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Also in global health news: Funding shortfall in Philippines; WHO-approved ARV

Bloomberg examines the U.N.'s continued appeal for aid for the people of the Philippines "after three tropical cyclones left almost 1,000 people dead" and an estimated 1.7 million people displaced or living in flooded areas. "The UN's humanitarian agency issued a 'flash appeal' for $74 million in October and has received $26 million, according to the world body's newswire," the news service writes.

12 Nov 2009

GSK to donate 50M H1N1 vaccine doses to WHO in coming months

Drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline announced plans on Tuesday to donate 50 million doses of its H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine to the WHO for use in developing countries within the next few months, Reuters reports. "We expect to start receiving [the first of the H1N1 doses] at the end of the month or early December and that the full 50 million will come by the end of spring," WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl said, adding, "We hope it is the first of many donations."

10 Nov 2009

San Francisco map of HIV viral loads shows where care lags

Researchers in San Francisco have identified how much virus people infected with HIV are carrying and mapped their results, which show that that AIDS treatment lags in certain neighborhoods. The work also showed that the sickest patients were often African-American, homeless and transgender.

7 Nov 2009

Texas State University researchers to evaluate the effects of ALKA-V6 on animal organisms

Texas State University and Orizon Research Institute announced the signing of an agreement today that will permit University Researchers to continue efforts through in vivo testing to further determine the potential and effectiveness of ALKA-V6, a compound which has shown remarkable ability to kill cancer cells and inhibit the HIV virus in laboratory experiments.

3 Nov 2009

Zuma calls for renewed effort in fight against HIV/AIDS

South African President Jacob Zuma on Thursday called for a renewed effort in the country's fight against HIV/AIDS, the Star/Independent Online reports. During a speech to South Africa's National Council of Provinces, which also addressed the country's economy, Zuma pointed to what he called "chilling statistics" reflective of the "devastating impact HIV and AIDS" is having on the country (du Plessis, 10/30).

2 Nov 2009

FDA approves the 100th antiretroviral drug in association with PEPFAR

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today marked the recent approval of the 100th antiretroviral drug in association with the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), aimed at the prevention, treatment, and care of people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS worldwide.

28 Oct 2009

USAID and USP join to combat substandard and counterfeit medicines

With substandard and counterfeit versions of medicines intended to treat life-threatening diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis posing a growing threat throughout the developing world, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) will expand their joint efforts to combat this menace by launching a new program over the next five years.

27 Oct 2009

Anti-viral drug development programs progress successfully, reports NanoViricides

NanoViricides, Inc. (the "Company"), reports that the Company is well financed and its game changing anti-viral drug development programs are progressing successfully. As such, Management knows of no reason for the recent decline in stock price and associated volatility.

26 Oct 2009

Additional CFTR inhibitor technology licensed to Napo Pharmaceuticals

Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has in-licensed from the University of California Regents additional small-molecule cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) inhibitor technology including gastrointestinal (GI) and polycystic kidney disease (PKD) indications.

26 Oct 2009

Boehringer Ingelheim continues providing non assert declarations to manufacture HIV/AIDS medicines

Boehringer Ingelheim continues to be willing to provide WHO qualified generic pharmaceutical companies non assert declarations to manufacturer and export products containing the HIV/AIDS medication nevirapine to Rwanda and other defined developing countries.

20 Oct 2009

Fate Therapeutics announces human iPSC generation using a combination of small molecules

Fate Therapeutics, Inc. announced today the generation of human induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) using a combination of small molecules that significantly improves the speed and efficiency of reprogramming.

19 Oct 2009

Researchers test Orizon Research's ALKA-V6 silicon-based compound

Researchers at Texas State University-San Marcos have completed initial testing of a cancer chemotherapeutic and anti-retroviral compound with promising results.

14 Oct 2009

World’s first engineered T cell receptor trial opens with new cellular therapy for HIV

Researchers at Adaptimmune Limited and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, have announced the approval of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and opening for enrolment of the first ever study using patients’ cells carrying an engineered T cell receptor to treat HIV (SL9 HA-GAG-TCR). The trial may have important implications in the development of new treatments for HIV potentially slowing – or even preventing – the onset of AIDS.

11 Oct 2009

HHS and PEPFAR approve the 100th HIV/AIDS antiretroviral drug

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today marked today marked the recent approval of the 100th antiretroviral drug in association with the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), aimed at the prevention, treatment, and care of people infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS worldwide.

7 Oct 2009

New fruit-flavored protein drinks for nutritionally challenged

The Isopure Company, LLC. announced today the U.S. launch of Isopure Plus - a new line of clear, fruit-flavored protein drinks offering seniors and people with nutritional challenges a great-tasting, easy-to-digest alternative to thick milkshake-like protein formulations.

6 Oct 2009

News outlets continue to examine findings of recent U.N. report

News outlets continue to mine through the findings of the U.N.'s 2009 progress report on HIV and AIDS.

3 Oct 2009

Non-AIDS-defining malignancies more prevalent among HIV-infected patients than non-HIV patients

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found that non-AIDS-defining malignancies such as anal and lung cancer have become more prevalent among HIV-infected patients than non-HIV patients since the introduction of anti-retroviral therapies in the mid-1990s.

25 Sep 2009

Restrictive policies in India discourages medical and pharmaceutical innovation: USIBC report

At a roundtable organized by the Coalition for Innovation Employment and Development, the U.S.-India Business Council's 'Coalition for Healthy India' released the findings of its report on "The Value of Incremental Pharmaceutical Innovation: Benefits for Indian Patients and Indian Business". The report highlights and substantiates the impact of restrictive policies in India, with respect to medical and pharmaceutical innovation.

24 Sep 2009

Antigen to block infection by genetically-diverse strains of HIV

Scientists working to develop a vaccine for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) report they have created the first antigen that induces protective antibodies capable of blocking infection of human cells by genetically-diverse strains of HIV. The new antigen differs from previously-tested vaccines by virtue of its chemically-activated property that enables close sharing of electrons and produces strong covalent bonding.

22 Sep 2009

Pros and cons of HIV treatments in developing countries

Palumbo is co-leading a clinical study of anti-HIV medicines in Africa and India for the International Maternal Pediatric Adolescent AIDS Clinical Trials Group (IMPAACT). The randomized trial found that a cohort of 82 HIV-infected children ages 6 to 35 months responded better to treatment with the protease-inhibiting drug lopinavir (LPV/r) than did a cohort of 82 children in the same age group who received the anti-retroviral drug nevirapine (NVP).

16 Sep 2009