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Health Inc. : Shots - Health News As spending on care rises, the business of health keeps getting more important. We feature news on and analysis of drugmakers, health insurers, hospitals, doctors and others in the business of providing health care.

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Health News From NPR

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Tuesday July 27, 2010

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Rite Aid Settles Case Over Trashing Patients' Information

July 27, 2010 • Rite Aid will pay $1 million and retrain workers to settle with the feds for tossing personal patient information into dumpsters behind several stores.

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French Drugmaker Sues To Block Generic Blood-Thinner

July 27, 2010 • The maker of a popular brand-name medicine used to prevent blood clots is seeking a court order to prevent sales of a generic version approved by the FDA last week.

Friday July 23, 2010

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FDA Approves Generic Blood-Thinner, Opening Door For More Biotech Copycats

July 23, 2010 • The agency just approved a generic version of the popular anticoagulant Lovenox. The move also sets a precedent that could ease the approval of generic versions of other biotech-style drugs.

Thursday July 22, 2010

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Undercover Patients Bust Genetic Testing Firms

July 22, 2010 • Federal investigators found evidence of overblown and deceptive claims to consumers by sellers of genetic testing services.

Wednesday July 21, 2010

FDA Halts Enrollment In Avandia Safety Trial

Now a safety study of Avandia has been put on hold. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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FDA Halts Enrollment In Avandia Safety Trial

July 21, 2010 • FDA orders GlaxoSmithKline to stop signing up new patients for a big study that it figures would settle questions about the diabetes drug Avandia's risks.

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5 Things A Harvard Doctor Can Still Take Industry Money For

July 21, 2010 • Harvard Medical School unveiled rules that clamp down on conflicts of interest, but don't eliminate them.

Friday July 16, 2010

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Avandia: A New Day For FDA Or 'Groundhog Day'

July 16, 2010 • Does the public hearing over the risks of diabetes drug Avandia mark a new era at the Food and Drug Administration? Or more of the same?

FDA Panel Rejects Diet Drug Over Safety Worries

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FDA Panel Rejects Diet Drug Over Safety Worries

July 16, 2010 • Worries about birth defects and other side effects led to a 10 to 6 vote against a new diet drug by an FDA panel.

Thursday July 15, 2010

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Nestle Pulls Health Claims From Kids' Drink

July 15, 2010 • The Federal Trade Commission says claims that a drink for kids can keep kids from missing school were not substantiated.

Glaxo To Take $2.4 Billion Hit Over Avandia Cases

Bottles of Avandia diabetes pills are seen at Jack's Pharmacy on May 21, 2007, in San Anselmo, Calif. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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Glaxo To Take $2.4 Billion Hit Over Avandia Cases

July 15, 2010 • Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline will take a big profit hit to pay for legal costs, but the amount isn't as high as some analysts expected.

Wednesday July 14, 2010

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Avandia To Remain On Market, With Caveats

July 14, 2010 • A majority of experts on a panel advising the FDA voted to keep the controversial diabetes drug Avandia available for sale with tougher warnings. But a sizable minority called for withdrawing it.

Tuesday July 13, 2010

At Funding Rules' Debut, HHS Docs Sing Praises Of Electronic Health Records

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At Funding Rules' Debut, HHS Docs Sing Praises Of Electronic Health Records

July 13, 2010 • Electronic records can be backed up, don't burn and won't get waterlogged in a flood. What's not to like?

Drugmaker Hid Data On Diabetes Drug, Senators Claim

New allegations about GlaxoSmithKline's handling of safety questions about Avandia have surfaced. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images hide caption

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Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

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Drugmaker Hid Data On Diabetes Drug, Senators Claim

July 13, 2010 • GlaxoSmithKline, maker of Avandia, tested a rival diabetes drug to figure out if a head-to-head trial was worth the risk. The conclusion: Avandia couldn't beat Actos.

Cholesterol Drugs Grow More Common For Adolescents

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Cholesterol Drugs Grow More Common For Adolescents

July 13, 2010 • About 7 in 10,000 kids got a cholesterol-lowering prescription drug in 2009, according to data from drug benefit manager Medco. The increase in use was greatest for adolescent girls.

Monday July 12, 2010

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Cancer Drugs Can Sicken Health Care Workers

July 12, 2010 • Potent chemotherapy medicines can harm the people caring for cancer patients, if safeguards aren't observed.

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