CONTENTS:
New tool aims to cut rates of
diabetes-related amputations
Senior chronobiologist Dr. C. Jairaj Kumar of Ludwig-Maximilians
University in Germany, has developed a tool designed to prevent
diabetes-related amputations. The device measures the progression
of neuropathy and possible foot ulcer development in patients with
the disease.
Iowa facility to test SynCardia
Systems' Freedom driver
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has secured an
Institutional Review Board approval to conduct a clinical trial of
SynCardia Systems' Freedom driver system. The device, which
weighs 13.5 pounds, is touted as the country's first portable
driver that can power SynCardia's Total Artificial Heart
implant even outside hospital walls.
Dow Jones: Health care startups drew $2.3B
in Q2 venture funding
A Dow Jones VentureSource report found that 184 health care
startups, including makers of biopharmaceuticals and medical
devices, secured $2.3 billion in venture capital investments during
the second quarter, a drop from the same quarter of last year with
209 deals worth $2.8 billion. The report noted that overall venture
investments in the U.S. reached $8 billion with 776 deals during
the period.
St. Jude Medical signs deal with hospital
GPO for CRM devices
St. Jude Medical has signed a one-year deal with
hospital-group-purchasing organization Upper Midwest Consolidated
Services Center for its cardiac rhythm management devices. UMCSC,
which has 33 members, also has an existing contract with Boston
Scientific.
Boston Scientific to shutter facility in
Doral, Fla.
Boston Scientific said in a Workers Adjustment and Retraining
Notification it will lay off 167 workers starting Sept. 20 as part
of a planned shutdown of its manufacturing facility in Doral, Fla.
The move is part of a strategy to streamline the device maker's
manufacturing operations globally, a company spokesman said.
Good Start Genetics to unveil
pre-pregnancy test in Q4
Good Start Genetics plans to introduce in the fourth quarter of
this year a pre-pregnancy gene sequencing test that can detect 22
genetic disorders, said Don Hardison, the company's president
and CEO. The Massachusetts-based company expects to boost its
workforce from about two dozen to 35 by the middle of 2012,
Hardison said.
Intel-GE creates digital device tailored to
seniors
Intel-GE Care Innovations has developed a tool designed to allow
caregivers to daily track the health of seniors and bridge social
gaps for elders living alone. Called Care Innovation Connect, the
device features social media tools, wellness polls, drug compliance
alerts and brain fitness games to help seniors go online and get
more involved in their health.
FDA clears Reflexonic device for erectile
dysfunction
Reflexonic has secured 510(k) clearance to sell its penile nerve
stimulator, Viberect, to patients with moderate erectile
dysfunction or spinal cord injuries. The company is expected to
start marketing the device this summer. This is the first FDA
approval of a penile nerve stimulation device, according to this
article.
FDA OKs use of Pharmalucence's tracer
in patients with breast cancer
The FDA has approved Pharmalucence's injectable radioactive
tracer, used in detecting lymph nodes, for use in patients with
breast cancer. The tracer allows doctors to identify lymph nodes
for removal and testing to determine if cancer has spread, the
company said.
Senators urge Obama to halt planned
Medicare cuts to imaging
Seven senators wrote a letter to President Barack Obama asking to
nix Medicare fee reductions for medical imaging services. "We
urge you to reject these calls for making deeper cuts to Medicare
payments for medical imaging services," the senators wrote.
"Instead, we ask you to work with us to enact alternative
reforms that ensure each patient receives appropriate access to
imaging when necessary."
Study: Eye implants top list of frequently
implanted U.S. devices
A 24/7 Wall St. study finds that artificial lenses used to treat
cataracts are the most frequently implanted medical devices in the
U.S., accounting for more than 2.5 million operations each year,
while ear implants rank second with 715,000 surgeries. A recent
AdvaMed report indicated that medical device spending slightly
increased in the past two decades, contrary to claims that the
tools are driving up costs.
Alere gets license for Thermo Fisher
Scientific technology
Thermo Fisher Scientific has allowed Alere to license some of its
biomarker technology. The deal will help Alere develop assays that
feature a Thermo Fisher biomarker used in diagnosing sepsis on
hospital and laboratory instruments.
Oncoscope pulls in about $900K in
financing round
Oncoscope, a Durham, N.C.-based optical imaging startup, has
secured $890,737 in its latest funding round. The company, which
aims to raise a total of $2 million, is working on an optical
imaging tool that can be used for early cancer diagnosis.
