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Reduce Exposure To Mosquitoes This Summer
The Escambia County Health Department established a mosquito control program in 2008 that

In Health Care Debate, Small Businesses Are Key
"As they work to overhaul the nation"s healthcare system, President Obama and his congressional allies have pledged to help small-business owners such as Rhonda Ealy and Kelli Glasser," The Los Angeles Times reports. "Both businesswomen desperately want help. But they have strongly divergent views about what Washington should do, reflecting a broader debate about how to relieve the burden on the nation"s roughly 6 million small businesses." Ealy owns a coffee roasting company in Bend, Ore. with 13 employees, she says she "loves a Democratic proposal to create a government-run insurance plan, which she hopes will allow her to get her employees better coverage for less." Glasser, who "makes museum and trade-show exhibits" and has 87 employees, "hates a separate provision in the legislation that would place a new requirement on many businesses to cover their employees."
News of the day
N.D. Judge Vows To Act Quickly On Challenge To State Ultrasound Law
North Dakota Judge Douglas Herman failed to issue a temporary injunction on Thursday to prevent a state law from going into effect that requires abortion clinics to offer women the chance to view ultrasound images 24 hours prior to obtaining an abortion, the AP/Bismarck Tribune reports. Judge Herman promised to issue an opinion "as soon as possible" on the constitutional challenge to the state law, which is set to take effect on Aug. 1. The Center for Reproductive Rights filed the challenge, arguing that it creates an unnecessary burden on a woman"s right to an abortion.The group also said that a provision in the law is confusing and that the state"s only abortion provider is unsure how to comply. According to the AP/Tribune, the provision in question reads: "The auscultation of the fetal heart tone must be of a quality consistent with standard medical practice in the community." Suzanne Stolz, an attorney for CRR, said the bill"s language could require the Red River Women"s Clinic -- the only abortion clinic in the state -- to offer women the chance to hear audio of the fetal heartbeat in addition to the ultrasound image. She added that the clinic "cannot afford to guess what the law means and hope that it is right."Assistant Attorney General Douglas Bahr said that the law requires the clinic only to offer the option of an ultrasound, not provide one. He added that most people understand that an ultrasound includes both images and audio and that he does not "know why the clinic doesn"t feel it can offer this to the patient." Cass County state"s attorney Birch Burdick, a co-counsel with Bahr, said that although some of the language in the law is "a little confusing," he would not prosecute clinic officials if they make an attempt to apply the law until the judge rules.Tammi Kromenaker, the director of the clinic, said, "We"re disappointed that we did not get an injunction today but we felt that some of our questions were answered," adding that the clinics had offered women the option of viewing an ultrasound for the last 18 months (Kolpack, AP/Bismarck Tribune, 7/31).
Medical Devices

Biovail Receives 2009 Corporate Award From National Organization For Rare Disorders

Biovail Corporation (NYSE: BVF)(TSX: BVF) announced that the Company has received the 2009 Corporate Award from the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) for the development of Xenazine® for the treatment of chorea in association with Huntington"s disease. The Award was presented last night at NORD"s Partners in Progress Gala in Washington D.C. In accepting the award, Dr. Robert Ashworth, Biovail"s Vice-President, Regulatory Affairs said, "This award to Biovail represents the culmination of a collaborative effort among investigators, patient advocacy groups, industry and FDA. We gratefully acknowledge the contribution of another honoree, the Huntington"s Disease Society of America, in educating patients and caregivers about the appropriate use of Xenazine." Dr. Ashworth added, "The greatest validation of efforts in drug development derives from satisfying an unmet medical need. While Xenazine is not a cure, it can transform lives devastated by the uncontrollable movements symptomatic of an unremitting neurodegenerative disease." Biovail acquired North American rights to tetrabenazine through the September 2008 acquisition of Prestwick Pharmaceuticals, Inc. About Xenazine (tetrabenazine) Tetrabenazine is a highly selective and reversible centrally-acting dopamine depleting drug that works by inhibiting a molecule known as vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2). Xenazine was approved by the FDA on August 15, 2008, for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington"s disease, based on the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 study that found Xenazine significantly reduced patients" chorea burden, improved global outcome scores, and was generally safe and well tolerated. Additional post-marketing preclinical studies further elucidating the safety profile of the product are being conducted. Tetrabenazine has been available in Europe for more than 30 years and in Canada since 1996. Full prescribing information is available on the Investor Relations page of Biovail"s website at www.biovail.com. About Huntington"s Disease Affecting an estimated 25,000 Americans, Huntington"s disease is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that causes progressive movement disorders, cognitive dysfunction and behavioral changes and is ultimately a fatal condition. Chorea is the most common symptom, affecting approximately 90% of Huntington"s disease patients, and is characterized by excessive, involuntary and repetitive movements, which are the most visible and dangerous manifestations of Huntington"s disease and interfere with patients" abilities to perform activities of daily living, including dressing, bathing and caring for themselves. For more information about Huntington"s disease, please visit http://www.hdfoundation.org or http://www.hdsa.org. About NORD The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a unique federation of voluntary health organizations dedicated to helping people with rare "orphan" diseases and assisting the organizations that serve them. NORD is committed to the identification, treatment, and cure of rare disorders through programs of education, advocacy, research, and service. Biovail Corporation


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