Forest Laboratories has reported that its fiscal third quarter of 2009 net income was $187.98 million,a downturn compared with the $301.8 million reported in the third quarter of the prior fiscal year.

Baxter International has reported 2008 fourth quarter net income of $569 million, an increase of 19 percent from the $478 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2007.

Novartis has reported a decline in net income for its 2008 year-end financial results, despite a 70 percent increase in net income for the 2008 fiscal fourth quarter.

Within the past year, endocrinologists and federal regulators have become much more conscientious about the risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease with type 2 diabetes patients, due to their natural propensity for CV events, along with the potential adverse events associated with particular medications, such as Avandia.

The 2008 American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions will open this weekend in New Orleans, and Program Chair Gordon F. Tomaselli, MD, told Cardiovascular Business that the meeting has a multi-faceted approach to juggling all the various specialties within cardiovascular (CV) care.

Cardiac Science, a provider of cardiac diagnosis, resuscitation, rehabilitation and informatics products, announced revenue for the quarter ended Sept. 30, of $54 million, an increase of 20 percent over the $45.1 million in revenue in the prior year period.

A new cardiopulmonary resuscitation advanced cardiac life support (CPR/ACLS) protocol implemented by the Los Angeles Fire Department resulted in a 70 percent improvement in the return of spontaneous circulation, or a restarted heart, according to a study presented Monday at the American College of Emergency Physicians (AECP) conference in Chicago.

Cardiac Science initiated a global voluntary field corrective action on Monday for certain automated external defibrillators (AEDs) manufactured between August 2006 and March 2007.