This blog has moved

This blog is now located at http://medicalquery.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://medicalquery.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Zimmer Launches New Medical Education and BioSkills Training Program

The Zimmer Institute Redefines Industry-driven Training





WARSAW, Ind., July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Zimmer Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: ZMH; SWX: ZMH) today announced the launch of the new Zimmer Institute. Over the past year, Zimmer has collaborated with teaching surgeons and subject matter experts to develop a unique model for surgeon and clinician training. Combining its Medical Education, BioSkills Training and Surgeon-to-Surgeon programs under one, consolidated service offering, the enhanced Zimmer Institute provides a highly interactive environment for surgeon and clinician education that the Company believes sets new standards for the industry.


A continuum of courses is available through the Zimmer Institute, spanning online learning modules, interactive small group discussions, intensive case study reviews, hands-on cadaver-based training and surgeon-to-surgeon training programs. Course modules have been tailored to match an individual surgeon's experience level, providing in-depth knowledge on products and procedures. Zimmer Institute courses have a high faculty-to-student ratio and incorporate new technologies, promoting greater interaction with faculty trainers and participant collaboration. Courses are offered at many regional locations worldwide, minimizing the time participants will have to spend away from their practices.


"Advanced professional training is in great demand and our ability to meet this need is vital to supporting our customers," noted Audrey Beckman, Senior Vice President, Zimmer Institute. "We recognize the importance of being at the forefront of professional education and are committed to providing medical and dental professionals with unparalleled training and course offerings that will not only teach them how to use our products safely and effectively, but will also give them the opportunity to hone and refine their surgical skill sets."


Courses conducted using the new format have been underway since 2008, and are being rolled out globally, with more than 800 events scheduled in 2009, training more than 12,000 medical professionals and more than 8,000 dental professionals. Additional information regarding the enhanced Zimmer Institute is available at zimmerinstitute.zimmer.com.



About the Company


Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, Zimmer designs, develops, manufactures and markets orthopaedic reconstructive, spinal and trauma devices, dental implants, and related surgical products. Zimmer has operations in more than 25 countries around the world and sells products in more than 100 countries. Zimmer's 2008 sales were approximately $4.1 billion. The Company is supported by the efforts of more than 8,000 employees worldwide.


For more information about Zimmer, visit www.zimmer.com


Zimmer Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the orthopaedics industry, management's beliefs and assumptions made by management. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "may," "will," "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "estimates," "projects," "assumes," "guides," "targets," "forecasts," and "seeks" or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, our compliance with the Corporate Integrity Agreement through 2012; the impact of our enhanced healthcare compliance global initiatives and business practices on our relationships with customers and consultants, our market share and our overall financial performance; the success of our quality initiatives; the outcome of the informal investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission into Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters announced in October 2007; price and product competition; changes in customer demand for our products and services caused by demographic changes or other factors; dependence on new product development, technological advances and innovation; shifts in the product category or regional sales mix of our products and services; supply and prices of raw materials and products; control of costs and expenses; our ability to obtain and maintain adequate intellectual property protection; our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses; our ability to form and implement alliances; challenges relating to changes in and compliance with governmental laws and regulations affecting our U.S. and international businesses, including regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and foreign government regulators and tax obligations and risks; the impact of temporarily suspending U.S. distribution of one of our key hip replacement products; product liability and intellectual property litigation losses; reductions in reimbursement levels from third-party payors and cost-containment efforts of healthcare purchasing organizations; our ability to retain the independent agents and distributors who market our products; changes in general industry and market conditions, including domestic and international growth rates and general domestic and international economic conditions, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; and the costs of defending or resolving putative class action securities litigation and lawsuits, investigations or other proceedings resulting from our September 2007 settlement with the U.S. government and other matters. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see our periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be set forth in our periodic reports. Readers of this document are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, since, while we believe the assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. This cautionary statement is applicable to all forward-looking statements contained in this document.






SOURCE Zimmer Holdings, Inc.

