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Baxter seeks FDA approval of OBI-1 for adults with acquired hemophilia A

Baxter International Inc. today announced that the company has submitted a biologics license application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the approval of OBI-1, a recombinant antihemophilic porcine sequence factor VIII, in patients with acquired hemophilia A.

From Baxter International Inc. 11 Dec 2013

Preparing for better management of Tamiflu-resistant influenza viruses

Researchers in Umeå and Uppsala have found that residues of the influenza drug Tamiflu in our environment can make the influenza virus in birds resistant. This can have serious consequences in the event of an influenza pandemic. With more than 14 million SEK from the Swedish Research Councils Formas and VR, the research team will now continue their studies with a focus on alternative antiviral drugs.

10 Dec 2013

Children hospitalized for pneumonia have similar outcomes with big gun antibiotics or penicillin

Children hospitalized for pneumonia have similar outcomes, including length of stay and costs, regardless of whether they are treated with "big gun" antibiotics such as ceftriaxone or cefotaxime or more narrowly focused antibiotics such as ampicillin or penicillin, according to a Vanderbilt study published in Pediatrics.

10 Dec 2013

IBN and IBM discover new medical application for converted PET bottles

Researchers at Singapore's Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) and California's IBM Research - Almaden (IBM) have discovered a new, potentially life-saving application for polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is widely used to make plastic bottles.

10 Dec 2013

New form of gene therapy shows promising outcomes for "bubble boy" disease

Researchers reported promising outcomes data for the first group of boys with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome (SCID-X1), a fatal genetic immunodeficiency also known as "bubble boy" disease, who were treated as part of an international clinical study of a new form of gene therapy. The mechanism used to deliver the gene therapy is designed to prevent the serious complication of leukemia that arose a decade ago in a similar trial in Europe, when one-quarter of boys treated developed the blood cancer.

9 Dec 2013

Janssen reports positive pivotal Phase 2 study data of siltuximab for Multicentric Castleman's Disease

Janssen Research & Development, LLC today announced positive results from a pivotal Phase 2 global registration study (MCD2001) suggesting siltuximab, an investigational compound, along with best supportive care, exhibited statistically significant efficacy and a tolerable safety profile compared with placebo and BSC in treating patients with the rare disorder Multicentric Castleman's Disease who are HIV-negative and human herpes virus 8-negative.

8 Dec 2013

Imported measles poses a threat to health security

Experts report that measles still poses a threat to public health in the U.S, despite vaccination having successfully eliminated the endemic since the 1960s.

6 Dec 2013

Researchers illuminate inner workings of enzymes placed inside the outer envelopes of cells

For what is believed to be the first time, researchers at The Johns Hopkins University have illuminated the inner workings of an important class of enzymes located inside the outer envelopes of cells. Much to their surprise, they report, these protein cutters, called rhomboid proteases, are entirely different than nearly every other type of enzyme studied, showing no attraction to the proteins they cut and being extremely slow in making their cuts.

6 Dec 2013

Edison Investment Research's report examines long-term investment case for Bavarian Nordic

Edison Investment Research's report, An intriguing PROSPECT, examines the long-term investment case for Bavarian Nordic, which rests on key value driver Prostvac, its Phase III prostate cancer vaccine.

6 Dec 2013

Two intrauterine contraceptive systems safe and effective in preventing pregnancies

In a finding that could expand the use of one of the most effective forms of birth control, two intrauterine contraceptive systems that had lower doses of the contraceptive hormone, levonorgestrel, were found to be safe and effective in preventing pregnancies, according to an international study that included researchers at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed).

5 Dec 2013

Genocea commences GEN-004 Phase 1 study to prevent pneumococcus infections

Genocea Biosciences, Inc., a clinical-stage company pioneering novel T cell vaccines, announced today that it has initiated a Phase 1 study of GEN-004, an investigational vaccine candidate for pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae), a major cause of infectious disease-related death globally. GEN-004 is the first vaccine candidate designed to prevent infections caused by all strains of pneumococcus through a novel T cell-mediated mechanism of action.

5 Dec 2013

Measles still poses threat to domestic and global health security

Fifty years after the approval of an extremely effective vaccine against measles, one of the world's most contagious diseases, the virus still poses a threat to domestic and global health security.

