directors as Chairman. David Sidransky, Professor of Oncology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, has been appointed Vice Chairman. Ana Stancic has been named the chairperson of the Company's audit committee. Isaac Kobrin, Herve de Kergrohen, and Pierre Albouy have also been named to the Company's board. Robert Cook, EpiCept's previous interim President and CEO, retains his position on the board and has become the Company's Chief Financial Officer. Alan Dunton, previous non-executive chairman of EpiCept, Robert Savage, and Keith Brownlie have resigned their positions, effective as of the closing date of the merger.

Immune has initiated its Phase II program with bertilimumab and plans to begin enrolling patients into a multi-national clinical trial for the treatment of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. The Company expects to begin trials in late 2013 for the treatment of bullous pemphigoid, a rare auto-immune condition that affects the skin and causes the formation of blisters. The Company anticipates data from these Phase II trials in 2014.

Bertilimumab is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody (mAb) that targets eotaxin-1, a small protein that attracts and activates several sub-classes of immune cells. These cells play a role in the development of certain inflammatory diseases, including ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, severe asthma and bullous pemphigoid. Early studies of eotaxin-1 have validated the target and have shown that it may serve as a mediator of disease severity. These findings are important as they suggest that eotaxin-1 levels may help guide treatment options for patients, a major step toward the personalization of treatment for inflammatory diseases.

Immune also intends to advance its NanomAb® program through the development of its own product candidates as well as through partnerships where it can apply this technology to partners' chemotherapeutic drugs. The Company's NanomAb® technology is an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) platform designed to deliver cancer drugs directly to tumor cells thereby improving efficacy and reducing off-target undesirable effects.

Within the product pipeline previously under EpiCept's control, the National Cancer Institute-run trial of crolibulin is continuing, with Phase II clinical results anticipated in 2014. Crolibulin is an active chemotherapeutic agent, which can be formulated with NanomAbs® to direct tumor targeting. AmiKet™, a prescription topical cream for the treatment of neuropathic pain, has been designated as an out-licensing candidate for Phase III development and commercialization. Although AmiKet™ has demonstrated promising clinical results, the product candidate is not well aligned with Immune's focus on highly targeted antibody therapeutics. The Company is considering taking steps to advance the drug candidate to the start of a Phase III trial while it initiates a formal out-licensing process expected to conclude in the first half of 2014.

About Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCQX: EPCTD, Nasdaq OMX Stockholm Exchange: IMNP) applies a personalized approach to treatment, developing novel, highly targeted antibody therapeutics to improve the lives of patients with inflammatory diseases and cancer. The company's lead product candidate, bertilimumab, is entering Phase II clinical studies for moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis and bullous pemphigoid, with additional studies planned for severe asthma, Crohn's disease and certain ophthalmological conditions. Immune also is evaluating its NanomAb® technology with approved chemotherapeutics in order to enhance their safety and efficacy profiles by delivering the medicines directly to cancer cells. Through its merger with EpiCept Corporation in 2013, Immune expanded its oncology pipeline with additional clinical-stage product candidates.

Immune is headquartered in the U.S., with its primary research and development facilities in Israel.

For more information, visit Immune's website at www.immunepharmaceuticals.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release and any oral statements made with respect to the information contained in this news release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You are urged to consider statements that include the words "may," "will," "would," "could," "should," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "potential," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "intends," "continues," "forecast," "designed," "goal" or the negative of those words or other comparable words to be uncertain and forward-looking. Such forward-looking statements include statements that express plans, anticipation, intent, contingency, goals, targets, future development and are otherwise not statements of historical fact. These statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or developments to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results or developments to differ materially include: the risks associated with the adequacy of our existing cash resources and our ability to continue as a going concern; the risks associated with our ability to continue to meet our obligations under our existing debt agreements; the risk that clinical trials for bertilimumab, crolibulin or AmiKet™ will not be successful; the risk that bertilimumab, crolibulin, AmiKet™ or compounds arising from our NanomAb® program will not receive regulatory approval or achieve significant commercial success; the risk that we will not be able to find a partner to help conduct the Phase III trials for AmiKet™ on attractive terms, a timely basis or at all; the risk that our other product candidates that appeared promising in early research and clinical trials do not demonstrate safety and/or efficacy in larger-scale or later-stage clinical trials; the risk that we will not obtain approval to market any of our product candidates; the risks associated with dependence upon key personnel; the risks associated with reliance on collaborative partners and others for further clinical trials, development, manufacturing and commercialization of our product candidates; the cost, delays and uncertainties associated with our scientific research, product development, clinical trials and regulatory approval process; our history of operating losses since our inception; the highly competitive nature of our business; risks associated with litigation; and risks associated with our ability to protect our intellectual property. These factors and other material risks are more fully discussed in our periodic reports, including our reports on Forms 8-K, 10-Q and 10-K and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. You are urged to carefully review and consider the disclosures found in our filings which are available at www.sec.gov or at www.immunepharmaceuticals.com. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, any of which could turn out to be wrong due to inaccurate assumptions, unknown risks or uncertainties or other risk factors.

