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Sea urchins may provide clues to some baffling human reproductive problems

For many years scientists have believed they understood how closely related species that occupy the same regions of the ocean were kept from interbreeding. It turns out they were only seeing part of the picture.

13 Sep 2004

Widely used antimalarial drug exhibits antiviral activity against the SARS

Virologists from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium report that chloroquine, a widely used antimalarial drug, exhibits antiviral activity against the SARS coronavirus. Chloroquine is an inexpensive and safe drug available worldwide.

5 Sep 2004

U.S. plan for influenza pandemic response

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has unveiled the draft Pandemic Influenza Response and Preparedness Plan, which outlines a coordinated national strategy to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic.

26 Aug 2004

Liver transplantation outcomes have significantly improved for patients with hepatitis B

Since the early 1990s, therapeutic options for patients undergoing liver transplantation for hepatitis B have evolved to include HBV immune globulin (HBIG) and lamivudine.

9 Aug 2004

Approval of fixed-dose combination treatments for HIV-1 infection

The Food and Drug Administration has announced the approvals of Epzicom (abacavir/lamivudine) and Truvada (tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine), two fixed-dose combination treatments for HIV-1 infection.

5 Aug 2004

Metabasis Therapeutics announces multi-center Phase 2 study to evaluate the orally administered antiviral compound remofovir mesylate

Metabasis Therapeutics has announced the initiation of a multi-center, multi- national Phase 2 study to evaluate the orally administered antiviral compound remofovir mesylate in chronic hepatitis B (HBV) infected patients.

3 Aug 2004

FDA approves two fixed-dose combination treatments for HIV-1 infection

The Food and Drug Administration has announced approved Epzicom (abacavir/lamivudine) and Truvada (tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine), two fixed-dose combination treatments for HIV-1 infection.

2 Aug 2004

Drug to fight virus from the herpes family in transplant patients moves forward in trials

A drug once considered for cancer chemotherapy is advancing in clinical trials to test its effectiveness in fighting a virus from the herpes family that threatens transplant patients.

29 Jul 2004

Research collaboration to discover novel oral drugs for the treatment of viral infections

Sunesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Merck & Co., Inc. have announced that they have entered into a multi-year research collaboration to discover novel oral drugs for the treatment of viral infections.

29 Jul 2004

Study shows safe, effective therapy for previously untreated patients with HIV & hepatitis C

An international study with nearly 900 patients co-infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) has shown that HCV can be treated effectively and safely, without compromising the patient’s HIV therapy.

29 Jul 2004

New Caledonian sponges produce antimalarial substances

Marine organisms synthesize many different substances, some of which possess anticarcinogenic, antiviral or antiparasitic properties.

22 Jul 2004

Expansion of clinical trial of an experimental West Nile virus (WNV) treatment

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, one of the National Institutes of Health, has expanded its clinical trial of an experimental West Nile virus (WNV) treatment to about 60 sites throughout the United States and Canada.

15 Jul 2004

Comparison of antiretroviral therapies shows that tenofovir DF and stavudine are equally effective

Results from a three year double-blinded trial which compared antiretroviral therapies show that the combination regimens of tenofovir DF and stavudine, are equally effective, though tenofovir DF has more favorable outcomes with respect to cholesterol levels and the nervous system.

11 Jul 2004

Avian influenza virus in East Asia arose through a series of genetic reassortment events with other viruses

An avian influenza virus that has caused three major outbreaks among poultry and killed several people in East Asia over the past seven years arose through a series of genetic reassortment events with other viruses.

9 Jul 2004

The EU is contributing €9 million to the “Vigilance against Viral Resistance” (VIRGIL) project

Viruses’ growing resistance to drugs means diseases such as hepatitis B and C are increasingly difficult to treat. New pandemics may arise with unforeseeable consequences.

29 Jun 2004

SARS siRNA studied further to help many respiratory diseases including lung cancer

Intradigm Corporation, has announced achievement of prophylactic and therapeutic effects of siRNA (small interfering RNA) inhibitors of SARS-CoV in non-human primate cells. The results are published in the June 2004 issue of Antiviral Therapy (International Medical Press).

15 Jun 2004

Treatment helps 26% of black Americans with chronic hepatitis C

Twenty-six percent (26%) of black Americans (BA) with chronic hepatitis C who received treatment with Pegasys plus Copegus (peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin) achieved a sustained virological response (SVR), according to study results published in the June 2004 issue of Hepatology.

1 Jun 2004

New study challenges current thinking about varied response to hepatitis C treatment in different racial groups

Results of a new study published in the current issue of the New England Journal of Medicine show that in patients who have chronic hepatitis C, genotype 1 -- the most common form of the disease and difficult to treat successfully -- non-Hispanic whites achieved one of the highest response rates reported to date, but response rates in African Americans were significantly lower.

27 May 2004

Human Genome Sciences has begun dosing patients with chronic hep C drug

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. announced today that it has begun dosing patients in a Phase 2 clinical trial of Albuferon™ (albumin-interferon alpha) in patients with chronic hepatitis C who are naïve to interferon-alpha treatments.

27 May 2004

Trial shows Daclizumab therapy improves multiple sclerosis outcome

A small clinical trial of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who did not respond to interferon alone found that adding the human antibody daclizumab improved patient outcome. Patients who received the combined therapy had a 78 percent reduction in new brain lesions and a 70 percent reduction in total lesions, along with other significant clinical improvements.

24 May 2004

Antiviral Drug News and Research

Sea urchins may provide clues to some baffling human reproductive problems

Widely used antimalarial drug exhibits antiviral activity against the SARS

U.S. plan for influenza pandemic response

Liver transplantation outcomes have significantly improved for patients with hepatitis B

Approval of fixed-dose combination treatments for HIV-1 infection

Metabasis Therapeutics announces multi-center Phase 2 study to evaluate the orally administered antiviral compound remofovir mesylate

FDA approves two fixed-dose combination treatments for HIV-1 infection

Drug to fight virus from the herpes family in transplant patients moves forward in trials

Research collaboration to discover novel oral drugs for the treatment of viral infections

Study shows safe, effective therapy for previously untreated patients with HIV & hepatitis C

New Caledonian sponges produce antimalarial substances

Expansion of clinical trial of an experimental West Nile virus (WNV) treatment

Comparison of antiretroviral therapies shows that tenofovir DF and stavudine are equally effective

Avian influenza virus in East Asia arose through a series of genetic reassortment events with other viruses

The EU is contributing €9 million to the “Vigilance against Viral Resistance” (VIRGIL) project

SARS siRNA studied further to help many respiratory diseases including lung cancer

Treatment helps 26% of black Americans with chronic hepatitis C

New study challenges current thinking about varied response to hepatitis C treatment in different racial groups

Human Genome Sciences has begun dosing patients with chronic hep C drug

Trial shows Daclizumab therapy improves multiple sclerosis outcome

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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