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.

New clinical data on Bristol-Myers Squibb's NULOJIX to be presented at ESOT 2011 congress

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company today announced that new data on NULOJIX (belatacept) will be presented at the European Society for Organ Transplantation (ESOT) Congress on September 4 -7, 2011 in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.

2 Sep 2011

QIAGEN acquires Cellestis

QIAGEN N.V. today announced that its acquisition of all the ordinary shares in Cellestis Limited by a way of a scheme of arrangement has been implemented.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 29 Aug 2011

HSS, pSivida enter orthopedic evaluation agreement

Drug delivery company pSivida Corp. today announced it has entered into an evaluation agreement with Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation, to investigate pSivida's drug delivery technologies in orthopedics.

17 Aug 2011

Human Genome Sciences, 4-Antibody sign collaboration agreement

4-Antibody AG today announced the signing of a collaboration agreement with Human Genome Sciences (HGS) to discover and develop fully human therapeutic antibodies.

16 Aug 2011

Chimerix initiates CMX001 Phase 2 study for prevention of adenovirus disease following HSCT

Chimerix, Inc., a biotechnology company developing orally-available antiviral therapeutics, today announced that patient dosing has begun in the AdV HALT Trial (A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Multi-site Phase 2 Study Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Preemptive Treatment with CMX001 for the Prevention of Adenovirus Disease Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation [HSCT]).

14 Jul 2011

Microneedle patches may target dentritic cells more efficiently and induce immunity against HIV

Applying a vaccine patch to the skin with thousands of tiny micro-needles could help boost the body's immune response and prevent the spread of life-threatening infections like HIV and TB, a major Cardiff University study aims to uncover.

11 Jul 2011

QIAGEN to acquire Cellestis

QIAGEN N.V. today announced that it has amended its original proposal to acquire Cellestis Limited, a publicly traded Australian biotechnology company.

From QIAGEN Manchester Limited 11 Jul 2011

Transnational research group examines how viruses evade immune system

Understanding the tricks and survival strategies of viruses to effectively combat them: That is the goal of the virtual institute VISTRIE that received its funding commitment today.

2 Jul 2011

Mother and baby cytomegalovirus screening important to prevent consequences

According to health experts, pregnant women and newborns should be screened for a virus that causes brain damage and deafness. The study that appeared in the latest issue of The Medical Journal of Australia yesterday says hundreds of cases of cytomegalovirus (CMV) are likely being missed each year in Australia because of a lack of screening, denying babies treatment for the condition.

19 Jun 2011

FDA approves NULOJIX

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved NULOJIX, the first selective T-cell costimulation blocker indicated for the prophylaxis of organ rejection in adult patients receiving a kidney transplant, in combination with basiliximab induction, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and corticosteroids.

18 Jun 2011

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated liver disease after liver transplantation

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated liver disease continues to be the most common indication for liver transplantation (LT) in the United States accounting for nearly 50% of all liver transplants. Recurrence is universal in patients viremic at the time of transplantation with histological hepatitis developing in the majority of patients. Although the natural history of recurrent HCV is difficult to predict, it is widely accepted that cirrhosis from recurrent HCV occurs in up to 30% of patients within five years of transplantation.

8 Jun 2011

PCR-based saliva test can accurately identify cytomegalovirus infection in newborns

Although cytomegalovirus infection is a known cause of birth defects, including permanent hearing loss, most CMV infections in infants are not identified early, when interventions can lessen the effects of hearing loss.

2 Jun 2011

Epstein-Barr virus might cause multiple sclerosis, study confirms

The Epstein-Barr (EVB) virus -belonging to the herpesviruses family, which also includes the herpes simplex virus and the cytomegalovirus- is one of the environmental factors that might cause multiple sclerosis, a condition affecting the central nervous system, which causes are unknown.

18 May 2011

pSivida resubmits ILUVIEN NDA to FDA for diabetic macular edema treatment

pSivida Corp., a leader in developing sustained release, drug delivery products for treatment of back-of-the-eye diseases, today announced that its licensee, Alimera Sciences, Inc., resubmitted a New Drug Application for the investigational drug ILUVIEN for the treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on May 12, 2011 to address questions raised in the Complete Response Letter (CRL) Alimera received in December 2010.

16 May 2011

AIDS spread prevention by vaccine and anti HIV drugs

A latest vaccine against HIV/AIDS has shown to be effective in monkeys and has protected macaques the most widespread primate genus, against the monkey equivalent of HIV, Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). This could provide a fresh approach to an HIV vaccine, a study suggests. US researchers say the vaccine offered protection to 13 of 24 Rhesus macaques treated in the experiment. In 12 of the monkeys, the vaccine was still effective 12 months later.

15 May 2011

VGTI, OHSU's new vaccine candidate may fight against HIV

Research conducted at Oregon Health & Science University's Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute has developed a vaccine candidate in non-human primates that may eventually lead to a vaccine against Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

12 May 2011

pSivida presents data of ILUVIEN Phase 3 trial in Diabetic Macular Edema at ARVO 2011

pSivida Corp., a leader in developing sustained release, drug delivery products for treatment of back-of-the-eye diseases, today announced the presentation of new data from the completed 36-month FAME Study of ILUVIEN for the treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema at the 2011 ARVO Annual Meeting.

4 May 2011

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center to present research studies at 2011 ATC

Available for expert commentary on the latest research findings presented at the 2011 American Transplant Congress in Philadelphia, April 30 to May 4, is Dr. Sandip Kapur, chief of transplant surgery and director of kidney and pancreas transplant programs at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and a leading authority on transplantation.

30 Apr 2011

Expert to present latest transplant research findings at ATC 2011

30 Apr 2011

New results from largest multicenter clinical trial for heart transplant patients be released at ISHLT 2011

New results from the largest multicenter clinical trial for heart transplant patients will be released this week at the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation 31st Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions in San Diego. Results show clinical benefit for the use of Everolimus in heart transplant patients.

16 Apr 2011