FDA Approves New Drug To Treat Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved roflumilast, a pill taken daily to decrease the frequency of flare-ups (exacerbations) or worsening of symptoms from severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a serious lung disease that makes breathing difficult. Symptoms can include breathlessness, chronic cough, and excessive phlegm. An exacerbation can last up to several weeks ...

Medtronic layoffs, cancer FDA approvals (Weekend Rounds)
Among the life science current events from last week: 2011 Medtronic layoffs, ViewRay FDA approval, Medtronic will try to divest Physio-Control, Pozen's new recruit from Biogen Idec, and a top GSK executive goes on video to talk about the company's future plans.

Women Underrepresented in Heart-Device Studies, Contradicting FDA Rules
Women are often underrepresented in studies used to win U.S. approval for medical devices in contradiction of government requirements, a report today in the American Heart Association s journal Circulation showed.