Pfizer says 1 patient death in oral rheumatoid arthritis study was related to its drug

NEW YORK (AP) -- Pfizer Inc. confirmed that one patient who was taking its drug candidate tofacitinib, a pill designed to treat rheumatoid arthritis, died during a recent clinical trial and said the death was connected to the drug.

The world's largest drugmaker said the patient died of respiratory failure. Three other patients who were treated with tofacitinib during the study died as well, but those deaths were not determined to be drug-related. Two of those deaths occurred several weeks after the patients stopped taking tofacitinib. Tofacitinib, formerly called tasocitinib, is being tested as a treatment for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, usually of the hands and feet.

'Birther' claims force GOP leaders to take a stand

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It's the conspiracy theory that won't go away. And it's forcing Republican officials and presidential contenders to pick sides: Do they think Barack Obama was born outside the United States and disqualified to be president?

As the Republican candidates tiptoe through the minefield, Democrats are watching. They hope the debate will fire up their liberal base and perhaps tie the eventual GOP nominee to fringe beliefs that swing voters will reject.

Seagate to buy Samsung's hard disk drive business

NEW YORK (AP) -- Seagate has agreed to buy Samsung's hard drive business for $1.38 billion in a further consolidation of an industry that faces growing competition from a newer storage technology, popular in smartphones and tablet computers.

The cash-and-stock deal announced Tuesday would give South Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung Electronics Co. a stake of nearly 10 percent in Seagate Technology PLC, one of the few remaining makers of hard disk drives, which store data in traditional PCs.

The Profits of Health Insurance Plans

Health insurance plans can look like an added fixed cost that you may not really want. However, health insurance can be helpful for a list of causes. You can seek through health insurance plans to get the better one for you, whether it is something that only covers the some and far-between doctor's visits you might want throughout the year, or disability coverage that takes into account any serious health issues that you might have. Health insurance, if it is the correct plan, can assist as a hugely good separate of maintaining you healthy.

Ariz. plows controversial ground with birther bill

PHOENIX (AP) -- Arizona, a state that has shown little reluctance in bucking the federal government, is again plowing controversial political ground, this time as its Legislature passed a bill to require President Barack Obama and other presidential candidates to prove their U.S. citizenship before their names can appear on the state's ballot.

If Gov. Jan Brewer signs the proposal into law, Arizona would be the first state to pass such a requirement - potentially forcing a court to decide whether the president's birth certificate is enough to prove he can legally run for re-election. Hawaii officials have certified Obama was born in that state, but so-called "birthers" have demanded more proof.

A Consumer's Guidebook to Health Care Modernise

The six-month anniversary age 26 on your health plan if he or she can't get coverage through a job. New policies can't deny coverage for children up to age 19 based on pre-existing medical conditions. "Grandfathered" plans can, however, they as well can determine annual dollar bounds on coverage and ask patients to assist pay for a few preventive avails.

Most people in the individual market are anticipated to move to new plans by 2014. Analysts tell nearly plans in the group market will likely have suffered their "grandfathered" condition because of modifies prepared to it.