5 Dec 2013

Soligenix initiates SGX942 Phase 2 study for treatment of oral mucositis

Soligenix, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing products to treat serious inflammatory diseases where there remains an unmet medical need, as well as developing several biodefense vaccines and therapeutics, announced today that it has initiated a Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating SGX942, a first-in-class innate defense regulator, as a treatment for oral mucositis in patients undergoing chemoradiation therapy for head and neck cancer.

5 Dec 2013

"Virtual T cell" predicts how human immune system reacts to foreign substances

A platform that simulates how the body defends itself: The T cells of the immune system decide whether to trigger an immune response against foreign substances.

5 Dec 2013

IDSA released new guideline for vaccination of immunocompromised hosts

A new guideline released Thursday by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) notes that most people with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to illness and should receive the flu shot and other vaccinations.

5 Dec 2013

Roche signs research collaboration and licensing agreement with Molecular Partners

Roche and Molecular Partners AG today announced that they have entered into a research collaboration and licensing agreement to discover, develop and commercialize several proprietary therapeutics incorporating Molecular Partners' DARPin biologics conjugated to toxic agents developed at Roche for the treatment of cancer.

4 Dec 2013

1950s H2N2 avian influenza A virus still pose threat to human health

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have evidence that descendants of the H2N2 avian influenza A virus that killed millions worldwide in the 1950s still pose a threat to human health, particularly to those under 50. The research has been published in an advance online edition of the Journal of Virology.

4 Dec 2013

Antiretroviral therapy for HIV treatment saves 2.8 million years of life in South Africa

Antiretroviral therapy for the treatment of HIV infection has saved 2.8 million years of life in South Africa since 2004 and is projected to save an additional 15.1 million years of life by 2030, according to a new study published online in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. The analysis suggests these dramatic benefits could be even greater if more aggressive HIV testing and treatment strategies are implemented.

4 Dec 2013

UCI-led study results have important implications for HIV vaccine development

Infectious disease researchers have identified a novel mechanism wherein HIV-1 may facilitate its own transmission by usurping the antibody response directed against itself. These results have important implications for HIV vaccine development and for understanding the earliest events in HIV transmission.

4 Dec 2013

FDA grants QIDP status to Astellas' isavuconazole for treatment of invasive aspergillosis

Astellas Pharma US, Inc., a subsidiary of Astellas Pharma Inc. based in Tokyo, Japan, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated isavuconazole as a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis.

4 Dec 2013

Infectious Diseases News and Research

Baxter seeks FDA approval of OBI-1 for adults with acquired hemophilia A

Preparing for better management of Tamiflu-resistant influenza viruses

Children hospitalized for pneumonia have similar outcomes with big gun antibiotics or penicillin

IBN and IBM discover new medical application for converted PET bottles

New form of gene therapy shows promising outcomes for "bubble boy" disease

Janssen reports positive pivotal Phase 2 study data of siltuximab for Multicentric Castleman's Disease

Imported measles poses a threat to health security

Researchers illuminate inner workings of enzymes placed inside the outer envelopes of cells

Edison Investment Research's report examines long-term investment case for Bavarian Nordic

Two intrauterine contraceptive systems safe and effective in preventing pregnancies

Genocea commences GEN-004 Phase 1 study to prevent pneumococcus infections

Measles still poses threat to domestic and global health security

Soligenix initiates SGX942 Phase 2 study for treatment of oral mucositis

"Virtual T cell" predicts how human immune system reacts to foreign substances

IDSA released new guideline for vaccination of immunocompromised hosts

Roche signs research collaboration and licensing agreement with Molecular Partners

1950s H2N2 avian influenza A virus still pose threat to human health

Antiretroviral therapy for HIV treatment saves 2.8 million years of life in South Africa

UCI-led study results have important implications for HIV vaccine development

FDA grants QIDP status to Astellas' isavuconazole for treatment of invasive aspergillosis

eBook: Advancing infectious disease vaccine development eBook

Evaluating new approaches for rare disease genomics

Expanding access to NMR with the Fourier 80 Duo

Advancing Intracellular Delivery with LumiPore®

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