Ipsen (Paris:IPN) (Euronext: FR0010259150; IPN), a global biotechnology specialty care group and Menarini, the first Italian pharmaceutical Group in the world with a significant pan-European presence, announced the launch of ADENURIC® (febuxostat) in France where they will co-promote the drug. Other launches by Menarini are planned shortly, notably in United Kingdom, Germany and Ireland. Thierry Poiraud, MD, General Manager, Menarini France said: “We are proud to be the first country in Europe to launch this very promising drug with Ipsen…

PHILADELPHIA (MedPage Today) — A half-gallon of drinking water a day may keep gout attacks away, researchers said here.

Data presented at the 73rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology highlight effects of baseline characteristics on achievement of serum uric acid (sUA) levels to

Parkinson disease progresses more slowly in patients who have higher levels of urate, a chemical that at very high level is linked to gout, researchers have found. While it’s unknown whether the high levels actually somehow protect patients or simply serve as a marker of protection, the finding supports the idea that patients and doctors may one day be able to better predict the course of the illness……..

Parkinson disease progresses more slowly in patients who have higher levels of urate, a chemical that at very high level is associated with gout, scientists have found.

EnzymeRx, LLC a clinical-stage biotechnology company, announced that its Investigational New Drug (IND) application for Uricase-PEG 20, filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last month, has become effective.

Study 1 highlights: Just two weeks on a high-fructose diet raises blood pressure in men. A drug used to treat gout seems to protect against that blood pressure increase and some aspects of metabolic syndrome. Study 2 highlights: A study in mice finds that the time of day when fructose is consumed is linked to abnormalities in blood pressure, weight gain and behavior.

A high-fructose diet raises blood pressure in men, while a drug used to treat gout seems to protect against the blood pressure increase, according to new research.

Savient Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: SVNT) announced that the Company has received a complete response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stating that the FDA can not at this time approve the Company’s Biologics License Application (BLA) for KRYSTEXXA(TM) (pegloticase) as a treatment for chronic gout in patients refractory to conventional therapy.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Colcrys to treat acute flairs in patients with gout, a recurrent and painful form of arthritis, and patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), an inherited inflammatory disorder.