Economy is Driving Many Osteoporotic Women to Retire Later - But Their Ability to Work May Be Undermined by Sub-Optimal Management of Their Disease

National Census Data Shows Osteoporosis Rates to Increase by an Estimated 22(1) Percent Among Ohioans by 2020 -

- Special Council of Health and Women's Groups Formed to Encourage Women to Make Bone Health a Priority Before They Break a Bone -






CLEVELAND, July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 340,000(2) women suffer from postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) in Ohio and more than 900,000(3) are at risk for the disease. According to a census report on the prevalence of osteoporosis, the number of women suffering from the disease is predicted to increase in Ohio by more than 22 percent by 2020. Despite this predicted increase, a national Harris Interactive survey commissioned by the Know My Bones Council showed (n=889 with PMO; n=912 without PMO) that many women suffering from osteoporosis are not optimally managing their disease despite the need and desire to work longer, putting them at greater risk for fracture. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation fracture may lead to chronic pain, disability, and even death(4).


The Council, led by the National Osteoporosis Foundation and the Society for Women's Health Research, announced results from a national survey of more than 1,800 American women, which revealed that one-out-of-five women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) are retiring later than anticipated and nearly half (48 percent) blame the current economy. Despite the need to work longer, half of the women with PMO are fearful that the disease will limit their ability to work. However, the research shows that many women are not optimally managing their osteoporosis.


"It concerns me that the number of Ohioans who will suffer from osteoporosis will only grow in the coming decade, but it is more concerning that women suffering from the disease today are not optimally managing their bone health," said Chad Deal, M.D., Head, Center for Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Disease, Cleveland Clinic Foundation. "I have been practicing medicine for over 20 years and never has it been more important for women to be passionate about their bone health given their desire and need to remain active as they age. For those with postmenopausal osteoporosis, optimally managing their disease means knowing their bone density score, being vigilant about their treatment and talking to their doctor, nurse or other healthcare professional about their disease."


Women like Olmsted Falls resident Pat Lindamood know all too well the impacts of PMO. Lindamood realized she had osteoporosis when her dentist refused to work on her due to the frailty of her jaw. She quickly sought treatment from area doctor, Chad Deal, M.D. and, thanks to her active lifestyle and the benefits of medications, she is able to live a happy and functioning lifestyle.


"I really didn't think osteoporosis was a serious disease until I suffered a rib fracture while opening my classroom door. As a result, I had to take time off from work and lived the reality of the true physical, emotional and financial disruption of a broken bone in my life," said Pat Lindamood. "Women who suffer from osteoporosis like me must be proactive about how they manage their bone health before they break a bone. I encourage them to be more proactive in speaking with their doctors and seeking information from reliable sources like the Know My Bones Council."


National survey results show many women with postmenopausal osteoporosis are not optimally managing their disease:

Less than half (46 percent) of women with PMO knew their bone density score
Women with PMO were no more likely to know their bone density score than those without the disease (46 percent versus 44 percent)
More than a quarter (27 percent) of the survey respondents reported that they often do not take their osteoporosis medication
Only a little more than one-third (35 percent) of women reported initiating discussion of the disease with their doctor



The Council is unified with the goal of encouraging women living with PMO, including those in Cleveland, to prioritize their bone health and to seek information that will empower them to fight the disease. The Council, led by the National Osteoporosis Foundation and the Society for Women's Health Research, also includes the American Association of University Women, the American Business Women's Association, the National Women's Health Resource Center, and the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health with sponsorship and participation from Amgen. Dr. Deal has received funding from Amgen for activities not related to this program.


The Council encourages women to seek information and to take charge of their osteoporosis by visiting KnowMyBones.com, a Web site that will grow overtime and provide alerts and information about bone health and optimally managing osteoporosis.


