Smallpox News and Research

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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.

Cangene third-quarter revenues decline 39% to $41.1M

Cangene Corporation today reports financial results for the third quarter ended April 30, 2010.

15 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

CPHA celebrates 12 great achievements of public health in Canada

The Canadian Public Health Association opens its doors this Sunday June, 13, 2010 to the public, introducing a walking tour of the 12 great achievements of public health in Canada. The 15,000 square foot CPHA Centenary EXPO titled This is Public Health features a dynamic display of visuals that highlights the importance of public health and its fundamental impact on the health of Canadians over the last 100 years.

10 Jun 2010

Infectious diseases specialist from Walter and Eliza Hall Institute receives Frank Fenner Award

Infectious diseases specialist Dr Marc Pellegrini from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute will today receive the Frank Fenner Award from the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases, recognising Dr Pellegrini's efforts to understand human responses to chronic infections.

28 May 2010

The Toronto Stock Exchange accepts Cangene's normal course issuer bid

Cangene Corporation announces today that a normal course issuer bid has been accepted by The Toronto Stock Exchange.

27 May 2010

Delegates at the World Health Assembly adopt resolutions on variety of global health issues

The 63rd World Health Assembly, which brought together Health Ministers and senior health officials from the World Health Organization's Member States, concluded business and closed Friday evening.

24 May 2010

Inviragen initiates first clinical trial of DENVax vaccine to protect against dengue fever

Inviragen has announced the initiation of the first clinical trial of its vaccine to protect against dengue fever. The trial, to be conducted at Saint Louis University, is designed to assess the safety of Inviragen's investigational dengue vaccine.

20 May 2010

WHO Director-General pushes for sustained commitment to MDGs at World Health Assembly

During her opening address to the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan called for increased global efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals, PANA/Afrique en ligne reports. Chan also set-up several global health challenges to be addressed during the five-day meeting, according to the news service.

19 May 2010

Statue commemorating 30th anniversary of the eradication of smallpox unveiled

A statue commemorating the 30th anniversary of the eradication of smallpox is being unveiled today in front of the World Health Organization headquarters by the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Margaret Chan.

18 May 2010

Health Canada grants Response Biomedical Class 3 Medical Device license for RAMP RSV Assay

Response Biomedical Corporation today announced that it has been granted a Class 3 (near patient/point-of-care) Medical Device license by Health Canada to market its RAMP® Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Assay in Canada.

18 May 2010

Chimerix commences first-in-human study of CMX157 for HIV

Chimerix, Inc., a biotechnology company developing orally-available antiviral therapeutics, announced the commencement of a first-in-human study of CMX157, a novel lipid conjugate of the nucleotide tenofovir with in vitro activity against both tenofovir-sensitive and tenofovir-resistant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). CMX157 has the potential to increase efficacy and decrease toxicity as compared to tenofovir, and may enable the creation of new 'one pill, once-a-day', fixed-dose combination regimens for the treatment of HIV infection.

14 May 2010

Response Biomedical first-quarter total revenue down 43%

Response Biomedical Corporation today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

4 May 2010

Aethlon Medical plans to initiate patient recruitment for cancer immunotherapy study

Aethlon Medical, Inc., the pioneer in developing therapeutic filtration devices to address infectious disease and cancer, announced today that it plans to initiate patient recruitment for a cancer immunotherapy study by year end. The pilot study seeks to demonstrate an improved immune function in cancer patients as a result of the Aethlon Hemopurifier removing tumor-secreted exosomes from the circulatory system.

4 May 2010

Opinions: Sanitation and women, child health; GM in Global Food Security bill; U.S. malaria strategy; GHI on NTDs; Haiti recovery

"If Stephen Harper is serious about maternal health and child health [as suggested by his plans for the upcoming G8 and G20 summits], he needs to recognize that healthy mothers come from healthy communities," Maude Barlow and Meera Karunananthan of the Council of Canadians write in a Chronicle Herald opinion piece that examines the connections between the health of women and children and access to drinking water and sanitation.

30 Apr 2010

FDA grants Bavarian Nordic Fast Track designation for PROSTVAC

Bavarian Nordic A/S announced today that PROSTVAC™ has been granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for its proposed use in the treatment of men with asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

29 Apr 2010

Immunization campaigns to be launched simultaneously in 112 countries and territories

For the first time, immunization campaigns are being launched simultaneously tomorrow in 112 countries and territories in the World Health Organization Regions of the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean and Europe, with the goals of expanding immunization coverage and raising awareness of the importance of vaccines.

24 Apr 2010

NanoBio to develop intranasal vaccine for HBV

NanoBio® Corporation today announced an initiative to develop an intranasal vaccine for the treatment of hepatitis B (HBV). NanoBio and the University of Michigan's, Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences received funding through a Phase 1 Technology Transfer (STTR) award by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to evaluate a potential therapeutic intranasal vaccine for the treatment of hepatitis B in patients.

20 Apr 2010

Research shows general health spending offers better return in most affected areas

Eradicating smallpox was one of the greatest human accomplishments of the 20th century, but new research shows initiatives of this kind are not as good a use of health dollars as people might think.

16 Apr 2010

sBioMed's anthrax killing sterilant receives EPA approval

It has been nine years since the 2001 anthrax attacks sickened twenty-three people and killed five. Since that time, the U.S. government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in remediation and billions in their search for a disinfectant that can reliably kill anthrax spores and other pathogens that might be used as weapons.