Battery maker A123 Systems goes public and shares jump nearly 50 percent

Investors snapped up shares of A123 Systems in their debut Thursday, showing a willingness to overlook millions of dollars in losses and make a bet that next-generation battery technology will propel the cars and trucks of the future.

Attempt to redo White House agreement with drug makers is rebuffed by Finance panel

WASHINGTON — Senators writing a sweeping health care overhaul have rebuffed an attempt to squeeze more money from the drug industry for medicines used by low-income seniors.

Judge denies temporary restraining order Wyeth sought to block rival’s generic antibiotic

TRENTON, N.J. — A federal judge on Thursday rejected drugmaker Wyeth’s request for a temporary restraining order to block a rival from selling a generic version of a lucrative Wyeth antibiotic.

Attempt to redo White House agreement with drugmakers is rebuffed by Finance panel

WASHINGTON — Senators writing a sweeping health care overhaul have rebuffed an attempt to squeeze more money from the drug industry for medicines used by low-income seniors.

Finance Committee Democrats thwart Republicans attempt to stall work on health care overhaul

WASHINGTON — Senators writing a health care overhaul bill have rejected a Republican amendment that could have put the sweeping measure on hold.

A world first: AIDS vaccine cuts the risk of HIV infection by 31 percent in large Thai study

BANGKOK — For the first time, an experimental vaccine has prevented infection with the AIDS virus, a watershed event in the deadly epidemic and a surprising result. Recent failures led many scientists to think such a vaccine might never be possible.

Health care issues: Shopping for insurance

A look at key issues in the nation’s health care debate:

Democrats, Republicans ready fresh challenges to far-reaching health care overhaul bill

WASHINGTON — Tempers are flaring as the Senate Finance Committee starts its third day of exhaustive deliberations on a sweeping overhaul of the health care system.

Watchdog group seeks Justice Department probe into sale of drug store by Ark. Rep. Mike Ross

PRESCOTT, Ark. — A watchdog group asked the Justice Department on Wednesday to look into the 2007 sale of a drug store owned by a congressman who is a key figure in the national health care debate after reports he may have profited excessively from the sale.

Institute of Medicine will review FDA’s system for clearing low-risk medical devices

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration is asking the government’s top medical advisers to review its system for approving certain types of medical devices, which has been criticized by safety advocates and government watchdogs.

Democrats try wooing seniors to health care drive, press AARP to step up its sales pitch

WASHINGTON — The White House and Democrats are laboring to attract skeptical seniors to their drive to reshape the nation’s health care system, leading some to press the behemoth but reluctant AARP to be more aggressive about backing them.

Democrats reject GOP amendment to require health bill to be available online before vote

WASHINGTON — Senate Finance Committee Democrats have rejected a GOP amendment that would have required a health overhaul bill to be available online for 72 hours before the committee votes.

Finance Cte Dems turn back Republican push to let public see health bill language before vote

WASHINGTON — Senate Finance Committee Democrats have rejected a GOP amendment that would have required a health overhaul bill to be available online for 72 hours before the committee votes.

Democrats juggle competing priorities as Senate committee pushes forward on health care bill

Democrats try to move on health bill; GOP objects

WASHINGTON — Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus heard some encouraging words Wednesday from a key centrist Democrat as he opened the second day of a committee meeting to debate and vote on his sweeping health overhaul bill.

American Airlines dropping its standard retiree health plan for nonunion workers

DALLAS — American Airlines is dropping its long-standing health insurance plan for retired executives and support staff over 65 as the company battles rising medical costs and a decline in revenue.

GOP leaders accuse Democrats of ‘gagging’ insurance companies’ criticism of health care bill

WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers rebuked the Obama administration Tuesday for telling health insurance companies to stop warning elderly customers they’ll lose benefits in health care legislation, which some equated to a gag order.

Senator backs off from tax on contact lenses, tampons; power wheelchairs still get hit

WASHINGTON — They were calling it the tax on Q-tips. Amid Republican ridicule, a Democratic chairman backed down Tuesday and exempted consumer items of $100 or less — from condoms to contact lenses — from a proposed tax on medical device manufacturers. It would help pay for health care coverage for the uninsured in comprehensive legislation.

Dem chairman calls for health care assistance for families as Senate committee begins work

WASHINGTON — Bidding for support from Democrats as well as a single Republican, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee gaveled open a long-awaited debate over health care Tuesday with fresh plans to reduce costs on working-class families and impose new obligations on the insurance industry.

Health care issues: Bundling payments

A look at key issues in the health care debate:

Dismayed abortion-rights advocates say health care debate isn’t advancing their cause

NEW YORK — For some abortion-rights activists, the debate over health care reform has been frustrating, even disheartening, as they see their political allies on the defensive and their anti-abortion rivals on the attack.

Drugmaker Merck seeks EU approval for $41B acquisition of Schering-Plough, expects ruling soon

TRENTON, N.J. — Drugmaker Merck & Co. filed papers with regulators in the European Union seeking approval of its planned acquisition of Schering-Plough Corp.

KV Pharmaceutical sells proposed generic acne treatment to Perrigo for more than $14 million

ST. LOUIS. — KV Pharmaceutical Co. said Monday it sold its proposed generic version of the acne treatment Duac gel to Perrigo Co. for more than $14 million.

HHS investigates Humana Medicare mailer warning seniors on health overhaul

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration warned insurance companies Monday they face possible legal action for allegedly trying to scare seniors with misleading information about the potential for lost benefits under health care legislation in Congress.

SPIN METER: Ballyhooed in May, health industry pledge to save $2 trillion seems forgotten

WASHINGTON — It was a watershed moment in the health care struggle: Leaders of the insurance, hospital and other medical industries stood with President Barack Obama at the White House and promised steps to save $2 trillion over the next decade.

Multinationals selling baby formula in Vietnam break milk law meant to promote breastfeeding

HANOI, Vietnam — Multinational companies in Vietnam sell baby formula so aggressively that they routinely stretch and sometimes break laws designed to promote breastfeeding, an AP investigation has found.

Who’s who: A look at the 23 members of the Senate Finance Committee as they debate health care

The Senate Finance Committee begins work on a health care overhaul bill Tuesday. A look at the committee members:

Senate committee that’s choke point on health care bill is next battle for divided Democrats

WASHINGTON — Keep going. You don’t have to fix all of it now. Just please don’t let it stall. That’s the essence of the message that Senate Democratic leaders have for their Finance Committee senators, who plan to start voting Tuesday on a remake of the nation’s health care system.

What will your surgery cost? That depends, and the answer isn’t simple

CHICAGO — Flower shop owner Bob Hausheer would like to know why he can’t walk into a doctor’s office and see a list of prices.

Health care issues: Proposed drug industry savings

A look at key issues in the health care debate:

Conference examines role of biotechnology in South Dakota’s economy

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — South Dakota must overcome what university president James Abbott characterized as an inferiority complex if it’s to produce college graduates who can grow a biotechnology industry that’s already taken root.