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Positive results from BioAlliance Pharma's acyclovir Lauriad phase III trial

BioAlliance Pharma SA, a company dedicated to the treatment and supportive care of cancer and AIDS patients, today announces final positive results of its pivotal phase III clinical study in immunocompetent patients with recurrent herpes labialis (LIP Study) treated with acyclovir Lauriad®. Primary and secondary endpoints have been met with marked efficacy and good tolerance.

10 Dec 2009

FY2010 State and Foreign Ops bill expected to move on the Hill this month

The fiscal year 2010 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, which includes funding for global health-related measures, "is moving on the Hill as part of a mammoth catch-all spending bill that's expected to move through both chambers this month," Foreign Policy's blog, "The Cable," reports. "

10 Dec 2009

Leaders and community activists create strategy to combat HIV/AIDS in African-Americans

African-American political leaders, union members, ministers and community activists are meeting Monday, December 14th to create and implement a strategy to combat the deadly HIV/AIDS virus in the African-American Community.

10 Dec 2009

ARTs safe without routine lab tests, Lancet study finds

A Lancet study published online Tuesday validates the safety of administering first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) to patients with HIV without routine toxicity and efficacy lab tests, "[b]ut tests of immune-system function might still be a good idea to monitor the progression of the disease and guide the second year of treatment," HealthDay/U.S. News & World Report reports. Patients in Africa "often receive [HIV] drug treatment ... without routine laboratory monitoring," according to the article.

10 Dec 2009

Fewer Massachusetts taxpayers penalized for lacking health insurance

The Boston Globe: "Fewer Massachusetts taxpayers were penalized for lacking required health insurance last year than were fined in 2007, the state said yesterday in a report reflecting the second year that residents had to report on their tax returns whether they were covered under the state's near-universal-coverage mandate.

10 Dec 2009

Washington Post, New York Times examine PEPFAR

The Washington Post examines the Obama administration's goal "to get the 'emergency' out of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief" and integrate HIV/AIDS programs more into the health infrastructure of recipient countries. A five-year strategy for PEPFAR was released last week.

9 Dec 2009

Also in global health news: Illegal drug trade in E. Africa; Somalia humanitarian crisis; alcohol, IV drug use in Russia; HIV/AIDS in China; FBOs engage in HIV fight

"[D]ozens of people" from China's Henan province who contracted HIV/AIDS from blood transfusions "demonstrated in front of the country's health ministry in Beijing" to highlight the challenges facing Chinese AIDS patients, the Irish Times reports.

9 Dec 2009

USPTO grants CyDex Pharmaceuticals patent for Captisol

CyDex Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a patent to the company entitled “Sulfoalkyl Ether Cyclodextrin Compositions and Methods of Preparation Thereof.” This patent, along with other previously issued technology patents, will provide broader protection for CyDex’s Captisol® technology until 2028.

9 Dec 2009

Medicare to pay for HIV testing

Reuters: "Americans enrolled in the U.S. government-run Medicare health insurance program will now be covered for tests that screen for HIV, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which oversees the program for the elderly and disabled, said on Tuesday.

9 Dec 2009

INOVEM’s Inclusionware aids NWL PCTs in the ‘Get Better’ project

INOVEM, a British developer of collaborative and consultation technology, empowered the North West London Primary Care Trusts (NWL PCTs) to work together and engage with local communities more meaningfully in support of the ‘Get Better’ project.

9 Dec 2009

2009 Ward Burdick Award for UAB Director

The director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Center for Metabolic Bone Disease has won the 2009 Ward Burdick Award for Distinguished Service to Clinical Pathology from the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

9 Dec 2009

Human blood stem cells can be engineered to kill HIV and other chronic viral diseases

Researchers from the UCLA AIDS Institute and colleagues have for the first time demonstrated that human blood stem cells can be engineered into cells that can target and kill HIV-infected cells - a process that potentially could be used against a range of chronic viral diseases.

9 Dec 2009

Medicare covers HIV screening: AHF lauds CMS

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, today lauded the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), for its decision earlier today to cover HIV testing for Medicare beneficiaries who may be at increased risk for HIV exposure (MSM, IDU) as well as women who are pregnant, and beneficiaries of any age that request to be tested. The decision is effective immediately.

9 Dec 2009

CMS to cover HIV infection screening for Medicare beneficiaries

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced its final decision to cover Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection screening for Medicare beneficiaries who are at increased risk for the infection, including women who are pregnant and Medicare beneficiaries of any age who voluntarily request the service.

9 Dec 2009

Phase II clinical trial results of Doxorubicin Transdrug announced

BioAlliance Pharma SA, a company dedicated to the treatment and supportive care of cancer and AIDS patients, today announces positive survival data in its phase II clinical trial with doxorubicin Transdrug® in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer).

9 Dec 2009

Opinions: ARV access; global health promotion; climate change; under-nutrition; Ethiopia

In an Intellectual Property Watch column, Daniele Dionisio, of the Italian Network for International Fight against AIDS, examines how trade rules and policy directions by governments and institutions may help to improve countries' access to antiretrovirals.

8 Dec 2009

PlusNews examines cases of hospital-acquired HIV in Africa

PlusNews examines several recent reports that highlight how unsanitary hospital procedures can create an environment conducive to the spread of HIV/AIDS.

8 Dec 2009

Also in Global Health news: Rotavirus vaccine; guinea worm eradication; health systems; Zulu King calls for male circumcision

The West African Rotavirus Advisory Board is calling on governments to vaccinate children against rotavirus, IRIN reports. At a recent meeting in Dakar, Senegal, which was "financed by GlaxoSmithKline, makers of one of two rotavirus vaccines" the board issued a document recommending that governments "immediately recognize the magnitude of the rotavirus problem and make vaccination against the virus a priority" (12/8).

8 Dec 2009

FIFA uses soccer to teach African youth about HIV/AIDS, other issues

Ahead of next year's World Cup of soccer tournament, FIFA on Saturday in Khayelitsha, South Africa, opened the first of an anticipated 20 centers in Africa aimed at educating the youth about HIV/AIDS and other social issues through the sport, the Associated Press reports (Jacobson, 12/5).

8 Dec 2009

Human blood stem cells can be engineered to kill HIV-infected cells, find researchers

Researchers from the UCLA AIDS Institute and colleagues have for the first time demonstrated that human blood stem cells can be engineered into cells that can target and kill HIV-infected cells — a process that potentially could be used against a range of chronic viral diseases.

8 Dec 2009