EPCT-GEN

SOURCE Immune Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Source: www.prnewswire.com

Amgen To Acquire Onyx Pharmaceuticals For $125 Per Share In Cash

Kyprolis® (carfilzomib) for Injection is at Early Stages of Launch in Multiple Myeloma; Showing Strong Physician Support

Amgen to Host Analyst/Investor Call Monday at 8:30 a.m. EDT (5:30 a.m. PDT)

Amgen Logo. (PRNewsFoto/Amgen)

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Aug. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ONXX) today announced that their Boards of Directors have unanimously approved a transaction under which Amgen will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Onyx for $125 per share in cash. The purchase price is $10.4 billion, or $9.7 billion net of estimated Onyx cash.

Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for improving the lives of people with cancer. Onyx has an important and growing multiple myeloma franchise, with Kyprolis^® (carfilzomib) for Injection already approved in the United States (U.S.). In addition, Onyx has three partnered oncology assets: Nexavar^® (sorafenib) tablets (an Onyx and Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. compound), Stivarga^® (regorafenib) tablets (a Bayer compound), and palbociclib (a Pfizer, Inc. compound). Onyx also has multiple oncology compounds in various stages of clinical development.

Amgen intends to effect the transaction through a tender offer and expects to close at the beginning of the fourth quarter, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory clearance.

"We believe that Amgen is ideally suited to realize the full potential of Onyx's portfolio and pipeline for the benefit of physicians and patients," said Robert A. Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer at Amgen. "Our acquisition of Onyx follows a thorough due diligence process and is fully consistent with our strategy of advancing innovative medicines that address serious unmet medical needs. We expect this acquisition will accelerate growth and enhance value for Amgen shareholders.

"Amgen has a unique opportunity to add value to Kyprolis, a product which is at an early and promising stage of its launch," Bradway continued.

Onyx holds global rights to Kyprolis, excluding Japan. Kyprolis has an orphan drug designation in the U.S. with exclusivity until July 2019, and patents in the U.S. which extend until at least 2025.

Amgen will benefit from the global rights to Onyx's innovative oncology portfolio and pipeline. Amgen intends to leverage its oncology capabilities and experience to support Onyx's clinical development programs and maximize Kyprolis' potential in the U.S. and the rest of the world.

The acquisition of Onyx also adds to Amgen's robust late-stage pipeline. This pipeline includes nine innovative products for which registration-enabling data are anticipated by 2016. Four of these are innovative, first-in class oncology products. Onyx's pipeline complements Amgen's growing oncology portfolio.

In addition to accelerating Amgen's revenue growth, the acquisition of Onyx is expected to be accretive to Amgen's adjusted net income in 2015.

"After a careful and thorough evaluation process, our Board of Directors has determined that the all-cash transaction with Amgen maximizes value for our stockholders and expands the potential of our commercial medicines and clinical pipeline to reach more patients globally," said Dr. Tony Coles, chairman and chief executive officer of Onyx.

Coles continued, "We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Amgen, a company that shares Onyx's vision for innovation on behalf of patients. This transaction is an important affirmation of the meaningful value our employees have created, and we look forward to rewarding our stockholders with an immediate and attractive premium."

Bradway concluded, "Our two companies share a strong culture of innovation and a focus on patient needs. I look forward to bringing the talented people of Onyx and Amgen together as we continue to fulfill our commitment to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses."

