• Aethlon Medical (San Diego) reported adding a second HIV/AIDS clinical study location at the Bhvani Hospital (Bihar, India). Aethlon previously disclosed plans to initiate its "first-in-man" clinical study of a medical device to treat HIV. The Aethlon Hemopurifier is designed to provide real-time therapeutic filtration of infectious viruses and immunosuppressive proteins via real-time filtration of infectious viruses and immunosuppressive particles. The company said it is positioned to address the treatment of drug and vaccine resistant viruses. Additionally, the device holds promise in cancer care, as research studies have verified the Hemopurifier is able to capture immunosuppressive particles secreted by tumors, Aethlon said. It says that the Hemopurifier holds promise to extend the lives of AIDS patients by removing HIV strains that cause drug failure and reducing the presence of viral proteins that kill-off immune cells.

• Clarient (Aliso Viejo, California) reported its new offering, KRAS, which it says has been validated as a laboratory-developed test to be used as a predictive molecular biomarker for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). In CRCs, EGF-receptors transmit a series of signals through a complex path of intracellular proteins which ultimately instruct the cancer cell to undergo a transcription process leading to cancer progression. Anti-EGF-receptor therapies such as panitumumab (Vectibix from Amgen) and cetuximab (Erbitux from ImClone Systems) work by blocking the activation of EGF-receptor. By blocking activation of the receptor, these drugs are successful in inhibiting downstream events that lead to malignant signaling. KRAS is located downstream of EGF-receptor and is a vital component in orchestrating this signaling process. Clarient specializes in anatomic pathology and molecular testing services resource for pathologists, oncologists, and the pharmaceutical industry.

• Dale Medical Products (Plainville, Massachusetts) has introduced a bariatric abdominal binder which includes a Velcro strip that can be placed anywhere to secure drainage bulbs and tubing, without pins or tape. The Dale Bariatric Abdominal Binder is an all-elastic, latex-free post-op support that features paneled construction to prevent riding, roping, and folding over. Evenly distributing compression to brace abdominal muscles, the binder includes an EasyGrip Strip which can be placed anywhere on the binder to secure drainage bulbs and tubing without pins or tape. The Dale Bariatric Abdominal Binder can be cut to create a hole for the drainage tube prior to positioning the EasyGrip Strip for holding up to four drainage bulbs. The device is available in 11 sizes.

• Echo Therapeutics (Franklin, Massachusetts) said it has initiated a clinical study of its Symphony Transdermal Continuous Glucose Monitoring system (tCGM system) in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Echo's non-invasive Symphony tCGM system consists of its Prelude SkinPrep system incorporating patented and leading-edge skin permeation control technology, and wireless transmission and proprietary transdermal biosensor technologies. The tCGM system is designed to provide both diabetes and hospital patients with a continuous glucose monitoring device. Echo develops medical devices and specialty pharmaceuticals.

• The Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST; Dallas) said that it is on target to deliver the first-ever Common Security Framework (CSF) by January 2009, thanks to the efforts of the healthcare organizations, professional services firms, information security specialists, liability insurers and other organizations that have joined together to actively participate in the HITRUST CSF program. The HITRUST CSF is a set of tools to aid organizations that create, store, access or exchange electronic health, financial, and other sensitive information in protecting their information assets and managing related risks, costs and complexities. The HITRUST CSF is comprised of three components: an Information Security Implementation Manual, a Standards and Regulations Cross-Reference Matrix, and a Readiness Assessment Toolkit.