Metabolic Disorders

AstraZeneca PLC's blockbuster psychiatric drug Seroquel did not trigger diabetes in a Vietnam veteran, a jury ruled Thursday in the first trial out of thousands of cases alleging the powerful drug caused diabetes.

Britain's AstraZeneca wins first trial in case alleging psychiatric drug Seroquel caused harm. AstraZeneca PLC's blockbuster psychiatric drug Seroquel did not trigger diabetes in a Vietnam veteran, a jury ruled Thursday in the first trial out of thousands of cases alleging the powerful drug caused diabetes.

NEW YORK/LONDON (Reuters) - AstraZeneca Plc <AZN.L> won a U.S. court battle on Thursday over product liability claims for its blockbuster Seroquel schizophrenia treatment, the first such case to go to trial.

At least 31 pharmaceutical thefts worth more than $500,000 were reported in the U.S. in 2008 and 2009. Of those, stolen goods from 15 eventually were recovered. Several dozen other drug thefts worth less than $500,000 also were reported.

GAITHERSBURG, Maryland (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators are taking a closer look at how well devices used by diabetics to monitor their blood sugars work, seeking possible changes for device makers to help make them more reliable.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Black women who tend to eat foods more likely to lead to higher blood sugar may have slightly greater risk for uterine fibroids, suggest study findings.

Clarification: Amylin FDA information request story. In a story March 15, The Associated Press reported that Bydureon is the proposed trade name of exenatide, a diabetes treatment being developed by Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc., Eli Lilly & Co. and Alkermes Inc. The story should have specified that the once-weekly form of the drug, exenatide LAR, would be called Bydureon. A daily version of exenatide already is sold in the U.S. under the brand name Byetta.

BOSTON (Reuters) - U.S. regulators have requested more information on an inhaled insulin device being developed by MannKind Corp, sending the company's shares down 24.7 percent.

A low-cost drug known since the time of the Pharaohs improved diabetes symptoms in a Boston study being published today, and its success supports an entirely new way of understanding the disease. The drug, called salsalate, is also being studied as a potential treatment for repeat heart attacks and to stall development of Type 2 diabetes. It's too early to know whether the medication, commonly used to treat arthritis, can fulfill all this potential. But the new study of 108 patients, from researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center, found that patients with Type 2 diabetes were better able to process sugar when they added the medicine to their drug regimen. It was the first major study designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of salsalate for diabetics. Type 2 diabetes, which affects more than 20 million Americans, generally strikes as people gain weight with age. Scientists have long struggled to understand the connection between weight gain and diabetes. The success of salsalate,

NEW LIPITOR DATA: In some heart patients, the highest dose of Lipitor cut risk of heart attack and other complications by a third, compared to the lowest dose.

Summary Box: Pfizer study finds high-dose Lipitor cuts heart risk in riskier patients. NEW LIPITOR DATA: In some heart patients, the highest dose of Lipitor cut risk of heart attack and other complications by a third, compared to the lowest dose.

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Adding a drug that lowers blood fats known as triglycerides to cholesterol-fighting statins provided no additional protection from heart attack, stroke and death from heart disease in patients with Type 2 diabetes, according to data from a large study.

Amylin Pharmaceuticals shares rise on FDA response for once-weekly diabetes drug. Shares of Amylin Pharmaceuticals jumped 13 percent Monday as the Food and Drug Administration asked for more information on its potential diabetes treatment.

Diageo spent $570,000 in fourth quarter lobbying government on taxes, labeling issues. A unit of London-based spirits company Diageo PLC, which makes Johnnie Walker whisky, Smirnoff vodka and other products, spent $570,000 in the fourth quarter lobbying the U.S. government, according to a recent disclosure form.

Diabetics who seek to aggressively lower their blood pressure and cholesterol are not reducing their risk of a heart attack and could suffer negative side effects, a study released Sunday said.

Intense treatment fails to prevent heart attacks in diabetics; lifestyle is key, doctors say. Key results from a landmark federal study are in, and the results are disappointing for diabetics: Adding drugs to drive blood pressure and blood-fats lower than current targets did not prevent heart problems, and in some cases caused harmful side effects.

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Adding a triglyceride-lowering drug to cholesterol-fighting statins provided no additional protection from heart attack, stroke and death from heart disease in patients with Type 2 diabetes, according to data from a large study.

ATLANTA (Reuters) - The Novartis diabetes drug Starlix failed to reduce progression to the disease or cut down on serious heart problems in patients at high risk for both diabetes and heart disease, according to a large study released on Sunday.

Key results from a landmark federal study are in, and the results are disappointing for diabetics: Adding drugs to drive blood pressure and blood-fats lower than current targets did not prevent heart problems, and in some cases caused harmful side effects.

Intense treatment fails to prevent heart attacks in diabetics; lifestyle is key, doctors say. Key results from a landmark federal study are in, and the results are disappointing for diabetics: Adding drugs to drive blood pressure and blood-fats lower than current targets did not prevent heart problems, and in some cases caused harmful side effects.