Benefits of the Transaction

Excellent Strategic Fit: Amgen's strategy is to advance innovative medicines that address serious unmet medical needs.

Amgen is a global leader in oncology. As a focused oncology company, Onyx's products and pipeline strengthen Amgen's leading position in this field.
Onyx's oncology pipeline adds to Amgen's existing pipeline that addresses areas of serious unmet medical need. Amgen's current pipeline includes nine products for which registration-enabling data are anticipated by 2016.
The acquisition of Onyx enables Amgen to continue building its position in international markets, capitalizing on its worldwide commercial, development and manufacturing capabilities. Onyx has global rights to Kyprolis (excluding Japan) and has clinical trials underway supporting an expected European Union (EU) filing in 2014.
Amgen's track record in quality and reliability of supply and efficiency in manufacturing will bring an added source of value to the Onyx portfolio.
The transaction is expected to deliver meaningful revenue growth and return on capital and to be accretive to adjusted net income in 2015. This will support Amgen's commitment to continue to meaningfully increase its dividend over time.

Positions Amgen to Address Growing Patient Needs in Multiple Myeloma

Kyprolis is at an early stage of its launch, with global rights, excluding Japan, held by Onyx. It has an orphan drug designation in the U.S. with exclusivity until July 2019, and patents in the U.S. which extend until at least 2025. Amgen believes there is a significant opportunity to grow Kyprolis, including potential expansion into earlier lines of multiple myeloma treatment and into international markets.

Ongoing studies to support and extend Kyprolis' position in multiple myeloma include:

- The ASPIRE trial, which is investigating the addition of Kyprolis to Revlimid^® (lenalidomide)¹ and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma who have received one to three prior therapies. An interim analysis is expected to read out in 2014. ASPIRE is the confirmatory trial for full U.S. approval as well as a registration-enabling study for relapsed multiple myeloma in the U.S. and EU.
- The FOCUS trial, which could support the EU filing for the indication of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, is also expected to read out in 2014.
- The ENDEAVOR trial, underway to compare Kyprolis to Velcade^® (bortezomib)² in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma who have received one to three prior therapies.
- The CLARION trial, underway to compare Kyprolis to Velcade in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.
Oprozomib, an investigational oral proteasome inhibitor, is in Phase 1b/2 trials and has the potential to play an important future role in the management of multiple myeloma.
Across the multiple myeloma platform, Amgen's experience in oncology can help guide Onyx's pipeline to successful approval and reimbursement.

Provides Additional Sources of Revenue Growth and Profitability

Nexavar®(sorafenib) tablets is Onyx and Bayer's oral kinase inhibitor, currently approved in the U.S. for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). It is being studied in locally advanced or metastatic HER2 negative breast cancer. Nexavar has also been submitted for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval for the treatment of radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer. Nexavar is co-developed by Onyx and Bayer except in Japan where Bayer manages all development. The companies co-promote Nexavar in the U.S. Outside of the U.S., Bayer has exclusive marketing rights, and Bayer and Onyx share profits globally, excluding Japan.
Stivarga® (regorafenib) tablets is Bayer's oral multiple kinase inhibitor, currently approved in the U.S. for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who have been previously treated with fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based chemotherapy, an anti-VEGF therapy, and, if KRAS wild type, an anti-EGFR therapy. It is also indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) who have been previously treated with imatinib mesylate and sunitinib malate. Stivarga is a Bayer compound developed by Bayer and jointly promoted by Bayer and Onyx in the U.S. In 2011, Bayer entered into an agreement with Onyx, under which Onyx receives a 20 percent royalty on all global net sales of Stivarga in oncology.
Palbociclib is Pfizer's investigational oral, small molecule cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor being developed by Pfizer in a Phase 3 trial for ER+, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer. Palbociclib has received Breakthrough Therapy designation by the U.S. FDA based on preliminary Phase 2 data showing improvement in median progression-free survival in combination therapy. Onyx will receive an 8 percent royalty on future worldwide sales of palbociclib.

Financing and Approvals
Amgen will finance the acquisition with $8.1 billion in committed bank loans and the balance with cash available in the U.S. The loans have five year terms and carry an average interest charge of LIBOR plus 104 basis points. Amgen expects to retain its investment grade credit rating following this transaction and remains committed to meaningfully increasing the dividend over time. The transaction is subject to the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary closing conditions.

