Smallpox News and Research

RSS

Smallpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the variola virus, a member of the Orthopox virus family. It is one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity, with a mortality rate as high as 30%. In 1967, the World Health Organization embarked upon an intensified vaccination campaign to eliminate smallpox, which culminated in the successful eradication of the disease globally by 1980.

By the mid-1980s, there were only two known repositories of variola virus: the Institute of Virus Preparations in Russia, and the US CDC. The events in the US in September and October 2001 highlighted the risk that the variola virus might be used as an agent of bioterrorism. Governments around the world are taking precautionary measures to be ready to deal with a potential smallpox outbreak.

U.S. Census Bureau features 'Immunization' on Profile America

Profile America — Saturday, August 21st. Many people die each year in the U.S. from diseases that could have been prevented by immunization. Many more experience pain, suffering and disability. That's why this is National Immunization Awareness Month — calling attention to the importance of people of all ages to get their shots.

21 Aug 2010

Feds to revamp bioterrorism and flu plans

Federal officials say they will revamp strategies for dealing with bioterrorism and pandemic flu because efforts to develop medical solutions have lagged, the Los Angeles Times reports. They "announced a $1.9-billion makeover of the system for identifying and manufacturing drugs and vaccines for public health emergencies." The makeover includes plans to hasten manufacturing time and improve surveillance to detect such threats more quickly.

21 Aug 2010

Bavarian Nordic comments on Obama Administration's revised strategy for medical countermeasures

Bavarian Nordic A/S -- a leading industrial biotechnology company and long-term collaborator with the U.S. Government on the development of vaccines for the protection against biological threats, today commented on the Obama Administration's revised strategy for development, procurement and stockpiling of medical countermeasures.

20 Aug 2010

Opinions: Aid to Pakistan; Criteria for effective aid

A New York Times editorial about the flooding in Pakistan and the global response to it, cautions: "The world, especially the United States, must not blow this one. We worry it already could be doing that."

18 Aug 2010

August is National Immunization and Cataract Awareness Month

Childhood immunizations keep our children safe from a number of serious diseases. This is a good time of year to make sure your child is up-to-date on all of his/her immunizations. Continue reading to find out which vaccines the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend for children 6 and under.

16 Aug 2010

Cangene to focus commercialization efforts on key markets

Cangene Corporation today reports that it will further focus its commercialization efforts on key markets for its products in the near term. Cangene acquired the U.S. commercialization rights to HepaGam B(R) (Hepatitis B Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human)) in October 2009 and soon after began building a U.S. sales force.

16 Aug 2010

Tamir Biotechnology's three compounds effective show potential for yellow fever

Tamir Biotechnology, Inc.(formerly Alfacell Corporation) announced today that scientists supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) confirmed that testing of three of our company's compounds showed in vitro results rarely seen before by the U.S. government for yellow fever.

11 Aug 2010

Response Biomedical second-quarter revenue from product sales increases 2%

Response Biomedical Corporation today announced financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010.

10 Aug 2010

Boston Globe examines rise of polio in Tajikistan, other pockets of world

"Polio has reappeared in a corner of the world that had not seen cases in years - Tajikistan, the former Soviet republic - a chilling setback in the two-decade campaign to purge a dreaded cause of childhood paralysis from the planet," the Boston Globe reports in a story that examines the reemergence of polio in other areas of the world.

7 Aug 2010

TapImmune inks smallpox vaccine Research and Technology License Option Agreement with Mayo Clinic

TapImmune Inc. announced that it has signed a Research and Technology License Option Agreement with Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, for the development of a smallpox vaccine technology. Research will be conducted by Gregory Poland M.D., at Mayo Clinic, to evaluate novel peptide antigens together with TapImmune's proprietary TAP technology. TapImmune also has an exclusive Option to the smallpox vaccine technology after research studies have been completed under the terms of the agreement.

5 Aug 2010

CMX157 shows potential to suppress replication of HIV in Phase 1 clinical trial

Chimerix, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing orally-available antiviral therapeutics, today announced the publication of research results demonstrating the potential of CMX157 (hexadecyloxypropyl tenofovir) to effectively suppress replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that cannot be treated with currently available nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), including tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Viread), due to the development of multi-drug resistance. Earlier this year, Chimerix initiated a dose-escalating Phase 1 clinical trial of CMX-157 to evaluate drug safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics.

29 Jul 2010

Response Biomedical closes $8 million common share private placement

Response Biomedical Corporation announced today that it has closed its previously announced private placement of common shares for gross proceeds of approximately $8 million. The Company issued 13,333,333 common shares at a price of C$0.60 per share.

29 Jul 2010

Response Biomedical announces shareholder approval for $8 million private placement

Response Biomedical Corporation announced that at the Company's Special General Shareholders' Meeting held today in Vancouver, shareholders approved the private placement of an aggregate of 13,333,333 common shares, at a price of Cdn. $0.60 per Offered Share, to Caduceus Private Investments III, LP, OrbiMed Associates III, LP and Caduceus Asia Partners, LP for gross proceeds of approximately Cdn. $8 million.

28 Jul 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

Cangene eliminated from ARS contract

Cangene Corporation today reports that it has been advised by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, that Cangene has been eliminated from the competitive range with respect to its bid on a contract for developing a treatment for acute radiation syndrome.

17 Jul 2010

First 1M doses of smallpox vaccine for immune-compromised populations delivered

Delivery to the Strategic National Stockpile of the first 1 million doses of the nation's first smallpox vaccine for certain immune-compromised populations is now complete, the result of a Project BioShield contract.

15 Jul 2010

Aethlon Medical files provisional patent on behalf of ESI for exosome detection assay

Aethlon Medical, Inc., the pioneer in developing therapeutic filtration devices to address infectious disease and cancer, announced today that it has filed a provisional patent on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary Exosome Sciences, Inc. (ESI), relating to the development of an assay that will allow researchers to detect exosomes in blood and other fluids.

8 Jul 2010

Response Biomedical signs subscription agreement for C$8 million private placement

Response Biomedical Corporation announced today the signing of a subscription agreement providing for the sale of C$8 million of its common shares to funds affiliated with OrbiMed Advisors, LLC. The closing of the private placement is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the shareholders of the Company.

29 Jun 2010

SIGA completes fourth human clinical trial of ST-246 smallpox antiviral drug candidate

SIGA Technologies, Inc., a company specializing in the development of pharmaceutical agents to combat bio-warfare pathogens, announced today the successful completion of its fourth human clinical trial, supporting the safety and tolerability of the anticipated clinical dose of ST-246®, SIGA's lead smallpox antiviral drug candidate.

23 Jun 2010

Cangene announces development of Immune Globulin Intravenous product

Cangene Corporation today announces that it is developing an Immune Globulin Intravenous product, commonly known as IGIV. IGIV is a widely used anti-infective with a variety of indications including treating primary immune deficiency, immune thrombocytopenic purpura and other inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

15 Jun 2010