About Osteoporosis

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, osteoporosis, often referred to as a "silent disease,"(5) is increasing in significance as the population of our nation both increases and ages.(6) The World Health Organization, the National Osteoporosis Foundation and the U.S. Surgeon General have officially declared osteoporosis a public health crisis. (7) In fact, osteoporosis and associated fractures are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity.(8)


In the US today, nearly eight million women suffer from osteoporosis(9)
Almost 34 million Americans are estimated to have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis(10)
Half of women over 50 in the US will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime(11)
The impact of breaking a bone is significant and often leads to a downward spiral for the patient
A woman who has broken a bone as a result of osteoporosis has more than an 8 out of 10 greater chance of breaking another bone(12)
One in four women who have broken a bone will fracture again within a year(13)
Half of the women who break a hip will permanently need assistance to walk(14)
Nearly one in four women who have broken a hip will die within one year(15)
By 2025, the annual direct costs of treating osteoporosis fractures in the US are estimated at $25 billion(16)



With menopause, bone loss occurs faster than new bone can form as a result of lower levels of estrogen, leading to osteoporosis.(17) In fact, women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone density in the five to seven years after menopause begins.(18) This decreased bone mineral density weakens the bone and puts women at higher risk for fractures or broken bones.(19)


About the Know My Bones Council

Guided by the belief that the path to optimal bone health can be found through educating and empowering women to more actively manage their disease, six leading women's advocacy groups have joined forces to create the Know My Bones Council. The Council, formed in 2009 with sponsorship and participation from Amgen, unified with the goal of encouraging women living with PMO to prioritize their bone health and to seek information that will empower them to fight the disease.


The Know My Bones Council includes the following groups:

National Osteoporosis Foundation: Established in 1984, the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization solely dedicated to osteoporosis and bone health. The NOF's mission is to prevent osteoporosis and related fractures, to promote lifelong bone health, to help improve the lives of those affected by osteoporosis and to find a cure through programs of awareness, advocacy, public and health professional education and research. More information is available at www.nof.org.


Society for Women's Health Research: The Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the health of all women through advocacy, education and research. The Society encourages the study of sex differences between women and men that affect the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. More information is available at www.womenshealthresearch.org.


American Association of University Women: Since 1881, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) has been the nation's leading voice promoting education and equity for women and girls. The foundation's mission has been advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research. More information is available at www.aauw.org.


American Business Women's Association: Founded in 1949, the American Business Women's Association's (ABWA) mission is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership with education, networking support and national recognition. More information is available at www.abwa.org.


National Women's Health Resource Center: The not-for-profit National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) is the leading independent consumer health information source for women. Through nationwide public education campaigns and personal assistance, NWHRC has helped women be informed health care consumers for more than 20 years. More information is available at www.HealthyWomen.org.


National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health: The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH) was founded in 1980. NPWH represents nurse practitioners that provide care to women in the primary care setting as well as in women's health specialty practices. More information is available at www.npwh.org.


Amgen: Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.

About the Survey

The survey was conducted online between March 25 and April 1, 2009, by Harris Interactive. There were 1801 completed surveys received from respondents who met the screening criteria. The survey included 889 U.S. women with postmenopausal osteoporosis and 912 postmenopausal women who did not have osteoporosis; all women were aged 50+. The data were weighted to reflect age, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' likelihood to be online.



About the NOF Report "America's Bone Health"

America's Bone Health: The State of Osteoporosis and Low Bone Mass in Our Nation is an update to the National Osteoporosis Foundation's (NOF) first prevalence report published in 1997. This report, like the 1997 version, highlights the estimated number of women and men age fifty and older in the United States who have or are at high risk for developing osteoporosis due to low bone mass. Prevalence estimates are based on 2000 Census data and are presented for the year 2002, 2010 and 2020. Prevalence percentage increases are reflective of women with osteoporosis between 2002 and 2020.