Atlas Genetics raises funds for chlamydia,
gonorrhea tests
U.K.-based Atlas Genetics has obtained more than $27 million in a
Series B funding round led by Novartis and Consort Medical. The
company will use the proceeds to expedite the launch of its
chlamydia assay in Europe and chlamydia/gonorrhea combination test
in the U.S.
Researchers develop application to prevent
unnecessary scans
Researchers from the University of Western Australia's Centre
for Software Practice and Royal Perth Hospital have developed an
iPad application, called DiPHD, that includes a navigational
feature to help doctors order the right scans for patients. The
application can help reduce patients' exposure to unnecessary
radiation by preventing the ordering of unneeded tests, the
researchers said. The application was developed based on an online
program called Diagnostic Imaging Pathways.
Experts work on iPhone-based glucose
monitoring app
Researchers at Northeastern University in Boston are developing an
iPhone application designed to monitor blood glucose levels in
patients with diabetes without the standard finger-pricking. The
technology makes use of fluorescent nanoparticle solutions injected
into the skin and an iPhone in a modified case that tracks changes
in the level of fluorescence, revealing the amount of sodium or
glucose present.
Theft risk could make mobile devices
unsafe for patient data
Mobile devices may expose patient health records to security risks
not because of platform vulnerabilities, but because they are
easier to be lost or stolen, according to this article. An HHS
report notes that more than 60% of data breaches linked to patient
health records resulted from theft or loss, while only 6% of such
incidents involved hackers.
Siemens gets clearance for radiology
application
The FDA has granted Siemens Healthcare the green light to market
its syngo Neuro PBV IR software, a tool in the diagnosis and
treatment of aneurysms and other vessel malformations as well as
strokes. The parenchymal blood volume interventional radiology
application provides color-coded images of cerebral tissue.
Expert responds to proposed FDA regulation
of mobile health apps
Although a recently released draft guidance from the FDA stated
that the agency intends to regulate only a handful of mobile health
solutions, Bradley Thompson thinks the proposed regulation would
disrupt the device industry and affect other firms distributing
medical software for tablets and smartphones. "The majority of
the folks who I've been dealing with do fall within the scope
of that guidance document," said Thompson, an N.Y.-based
device regulation attorney.
FDA panel recommends approval of Edwards
Lifesciences' heart valve
An FDA panel of experts voted 9-0 with one abstention to recommend
the approval of Edwards Lifesciences' Sapien transcatheter
valve for use in patients who are too weak to undergo open-heart
surgery. The advisers concluded that the device's benefits to
patients with severe aortic stenosis outweigh the risk of stroke
and bleeding. "This represents another important step on the
path to what we hope will lead to FDA approval," said Michael
A. Mussallem, the company's chairman and CEO.
Angeion names acting CEO as chief
executive
Angeion, which creates and markets cardiorespiratory diagnostic
tools, has appointed its interim CEO Gregg Lehman as the
company's chief executive. Lehman succeeds Phil Smith, who left
his position as the device firm's CEO in May.
Poor application quality behind longer
510(k) reviews, FDA says
The FDA released a report saying the total review time for
applications seeking 510(k) clearance for medical devices increased
by more than 55% since 2005. "Our analysis shows that that
poor submission quality and sponsors' failure to address
deficiencies identified in first-round AI [additional information]
Letters are major contributors to the increase in total review
times," FDA officials wrote. The agency reported that in 4% of
cases FDA reviewers issued "inappropriate requests for
additional information."
Minimally Invasive Devices gets CE Mark
for visualization system
Minimally Invasive Devices has obtained approval in Europe to
market its Floshield, a device designed to prevent liquid and
debris from obstructing the view of a laparoscope. The device was
cleared by the FDA in 2008.
Report: Device makers raised $841 million
in Q2 venture funding
Venture capital investments in medical device firms reached $841
million during the second quarter with 90 deals, up 20% from the
previous quarter of this year, according to a report by the
National Venture Capital Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Cameron Health, a California device firm, logged the biggest
funding for the industry with $107 million.
St. Jude Medical will relocate CRM
manufacturing operations
St. Jude Medical's plan to transfer its cardiac rhythm
management operations from Sweden to Malaysia and Puerto Rico will
result in the elimination of 450 positions by the end of 2012. The
layoffs were driven in part by a drop in the company's domestic
CRM sales.
