Transition Therapeutics has announced that a clinical study of gastrin analogue TT-223, in combination with Eli Lillys proprietary GLP-1 analogue, in patients with type 2 diabetes did not meet its efficacy endpoints. Given these findings, the companies decided to end any further development of TT-223.

Based on a review of the results of SCOUT (Sibutramine Cardiovascular OUTcome Trial), the FDAs 16-member Endocrinologic and Metabolic Drugs Advisory Committee has voted eight versus eight on whether the weight loss medication sibutramine (Meridia, Abbott Laboratories) should stay on the U.S. market.

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) has published a consensus document and core curriculum that outline recommendations for the proper treatment of structural heart disease.

Compared with clopidogrel, ticagrelor (Brilinta) achieves better antiplatelet effect in the first hours of treatment and in maintenance therapy for patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), according the substudy PLATO PLATELET published online Sept. 9 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The Edwards Lifesciences Carpentier-Edwards Perimount Magna Mitral Ease heart valve, a pericardial tissue-based bioprosthetic device used during mitral heart valve replacement surgery, has been approved for use in the U.S. and Europe.

The Samaritan Heart & Vascular Institute in Corvallis, Ore., has added Truc Ly, MD, an aortic and mitral valve repair specialist, to their cardiovascular team.

More women with aortic valve (AV) stenosis tended to exhibit left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy than men, but women also reversed the hypertrophy faster immediately following valve replacement surgery. Genetic differences affecting fibrosis may be responsible for this phenomenon, according to a study published in a surgical supplement, Circulation: Surgery for Valvular Heart Disease.

The U.S. Solicitor General has decided not to appeal "at this time" a district court's Aug. 3 decision that ordered the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) to consider that The Medicines Company had filed a timely application for patent term extension of Angiomax (bivalirudin).