Lazard is acting as lead advisor to Amgen; BofA Merrill Lynch is acting as co-advisor and is also lead arranger for the financing; and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP is serving as legal counsel. Centerview Partners, LLC is acting as financial advisor to Onyx and Goodwin Procter, LLP is serving as legal counsel.

Investor Conference Call / Webcast Information
Amgen will host a conference call and webcast at 8:30 a.m. EDT (5:30 a.m. PDT), on Monday, Aug. 26 to provide more information on this announcement. The webcast and accompanying slides can be accessed at www.amgen.com. A real-time and post-call webcast will be available for 7 days following the call under the Investor section of www.amgen.com.

Conference Call Dial-in:	Domestic:	877-456-7504
	International:	706-643-3140
	Passcode:	40362332

Replay Dial-in:	Domestic:	855-859-2056
	International:	404-537-3406
	Passcode:	40362332

About Kyprolis^® (carfilzomib) for Injection
Kyprolis^® (carfilzomib) for Injection, a proteasome inhibitor, is approved for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior therapies, including bortezomib and an immunomodulatory agent, and have demonstrated disease progression on or within 60 days of completion of the last therapy. Approval is based on response rate. Currently, no data are available for Kyprolis that demonstrate an improvement in progression-free survival or overall survival.

Important Safety Information Regarding Kyprolis® (carfilzomib) for Injection

On July 20, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval of Kyprolis® (carfilzomib) for Injection for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior therapies including bortezomib and an immunomodulatory agent (IMiD), and have demonstrated disease progression on or within 60 days of completion of the last therapy. Approval was based on response rate. Clinical benefit, such as improvement in survival or symptoms, has not been verified.

Safety data have been evaluated in 526 patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma who received single-agent Kyprolis. There were 37 deaths in the phase 2 studies, or 7% of patients. The most common causes of death, other than disease progression, were cardiac (5 patients), end-organ failure (4 patients), and infection (4 patients). Important warnings and precautions include cardiac arrest, congestive heart failure, myocardial ischemia; pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary complications, infusion reactions, tumor lysis syndrome, thrombocytopenia, hepatic toxicity and embryo-fetal toxicity.

Death due to cardiac arrest has occurred within a day of Kyprolis administration. Patients with New York Heart Association Class III and IV heart failure, myocardial infarction in the preceding 6 months, and conduction abnormalities uncontrolled by medications were not eligible for the clinical trials. These patients may be at greater risk for cardiac complications.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was reported in 2% of patients treated with Kyprolis and was Grade 3 or greater in less than 1% of patients. Dyspnea was reported in 35% of patients enrolled in clinical trials. Grade 3 dyspnea occurred in 5%; no Grade 4 events, and 1 death (Grade 5) was reported.

Infusion reactions, characterized by a spectrum of systemic symptoms including fever, chills, arthralgia, myalgia, facial flushing, facial edema, vomiting, weakness, shortness of breath, hypotension, syncope, chest tightness, or angina can occur immediately following or up to 24 hours after administration of Kyprolis. Administration of dexamethasone prior to Kyprolis reduces the incidence and severity of reactions. Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) occurred following Kyprolis administration in < 1% of patients. Patients with multiple myeloma and a high tumor burden should be considered to be at greater risk for TLS.

Thrombocytopenia following Kyprolis administration resulted in a dose reduction in 1% of patients and discontinuation of treatment with Kyprolis in < 1% of patients.

Cases of hepatic failure, including fatal cases, have been reported (< 1%). Kyprolis can cause elevations of serum transaminases and bilirubin.

There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women using Kyprolis. Females of reproductive potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with Kyprolis.

The most common serious adverse reactions were pneumonia, acute renal failure, pyrexia, and congestive heart failure. The most common adverse reactions (incidence of 30% or greater) observed in clinical trials of patients with multiple myeloma were fatigue, anemia, nausea, thrombocytopenia, dyspnea, diarrhea, and pyrexia. Serious adverse reactions were reported in 45% of patients.

Full prescribing information is available at http://www.onyx.com.

