Botulism News and Research

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Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by botulinum toxin, which is produced by the bacterium ''Clostridium botulinum''. The toxin enters the body in one of four ways: by colonization of the digestive tract by the bacterium in children (infant botulism) or adults (adult intestinal toxemia), by ingestion of toxin from foodstuffs (foodborne botulism) or by contamination of a wound by the bacterium (wound botulism).

Cangene receives European Commission approval to market ImmunoGam

Cangene Corporation today reports that it has received European Commission approval to market Cangene's ImmunoGam(TM) (Human Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin), indicated for immunoprophylaxis of hepatitis B.

18 Mar 2010

Spasticity in flexor muscles of elbow, wrist, and fingers: Botox approved for treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Botox (onabotulinumtoxin A) to treat spasticity in the flexor muscles of the elbow, wrist, and fingers in adults. Spasticity is common after stroke, traumatic brain injury, or the progression of multiple sclerosis.

10 Mar 2010

FDA approves BOTOX for treatment of increased muscle stiffness in adults with upper limb spasticity

Allergan, Inc. today announced that the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved BOTOX® (onabotulinumtoxinA) for the treatment of increased muscle stiffness in the elbow, wrist and fingers in adults with upper limb spasticity.

9 Mar 2010

New strategy against Botulinum toxin

A study involving the world's deadliest substance has yielded a new strategy to clear toxins from the body-which may lead to more efficient strategies against toxins that may be used in a bioterrorist event, as well as snake bites, scorpion stings, and even some important chronic diseases.

26 Feb 2010

EMA's CHMP issues positive opinion for Cangene's Human Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin product

Cangene Corporation today reports that it has received a positive opinion from the EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use ("CHMP") regarding the immunoprophylaxis indication of Cangene's ImmunoGam(TM) (Human Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin).

18 Dec 2009

Three-day interactive conference to showcase new trendsetting techniques and research in aesthetic plastic surgery

Aesthetic Plastic Surgery: The Next Generation Symposium will be held from December 4-6 at the Waldorf Astoria, announces Z. Paul Lorenc, MD, FACS, New York aesthetic plastic surgeon and Chairman of the APSSNY.

23 Nov 2009

Emergent BioSolutions acquires 55,000 square foot manufacturing facility from MdBio Foundation

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. announced today that it has completed the acquisition of a 55,000 square foot manufacturing facility from MdBio Foundation and the land on which the facility stands from the City of Baltimore for a total purchase price of $8.2 million. The facility, located within the City of Baltimore, Maryland, previously operated as a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed facility used by an experienced contract manufacturing organization (CMO) to produce a number of FDA approved products.

13 Nov 2009

Novel breakthrough may lead to new methods for sterilizing food and medical equipment

Got food poisoning? The cause might be bacterial spores, en extremely hardy survival form of bacteria, a nightmare for health care and the food industry and an enigma for scientists. Spore-forming bacteria, present almost everywhere in our environment, can also cause serious infectious diseases, such as tetanus, anthrax, and botulism.

12 Nov 2009

Cangene Corporation announces financial results for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2009

Cangene Corporation today reports financial results for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2009.

22 Oct 2009

Cangene to acquire U.S. commercialization rights for HepaGam B

Cangene Corporation today announces that it has signed an agreement with its majority shareholder, the Apotex Group, under which Cangene acquires all U.S. commercialization rights for HepaGam B(R) (Hepatitis B Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human)). HepaGam B(R) is Cangene's hepatitis B immune globulin, which is approved for treating two hepatitis-B-related indications in the U.S.

20 Oct 2009

Roundtable discussion to elevate awareness about the importance of biopreparedness

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. was pleased to sponsor the Security and Defence Agenda’s (SDA) roundtable discussion, “Raising Biopreparedness Levels in Europe,” which examined European efforts in preparing and reacting to various biological threats and the potential for European cooperation in these areas.

19 Oct 2009

Allergan files declaratory relief action to allow it to share relavant information on BOTOX

Allergan, Inc. today filed a declaratory relief action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia seeking a ruling that would allow Allergan to proactively share truthful and relevant information with the medical community to assist physicians in evaluating the risks and benefits of BOTOX (onabotulinumtoxinA) for certain “off-label” therapeutic uses.

5 Oct 2009

Emergent BioSolutions receives NIAID funding support for dmPA7909 anthrax vaccine candidate

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. announced today that it was awarded a cooperative agreement from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, to further the development of one of Emergent’s advanced anthrax vaccine candidates known as dmPA7909.

30 Sep 2009

Neogen announces first-quarter results of fiscal 2010

Neogen Corporation announced today that its revenues for the first quarter of FY 2010, which ended Aug. 31, increased 12% from the previous year's first quarter to $32,347,000. First quarter net income increased 18% from the prior year's $3,733,000 to $4,395,000, or to $0.29 per share in the current year compared to the previous year's $0.25.

25 Sep 2009

New discovery on how botulism paralyzes nerve cells

New structures of a botulism toxin interacting with a mimic of the nerve-cell protein it destroys suggest new ways to block this often-fatal interaction. Indeed, the mimic molecules have such high affinity for the toxin and bind to it so tightly that they themselves could possibly serve as anti-toxin drugs with further modification, the researchers said.

21 Jun 2009

DNA biosynthesis discovery could lead to better antibiotics

Combating several human pathogens, including some biological warfare agents, may one day become a bit easier thanks to research reported by a University of Iowa chemist and his colleagues in the April 16 issue of the journal Nature.

16 Apr 2009

Discovery of new chemical reaction for DNA production in bacteria and viruses

A team of researchers has discovered a new chemical reaction for producing one of the four nucleotides, or building blocks, needed to build DNA.

16 Apr 2009

New nasal spray vaccine shown to be effective against botulism

A preclinical study found a new nasal spray vaccine to provide complete protection against a major botulism toxin, according to a study published today in the Nature journal Gene Therapy .

8 Jan 2009

Scientists determine drug target for the most potent botulinum neurotoxin

Botulinum neurotoxin - responsible for the deadly food poisoning disease botulism and for the beneficial effects of smoothing out facial wrinkles - can also be used as a dreaded biological weapon. When ingested or inhaled, less than a billionth of an ounce can cause muscle paralysis and eventual death. Although experimental vaccines administered prior to exposure can inhibit the destructive action of this neurotoxin - the most deadly protein known to humans - no effective pharmacological treatment exists.

29 Apr 2008

Botox scare as scientists say the toxin may spread in the body

Scientists are warning that the anti-wrinkle treatment Botox used by millions of women every year can spread from the face to the brain.

3 Apr 2008