CONTACT:
Heather Rabinowitz
National Osteoporosis Foundation
(202) 721-6359

Karen Young
Society for Women's Health Research
(202) 496-5001

Leslie Bryant
Hill & Knowlton
(310) 633-9435



References
(1) National Osteoporosis Foundation. America's Bone Health: The state
of osteoporosis and low bone mass in our nation. 2002; Percent change
from 2002 - 2020. Pgs 18 and 24
(2) National Osteoporosis Foundation. America's Bone Health: The state
of osteoporosis and low bone mass in our nation. 2002; page 18
(3) National Osteoporosis Foundation. America's Bone Health: The state
of osteoporosis and low bone mass in our nation. 2002; page 18
(4) National Osteoporosis Foundation
(5) National Osteoporosis Foundation. Bone Tool Kit: Osteoporosis. It's
Beatable. It's Treatable. Available at:
http://www.nof.org/awareness2/2007/images/Bone_Tool_Kit.pdf,
accessed, 3/27/2009: Page #4, Paragraph 4
(6) Burge R, et al, Incidence and Economic Burden of Osteoporosis-Related
Fractures in the United States, 2005-2025. Journal of Bone and
Mineral Research 2007; 22: 465, Paragraph 1
(7) http://www.iofbonehealth.org/iof-
articles/articledetail.html?articleID=5, accessed 3/18/2009:
Parapgraph 3
(8) Kanis, OG et al. An Estimate of the Worldwide Prevalence and
Disability Associated with Osteoporotic Fractures. Osteoporosis
International 2006; 17:1726
(9) http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/diseasefacts.htm, accessed,
3/18/2009: Main bullet #5
(10)http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/diseasefacts.htm, accessed,
3/18/2009: Main bullet #5
(11)http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/diseasefacts.htm, accessed,
3/18/2009, Main bullet #26
(12) Kanis JA, Johnell O, De Laet C, et al. (2004) A meta-analysis of
previous fracture and subsequent fracture risk. Bone 35:375.
(13) Clinical subsequent fractures cluster in time after first fractures.
T A C M van Geel, et al, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
2009;68:99-102.
(14)http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00121, accessed
3/19/2009,accessed, 3/18/2009: Bullet #1
(15)http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/diseasefacts.htm, accessed,
3/18/2009: Main bullet #35
(16)http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/diseasefacts.htm, accessed,
3/18/2009: Main bullet #28
(17)http://www.iofbonehealth.org/patients-public/about-
osteoporosis/facts-about-bones.html, accessed, 3/18/2009: Paragraph
#8
(18)http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/diseasefacts.htm, accessed,
3/18/2009: Main bullet #24
(19)http://www.nof.org/osteoporosis/diseasefacts.htm, accessed ,
3/18/2009: Paragraph #1






SOURCE National Osteoporosis Foundation

Knowing Yourself Can Improve Your Health and Happiness

Anthropedia introduces DVD program designed by scientists and educators to teach viewers to understand their personality, manage stress, and build psychological resilience


NEW YORK, July 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Anthropedia Foundation, a non-profit organization based in New York and St. Louis, has introduced Know Yourself, an innovative DVD series designed for people interested in learning how to develop happier and healthier lives. The series is a step-by-step guide to improving well-being, integrating methods from various fields. Each part focuses on straightforward concepts and simple exercises that foster calmness, well-being, and mind-body health. The first three parts of the Know Yourself series are now available on Anthropedia's website and have been donated to clinics and non-profit organizations.


Know Yourself Part 1: Exploring Your Personality examines three ingredients for lasting satisfaction and fulfillment in life. The course provides viewers with the opportunity to use the online version of the TCI, an internationally renowned personality test. The resulting personality profile allows viewers to determine how their character and temperament both help and hinder their well-being.


Part 2: Understanding Thought examines the three steps of thought. Understanding these steps and potential traps in thinking helps people adapt more easily to stressful events and challenges in everyday life.


Part 3: Quieting the Mind introduces the "Silence of the Mind" meditation, a technique to calm the agitation of the mind and cope with mental tension and struggles. Parts 4 and 5 of the program are scheduled to be released this fall.


Each part of Know Yourself follows a clear sequence, including an introduction, feature discussion, brief review, and description of recommended exercises. Interspersed throughout each portion of the program are clear visual aids that help viewers retain and integrate information and important concepts. Natural imagery and an original soundtrack have been carefully arranged to promote learning and relaxation, an approach that makes the Know Yourself series a powerful and innovative tool for increasing health and happiness.


The series builds on research in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, and neuroscience, specifically on the research and clinical work of Dr. C. Robert Cloninger, Professor of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Genetics, and Director of the Center for Well-Being at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Cloninger explains that the series can be used by individuals at home and in a clinical setting, "The Know Yourself series is useful for a wide range of people and situations. Regardless of a person's level of mental and physical health, it provides helpful and enjoyable practices for living well. It uses established methods that are beneficial for personal development and as an adjunct in therapy for people with different mental and physical disorders."


