Swine Flu News and Research

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Swine Flu or influenza A (H1N1) is a new flu virus of swine origin that first caused illness in Mexico and the United States in March and April, 2009. It’s thought that novel influenza A (H1N1) flu spreads in the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread, mainly through the coughs and sneezes of people who are sick with the virus, but it may also be spread by touching infected objects and then touching your nose or mouth. Novel H1N1 infection has been reported to cause a wide range of flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. In addition, many people also have reported nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea.

Biocryst seeks FDA NDA approval for Peramivir to treat influenza

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of treatments for rare and infectious diseases, today announced that it has submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) filing for intravenous (i.v.) peramivir to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). BioCryst is seeking an indication as the first i.v. neuraminidase inhibitor approved in the U.S. for the treatment of acute uncomplicated influenza in adults. Peramivir is approved in Japan and Korea for the treatment of influenza.

20 Dec 2013

European Medicines Agency awards orphan drug designation to NanoViricides' DengueCide

NanoViricides, Inc. announced today that the European Medicines Agency, has awarded orphan drug designation to DengueCide, the Company's drug candidate for the treatment of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever.

11 Nov 2013

NanoViricides’ FluCide drug candidate found to be well tolerated in non-GLP safety/toxicology study

NanoViricides, Inc. (the "Company") reports that its optimized injectable FluCide® drug candidate was found to be well tolerated in a non-GLP small animal safety/toxicology study. This study is an important step in the drug development pathway for FluCide.

21 Oct 2013

FMCNA encourages dialysis patients to get vaccinated against flu

With early cases of seasonal flu already being reported in the U.S., Fresenius Medical Care North America (FMCNA), the nation's leading network of dialysis facilities, is strongly encouraging dialysis patients to get flu shots to protect themselves against this common infectious disease.

9 Oct 2013

VVRP receives contract from NIH to continue its work as Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units

The Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program (VVRP) has received a contract from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue its work as one of the nation's Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units (VTEU).

27 Sep 2013

Scientists one step closer to developing universal flu vaccine

Scientists have moved closer to developing a universal flu vaccine after using the 2009 pandemic as a natural experiment to study why some people seem to resist severe illness.

23 Sep 2013

Research roundup: 'Cadillac' plan taxes; 'chronic care management' for substance abusers; long-term care services

As health coverage expands to tens of millions of Americans--through Medicaid expansion in states and the new state health insurance exchanges that will soon begin selling individual health coverage--some Americans with employer-sponsored health coverage are seeing their benefits decrease.

21 Sep 2013

New technology to diagnose influenza quickly

A new technology is showing promise as the basis for a much-needed home test to diagnose influenza quickly, before the window for taking antiviral drugs slams shut and sick people spread the virus to others, scientists reported here today. In a presentation at the 246th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), they described how it also could determine the specific strain of flu virus and help select the most effective drug for treatment.

10 Sep 2013

BiondVax: Priming with universal flu vaccine makes conventional bird flu vaccine effective against pandemic strains

BiondVax announced today that priming with universal flu vaccine before boosting with a conventional bird flu H5N1 vaccine (containing a single strain from Clade 1) resulted in mice exhibiting a significantly higher level of immunity to the strain contained in the conventional bird flu vaccine and in addition, broadened immunity to other H5N1 flu strains (from Clade 2).

27 Aug 2013

Best way to protect infants from influenza is to vaccinate rest of the family

A University of Sydney study has found the best way to protect children under six months of age from influenza, the most vulnerable of the population to the condition, is to vaccinate the rest of the family.

23 Aug 2013

NanoViricides, LRRI sign NDA for IND-enabling efficacy studies on FluCide drug candidates

NanoViricides, Inc. said it has signed a non-disclosure agreement with the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute. The Company intends to enter into a Master Services Agreement with LRRI for the IND-enabling efficacy studies of both its broad-spectrum injectable and oral FluCide drug candidates.

5 Aug 2013

H7 influenza may spillover repeatedly into humans, say scientists

The H7N9 avian flu strain that emerged in China earlier this year has subsided for now, but it would be a mistake to be reassured by this apparent lull in infections. The virus has several highly unusual traits that paint a disquieting picture of a pathogen that may yet lead to a pandemic, according to lead scientists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

10 Jul 2013

NanoViricides submits letter of intent to file Orphan Drug Application with EMA for DengueCide

NanoViricides, Inc. announced today that it has submitted its letter of intent to file an Orphan Drug Application with the European Medicines Agency for DengueCide, its drug candidate for the treatment of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever.

1 Jul 2013

NACC recommendations address established pain therapies and preview potential future advances

Recommendations of the Neuromodulation Appropriateness Consensus Committee (NACC), announced at the 11th World Congress of the International Neuromodulation Society (INS), address established therapies and preview emerging and potential future advances.

13 Jun 2013

NanoViricides files Orphan Drug application with FDA for DengueCide

NanoViricides, Inc. announced today that it has filed an Orphan Drug application with the Office of Orphan Product Development of the US FDA for DengueCide, its drug candidate for the treatment of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever.

10 Jun 2013

Sinovac Beijing receives GMP certificate for its proprietary vaccines

Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in China, announced that Sinovac Beijing, the main operating subsidiary company of Sinovac, obtained the Certificate of Good Manufacturing Practices for Pharmaceutical Products (GMP Certificate) from the China State and Food Administration (CFDA) for its proprietary vaccines, its Haidian district bulk production plants, and its Changping filing and packaging facility.

24 May 2013

To avoid difficulties experienced during SARS epidemic, China must remain transparent in H7N9 efforts

"On this 10th anniversary of China's April 2003 admission that the SARS virus had spread across that country ... Beijing finds itself once again in a terrible position via-a-vis the microbial and geopolitical worlds," Laurie Garrett, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, writes in a Foreign Policy opinion piece, noting the emergence of a new strain of bird flu, H7N9, in the country.

25 Apr 2013

Anti-vaccination messages spread more easily than positive ones on Twitter, researchers find

On Twitter, a popular microblogging and social-networking service, statements about vaccines may have unexpected effects -- positive messages may backfire, according to a team of Penn State University researchers led by Marcel Salath-, an assistant professor of biology.

5 Apr 2013

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals receives preliminary comment letter from FDA on peramivir

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it received a preliminary comment letter from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration that outlines a pathway by which BioCryst could file a New Drug Application seeking regulatory approval of intravenous (i.v.) peramivir.

1 Apr 2013

UCLA researchers predict hotspots for future outbreaks of influenza virus

This year's unusually long and rocky flu season would be nothing compared to the pandemic that could occur if bird flu became highly contagious among humans, which is why UCLA researchers and their colleagues are creating new ways to predict where an outbreak could emerge.

17 Mar 2013