Cytomegalovirus News and Research

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Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of the herpes virus group, which includes herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, varicella-zoster virus (which causes chickenpox), and Epstein-Barr virus (which causes infectious mononucleosis). Infection with CMV is a major cause of disease and death in immunocompromised patients, including organ transplant recipients, patients undergoing hemodialysis, patients with cancer, patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs, and HIV-infected patients. While drugs are available for treatment of these conditions, the primary drug choices carry significant side effects and warnings. Currently, there are no anti-CMV drugs indicated for treatment of primary CMV infection during pregnancy resulting in infections that can have catastrophic consequences to the newborn. Maternal-fetal transfer of CMV infection results in a fetal death rate of 12% and most survivors have permanent debilitating disorders, including mental retardation, vision loss, and sensorineural deafness.

Scientists develop experimental vaccine against human CMV infection

An experimental vaccine against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, which endangers the developing fetus, organ transplant recipients, patients with HIV and others who have a weakened immune system, proved safe and more effective than previous vaccines developed to prevent infection by the ubiquitous virus.

19 Sep 2013

New HIV/AIDS vaccine candidate appears to clear AIDS-causing virus from body

An HIV/AIDS vaccine candidate developed by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University appears to have the ability to completely clear an AIDS-causing virus from the body.

12 Sep 2013

Apoptosis can reactivate latent herpesviruses in dying cell

Researchers have found that apoptosis, a natural process of programmed cell death, can reactivate latent herpesviruses in the dying cell. The results of their research, which could have broad clinical significance since many cancer chemotherapies cause apoptosis, was published ahead of print in the Journal of Virology.

6 Sep 2013

Viropharma announces financial results for second quarter of 2013

VIROPHARMA INCORPORATED (Nasdaq: VPHM) today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2013. Net sales were $104 million for the second quarter ended June 30, 2013 as compared to $95 million in the comparative period of 2012.

1 Aug 2013

Researchers study how human herpes virus packages genetic information during infection

An international collaboration of researchers including Felicia Goodrum of the University of Arizona's immunobiology department has studied how a human herpes virus carried by the majority of the population packages its genetic information during infection.

31 Jul 2013

ERC awards grants to boost research on vaccines

Vaccination has achieved huge success in controlling many devastating infectious diseases. However, there are still many such diseases, or 'pathogens', against which we cannot generate life-long protective immunity.

9 Jul 2013

Research highlights main factors associated with increased risk of babies born with birth defect

New research, published today in The Lancet, highlights important information for health professionals and parents about the factors which may increase the likelihood of a baby being born with a birth defect.

4 Jul 2013

Research shows other viruses also play a role in AIDS transmission

While antiretroviral drugs offer an efficient means of preventing the replication of HIV in the blood, shedding of HIV may occur in semen, so that other persons can become infected during unprotected sexual intercourse.

24 Jun 2013

European Commission grants orphan drug designation for maribavir for treatment of CMV disease

ViroPharma Incorporated today announced that the European Commission has granted orphan drug designation for maribavir for treatment of cytomegaloviral disease in patients with impaired cell mediated immunity.

11 Jun 2013

Cytomegalovirus might accelerate the development of glioblastoma

A virus that infects most Americans but that usually remains dormant in the body might speed the progression of an aggressive form of brain cancer when particular genes are shut off in tumor cells, new research shows.

1 Jun 2013

Discovery highlights new method to make HIV vaccine that targets the virus

A new discovery at Oregon Health & Science University highlights an ingenious method to ensure the body effectively reacts when infected with the highly evasive HIV virus that causes AIDS.

26 May 2013

LMU researchers reveal link between natural killer cells and hematopoiesis

Infections can trigger hematopoiesis at sites outside the bone marrow - in the liver, the spleen or the skin. Researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet in Munich now show that a specific type of immune cell facilitates such "extra medullary" formation of blood cells.

16 May 2013

Cell Medica treats first pediatric patient in ASPIRE Trial

Cell Medica today announced the treatment of the first patient in the ASPIRE Trial, an early stage Phase I/II clinical study investigating the safety and efficacy of Cytovir ADV for the treatment of adenovirus infections in immunosuppressed pediatric patients following bone marrow transplantation.

8 May 2013

Researchers use common virus to modify adult stem cells

Using the same strategy that a common virus employs to evade the human immune system, researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center's Institute for Regenerative Medicine have modified adult stem cells to increase their survival - with the goal of giving the cells time to exert their natural healing abilities.

2 Apr 2013

Clinigen announces acquisition of Cardioxane from Novartis

Clinigen Group plc today announced the acquisition of Cardioxane (dexrazoxane) from Novartis for US$33 million in cash, payable in two tranches.

From Clinigen Group 26 Mar 2013

Study: Virus that causes cold sores may be associated with cognitive problems

The virus that causes cold sores, along with other viral or bacterial infections, may be associated with cognitive problems, according to a new study published in the March 26, 2013, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

26 Mar 2013

Cytomegalovirus employs a novel trick to hide from immune detection

A virus that most people have probably never heard of, yet most of us carry, is the number 1 infectious cause of congenital birth defects. One in 750 children are born with, or develop, permanent disabilities such as hearing loss or brain damage as a result of CMV (cytomegalovirus) infection in the womb.

17 Mar 2013

Research finding aids efforts toward cytomegalovirus vaccine

A virus most people probably have never heard of, but that the majority of us carry, is the No. 1 infectious cause of congenital birth defects in the U.S. today. Because of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection during in utero development, 1 in 750 children are born with or develop permanent disabilities such as hearing loss or brain damage.

14 Mar 2013

Chimerix receives FDA Fast Track designation for CMX001 to prevent CMV infection

Chimerix, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing novel, oral antivirals in areas of high unmet medical need, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for CMX001 for the prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.

12 Mar 2013

Viruses and genes may increase risk of schizophrenia

Viruses and genes interact in a way that may increase the risk of developing schizophrenia significantly. This happens already in the developing foetus.

11 Mar 2013