Smallpox News and Research

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Smallpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the variola virus, a member of the Orthopox virus family. It is one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity, with a mortality rate as high as 30%. In 1967, the World Health Organization embarked upon an intensified vaccination campaign to eliminate smallpox, which culminated in the successful eradication of the disease globally by 1980.

By the mid-1980s, there were only two known repositories of variola virus: the Institute of Virus Preparations in Russia, and the US CDC. The events in the US in September and October 2001 highlighted the risk that the variola virus might be used as an agent of bioterrorism. Governments around the world are taking precautionary measures to be ready to deal with a potential smallpox outbreak.

Commentary on the global challenges of emerging viral infections

Paul Duprex, PhD, and Elke Mühlberger, PhD, both associate professors of microbiology at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), recently co-authored a commentary about viruses for Microbiology Today, the monthly publication of the Society of General Microbiology, which is the largest microbiological society in Europe. The article focuses on the history of viruses and vaccines and gives their perspective on what is necessary to evolve to the next era of virology research.

18 Mar 2011

Cangene second quarter revenues increase 3% to $40.2 million

Cangene Corporation today reports financial results for the quarter ended January 31, 2011, which have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB").

18 Mar 2011

Global chronic disease burdens are increasing rapidly: Research

Those working for healthier humans around the globe are making headway in fighting communicable diseases such as AIDS, malaria and diarrheal illness, according to research from the Frederick S. Pardee Center for International Futures in the University of Denver's Josef Korbel School of International Studies.

15 Mar 2011

Response Biomedical 2010 total revenues decrease to $7,610,827

Response Biomedical Corporation reported that it recorded total revenues of $7,610,827 compared to $9,946,269 in 2009 and reduced operating expenses by 13% to $9,216,257 in 2010 from $10,602,954 in 2009.

11 Mar 2011

Journal of Clinical Virology publishes positive outcome from CMX001 treatment against AdV infection

Chimerix, Inc., a pharmaceutical company developing orally-available antiviral therapeutics, today announced the publication of the first reported case in which adenovirus infection was successfully eradicated following treatment with its broad-spectrum antiviral drug, CMX001.

25 Feb 2011

Polio: Myanmar plans vaccination campaign after confirming first new case in three years; India fights disease in rural areas

UNICEF said that Myanmar is planning a mass polio vaccination campaign of children under age five after the country confirmed its first case of the disease in three years, Agence France-Presse reports.

24 Feb 2011

New nanoparticle can help develop vaccines against HIV, malaria

MIT engineers have designed a new type of nanoparticle that could safely and effectively deliver vaccines for diseases such as HIV and malaria.

23 Feb 2011

Former President Carter highlights gains in reducing spread of Guinea worm disease

"The global cases of Guinea worm disease have plunged to another new all-time low, former President Jimmy Carter said Thursday, bringing health workers closer to their goal of eradicating the disease," the Canadian Press reports.

19 Feb 2011

Chimerix announces completion of $45 million Series F financing

Chimerix, Inc., a pharmaceutical company developing orally-available broad spectrum antiviral therapeutics, today announced the completion of a $45 million Series F financing. New Leaf Venture Partners led the round, with participation by new investors Pappas Ventures and Morningside Group, as well as existing investors Canaan Partners, Sanderling Ventures, Alta Partners, Asset Management Company and Frazier Healthcare Ventures.

14 Feb 2011

Congress moves to consider foreign aid spending cuts

On Thursday, House Republicans are expected to "announce fiscal 2011 spending caps," CQ reports. "Budget Chairman Paul D. Ryan, R-Wis., is slated to reveal the top-line discretionary spending limits ... for the remainder of the fiscal year under unprecedented power that the GOP majority gave him in January. House leaders have said they are aiming to make $55 billion to $60 billion in cuts, while a more conservative faction is pushing for $100 billion in cuts. It is unclear where Ryan's numbers will fall," the publication reports.

4 Feb 2011

Bill Gates' annual letter calls for focus on eradicating polio, governments to sustain foreign aid

Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, "urged developed nations to help him wipe out polio 'once and for all' at an event to release his third annual letter [.pdf] Monday," Agence France-Presse reports.

2 Feb 2011

U.K., Gates Foundation announce extra funding for global polio eradication as WEF wraps up

U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron and Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, on Friday at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, announced "extra financing for polio eradication, easing a shortfall in funding that hinders a global effort to stop the crippling virus," Bloomberg reports.

1 Feb 2011

UK government, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support efforts to stamp out polio

British Prime Minister David Cameron said today that the United Kingdom would double its current contribution to polio eradication.

29 Jan 2011

Preclinical data on Inovio’s intradermal electroporation delivery devices presented at Phacilitate Vaccine Forum

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the development of novel therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today the presentation of recent preclinical data using its next generation of minimally invasive intradermal (skin) electroporation delivery devices at the Phacilitate Vaccine Forum 2011 in Washington, DC.

28 Jan 2011

Bill Gates, crown prince of Abu Dhabi announce $100m pledge for vaccines for Afghan, Pakistani children

Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayanm, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, "pledged $100 million Wednesday to deliver vaccines to children in Afghanistan and Pakistan," Reuters reports.

28 Jan 2011

Inviragen completes memorandum of understanding with Duke-NUS

Inviragen, and the Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School announced today that they have completed a memorandum of understanding to establish a partnership between the two organizations.

27 Jan 2011

ASM to host 2011 Biodefense and Emerging Diseases Research Meeting

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) will host its 2011 Biodefense and Emerging Diseases Research Meeting February 6-9, 2011 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC.

25 Jan 2011

Eliminating sugary drinks from diet can reduce tooth decay in American Indian children

A study conducted in four American Indian communities in the Pacific Northwest presents an effective strategy to convince mothers to switch young children from drinking sweetened soda to water and shows that eliminating these sugary drinks from the diets of the youngest members of the tribe significantly decreased tooth decay.

24 Jan 2011

WHO executive board meeting addresses agency's policy on counterfeit, substandard medications

According to the news service, WHO "members … raised strong concerns that a working group they mandated last May to address problems with WHO policy on counterfeit and substandard medicines has yet to be formed - with four months remaining before it must report back to members."

21 Jan 2011

WHO Director-General opens executive board session with calls for reform

Kicking off a nine-day annual WHO executive board meeting Monday, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan called for the board to consider areas where the agency can redirect resources in a more targeted manner so as to achieve greater outcomes, Reuters reports.

19 Jan 2011