pharmaceutical industry

Stay on top of new back-to-school health guidelines about everything from germs and vaccines to bullying and concussions.

An unusually large number of people have come down with the respiratory disease whooping cough this year around the nation, and in Maryland, prompting public health officials to issue warnings about booster shots for adults and children.

For the possibly the first time in the history of Weeds, someone points out that Nancy dresses like a call girl.

The federal government is right to try to reduce the use of antipsychotic drugs in dementia patients; they are rarely associated with any improvement and pose real dangers.

Michael Phelps' post-competition goals won't deviate from the causes he's always championed.

It's not rare and it can be dangerous; we bust five myths about nighttime wandering

Crime Log

McCullough, portrayed in "The Corner," dies of apparent overdose

An average of twice a day, a patient at the University of Maryland Medical Center has a heart attack, dangerous allergic reaction or other emergency that requires supplies from a crash cart.s

Ellicott City briefs

Fewer Americans than previously thought are controlling their HIV infections and potentially putting the public at higher risk, according to a new study from Johns Hopkins University and University of Pennsylvania.

Ellicott City briefs

Sexual promiscuity fueled by alcohol and drug use led one 47-year-old Towson man to contract HIV.

The federal government has for the first time approved a drug that can prevent an HIV infection, a significant development for Baltimore where transmission rates for the virus remain high and growing.

Human Genome, which uses the human DNA sequence to develop targeted drugs, was able to raise its price to $14.25 for sale to London-based GlaxoSmithKline Plc, valuing the company at $3.6 billion. In April, GlaxoSmithKline offered to buy Human Genome for $13 a share, or $2.6 billion.

Veterinarians who examined Preakness winner I'll Have Another before and after the race at Pimlico Race Course said this week that he was healthy and that his medication regimen was not unusual.

The Aegis police blotter lists the most recent arrests, crimes and other police reports.

The underlying medical condition that contributed to the death of writer and filmmaker Nora Ephron and is forcing ABC news anchor Robin Roberts to get a bone marrow transplant is a rare and complicated disease that scientists are still trying to figure out.

With heat index values expected to reach nearly 105 degrees on Friday, June 29 and Saturday June 30, Harford County Public Library's 11 branches will serve as cooling stations for Harford County residents in need of relief from the heat.

Forever Yogurt, a chicago-based chain, plans Baltimore expansion

A concerted effort put an end to smallpox last century; the same can now be done for diarrhea and pneumonia

University of Maryland researcher says microbe has potential to help variety of diseases, especially in poor countries

Accepting freebies is the first step down the slippery slope to corruption

Alexander Kinyua, the 21-year-old accused of killing a man and eating his organs, has been formally indicted on charges of first-degree murder and assault and is being held at a state mental hospital.

University of Maryland, vaccine maker to fast track non-typhoidal Salmonella vaccine

Mercy doctor answers questions about migraines

A 19-year-old waitress at Hooters in downtown Baltimore has been awarded worker's compensation for allegedly contracting active tuberculosis from a co-worker at the Harborplace restaurant, according to her attorney.

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has activated its State Heat Emergency web site http://dhmh.maryland.gov/extremeheat to coincide with Memorial Day Weekend, traditionally the start of the summer outdoors season.

Under federal program, University of Maryland, Baltimore to address pain management in curriculum

Consistent pain relief may come from button-sized implantable disk to distribute medication

Maryland has hosted 1,775 clinical trials for new medicines targeting major diseases since 1999, including 369 that are still in the early stages of recruiting patients, according to a study by two pharmaceutical industry groups released Friday.

Horse safety remains a hot topic across the country

Chicken pox, whooping cough vaccine to be beefed up under state recommendations

The medical establishment is ill-suited to deal with America's obesity epidemic

Profectus BioSciences Inc., a Baltimore-based biotechnology company, won a $5.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to support the development of a vaccine for a pair of contagious and deadly viruses.

Maryland settles marketing charges with Abbott for $1.8 million

Al-Qaida video says Rockville man will be released if Obama meets demands

A proposal to speed the approval of new prescription drugs has patient advocates and biotechnology firms, including many that are based in Maryland, hoping that Congress can deliver a rare dose of bipartisanship this year.

More than a quarter of a ton of unused medication was collected Saturday by Howard County police as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration's National Take-Back Initiative

Gold card with health information to help better treat the elderly

Businesses in China and India, the emerging markets that Gov. Martin O'Malley has been trawling for trade relationships, are beginning to bite.

Human Genome ultimately rebuffed a $2.6 billion offer by biopharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline Plc, saying it was too low – though it has put itself on the market. Catalyst agreed to be acquired by a larger Illinois competitor for $4.4 billion.

Howard County datebook

Shares of Human Genome Sciences doubled in Thursday morning trading on news it received a $2.6 billion cash offer to acquire the company from a major bio pharmaceutical company, which it rejected as too low.

A man brandishing a syringe robbed an Ellicott City pharmacy of prescription medication Wednesday morning, according to Howard County police

Vaccines can cause harm, so a flexible policy is the best approach.

Vaccine refusal: Failure to immunize endangers public health, so parents should rarely if ever be permitted to opt out

Although Maryland's veterinarian board is considered to be relatively assertive, experts say that across the country, penalties are low and often inadequate. Some animal rights advocates say the laws providing remedies when a pet has been harmed or mistreated by a veterinarian are outdated in most states, and fail to recognize that, to many, a pet is truly a part of the family.