ACOG endorses annual mammograms for women
in their 40s
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has
released guidelines recommending that women undergo yearly
mammograms starting at age 40. "I think the main point we
considered was that about 40,000 women every year in their 40s are
diagnosed with breast cancer, and about 20% of them will die from
it," said Dr. Jennifer Griffin, a co-author of the
guidelines.
IRobot to make inroads in health care with
InTouch deal
IRobot has entered a development and marketing deal with InTouch
Health, which creates tools that enable doctors to provide remote
consultations with patients via telemedicine. The firms plan to
share their resources to explore applications of iRobot's
platforms in health care.
Studies on U.S. device regulation called
into question
Two recent reports that suggest the FDA lags its European
counterparts in regulating medical devices have been deemed flawed
by three medical journal editors who were tasked by House Democrats
to review the studies. Dr. Josh Makower, who led one of the
studies, responded by saying, "those at the FDA have reason to
feel defensive about it but we put real definitive thought into
evaluating regulatory processes."
FDA workshop will focus on use of medical
device identifier
The FDA on Sept. 12 and 13 will host a free workshop in Bethesda,
Md., to educate the public on how a unique identifier system for
medical devices is implemented and how it would affect health IT
systems. The workshop comes as the FDA awaits an Office of
Management and Budget review of its proposed rule on device
identifiers.
FDA seeks to regulate certain mobile
health apps
The FDA has issued draft guidance outlining certain mobile health
applications that it intends to regulate, which will be up for
comment within 90 days after it's published in the Federal
Register on Thursday. "Our draft approach calls for oversight
of only those mobile medical apps that present the greatest risk to
patients when they don't work as intended," said Dr.
Jeffrey Shuren, the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological
Health director. The FDA estimates the number of mobile health care
application users will top 500 million by 2015.
BioMerieux acquires Argene by buying out
holding company
French in vitro diagnostics firm bioMerieux has agreed to pay about
$54 million, plus up to $7.2 million in contingent fees, to acquire
100% stake in Ab-SERVICES, a holding firm that owns Argene.
France-based Argene develops molecular diagnostic tests for
immunocompromised patients.
Roche expands in cancer diagnostics market
with mtm purchase
Roche Holding said it agreed to acquire mtm laboratories, a
Germany-based maker of diagnostics tests used for cervical cancer
detection. Roche said the deal calls for it to pay mtm about $184
million upfront and as much as $85 million in potential milestone
fees.
Nevro raises $58 million for spinal cord
stimulator
Nevro has obtained $58 million in a funding round led by Johnson
& Johnson Development. The California-based firm will use the
proceeds to further develop and commercialize in the U.S. a spinal
cord stimulation device designed to treat chronic pain.
Mass. Life Sciences Center accepts
applications for tax break program
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center has started accepting
applications from companies for this year's Life Sciences Tax
Incentive Program. MLSC has set an Oct. 7 deadline for submission
of applications for the program, which has the potential to
allocate as much as $25 million in tax breaks annually.
MoMelan pulls in $4.8 million in financing
round
MoMelan Technologies, which obtained $2.9 million in May, has
stretched that figure to $4.8 million in its latest funding round.
The Cambridge, Mass.-based firm, which hopes to raise a total of $5
million, is working on a device that can cut the cost and time it
takes to graft harvested skin onto a patient.
Biotech startup raises $13M in Series B
funding round
NanoMR has secured $13 million in a Series B financing round led by
Excel Venture Management. The startup, which is working on a device
that can detect blood bacteria faster than traditional tests, will
use the funds to advance the creation of instruments tailored to
the clinical microbiology sector, said CEO Victor Esch.
U.K. agency to evaluate anesthesia depth
monitoring systems
The U.K. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will
evaluate several diagnostic systems used to monitor anesthesia
depth. One of the technologies that will be assessed is GE
Healthcare's E-ENTROPY, a system that uses an entropy algorithm
to measure abnormalities in spontaneous brain and facial muscular
activity.
Surgeon develops wireless prosthetic
chip
Dr. Lee Berger, a New Jersey-based orthopedic surgeon, has created
a prosthetic chip called Ortho-Tag that wirelessly links to a
handheld receiver to give doctors access to a patient's
information. The chip, which has yet to secure FDA approval, could
be available in about six to 12 months, Berger said.