About Nexavar® (sorafenib) Tablets
Nexavar is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma and for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. Nexavar is thought to inhibit both the tumor cell and tumor vasculature. In in vitro studies, Nexavar has been shown to inhibit multiple kinases thought to be involved in both cell proliferation (growth) and angiogenesis (blood supply) – two important processes that enable cancer growth. These kinases include Raf kinase, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-3, PDGFR-B, KIT, FLT-3 and RET.

Nexavar is currently approved in more than 100 countries. Nexavar is also being evaluated by Bayer and Onyx, international study groups, government agencies and individual investigators in a range of cancers.

Important Safety Considerations For Nexavar® (sorafenib) Tablets
Nexavar in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel is contraindicated in patients with squamous cell lung cancer.

Cardiac ischemia and/or myocardial infarction may occur. Temporary or permanent discontinuation of Nexavar should be considered in patients who develop cardiac ischemia and/or myocardial infarction.

An increased risk of bleeding may occur following Nexavar administration. If bleeding necessitates medical intervention, consider permanent discontinuation of Nexavar.

Hypertension may occur early in the course of treatment. Monitor blood pressure weekly during the first 6 weeks and periodically thereafter and treat, if required.

Hand-foot skin reaction and rash are common and management may include topical therapies for symptomatic relief. In cases of any severe or persistent adverse reactions, temporary treatment interruption, dose modification, or permanent discontinuation of Nexavar should be considered. Nexavar should be discontinued if Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis are suspected as these may be life threatening.

Gastrointestinal perforation was an uncommon adverse reaction and has been reported in less than 1% of patients taking Nexavar. Discontinue Nexavar in the event of a gastrointestinal perforation.

Patients taking concomitant warfarin should be monitored regularly for changes in prothrombin time (PT), International Normalized Ratio (INR) or clinical bleeding episodes.

Temporary interruption of Nexavar therapy is recommended in patients undergoing major surgical procedures.

Nexavar in combination with gemcitabine/cisplatin is not recommended in patients with squamous cell lung cancer. The safety and effectiveness of Nexavar has not been established in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Nexavar can prolong the QT/QTc interval and increase the risk for ventricular arrhythmias. Avoid use in patients with congenital long QT syndrome and monitor patients with congestive heart failure, bradyarrhythmias, drugs known to prolong the QT interval, and electrolyte abnormalities.

Drug-induced hepatitis with Nexavar may result in hepatic failure and death. Liver function tests should be monitored regularly and in cases of increased transaminases without alternative explanation Nexavar should be discontinued.

Nexavar may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Women of childbearing potential should be advised to avoid becoming pregnant while on Nexavar and female patients should also be advised against breastfeeding while receiving Nexavar.

Elevations in serum lipase and reductions in serum phosphate of unknown etiology have been associated with Nexavar.

Avoid concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inducers, when possible, because inducers can decrease the systemic exposure of Nexavar. Nexavar exposure decreases when coadministered with oral neomycin. Effects of other antibiotics on Nexavar pharmacokinetics have not been studied.

Most common adverse reactions reported for Nexavar-treated patients vs. placebo-treated patients in unresectable HCC, respectively, were: diarrhea (55% vs. 25%), fatigue (46% vs. 45%), abdominal pain (31% vs. 26%), weight loss (30% vs. 10%), anorexia (29% vs. 18%), nausea (24% vs. 20%), and hand-foot skin reaction (21% vs. 3%). Grade 3/4 adverse reactions were 45% vs. 32%.

Most common adverse reactions reported for Nexavar-treated patients vs. placebo-treated patients in advanced RCC, respectively, were: diarrhea (43% vs. 13%), rash/desquamation (40% vs. 16%), fatigue (37% vs. 28%), hand-foot skin reaction (30% vs. 7%), alopecia (27% vs. 3%), and nausea (23% vs. 19%). Grade 3/4 adverse reactions were 38% vs. 28%.

For information about Nexavar including U.S. Nexavar prescribing information, visit www.nexavar-us.com or call 1.866.NEXAVAR (1.866.639.2827).

Nexavar® is a registered trademark of Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

About Stivarga (regorafenib)
In the United States, Stivarga is indicated for the treatment of patients with mCRC who have been previously treated with fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based chemotherapy, an anti-VEGF therapy, and, if KRAS wild type, an anti-EGFR therapy. It is also indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) who have been previously treated with imatinib mesylate and sunitinib malate.

