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Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

CDR recommends reimbursement for schizophrenia drug, ABILIFY

Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada is pleased to announce that the Common Drug Review (CDR) has recognized the value of ABILIFY® (aripiprazole) for the treatment of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorders by recommending it be reimbursed by provincial drug plans for patients who have a contraindication to less-expensive antipsychotic agents or who have failed a trial of less expensive antipsychotic agents due to intolerance or lack of response.

22 Jul 2011

Advancements in use of zinc finger nucleases to produce genetically modified pigs

Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. announced the publication of a study demonstrating the use of zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) to produce genetically modified pigs. The study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), represents a significant advancement in the development of improved, less immunogenic animal tissue as a source for transplant into humans.

22 Jul 2011

Health Canada approves SPRYCEL as first-line treatment for life-threatening blood cancer

Canadians newly diagnosed with a life-threatening blood cancer, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase, now have a new treatment option available to them. Health Canada has granted a notice of compliance with conditions for SPRYCEL (dasatinib) as first-line treatment in patients with chronic phase CML.

22 Jul 2011

IAS conference concludes with positive news on HIV prevention

"Scientists on Wednesday wrapped up their biggest forum in the 30-year history of AIDS, unveiling stunning weapons to prevent the spread of HIV," Agence France-Presse reports about the 6th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Rome.

22 Jul 2011

Financial Times examines product development partnerships developing drugs for neglected diseases

The Financial Times examines the rise of product development partnerships (PDPs), which are "non-governmental organizations that generate their own funding and build partnerships with universities, businesses, government and patients in low-income countries to develop new drugs, vaccines, prevention techniques and diagnostics for diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, cholera and meningitis."

22 Jul 2011

UK regulators approve Europe's first clinical trial of plant-derived antibody for HIV

UK regulators have approved Europe's first clinical trial of a monoclonal antibody produced from genetically modified plants. This landmark decision sets the stage for the testing, in humans, of an anti-HIV product made from genetically modified tobacco plants. It will open the door for trials of additional plant-derived medicines treating a range of diseases.

22 Jul 2011

Abbott's AACC workshops to showcase HIV and vitamin D diagnostics, lab informatics

Abbott announced its schedule of key workshops and scientific presentations at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) annual meeting, July 24-28 in Atlanta.

22 Jul 2011

FDA approves U.S. launch of Wiskott-Aldrich gene therapy clinical trial

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved the launching in the U.S. of a clinical trial for gene therapy for a rare immunodeficiency, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

22 Jul 2011

HIV-infected MSM more likely to contract HCV through sex

Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is considered rare. But a new study by researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provides substantial evidence that men with HIV who have sex with other men (MSM) are at increased risk for contracting HCV through sex.

22 Jul 2011

NIDA awards $3.5M to BUSM/BMC for 'Linking Infectious and Narcology Care' project

Researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and Boston Medical Center (BMC) were recently awarded a $3.5 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), to improve upon the "seek, test, treat, and retain" paradigm in Eastern Europe among HIV-infected Russian and Eastern European injection drug users (IDUs) in narcology care.

22 Jul 2011

NIAID awards $36M grant to BIDMC for AIDS vaccine research in nonhuman primates

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) has been awarded a grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, to lead a Consortium for AIDS Vaccine Research in Nonhuman Primates.

21 Jul 2011

Cell biologists identify infection mechanism of adenoviruses

Mucosal epithelia do not have any receptors on the outer membrane for the absorption of viruses like hepatitis C, herpes, the adenovirus or polio, and are thus well-protected against pathogenic germs. However, certain viruses, such as the human immunodeficiency virus HIV, still manage to enter the body via the mucous membrane.

21 Jul 2011

WHO warning increases opportunity for Biomagnetics urine based TB assay

Biomagnetics Diagnostics Corp., a developer of revolutionary diagnostic systems and technology for HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis and malaria detection, and other innovative technologies, today announced that the World Health Organization ("WHO") on Sunday July 17, 2011 warned that the widely used blood tests to detect tuberculosis ("TB") are unreliable and "dangerous" to patients because they produce too many false negatives and positives.

21 Jul 2011

Women in embattled regions have limited access and means to use contraceptives

Violent conflict disrupts all aspects of society, including the delivery of the most basic reproductive health services: prenatal and maternal care, family planning, prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, abortions and emergency caesarian care.

21 Jul 2011

Clinical study of anti-HIV antibody made from genetically modified tobacco plants

Pharmaceuticals can be produced by plants. Antibodies that have been produced in tobacco plants will now for the first time be tested in a clinical study.

21 Jul 2011

Boosted REYATAZ shows durable viral suppression in women with HIV

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced results from a long-term, retrospective, European cohort study, which included 1,294 antiretroviral (ARV)-experienced patients from Germany, France and Sweden, that were presented today at the Sixth International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention.

21 Jul 2011

IAS, UIPHP to launch VKC for injecting drug users living with HIV

As a part of its new initiative, Expanding Access to Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) for People Who Inject Drugs in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), the International AIDS Society (IAS) will launch a Virtual Knowledge Centre (VKC) in partnership with the Ukrainian Institute on Public Health Policy.

21 Jul 2011

Experts at IAS conference suggest ways to increase funding for HIV/AIDS

"Scientists have now provided revolutionary tools to roll back HIV but only a major funding boost, supported especially by emerging giant economies, will determine the outcome," according to experts speaking in Rome at the 6th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention, Agence France-Presse reports.

21 Jul 2011

IOM panel recommends insurance coverage for contraception

The recommendation by the Institute of Medicine advises that contraceptives for women be treated as one of the several preventive services provided free of charge under the new health law.

21 Jul 2011

Maintaining and increasing AIDS funding critical

A new report showing "research funding for four key HIV prevention options - preventive vaccines, microbicides, PrEP and operations research related to medical male circumcision" - increased in 2010 compared with 2009 "is certainly good news, but we cannot rest on our laurels," Margaret McGlynn, president and CEO of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, Zeda Rosenberg, CEO of the International Partnership for Microbicides, and Mitchell Warren, executive director of AVAC: Global Advocacy for HIV Prevention, write in a post on the Global Health Magazine's blog.

21 Jul 2011