The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has stopped a clinical trial evaluating a new approach to reduce the risk of recurrent stroke in children with sickle cell anemia and iron overload because of evidence that the new treatment was unlikely to prove better than the existing treatment.

The sugar-alcohol compound mannitol improved the therapeutic effectiveness of human umbilical cord blood cells injected into neonatal rat models of cerebral palsy, reports a new international study led by the University of South Florida. The mannitol opened the blood-brain barrier by temporarily shrinking the tight endothelial cells that make up the barrier.

Bioheart, Inc., announced today plans for establishing two Centers of Excellence in the Middle East to provide its cell therapy procedures to patients suffering from congestive heart failure and peripheral arterial disease. Dr. Karl E. Groth, Chairman and CEO, and Peggy A. Farley, Chief Operating and Financial Officer, are now in that region holding discussions and performing site inspections.

Physicians now have two safe and effective options to treat their patients at risk for stroke, says a researcher at Mayo Clinic who led a large, NIH-funded, national clinical trial testing surgery or use of a stent to open a blocked carotid artery.

POZEN Inc., announced today the receipt of a $20 million milestone payment from AstraZeneca for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of VIMOVO (naproxen and esomeprazole magnesium) delayed-release tablets on April 30th. POZEN will transfer ownership of the Investigational New Drug application and New Drug Application for VIMOVO to AstraZeneca over the next few weeks.