Experts discuss possible effects of MIPPA
on providers
The CMS requirement that all health care providers seeking to
reimburse advanced imaging services must be accredited under the
Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 could
lead nonhospital-based imaging providers to close down, says Joe
Palmisano, a partner at Physicians Imaging Solutions, because it
lacks "a grace period for new imaging facilities and for
existing facilities who want to swap out equipment." The new
law, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2012, also could cause market
limitations as some providers may decide to not get accredited,
which would lead to an increase in imaging costs, said an attorney
at the law firm Katten Muchin Rosenman.
Device industry leads push to repeal
excise tax
A group of more than 400 industry stakeholders, including AdvaMed,
signed a letter asking Congress to move forward with a vote to
repeal the 2.3% excise tax on the sale of U.S. medical devices.
"If this tax is implemented in 2013, it will undermine our
industry's ability to create and maintain good jobs in the
U.S., and worse, will lead to higher costs for patients,
undercutting one of the primary goals of health care reform,"
said Stephen J. Ubl, AdvaMed's president and CEO.
Thermo Fisher acquires microbiology
testing products provider
Magellan Bioscience has agreed to sell TREK Diagnostic Systems to
Thermo Fisher Scientific for an undisclosed sum. Thermo Fisher
officials said it will incorporate TREK, which sells blood culture
and other microbiology testing products, into its Analytical
Technologies Segment.
LeMaitre Vascular terminates marketing
deal with Endologix
LeMaitre Vascular has decided to stop distributing Endologix's
aortic endovascular system in Europe as it shifts its focus from
the stent graft business to its vascular devices, said George W.
LeMaitre, the firm's chairman and CEO. LeMaitre will receive a
$1.3 million fee from Endologix as part of the early termination
deal.
DIRAmed seeks $2.5 million in funding for
glucose monitor
DIRAmed hopes to obtain $2.5 million in funding to hire more
workers and advance clinical trials of its blood-glucose monitor
for patients with diabetes. The company would relocate its
operations from Ohio to a "more favorable region" to
secure new investment, said CEO Will Shain.
2 insurers agree to pay for
Uroplasty's neuromodulation device
Uroplasty said Health Care Service will cover the use of its Urgent
PC Neuromodulation system for the treatment of overactive bladder,
effective Aug. 1. The company also announced that BlueCross
BlueShield of Nebraska began providing reimbursement for the device
on May 18.
EU panel moves to ensure uniformity of
addresses on device labels
The Central Management Committee in Europe has released a decision
requiring medical device makers to follow a uniform format in
displaying their addresses on products' labels and
instructions-for-use sections. The CMC expects device makers to
adopt the decision by September next year, according to a European
trade group representing the IT, electromedical and radiological
industries.
New tool detects heart problems in
patients
SHL Telemedicine has developed a smartphone-based heart-monitoring
device that can perform electrocardiograms in 30 seconds. The
Smartheart, which can be connected to an iPhone, BlackBerry or
Android phone through Bluetooth technology, enables patients to
have a detailed ECG report sent to their providers for
analysis.
Texas hospital implants Medtronic's
MRI-safe pacemaker
A cardiac electrophysiologist at Corpus Christi Medical Center in
Texas has started implanting a pacemaker that enables patients to
undergo MRI scans. The device from Medtronic was approved by the
FDA in February.
Report pitches usability guidelines for
home medical devices
A National Research Council report calls for collaboration between
the FDA and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT to
certify, regulate and track health care solutions that link
clinical IT systems with home health devices. The report also urges
the federal agencies to require manufacturers to follow usability
standards, as part of an accreditation process.
FDA reviewers say Edwards' heart valve
"demonstrated superiority"
FDA reviewers said Edwards Lifesciences' Sapien transcatheter
aortic valve "demonstrated superiority" in a clinical
trial involving patients with severe aortic stenosis who are too
weak to undergo open-heart surgery. However, the trial also found a
risk of stroke and neurological harm. An FDA advisory panel is set
to meet Wednesday to assess clinical trial data on Edwards'
device.
GSK's lawsuit aims to block
Watson's generic Jalyn
GlaxoSmithKline filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court to prevent
Watson Laboratories from marketing a generic version of prostate
drug Jalyn before patent expiration. Jalyn, which contains
tamsulosin hydrochloride and dutasteride, is indicated for
symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.