ABOUT THE ANTHROPEDIA FOUNDATION


As the rates of lifestyle and stress-related illness increase worldwide, the Anthropedia Foundation advances the Science of Well-Being and offers solutions to foster health and happiness that are adapted to the 21st century.


Anthropedia is a non-profit foundation that promotes well-being through health and education initiatives. It is led by an institute of experts from the fields of medicine, psychology, art, education, and public health. Members of the Anthropedia Institute examine the most effective, scientifically proven practices from their fields and design comprehensive strategies to improve physical, mental, and social well-being. Based on the findings of the Institute, the foundation creates resources that teach people ways to cultivate healthy lifestyles, psychological resilience, character development, and self-awareness. Anthropedia's resources are simple, practical, and powerful, and can be used by individuals, professionals, and organizations seeking an effective approach to achieving and sustaining well-being.


To learn more about Anthropedia, please visit www.anthropedia.org.






SOURCE Anthropedia Foundation

A Bundle of Joy Brings a Bundle of Questions - Life123.com Delivers the Answers!

BOSTON, July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- You've just waited through the longest two minutes of your life. The result is in, and the test appears to be positive. After catching your breath, you realize the only thing you're sure of is that life will never be the same again. That's because you've just learned you're pregnant! This discovery can be as overwhelming as it is thrilling. Questions flood your mind, and you know you need fast answers. That's when you turn to Life123.com, a leading source of expert advice on the Web.


You'll now need to focus on your own health and well-being. During the early stages of pregnancy, it will be important for you to eat right and get plenty of rest. (You'll need it for labor and beyond!) Along those lines, you'll also need to take the best prenatal vitamins, which include essentials such as folic acid, iron and calcium. There are also many exercises for pregnant women that will build your strength and give you the energy you need.


As your baby starts to grow, you'll want to keep track of his or her development by consulting a pregnancy timeline. That way, you'll know what to expect in terms of your baby's progress and how it will impact your body. You'll also become more aware of the first signs of twin pregnancy, which can certainly influence your planning!


Since you'll have several months to plan, you should also take this opportunity to learn more about newborn baby care, including how to change diapers (which you will be doing quite often), breastfeeding tips, techniques for soothing a crying infant, and how to deal with common ailments.


Before you know it, your due date will be around the corner. It will be vital for you to understand potential labor symptoms so you'll be well prepared to greet your family's new addition. These signs can start as early as several weeks before your baby's official debut, so be on the lookout.


This of course leads to the big day itself when your baby finally arrives. You'll likely be excited and quite tired after introducing a new life into the world. However, thanks to the experts at Life123.com, you're now ready and able to take on this exhilarating new challenge. That is of course, until you need to decide when to start potty training!





SOURCE Life123

iZumi Bio and Pierian Merge to Form iPierian to Advance Cellular Reprogramming

- Dr. Corey Goodman appointed chairman of iPierian -

- MPM Capital leads new investment round of $11.5 million -

- World-renowned scientists anchor new Scientific Advisory Board -

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. and BOSTON, July 8 /PRNewswire/ -- iZumi Bio, Inc. and Pierian, Inc. today announced they have merged to form a new company, iPierian, Inc. Building on the iZumi infrastructure and vision, the company is focused on the application of cellular reprogramming to change the paradigm of drug discovery. The scientific leadership of the company will accelerate the development of new therapeutics using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells for patients with difficult-to-treat diseases.


iPierian is rapidly building upon the experienced management and scientific team of iZumi, who have deep knowledge and experience in both stem cell technology and drug discovery. The company will be led by John P. Walker, currently the chief executive officer of iZumi. Dr. Berta Strulovici will head up research efforts as the chief technical officer of iPierian and Dr. Dushyant Pathak will lead the company's business development activities. Dr. Corey Goodman, recently the president of Pfizer's Biotherapeutics and Bioinnovation, an elected member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and a board member of iZumi, will become chairman of the Board of Directors of iPierian.


The scientific founders of Pierian, Drs. George Daley, Douglas Melton and Lee Rubin, faculty members at Harvard University, will become actively involved in decisions regarding the scientific direction and research priorities for iPierian. Dr. Daley will co-chair the new Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of iPierian together with Dr. Deepak Srivastava, director of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and professor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Corey Goodman will also sit on the company's SAB, and will be joined by a cadre of leading stem cell scientists.


