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Helix receives approval to conduct a clinical trial of Topical Interferon Alpha-2b in Sweden

Helix BioPharma today announced that it has received approval from Sweden's drug regulatory authority, the Medical Products Agency (MPA), to conduct a Phase II clinical trial of Topical Interferon Alpha-2b in patients with ano-genital warts (condylomata acuminata), who are positive for infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV).

12 Sep 2005

RNAi therapeutic successful for treatment of SARS respiratory virus in Rhesus Macaque

Intradigm Corporation announced today its collaboration with Chinese academic and biotech groups has achieved clear evidence of prophylactic and therapeutic effects of siRNA (small interfering RNA) agents in Rhesus monkey to treat SARS coronavirus (SCV) respiratory infection.

12 Sep 2005

Unexpected link between the viruses that cause feline and human AIDS

A University of Florida researcher has discovered an unexpected link between the viruses that cause feline and human AIDS: Cats vaccinated with an experimental strain of the human AIDS virus appear to be at least as well-protected against the feline version of the disease as those immunized with the vaccine currently used by veterinarians.

10 Sep 2005

WHO urges responsible use of antimalarial medicines

In a new report published today, ''Susceptibility of Plasmodium Falciparum to Antimalarial Drugs,'' the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that as more and more people gain access to these life-saving malaria medicines, which combine a drug derived from the plant Artemisia annua with a second, synthetic drug, it is vital that countries closely monitor their effectiveness.

7 Sep 2005

Part of largest randomised international trial program ever conducted in atrial fibrillation (AF) discontinued

Study treatments for the ACTIVE W trial of the ACTIVE (Atrial Fibrillation Clopidogrel Trial with Irbesartan for Prevention of Vascular Events) program have been discontinued due to a significant difference in efficacy, in favour of the standard oral anticoagulation (OAC) over antiplatelet therapy (clopidogrel plus aspirin).

6 Sep 2005

Results of a new survey into the exercise routines of African-American

...found two key factors that increased their motivation to take a brisk walk, ride a bike or get involved in other leisure-time physical activity.

6 Sep 2005

Depression improved during telephone therapy in multiple sclerosis patients

Patients with multiple sclerosis showed significant improvement in their depression during 16 weeks of telephone-administered psychotherapy treatment, according to an article in the September issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

5 Sep 2005

Benefits of starting CHF treatment with beta-blocker, bisoprolol

Initiating treatment with the selective beta-blocker, bisoprolol, is as effective and well tolerated as beginning treatment with an ACE inhibitor. However, starting treatment with bisoprolol may reduce the risk of death especially in the first year of treatment.

5 Sep 2005

World's largest study on acute coronary syndromes

A Canadian-led study involving researchers from 41 countries has demonstrated in the world's largest study of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) that a new anti-thrombotic therapy is safer and as effective as the traditional therapy used in preventing heart attacks, death and ischemia in people with serious heart conditions.

5 Sep 2005

New findings suggest balancing Chk1 activity will produce less toxic cancer drugs

A study published by The Burnham Institute in the September edition of Molecular Cell reports that a cell-cycle checkpoint protein, known to be activated by an important class of anticancer drugs, may play crucial roles in both the hampering of therapeutic actions and aiding cancer cells to "recover" and start dividing again after treatment with these drugs.

5 Sep 2005

Abstinence-only education can influence teen sexual behavior and beliefs

The study examined the effectiveness of For Keeps, an abstinence-until-marriage sex education program that has been presented to more than 25,000 students at public and private schools in the Greater Cleveland area.

4 Sep 2005

Chicken pox vaccine associated with shingles epidemic

New research published in the International Journal of Toxicology (IJT) by Gary S. Goldman, Ph.D., reveals high rates of shingles (herpes zoster) in Americans since the government's 1995 recommendation that all children receive chicken pox vaccine.

1 Sep 2005

Can a new combination treatment prevent a secondary stroke in children with sickle cell anemia?

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will lead a national Phase III clinical trial to investigate whether a new combination treatment can prevent a secondary stroke in children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) and eliminate the need for nightly injections with a drug that reduces iron overload in these patients.

1 Sep 2005

Pomegranate fruit extracts can block enzymes that contribute to osteoarthritis

The study looked at the ability of an extract of pomegranate fruit against Interleukin-1b (IL-1b), a pro-inflammatory protein molecule that plays a key role in cartilage degradation in osteoarthritis.

1 Sep 2005

Virginia Tech engineer investigates enzyme link to Huntington's, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer diseases

Several neurologically based afflictions, such as Huntington's, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer diseases, have been correlated to a higher than normal presence of a specific type of enzymes, called transglutaminases (TGase) in the human body.

30 Aug 2005

Toxicity from chemotherapy in lung cancer patients could help predict treatment efficacy

Chemotherapy is standard treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, although benefits are modest and toxicity substantial. Massimo Di Maio and colleagues hypothesised that neutropenia, a haematological toxicity, could be a predictor of drug activity and treatment efficacy.

30 Aug 2005

Inexpensive method to assess the stability and quality of sleep

Using information hidden in the beat-to-beat changes of the heart's electrical signals, researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have developed an inexpensive method to assess the stability and quality of sleep, which could be used to help understand the mechanisms of sleep control and diagnose sleep disorders, as well as to test the efficacy of sleep aids and other medications.

29 Aug 2005

FDA dragging its heels yet again over 'morning after' pill Plan B

Women in the U.S., unlike their counterparts in the UK and other countries, will still be denied easy access to the 'morning after' contraceptive pill, Plan B, after a decision by the Food and Drug Administration to yet again delay ruling on over-the-counter sales.

29 Aug 2005

Minimally invasive prostate removal aided by a robot has possible benefits, high cost

Although minimally invasive prostate removal aided by a robot can lead to less blood loss, shorter hospital stays and fewer complications, there is no evidence that the procedure improves cure rates, according to a new technology assessment.

29 Aug 2005

New vaccine protects more effectively against tuberculosis

Max Planck researchers have uncovered the mechanism by which the new genetically engineered tuberculosis vaccine functions.

28 Aug 2005

Efficacy News and Research

Helix receives approval to conduct a clinical trial of Topical Interferon Alpha-2b in Sweden

RNAi therapeutic successful for treatment of SARS respiratory virus in Rhesus Macaque

Unexpected link between the viruses that cause feline and human AIDS

WHO urges responsible use of antimalarial medicines

Part of largest randomised international trial program ever conducted in atrial fibrillation (AF) discontinued

Results of a new survey into the exercise routines of African-American

Depression improved during telephone therapy in multiple sclerosis patients

Benefits of starting CHF treatment with beta-blocker, bisoprolol

World's largest study on acute coronary syndromes

New findings suggest balancing Chk1 activity will produce less toxic cancer drugs

Abstinence-only education can influence teen sexual behavior and beliefs

Chicken pox vaccine associated with shingles epidemic

Can a new combination treatment prevent a secondary stroke in children with sickle cell anemia?

Pomegranate fruit extracts can block enzymes that contribute to osteoarthritis

Virginia Tech engineer investigates enzyme link to Huntington's, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer diseases

Toxicity from chemotherapy in lung cancer patients could help predict treatment efficacy

Inexpensive method to assess the stability and quality of sleep

FDA dragging its heels yet again over 'morning after' pill Plan B

Minimally invasive prostate removal aided by a robot has possible benefits, high cost

New vaccine protects more effectively against tuberculosis

Designing fluidic architecture for scalable diagnostic platforms

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

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