J&J unit fails to gain expanded
approval for antibody drug
The FDA declined to approve Simponi, a bioengineered antibody drug
by Johnson & Johnson unit Janssen Biotech, for use in delaying
the progression of structural damage in patients with moderate to
severe rheumatoid arthritis. Janssen plans to seek a meeting with
the agency to discuss the ruling and "future steps to achieve
the intended approval."
FDA allows study of gene therapy for
immunodeficiency disease
Children's Hospital Boston and France's Genethon received
FDA approval to conduct a clinical trial of a gene therapy in
patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, a rare immunodeficiency
disease. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute is financing
the study through its Gene Therapy Resource Program.
Teva admits infringing patents of
Novartis' Lotrel
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Novartis resolved a patent
dispute regarding the former's generic version of Lotrel, the
latter's blood-pressure medicine. "Under the agreement,
Teva admits to the validity of the Novartis patents and that they
have been infringed and has agreed to all claims for patent
infringement and damages," Novartis said.
Neoprobe says it is on track with its
plans for Lymphoseek
Neoprobe said it is on schedule with its plan to apply for FDA
approval of its radiopharmaceutical Lymphoseek in the third
quarter. An FDA decision on the drug would then be likely to be
handed down in the middle of next year, CEO Mark Pykett said.
AstraZeneca gains FDA approval of
anticoagulant Brilinta
AstraZeneca's Brilinta, or ticagrelor, was approved by the FDA
for preventing blood clots in patients with acute coronary
syndrome. In clinical tests, Brilinta proved "more effective
than Plavix in preventing heart attacks and death, but that
advantage was seen with aspirin maintenance doses of 75 to 100
milligrams once daily," the agency said. Brilinta will carry a
boxed warning about bleeding risk and reduced effectiveness if
taken with more than 100 milligrams of aspirin. Sanofi and
Bristol-Myers Squibb market Plavix.
FDA OKs generic drugs for nausea and pain
from Dr. Reddy's
The FDA approved Dr. Reddy's Laboratories' injectable
palonosetron hydrochloride, a generic drug to prevent
chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The company also gained
tentative approval for delayed-release duloxetine hydrochloride, a
pain medicine.
Lannett's generic obesity pill gains
FDA approval
The FDA gave Lannett approval to market a generic version of
25-milligram Tenuate, a weight-loss drug from Watson
Pharmaceuticals. The product is intended for use with diet and
exercise.
NICE won't endorse Eisai's breast
cancer treatment Halaven
Eisai failed to gain support from the U.K. National Institute for
Health and Clinical Excellence for Halaven, a treatment for locally
advanced breast cancer in women who have undergone chemotherapy. In
draft guidance, NICE said that although Halaven appeared to prolong
survival in clinical studies, it led to more adverse reactions than
other therapies. Eisai aims to change the agency's opinion.
Panel declines to endorse diabetes drug
dapagliflozin
A panel of FDA advisers voted 9-6 against endorsing the approval of
dapagliflozin, Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca's drug
candidate for type 2 diabetes. Advisers said clinical data do not
provide substantial evidence of dapagliflozin' efficacy and
risks.
Advisers will review J&J's
Remicade for pediatric colitis
An FDA advisory committee is scheduled Thursday to evaluate Johnson
and Johnson's Remicade for use in children with ulcerative
colitis. In a preliminary review, the agency said a pediatric
clinical trial for Remicade was not intended to demonstrate the
drug's effectiveness. The FDA will ask advisers whether data on
adults can be extrapolated for a younger population.
Sun unit gets OK to sell a generic of
prostate drug Uroxatral
The FDA authorized a Sun Pharmaceutical Industries unit to launch a
generic version of Uroxatral, Sanofi's extended-release
treatment for enlarged prostate. The generic-drug maker is entitled
to 180 days of market exclusivity.
FDA lists 14 drugs with potential safety
risks
The FDA released a list of medications being reviewed for safety
issues. Multaq, a heart drug from Sanofi, is included for the fifth
consecutive quarter. CSL Behring's subcutaneous immunoglobulin
Vivaglobin, which was pulled off the market in April, also is
included.
