AVAX Technologies, Inc. (OTC Market:AVXT.OB) announces that its abstract, entitled, “Dose-response study of a cryopreserved, autologous, hapten-modified melanoma vaccine (MVax®),” has been accepted for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) to be held May 30-June 3 in Chicago. The abstract was selected from the over 4,800 that were reviewed by ASCO’s Scientific Program Committee this year.

pSivida Limited (NASDAQ:PSDV, ASX:PSD, Xetra:PSI) announced that after completing its review of safety and efficacy data currently available, an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) has once again recommended that the two pivotal Phase III clinical trials, known collectively as the FAME” (Fluocinolone Acetonide in Diabetic Macular Edema) Study can continue under the current protocol, without change.

Sir Bobby Robson, who used to be manager of the England football team, has launched the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trial and Research Centre, a charitable foundation aimed at combating cancer. Sir Bobby, who was first diagnosed with cancer in 1991, said his aim is to raise £500,000 (about $1 million). The new research centre is being built at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle (England).

The scientific staff at Saint Joseph’s Translational Research Institute (SJTRI) has announced that a new thin, bare metal stent (BMS) has been approved for sale by European Union regulators. Medlogics Device Corporations’ COBRA” Coronary Stent System received the CE Mark based on the chronic preclinical implants performed at SJTRI which demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the stent.

The American Society of Clinical Oncology later this year will release the first-ever guidelines for how oncologists can discuss cost-effective options for cancer treatment with their patients, AP/Long Island Newsday reports.

Planned Parenthood of South Palm Beach and Broward Counties is limiting its services after a Planned Parenthood Federation of America review of the affiliate’s clinics, the Palm Beach Post reports (Sarmiento, Palm Beach Post, 3/22). According to the

A proposed Medicaid change could “inflict a ‘devastating’ financial blow to Utah health care and medical education” and cut $360 million in federal funding to the state over the next five years, Utah health care officials said last week, the Salt Lake Tribune reports (Maffly/Rosetta, Salt Lake Tribune, 3/19).

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday is expected to announce that a coalition of local governments and health care providers plans to file a lawsuit seeking to roll back a 10% reduction in Medi-Cal payments to physicians that the state Legislature approved in February, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Florida Health News on Friday examined federal payment disparities among Medicare Advantage plans in Florida. According to a Florida Health News analysis, payments to MA plans in Miami-Dade County on average are 38% higher than payments in 24 other Florida counties and 50% higher than in a dozen other counties. The

The Boston Globe on Monday examined a “national push to offer more culturally sensitive mental health care to immigrant groups, often in small clinics in urban areas.