Stivarga is an inhibitor of multiple kinases involved in normal cellular functions and in pathologic processes such as oncogenesis, tumor angiogenesis, and maintenance of the tumor microenvironment.

For full U.S. prescribing information, including BOXED WARNING, visit www.stivarga-us.com.

Important U.S. Safety Information for Stivarga® (regorafenib) Tablets

WARNING: HEPATOTOXICITY

Severe and sometimes fatal hepatotoxicity has been observed in clinical trials.

Monitor hepatic function prior to and during treatment.

Interrupt and then reduce or discontinue STIVARGA for hepatotoxicity as manifested by elevated liver function tests or hepatocellular necrosis, depending upon severity and persistence.
Severe drug-induced liver injury with fatal outcome occurred in 0.3% of 1200 STIVARGA-treated patients across all clinical trials. In metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), fatal hepatic failure occurred in 1.6% of patients in the STIVARGA arm and in 0.4% of patients in the placebo arm; all the patients with hepatic failure had metastatic disease in the liver. In gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), fatal hepatic failure occurred in 0.8% of patients in the STIVARGA arm.

Obtain liver function tests (ALT, AST, and bilirubin) before initiation of STIVARGA and monitor at least every 2 weeks during the first 2 months of treatment. Thereafter, monitor monthly or more frequently as clinically indicated. Monitor liver function tests weekly in patients experiencing elevated liver function tests until improvement to less than 3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) or baseline values. Temporarily hold and then reduce or permanently discontinue STIVARGA, depending on the severity and persistence of hepatotoxicity as manifested by elevated liver function tests or hepatocellular necrosis.

STIVARGA caused an increased incidence of hemorrhage. The overall incidence (Grades 1-5) was 21% and 11% with STIVARGA vs 8% and 3% with placebo in mCRC and GIST patients, respectively. Fatal hemorrhage occurred in 4 of 632 (0.6%) STIVARGA-treated patients and involved the respiratory, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary tracts. Permanently discontinue STIVARGA in patients with severe or life-threatening hemorrhage and monitor INR levels more frequently in patients receiving warfarin.

STIVARGA caused an increased incidence of hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR) (also known as palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia [PPE]) and severe rash, frequently requiring dose modification. The overall incidence was 45% and 67% with STIVARGA vs 7% and 12% with placebo in mCRC and GIST patients, respectively. Incidence of Grade 3 HFSR (17% vs 0% in mCRC and 22% vs 0% in GIST), Grade 3 rash (6% vs <1% in mCRC and 7% vs 0% in GIST), serious adverse reactions of erythema multiforme (0.2% vs 0% in mCRC), and Stevens-Johnson syndrome (0.2% vs 0% in mCRC) was higher in STIVARGA-treated patients. Toxic epidermal necrolysis occurred in 0.17% of 1200 STIVARGA-treated patients across all clinical trials. Withhold STIVARGA, reduce the dose, or permanently discontinue depending on the severity and persistence of dermatologic toxicity.

STIVARGA caused an increased incidence of hypertension (30% vs 8% in mCRC and 59% vs 27% in GIST with STIVARGA vs placebo, respectively). Hypertensive crisis occurred in 0.25% of 1200 STIVARGA-treated patients across all clinical trials. Do not initiate STIVARGA until blood pressure is adequately controlled. Monitor blood pressure weekly for the first 6 weeks of treatment and then every cycle, or more frequently, as clinically indicated. Temporarily or permanently withhold STIVARGA for severe or uncontrolled hypertension.

STIVARGA increased the incidence of myocardial ischemia and infarction (1.2% with STIVARGA vs 0.4% with placebo). Withhold STIVARGA in patients who develop new or acute cardiac ischemia or infarction, and resume only after resolution of acute cardiac ischemic events if the potential benefits outweigh the risks of further cardiac ischemia.

Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome (RPLS) occurred in 1 of 1200 STIVARGA-treated patients across all clinical trials. Confirm the diagnosis of RPLS with MRI and discontinue STIVARGA in patients who develop RPLS.