"Since the inception of iZumi, we have built an organization and a platform of cellular programming as it applies to drug discovery and development. We are now furthering those efforts by bringing together the leading scientists in the field as active colleagues and members of the SAB to create a new and powerful force in the field of stem cell science," said CEO John Walker. "Drs. Daley, Melton and Rubin share our conviction that this effort represents a paradigm shift in the way drug discovery and development will be conducted in the future and maintain a clear focus on the development of new therapeutics."


"Disease-specific pluripotent stem cells are powerful new tools for drug screening and promise to revolutionize the treatment of intractable conditions," said Dr. George Daley. "We are excited to join forces with the iZumi team, and view this as an opportunity to translate our stem cell research efforts into therapeutic realities for patients. Our initial focus will be in neurodegenerative disease and longer term into metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, as well as other therapeutic areas."


iPierian has secured a $10 million investment from MPM Capital, which will augment the original $20 million investment by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Highland Capital Partners. "As the founding investor in Pierian, we are delighted to now support the formation of iPierian and a technology that we believe will change the value proposition of drug development," said Dr. Ashley Dombkowski, the managing director at MPM Capital who co-founded Pierian along with MPM managing director Robert Millman. Dr. Dombkowski will join the iPierian Board of Directors and will serve along with current iZumi members, Dr. Corey Goodman, John Walker, Dr. Beth Seidenberg of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, and Bob Higgins of Highland Capital Partners.


In addition to the investment by MPM, FinTech Capital Partners has invested an additional $1.5 million in this round of financing.


iPierian will continue the collaborations that have been established with the Gladstone Institutes and Kyoto University's Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) with Dr. Shinya Yamanaka, whose lab first succeeded in inducing iPS cells in mouse.


Newly Formed Scientific Advisory Board Members

iPierian has created a new SAB with world-renowned scientists in the field of stem cell research and in the company's current disease area priorities. They include:


Dr. George Daley is director of Stem Cell Transplantation at the Children's Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute, The Samuel E. Lux IV Chair in Hematology, and associate professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Medicine, and Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Daley's lab was among the first to produce human induced pluripotent stem cells and disease-specific stem cells. As a clinician-scientist, Dr. Daley has extensive experience in translating promising science into novel therapeutics.
Dr. Deepak Srivastava is the director of the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, a professor of the departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry and Biophysics and Wilma and Adeline Pirag distinguished professor in Pediatric Developmental Cardiology at UCSF. Dr. Srivastava's research focuses on understanding the causes of heart disease and on using knowledge of cardiac developmental pathways to devise novel therapeutics for human cardiac disorders.
Dr. Douglas Melton is co-director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and the Thomas Dudley Cabot Professor in the Natural Sciences at Harvard University. A world authority in developmental biology, pancreatic development, and metabolic disease, Dr. Melton recently published successful in-vivo reprogramming of exocrine pancreatic cells into insulin secreting cells without reversion to a pluripotent stem cell state.
Dr. Corey Goodman was a professor at Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley and is currently an adjunct professor at UCSF in the Departments of Anatomy and Biochemistry. While on the faculty at Berkeley, he was an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Evan Rauch Professor of Neuroscience, co-founder of the Wills Neuroscience Institute, and head of the division of neurobiology. Dr. Goodman also is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and was chairman of the National Research Council's board on Life Sciences, which issued in 2002 the landmark national report "Stem Cells and the Future of Regenerative Medicine.
Dr. Lee Rubin is director of Translational Medicine at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. His research has focused on identifying therapeutics for disorders such as SMA, ALS, Huntington's disease and multiple sclerosis using novel stem cell-based screens and assays.
Dr. Lennart Mucke is the director of the Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease, and a professor of Neurology and Neuroscience at UCSF. His research focuses on processes that result in memory loss and other major neurological deficits, with an emphasis on Alzheimer's disease and related neurodegenerative disorders.
Dr. Benoit Bruneau is an associate investigator at the Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and associate professor in the department of Pediatrics at UCSF, and is an expert in cardiac differentiation. Dr. Bruneau's research focuses on the transcriptional regulation of heart development.
Dr. Kevin Eggan, assistant professor in the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University, principal investigator at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, and assistant investigator at the Stowers Medical Institute. Dr. Eggan is a world authority on somatic cell reprogramming by nuclear transfer, and the applications of iPS cells to model neurodegenerative disease.
Dr. Matthias Hebrok, Hurlbut-Johnson Distinguished Professor in Diabetes Research, is professor of Medicine and associate director for research at the Diabetes Center at UCSF. The main focus of his lab is to understand how islets of Langerhans, the endocrine component of the pancreas, are formed during organogenesis, how their function is regulated in the mature organism, and how changes in gene expression might allow islet regeneration.
Dr. Amy Wagers, assistant professor in the Section on Developmental and Stem Cell Biology at Joslin Diabetes Center and the Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology at Harvard University, and principal faculty member of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Dr. Wagers is a leading expert in adult stem cells of skeletal muscle and bone marrow.




