Respiratory Disease News and Research

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AP examines H1N1 surveillance by U.S., WHO

The Associated Press examines how the decision by U.S. health officials to stop counting new cases of H1N1 (swine flu) in July has complicated the government's ability to assess groups particularly hard hit by the virus.

9 Oct 2009

CSL Behring LEAD program invites grant requests from organizations assisting people with rare diseases

CSL Behring, a global leader in the plasma-protein biotherapeutics industry, is calling for grant requests through its Local Empowerment for Advocacy Development (LEAD) program. The LEAD program awards funds to United States patient organizations that assist people with rare diseases in advocating for continued access to health care and life-saving plasma protein therapies.

7 Oct 2009

Theravance grants equity award to new employee

Theravance, Inc. today reported that an equity award was made to one new employee. Pursuant to Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 5635(c)(4), the equity award was granted under the Theravance, Inc. 2008 New Employee Equity Incentive Plan, which the Board of Directors of Theravance adopted to facilitate the granting of equity awards to new employees.

5 Oct 2009

Health Canada approves VIBATIV for treating complicated skin and skin structure infections

Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. announced today that Health Canada has approved VIBATIV(TM) (telavancin) for the treatment of adult patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) caused by susceptible Gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, both methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) strains.

1 Oct 2009

CSL Behring offers new dosage strength of Helixate FS in U.S.

Hemophilia A patients who require high doses of Helixate® FS, Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), can now benefit from greater convenience in administering their treatment, thanks to a new 3000 IU (international unit) dosage strength. CSL Behring announced today that this new dosage strength is available in the U.S., allowing many patients to reduce reconstitution time by eliminating the need to mix and pool multiple vials of Helixate FS.

22 Sep 2009

ALR Technologies receives patent application approval for its Health-E-Connect communications system

ALR Technologies (OTCBB: ALRT) announces that it has received notice from the US Patent and Trademark Office that ALRT has been granted approval of its patent application regarding patient compliance and remote monitoring of patient's use of nebulizer compressors.

14 Sep 2009

FDA approves Theravance's VIBATIV for treating complicated skin and skin structure infections

Theravance, Inc. (NASDAQ: THRX) and Astellas Pharma US, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved VIBATIV™ (telavancin) for the treatment of adult patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) caused by susceptible Gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, both methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) strains.

14 Sep 2009

New Influenza A/H1N1 detection kit launched

QIAGEN, today announced both the launch of a new Influenza A/H1N1 test and several updates to its activities in providing solutions for the global surveillance of the swine flu pandemic. QIAGEN’s new kit enables both the highly sensitive and specific detection of the novel Influenza A/H1N1, the virus that causes “swine flu”, as well as of all other known Influenza A and B virus strains.

10 Sep 2009

Kamada finalizes agreement for the distribution of its intravenous alpha-1 antitrypsin in the United States

Kamada (TASE:KMDA), a bio-pharmaceutical company engaged in the development, manufacturing and marketing of specialty life-saving therapeutics, announced today that it has entered into an exclusive agreement with a large US specialty pharmaceutical distributor company for the distribution of its flagship product, intravenous alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT-IV) in the United States.

28 Aug 2009

Online patient data may open new doors in medical research

Since the Internet's earliest days, patients have used the Web to share experiences and learn about diseases and treatments. But now [advocates say] online communities have the potential to transform medical research," the New York Times reports.

26 Aug 2009

AstraZeneca Canada files a New Drug Submission (NDS) for FluMist in Canada

AstraZeneca Canada Inc. announced today that it has filed a New Drug Submission (NDS) for FluMist(R) (Influenza Vaccine, Live Attenuated Intranasal) with Health Canada.

19 Aug 2009

Novavax reports positive preclinical results for H1N1 influenza VLP vaccine

Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX) announced positive preclinical results with Novavax's 2009 novel H1N1 influenza virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine. The study, conducted by scientists from Novavax and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) based in Atlanta, GA, under a collaborative agreement, represents the first efficacy report of a 2009 novel H1N1 vaccine in ferrets. The ferret model is widely accepted to be the most appropriate animal model for evaluating influenza disease and vaccines. Novavax scientists designed the vaccine using recombinant virus like particles (VLP) technology against an H1N1 virus strain (A/California/04/2009) isolated in the beginning of the 2009 H1N1 outbreak.

19 Aug 2009

FDA approves Helixate FS for routine prophylaxis in children with hemophilia A

CSL Behring announced today that Helixate® FS, Antihemophilic Factor (Recombinant), has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for routine prophylaxis in children with hemophilia A who are 16 years old or younger and do not have pre-existing joint damage.

17 Aug 2009

H5N1 avian influenza leaves people at increased risk for Parkinson's disease

At least one strain of the H5N1 avian influenza virus leaves survivors at significantly increased risk for Parkinson's disease and possibly other neurological problems later in life, according to new research from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

10 Aug 2009

Pattern of gene expression in blood provides clues to etiology of respiratory infections

Scientists have shown that they can identify and characterize an individual's response to a respiratory viral infection by examining the pattern of gene expression in their blood.

6 Aug 2009

Sleep heart health study

A study in the Aug. 1 issue of the journal Sleep indicates that self-reported worsening in initiating and maintaining sleep over a five-year period was significantly associated with poorer mental quality of life, and increasing daytime sleepiness symptoms were associated with both poorer physical and mental quality of life.

3 Aug 2009

Repeated stress signals made in cells with metabolism-associated disease encourage the growth of invading bacteria

Mitochondrial diseases disrupt the power generating machinery within cells and increase a person's susceptibility to bacterial infection, particularly in the lungs or respiratory tract.

28 Jul 2009

Ozone exposure even at normal levels has negative effect on lung function

Ozone exposure, even at levels deemed safe by current clean air standards, can have a significant and negative effect on lung function, according to researchers at the University of California Davis.

26 Jul 2009

Emphysema severity directly linked to exposure to respirable coal mine dust

Coal dust exposure is directly linked to severity of emphysema in smokers and nonsmokers alike, according to new research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

26 Jul 2009

Rates of secondhand smoke exposure high among college students

Secondhand smoke (SHS) is not only a nuisance, but a potential health concern for many college students, and administrators should be taking steps to reduce students' exposure, according to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

21 Jul 2009