Gastrointestinal perforation or fistula occurred in 0.6% of 1200 patients treated with STIVARGA across clinical trials. In GIST, 2.1% (4/188) of STIVARGA-treated patients developed gastrointestinal fistula or perforation: of these, 2 cases of gastrointestinal perforation were fatal. Permanently discontinue STIVARGA in patients who develop gastrointestinal perforation or fistula.

Treatment with STIVARGA should be stopped at least 2 weeks prior to scheduled surgery. Resuming treatment after surgery should be based on clinical judgment of adequate wound healing. STIVARGA should be discontinued in patients with wound dehiscence.

STIVARGA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Use effective contraception during treatment and up to 2 months after completion of therapy. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus.

Because many drugs are excreted in human milk and because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from STIVARGA, a decision should be made whether to discontinue nursing or discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

The most frequently observed adverse drug reactions (≥30%) in STIVARGA-treated patients vs placebo-treated patients in mCRC, respectively, were: asthenia/fatigue (64% vs 46%), decreased appetite and food intake (47% vs 28%), HFSR/PPE (45% vs 7%), diarrhea (43% vs 17%), mucositis (33% vs 5%), weight loss (32% vs 10%), infection (31% vs 17%), hypertension (30% vs 8%), and dysphonia (30% vs 6%).

The most frequently observed adverse drug reactions (≥30%) in STIVARGA-treated patients vs placebo-treated patients in GIST, respectively, were: HFSR/PPE (67% vs 15%), hypertension (59% vs 27%), asthenia/fatigue (52% vs 39%), diarrhea (47% vs 9%), mucositis (40% vs 8%), dysphonia (39% vs 9%), infection (32% vs 5%), decreased appetite and food intake (31% vs 21%), and rash (30% vs 3%).

STIVARGA® is a trademark of Bayer®. Bayer® and the Bayer Cross® are registered trademarks of Bayer.

About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.

Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its biologics manufacturing expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be the world's largest independent biotechnology company, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.

For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.

About Onyx
Based in South San Francisco, California, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a global biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for improving the lives of people with cancer. The company is focused on developing novel medicines that target key molecular pathways. For more information about Onyx, visit the company's website at www.onyx.com. Onyx Pharmaceuticals is on Twitter. Sign up to follow our Twitter feed @OnyxPharm at http://twitter.com/OnyxPharm.

Amgen Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on Amgen's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including statements about the planned completion of the tender offer and the merger, estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial metrics, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes and other such estimates and results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reports filed by Amgen, including Amgen's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Please refer to Amgen's most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K for additional information on the uncertainties and risk factors related to Amgen's business. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of August 25, 2013, and expressly disclaims any duty to update information contained in this news release.

No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those Amgen projects. Risks and uncertainties include whether the proposed transaction described in this press release can be completed in a timely manner, and whether the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction can be achieved. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, preclinical results do not guarantee safe and effective performance of product candidates in humans. The complexity of the human body cannot be perfectly, or sometimes, even adequately modeled by computer or cell culture systems or animal models. The length of time that it takes for Amgen to complete clinical trials and obtain regulatory approval for product marketing has in the past varied and Amgen expects similar variability in the future. Amgen develops product candidates internally and through licensing collaborations, partnerships, joint ventures and acquisitions. Product candidates that are derived from relationships or acquisitions may be subject to disputes between the parties or may prove to be not as effective or as safe as Amgen may have believed at the time of entering into such relationship. Also, Amgen or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with Amgen's products after they are on the market. Amgen's business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. If Amgen fails to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between Amgen and the U.S. government, it could become subject to significant sanctions. Amgen depends on third parties for a significant portion of its manufacturing capacity for the supply of certain of its current and future products and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of its current products and product candidate development.

In addition, sales of Amgen's products are affected by the reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment as well as U.S. legislation affecting pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement. Government and others' regulations and reimbursement policies may affect the development, usage and pricing of Amgen's products. In addition, Amgen competes with other companies with respect to some of its marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Amgen believes that some of its newer products, product candidates or new indications for existing products, may face competition when and as they are approved and marketed. Amgen's products may compete against products that have lower prices, established reimbursement, superior performance, are easier to administer, or that are otherwise competitive with its products. In addition, while Amgen routinely obtains patents for its products and technology, the protection offered by its patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by its competitors and there can be no guarantee of Amgen's ability to obtain or maintain patent protection for its products or product candidates. Amgen cannot guarantee that it will be able to produce commercially successful products or maintain the commercial success of its existing products. Amgen's stock price may be affected by actual or perceived market opportunity, competitive position, and success or failure of its products or product candidates. Further, the discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of Amgen's products that implicate an entire class of products could have a material adverse effect on sales of the affected products and on Amgen's business and results of operations.