About iPierian

iPierian is a South San Francisco-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the industrialization of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPS) technology with the mission of creating new therapeutics through cellular reprogramming and directed differentiation of patient cells. iPierian is backed by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Highland Capital Partners, MPM Capital and FinTech Global Capital. The initial focus of the company is in neurodegeneration, particularly spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's disease as well as in cardiovascular disease, where iPierian has a collaboration with The Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease and Dr. Deepak Srivastava, the institute's director. iPierian plans to enhance its partnership efforts to further expand into metabolic diseases. The company recently announced a formal collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University to develop and improve methods of deriving iPS cell lines in order to advance iPS cell technology.


Because iPS cells are believed to be able to grow indefinitely in culture and to differentiate into many cell types, iPS cells have great potential for disease research, preclinical drug testing and cell-based therapy. iPierian's approach places the patient at the forefront of the drug discovery process, thereby reducing drug development time and increasing the probability of success for drug candidates. iPierian plans to use precise human disease models to find new molecular targets and develop proprietary therapeutic small molecule or biologic drugs for its own pipeline to treat specific diseases.







SOURCE iZumi Bio, Inc.; Pierian, Inc.

Expert Explains Why Propofol Was the Wrong -- and Possibly Fatal -- Drug for Michael Jackson

American Society of Anesthesiologists' response typical, timid, and tepid, says Dr. Barry Friedberg

CORONA DEL MAR, Calif., July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Propofol, the chemical name for Diprivan, is formulated for ONLY intravenous use. It is used for general anesthesia or sedation in operating rooms, GI suites, and intensive care units.


Propofol is intended only for use under medical supervision in a medical facility with full heart and breathing monitoring. NEVER for 'at home' use.


Friedberg explains Propofol can kill people just as quickly as it can put them to sleep. Propofol can tell the brain to stop breathing.


According to Friedberg, The American Society of Anesthesiologists' (ASA) response to Jackson's death was typical.


Like the white color of propofol, the ASA July 6th statement/press release continues to be timid by 'white-washing' the probability that deaths like Jackson's would likely be avoided by routine brain monitoring. Dr. Friedberg and other early technology adopters have provided brain monitoring for patients since 1997.


Many patients who come for cosmetic (and other) surgery do not tell their anesthesiologist about ALL the medications or drugs they have been taking.


Lack of this information increases the chances of being overdosed if anesthesia is given without a brain monitor.


"Big Pharma drug profits provide huge sponsorship money to the ASA. Profits decrease if drug sales decrease -- the likely result of the lack of widespread use of brain monitors. How, then, can the ASA claim to represent the patients' best interest by avoiding the risks of routine over medication?" asks Dr. Friedberg. "That's like asking the fox to guard the hen house."


The ASA was also tepid by avoiding mention of propofol abuse within the anesthesia profession, says Dr. Friedberg.


Barry Friedberg, MD, is a practicing, board certified anesthesiologist, author of the textbook, 'Anesthesia in Cosmetic Surgery,' a Congressional award recipient, and an Associate Professor of Anesthesia at the University of California, Irvine.


More information at: www.CosmeticSurgeryAnesthesia.com





SOURCE Barry L. Friedberg