Shingles News and Research

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Shingles (herpes zoster) is an outbreak of rash or blisters on the skin that is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox — the varicella-zoster virus. The first sign of shingles is often burning or tingling pain, or sometimes numbness or itch, in one particular location on only one side of the body.

Less than 7% of U.S. seniors get shingles vaccination

Although a vaccine to prevent shingles has been available since 2006, less than 7 percent of U.S. seniors — the demographic most frequently affected by the disease — chose to receive the vaccination as of 2008, finds a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

11 Jan 2011

Positive results form INX-189 Phase 1b trial against hepatitis C virus

Inhibitex, today reported positive preliminary interim safety and antiviral data from the first two monotherapy cohorts of its ongoing Phase 1b clinical trial of INX-189, an oral NS5b nucleotide inhibitor being developed to treat chronic infections caused by hepatitis C virus.

10 Jan 2011

Antigenics announces name change to Agenus

Antigenics Inc. today announced that effective immediately it is changing its name to Agenus Inc. The company's stock will continue to be traded on NASDAQ under the symbol AGEN. The new name reflects the broadening of the company's product portfolio of clinical candidates beyond autologous antigen-based vaccines, as well as its commitment to actively pursuing licensing opportunities to leverage its development capabilities and expand its product portfolio.

6 Jan 2011

Top-line results from Inhibitex's FV-100 Phase II clinical trial for treatment of shingles

Inhibitex, Inc. today reported top-line safety and efficacy data from its Phase II clinical trial of FV-100, an oral antiviral compound being developed to treat herpes zoster, more commonly referred to as shingles. The study was the first clinical trial to assess the antiviral activity of FV-100, included 350 shingles patients and compared two once-daily doses of FV-100 (200 mg and 400 mg) to an active control, valacyclovir, one of the most commonly-used antiviral drugs to treat shingles.

14 Dec 2010

First Edition: December 7, 2010

In today's headlines, Senate leaders appear to be nearing a one-year deal on Medicare's physician pay problem.

7 Dec 2010

CMS grants Qutenza J-code to NeurogesX

NeurogesX, Inc. a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel pain management therapies, today announced that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has granted a unique, Level II Health Care Common Procedural Coding System (Level II HCPCS), commonly referred to as a J-code, for Qutenza (capsaicin) 8% patch.

19 Nov 2010

CDC data: Adults remain unvaccinated against preventable infectious illnesses

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that adults remain largely unvaccinated against preventable infectious illnesses.

18 Nov 2010

Incyte presents data on INCB28050 Phase IIa trial for rheumatoid arthritis at ACR/ARHP Meeting

Incyte Corporation announced the presentation of final six-month clinical data from the dose ranging, placebo-controlled Phase IIa trial of its orally available janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor INCB28050 in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

11 Nov 2010

Anti-TNF therapy increases risk of varicella zoster virus infections

Anti tumor necrosis factor therapy increases the risk of developing varicella zoster virus infections, including shingles and chicken pox, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Atlanta.

9 Nov 2010

First Edition: November 8, 2010

Today's health policy headlines include more post-mortem reports about the health law's impact on the election.

8 Nov 2010

Aestus receives $244,000 grant from QTDP program

Today Aestus Therapeutics, Inc. announced that it has been awarded a $244,000 grant from the U.S. Government's Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project program.

4 Nov 2010

Inhibitex to present INX-189 data for HCV infections at AASLD Meeting

Inhibitex, Inc. announced today that three posters describing preclinical data on INX-189, the Company's nucleotide polymerase inhibitor in clinical development for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infections, will be presented by various scientists from the Company at the 61st Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) in Boston, MA.

2 Nov 2010

Inhibitex announces initiation of INX-189 Phase 1b clinical trial for HCV infection

Inhibitex, Inc. announced today that it has initiated a Phase 1b, multiple ascending dose (MAD) clinical trial of INX-189, its nucleotide polymerase inhibitor in development for the treatment of chronic infections caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV).

1 Nov 2010

Rite Aid to host flu shot clinics at nationwide pharmacies

With the holidays getting closer, Rite Aid is reminding people to get a flu shot so that the only thing they are spreading this season is good cheer. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it can take up to two weeks for flu shots to be effective and protect against the flu; those who get their flu shot now can help protect themselves by the time they sit down for Thanksgiving dinner.

30 Oct 2010

Merck reports $342 million net income for 2010 third quarter

Merck & Co., Inc. today announced financial results for the third quarter of 2010. The company reported non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) earnings per share (EPS) for the third quarter of $0.85, which excludes purchase accounting adjustments, restructuring costs, merger-related expenses and a $950 million legal reserve.

29 Oct 2010

Antigenics third quarter net loss decreases from $10.8 million to $5.9 million

Antigenics Inc. reported today its results for the quarter ended September 30, 2010. The company incurred a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $5.9 million, or $0.06 per share, basic and diluted, for the third quarter of 2010, compared with a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $10.8 million, or $0.13 per share, basic and diluted, in the third quarter of 2009.

28 Oct 2010

Enrollment complete in Inhibitex's FV-100 Phase II clinical trial in shingles patients

Inhibitex, Inc., announced today that it has completed enrollment in a Phase II clinical trial of FV-100 in shingles (herpes zoster) patients. The objectives of the trial are to further evaluate the safety of FV-100 and its potential therapeutic benefit in reducing the severity and duration of shingles-associated pain, the incidence of post herpetic neuralgia (PHN), and the time to heal shingles-related lesions.

15 Oct 2010

LifeWise improves access to common immunizations at pharmacies

LifeWise Health Plan of Oregon is announcing a new step to remove barriers to care by providing improved access to common immunizations at pharmacies. LifeWise members can now simply present their member card at a pharmacy just as they do at their doctor's office to receive immunizations.

13 Oct 2010

Wound Care Innovations adds first pharmacy client to growing list of customers

Wound Management Technologies, Inc. announced today that its subsidiary Wound Care Innovations, LLC has added the company's first pharmacy client to its rapidly growing list of customers. Lewis Hall, Inc. of Fort Worth, TX is an independent pharmacy group that has several locations and 30 years experience in wound care, long term care and specialty compounded products for dermatologic use.

6 Oct 2010

CTTC, Spero enter sales agreement for Calmare medical devices

Competitive Technologies, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a sales agreement with Spero Pain Relief Therapy, LLC. Spero, based in St. George, UT, opened its first of 14 planned pain clinics using CTTC's Calmare Pain Therapy medical device last month.

6 Oct 2010