LipoScience Inc., a highly innovative diagnostic company that is advancing patient care by developing high value proprietary blood tests using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology, announced the publication of results from a clinical study in the American Journal of Cardiology (AJC) suggesting that despite having cholesterol levels considered acceptable by today’s clinical standards, patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related events.

Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, who are exploring novel ways to treat serious heart problems in children, have conducted the first direct comparison of the regenerative abilities of neonatal and adult-derived human cardiac stem cells. Among their findings: cardiac stem cells (CSCs) from newborns have a three-fold ability to restore heart function to nearly normal levels compared with adult CSCs. Further, in animal models of heart attack, hearts treated with neonatal stem cells pumped stronger than those given adult cells. The study is published in the Sept. 11, 2012, issue of Circulation.

This year’s European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Munich, Germany, was a stark example of exactly where the cardiovascular market space is headed. This congress fully emphasized the new and innovative technologies that are coming out on the medical device and medical technology side, while leaving the market’s pharmaceutical wing in the dust. In fact, out of the nine hours over three days and 18 seminars on cardiac therapy innovation, only one seminar, given by Amgen, spoke about a pharmaceutical interventional treatment for heart disease. Thus, if there is one message to take away from the ESC 2012 congress, it is that the pharmaceutical industry has moved away from the cardiovascular market

October 3, 2012 — Royal Philips Electronics announced it is donating the one-millionth HeartStart automated external defibrillator (AED) manufactured to Everett Mountain Rescue Unit (EMRU) of Snohomish, Wash. EMRU is a volunteer search and rescue organization serving Snohomish County, also the location of Philips’ HeartStart headquarters.

October 3, 2012 — Stentys, a medical technology company commercializing the world's first and only self-apposing stent to treat acute myocardial infarction (AMI), announced today the European commercial release of an enhanced stent-delivery system for its Self-Apposing stent.

October 2, 2012 — A novel blood thinner recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Pradaxa (dabigatran), has been rapidly adopted into clinical practice, yet thus far has had little impact on improving treatment rates for atrial fibrillation.

October 1, 2012 — Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Pfizer Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has acknowledged receipt of the new drug application (NDA) resubmission for Eliquis (apixaban) to reduce the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).