Penicillin News and Research

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Penicillin (sometimes abbreviated PCN or pen) is a group of antibiotics derived from ''Penicillium'' fungi. Penicillin antibiotics are historically significant because they are the first drugs that were effective against many previously serious diseases such as syphilis and Staphylococcus infections.

Researchers find new drug to treat circadian rhythm disorders

Researchers funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) have successfully used a drug to reset and restart the natural 24 hour body clock of mice in the lab. The ability to do this in a mammal opens up the possibility of dealing with a range of human difficulties including some psychiatric disorders, jet lag and the health impacts of shift work.

24 Aug 2010

Even low-level exposure to cigarette smoke affects gene function in lungs

Casual smokers may think that smoking a few cigarettes a week is "no big deal." But according to new research from physician-scientists at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, having an infrequent smoke, or being exposed to secondhand smoke, may be doing more harm than people may think. The findings may further support public smoking bans, say the authors.

20 Aug 2010

Statin drugs can neutralise heart disease dangers of fatty food: Study

Fast food outlets could provide statin drugs free of charge so that customers can neutralise the heart disease dangers of fatty food, researchers at Imperial College London suggest in a new study published this week.Statins reduce the amount of unhealthy "LDL" cholesterol in the blood. A wealth of trial data has proven them to be highly effective at lowering a person's heart attack risk.

13 Aug 2010

Tracking heart rate can provide important marker of health issues: Research

An elevated resting heart rate that develops or persists during follow-up is associated with a significantly increased risk of death, whether from heart disease or other causes, researchers from the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center found studying outcomes in more than 9,000 patients.

13 Aug 2010

Advanced Life Sciences second-quarter net loss decreases to $2.1 million

11 Aug 2010

Advanced Life Sciences reaches SPA agreement with FDA for Restanza Phase 3 study

Advanced Life Sciences Holdings, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of novel drugs in the therapeutic areas of infection, oncology and respiratory diseases, announced today that it has reached agreement with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) process, on the design of its planned Phase 3 study of its novel once-daily oral antibiotic Restanza to treat community acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP). The trial is the first prospectively designed superiority study to be conducted in CABP.

11 Aug 2010

National Jewish Health receives $31M NIH contract to study skin infections associated with atopic dermatitis

The National Institute of Allergy and Infections Disease has awarded a five-year $31 million contract to National Jewish Health, which is leading a consortium of academic medical centers seeking to better understand skin infections associated with atopic dermatitis. The researchers will focus on antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and widespread viral infections of the skin, both of which are more prevalent among atopic dermatitis patients.

23 Jul 2010

Roche Molecular Systems receives FDA clearance for new LightCycler MRSA Advanced Test

Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) cleared its new LightCycler® MRSA Advanced Test for the detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) for clinical use in the United States.

9 Jul 2010

Amniocentesis and non-embryonic stem cells among list of "Huge Medical Breakthroughs"

Two key focus areas of Biocell Center, the nation's first amniotic fluid stem cell bank, have been recently mentioned among the most important medical discoveries of the last century. Amniocentesis and non-embryonic stem cells were among the list of "Huge Medical Breakthroughs" presented in an article by Althea Chang on Mainstreet.com, produced by TheStreet.com on June 29, 2010.

8 Jul 2010

FDA issues consumer update on safety alerts

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued safety alerts about a number of products.

3 Jul 2010

Genentech's second Phase III ICON7 study of Avastin in ovarian cancer meets primary endpoint

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, announced today that a second large, Phase III, international study showed that the combination of Avastin® (bevacizumab) and chemotherapy, followed by the continued use of Avastin alone, increased the time women with previously untreated ovarian cancer lived without the disease worsening (progression-free survival or PFS, the primary endpoint), compared to chemotherapy alone.

2 Jul 2010

New guide to get pregnant

Infertility affects about 7 million Americans -- that's about one in six couples during their childbearing years. There are many reasons for infertility, with equal chances it's his medical issue as it is hers. A new book, "A Baby at Last!: The Couples' Complete Guide to Getting Pregnant" (Fireside Books, Simon and Schuster), points the way for couples to get past the emotionally wrenching obstacle of infertility and finally bring home their bundle of joy.

1 Jul 2010

Erye's new facility passes SFDA inspection for manufacture of penicillin, cephalosporin powder

NeoStem, Inc., an international biopharmaceutical company with operations in the U.S. and China, announced on June 15, 2010 that its 51% owned Suzhou Erye pharmaceutical subsidiary passed the government inspection by the State Food and Drug Administration ("SFDA") in China to manufacture penicillin and cephalosporin powder for injection at its new manufacturing facility.

30 Jun 2010

Health Canada recommends new pneumococcal vaccine for young children

In December, 2009, Health Canada approved a new vaccine for children aged six weeks through five years to prevent infections caused by the bacteria called pneumococcus or Streptococcus.

29 Jun 2010

Quick-Med Technologies receives Notice of Allowance for MultiStat family of compounds

Quick-Med Technologies, Inc., a life sciences company that is developing innovative technologies for the healthcare and consumer markets, announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a Notice of Allowance for intellectual property that extends the current patent coverage for the Company's MultiStat family of compounds. The forthcoming patent is part of a portfolio that Quick-Med has licensed from the University of Michigan.

18 Jun 2010

Fraudulent Tamiflu sold over Internet, FDA warns

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today warned consumers about a potentially harmful product represented as "Generic Tamiflu" sold over the Internet. FDA tests revealed that the fraudulent product does not contain Tamiflu's active ingredient, oseltamivir, but cloxacillin, an ingredient in the same class of antibiotics as penicillin.

18 Jun 2010

Scientists find antibiotic-resistant bacteria in seven species of sharks and redfish

Scientists have found antibiotic-resistant bacteria in seven species of sharks and redfish captured in waters off Belize, Florida, Louisiana and Massachusetts. Most of these wild, free-swimming fish harbored several drug-resistant bacterial strains.

17 Jun 2010

sanofi pasteur congratulates Canadian Public Health Association for 100 years of leadership and service

As a longstanding partner in Canada's public health system, sanofi pasteur congratulates the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) for their 100 years of leadership and service to our country's public health.

11 Jun 2010

Research may lead to better treatments for depression and substance abuse

In what has been hailed as a breakthrough, scientists from Columbia University Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medical College have outlined the molecular mechanism of membrane transport. The research shows how a protein transforms its shape to transport substances across the cell membrane in order to regulate transmission of the brain's messages across the synaptic gap from one neuron to another.