AstraZeneca puts heart warning on
anti-psychotic Seroquel
AstraZeneca, at the FDA's request, strengthened the warning
label of anti-psychotics Seroquel and Seroquel XR. The revised
label warns of mixing either product with at least 12 treatments
associated with heart arrhythmia. The warning is a precaution, not
a ban, said FDA spokeswoman Sandy Walsh.
Vaccines for the coming flu season are
approved by FDA
The FDA approved vaccines for the 2011-2012 flu season, including
GlaxoSmithKline's Fluarix and MedImmune's FluMist. The
formulations protect against the same strains as the previous
season: H1N1; a second A strain, H3N2; and a B strain.
FDA approves Glenmark Generics'
version of ulcer drug Axid
The FDA granted Glenmark Generics marketing approval for anti-ulcer
capsule nizatidine, a generic version of GlaxoSmithKline's
Axid. The product is "indicated for up to eight weeks for the
treatment of active duodenal ulcers," Glenmark said.
FDA authorizes long-term use of
Shire's colitis drug Lialda
Shire obtained FDA approval for Lialda as maintenance therapy for
ulcerative colitis patients in remission. The agency initially
approved Lialda in 2007 for mild to moderate active ulcerative
colitis.
Talon submits leukemia drug Marqibo for
FDA approval
Talon Therapeutics filed for accelerated FDA approval of Marqibo as
a treatment for Philadelphia chromosome-negative acute
lymphoblastic leukemia in adults. Marqibo is a capsule version of
vincristine, an FDA-approved agent against cancer.
EU approves Amgen's bone drug Xgeva
for cancer patients
European regulators approved Amgen's Xgeva, or denosumab, for
preventing fractures and other skeletal events in adults with solid
tumors. The approval provides Amgen another year of market
exclusivity. Denosumab also is marketed as Prolia for
osteoporosis.
USDA inspectors announce recall of Jetro
Cash's diced bacon
The U.S. Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection
Service said Jetro Cash and Carry Enterprises/R.D. Food Services
initiated a recall of about 2,900 pounds of diced bacon products
because of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
There have been no reports of illnesses linked to the products.
Federal program aims to promote readiness
during food emergencies
The FDA has introduced a Web-based collection of five scenarios
that aim to help the food industry, regulators and public health
groups craft response plans and procedures for food-related
emergencies. The FDA collaborated with the CDC and the U.S.
Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service and
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to develop the
Food-Related Emergency Exercise Boxed set, or FREE-B.
Retailers partner with Michelle Obama to
target "food deserts"
Grocery chains are joining first lady Michelle Obama in her fight
against "food deserts," promising to open or expand
stores in communities where people do not have easy access to
fresh, nutritious food. Wal-Mart Stores, Walgreen and SUPERVALU are
among companies vowing to take action.
Beverage companies fight campaigns against
sugary drinks
Beverage makers are fighting campaigns against sodas, suing New
York City and asking local governments to provide documents that
support claims that the drinks contribute to obesity. Health
advocates said the companies are using the same tactics tobacco
companies did years ago, overwhelming governments and forcing them
to spend money to answer the charges.
Survey: Number of states banning raw milk
sales remains unchanged
A recent survey by the National Association of State Departments of
Agriculture found that the number of states that prohibit the sale
of unpasteurized milk for human consumption has not changed since
2008. The survey also found that New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and
three other states have implemented stricter standards against the
presence of bacteria in raw milk.
Some states push back on cities'
restaurant rules
In recent years, San Francisco banned toy giveaways with meals that
do not meet nutrition guidelines, Baltimore barred restaurants from
using trans fat and New York City required chain restaurants to
post calorie counts. But as cities impose more rules on
restaurants, states including Arizona, Florida and Alabama are
taking action to limit city authority over restaurant
operations.
Japan's Aeon says it sold
radiation-contaminated beef
Aeon, the largest supermarket chain in Japan, said it sold beef
from April through June that was contaminated by radiation. The
cattle had eaten straw that was tainted with cesium from the
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Aeon said it will begin checking
beef shipments that might be contaminated.
Florida Supreme Court affirms award against R.J.
Reynolds
The Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to review a state
jury's ruling that R.J. Reynolds Tobacco must pay $28.3 million
in compensatory and punitive damages to a woman whose husband died
of lung cancer. A spokesman for R.J. Reynolds said the company will
appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Thousands of similar
claims are pending in Florida courts.
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