The scientific information discussed in this news release related to product candidates is preliminary and investigative. Such product candidates are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and no conclusions can or should be drawn regarding the safety or effectiveness of the product candidates. Only the FDA can determine whether the product candidates are safe and effective for the use(s) being investigated. Further, the scientific information discussed in this news release relating to new indications for products is preliminary and investigative and is not part of the labeling approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the products. The products are not approved for the investigational use(s) discussed in this news release, and no conclusions can or should be drawn regarding the safety or effectiveness of the products for these uses. Only the FDA can determine whether the products are safe and effective for these uses. Healthcare professionals should refer to and rely upon the FDA-approved labeling for the products, and not the information discussed in this news release.

Onyx Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" of Onyx within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding the expected timing of the completion of the transaction, Amgen's operation of the Onyx business following completion of the transaction, and statements regarding the future operation, the anticipated growth of our business, global expansion and increases to our international capabilities, our launch of Kyprolis in the United States, our investments in Phase 3 clinical trials, contributions from our kinase inhibitor business and future cost of goods sold with respect to Kyprolis. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to: uncertainties as to the timing of the transaction; uncertainties as to the percentage of Onyx stockholders tendering their shares in the offer; the possibility that competing offers will be made; the possibility that various closing conditions for the transaction may not be satisfied or waived, including that a governmental entity may prohibit, delay or refuse to grant approval for the consummation of the transaction; the effects of disruption caused by the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with employees, collaborators, vendors and other business partners; the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the transaction may result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; Nexavar® (sorafenib) tablets, Kyprolis® (carfilzomib) for Injection and Stivarga® (regorafenib) tablets being the only approved products from which we may obtain revenue; competition; failures or delays in our clinical trials or the regulatory process; dependence on our collaborative relationship with Bayer; supply of Nexavar, Stivarga or Kyprolis; market acceptance and the rate of adoption of Nexavar, Stivarga and Kyprolis; pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement pressures; serious adverse side effects, if they are associated with Nexavar, Stivarga or Kyprolis; government regulation; possible failure to realize the anticipated benefits of business acquisitions or strategic investments; protection of our intellectual property; and product liability risks; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in Onyx's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), including the "Risk Factors" sections of Onyx's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, as well as the tender offer documents to be filed by Arena Acquisition Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Amgen, and the Solicitation/Recommendation Statement to be filed by Onyx. Onyx undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as expressly required by law.

Additional Information
The tender offer described in this communication (the "Offer") has not yet commenced, and this communication is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell any shares of the common stock of Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. or any other securities. On the commencement date of the Offer, a tender offer statement on Schedule TO, including an offer to purchase, a letter of transmittal and related documents, will be filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") by Amgen and a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 will be filed with the SEC by Onyx. The offer to purchase shares of Onyx common stock will only be made pursuant to the offer to purchase, the letter of transmittal and related documents filed as a part of the Schedule TO. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ BOTH THE TENDER OFFER STATEMENT AND THE SOLICITATION/RECOMMENDATION STATEMENT REGARDING THE OFFER, AS THEY MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. The tender offer statement will be filed with the SEC by Amgen and Arena Acquisition Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Amgen, and the solicitation/recommendation statement will be filed with the SEC by Onyx. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of these statements (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov or by directing such requests to the Information Agent for the tender offer which will be named in the tender offer statement.

¹ Revlimid^® is a registered trademark of Celgene Corporation.
² Velcade^® is a registered trademark of Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Contact:

Amgen
Christine Regan, 805-447-5476 (media)
Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (investors)

Onyx
Lori Melancon, 650-266-2394 (media)
Amy Figueroa, 650-266-2398 (investors)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130825/LA69117LOGO)
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081015/AMGENLOGO)

SOURCE Amgen

Source: www.prnewswire.com