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.

PS-targeting antibodies can block HIV virus from entering into certain blood cells

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the publication of data showing phosphatidylserine -targeting antibodies can block one of the key ways the AIDS virus gains entry into certain blood cells. The data were generated by scientists at Duke University as part of their ongoing AIDS vaccine research.

6 Apr 2010

Peregrine's PS-targeting antibodies block HIV from entry into blood cells

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced the publication of data showing phosphatidylserine (PS)-targeting antibodies can block one of the key ways the AIDS virus gains entry into certain blood cells. The data were generated by scientists at Duke University as part of their ongoing AIDS vaccine research. The article titled "Anti-Phospholipid Human Monoclonal Antibodies Inhibit CCR5-Tropic HIV-1 and Induces β-Chemokines" is available online today and will be published in the April 12, 2010 edition of the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

5 Apr 2010

Inovio Biomedical's total revenue increased to $2.6M for quarter ended December 31, 2009

Inovio Biomedical Corporation today reported financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2009.

29 Mar 2010

Chimerix initiates CMX001 Phase 2 clinical trial in stem cell transplant patients for CMV

Chimerix, Inc., a biotechnology company developing orally-available antiviral therapeutics, today announced the initiation of a multi-center Phase 2 clinical trial designed to evaluate CMX001 in stem cell transplant recipients who are seropositive for cytomegalovirus (CMV).

9 Mar 2010

Abbott enters into agreement with GSK to develop molecular diagnostic test for skin cancer treatment

Abbott announced today that it has entered into an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to develop a molecular diagnostic test intended for use as an aid in selecting patients who may benefit from a skin cancer treatment in development by GSK.

4 Mar 2010

Data from FAME Phase 3 study for Iluvien presented at Angiogenesis 2010

pSivida Corp., a leader in the development of ophthalmic sustained release drug delivery products, with two of the only three such products approved by the FDA for treatment of back of the eye diseases, today said that 24-month data from the FAME Phase 3 study for Iluvien presented at Angiogenesis 2010 included additional efficacy and safety data that reinforced the positive top-line results reported in December 2009 by pSivida and its licensee, Alimera Sciences, Inc.

4 Mar 2010

Winner of 2010 Thomas Parran Award

University of Washington's Dr. H. Hunter Handsfield, a long-time trailblazer in sexually transmitted diseases (STD) research, will receive the nation's highest honor in the STD field during the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2010 National STD Prevention Conference in Atlanta, March 8-11.

3 Mar 2010

PAN to provide co-payment assistance for medications to underinsured patients through five new funds

Patient Access Network Foundation will expand its services to provide co-payment assistance for medications to underinsured patients through five new funds -- including grants of up to $10,000 per year for prostate cancer patients.

12 Feb 2010

pSivida reports consolidated net loss of $24,000 for quarter ended December 31, 2009

pSivida Corp. , a drug delivery company with two of the only three ophthalmic sustained release delivery products approved by the FDA for treatment of back-of-the-eye diseases, today announced financial results for its second quarter and six months ended December 31, 2009.

12 Feb 2010

6th Annual Diabetes Conference to feature ocular drug delivery in diabetic retinopathy

pSivida Corp., a leader in the development of tiny, sustained-release drug delivery technologies, with two of the only three ophthalmic sustained-release delivery products approved by the FDA for treatment of back of the eye diseases, announced that its chief executive officer, Dr. Paul Ashton, will discuss ocular drug delivery in diabetic retinopathy during a presentation at the 6th Annual Diabetes Conference in London, on Friday, January 22.

21 Jan 2010

SeraCare Life Sciences launches new products to aid discovery and development of drugs and diagnostics

SeraCare Life Sciences, Inc. announced today that the Company has added five new, differentiated products to its portfolio to meet the needs of SeraCare’s growing customer base in the life sciences industry.

9 Jan 2010

Cell Medica signs R&D agreement with the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy

Cell Medica, a clinical cellular therapeutics company developing proven cell therapies which address important unmet clinical needs in oncology and infectious diseases, announced today the signing of an R&D agreement with the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, a joint program of Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital and The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas.

8 Jan 2010

Life-saving therapeutic interventions possible with early detection of hepatitis C recurrence

A recent study by doctors from the Hospital Cl-nic in Barcelona, Spain determined that repeated liver stiffness measurements (LSM) in the first year following liver transplant (LT) could discriminate between slow and rapid "fibrosers" (patients with fibrosis stage of F2-F4 one year post LT).

6 Jan 2010

Second-quarter fiscal 2010 results announced by Peregrine Pharmaceuticals

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2010 ended October 31, 2009. Total revenue for the second quarter of FY 2010 increased 255% to $6,896,000, compared to $1,941,000 for the comparable prior year quarter.

10 Dec 2009

Exposure to common infections may increase stroke risk

Cumulative exposure to five common infection-causing pathogens may be associated with an increased risk of stroke, according to a report posted online today that will appear in the January 2010 print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

10 Nov 2009

USPTO awards Peregrine Pharmaceuticals patent for anti-viral uses of phosphatidylserine targeting antibodies

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent Number 7,611,704, which includes broad claims covering anti-viral uses of phosphatidylserine (PS)-targeting antibodies including Peregrine's lead clinical compound, bavituximab. PS is a unique marker exposed on the surface of virally infected cells that can be targeted to treat a broad spectrum of virus infections.

5 Nov 2009

Research suggests latent cytomegalovirus infection exacerbates inflammatory bowel disease

Current research suggests that latent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may exacerbate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The related report by Onyeagocha et al, "Latent cytomegalovirus infection exacerbates experimental colitis," appears in the November 2009 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.

21 Oct 2009

pSivida achieves milestone in Phase III Iluvien trial, last patient completes two-year follow up visit

pSivida Corp., a leading drug delivery company that has developed two of the only three products approved by the FDA for the long-term, sustained release delivery of drug to treat chronic back of the eye disease, today announced that the last patient in the Phase III clinical trial being conducted by its collaborative partner, Alimera Sciences, for a new treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME) has completed the two-year follow up visit.

15 Oct 2009

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals establishes a new Anti-Viral Research Group

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that it has established a new Anti-Viral Research Group in its R&D organization.

7 Oct 2009

pSivida reports interim results of human PK study of Iluvien

pSivida Corp, a leading drug delivery company that has developed two of the only three products approved by the FDA for the long-term, sustained release delivery of drug to treat chronic back of the eye disease, today reported the interim 18-month safety and efficacy results from the first human pharmacokinetic study (PK Study) of Iluvien®. The PK trial is being conducted by Alimera Sciences, the licensee for Iluvien.

29 Sep 2009