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Star-Ledger examines Tibotec's agreement with generic drug makers on experimental HIV/AIDS treatment

In a piece on the move by drug manufacturer Tibotec Pharmaceuticals to grant licenses to generic manufacturers in India and South Africa to create copies of its experimental HIV/AIDS drug, the New Jersey Star-Ledger examines why drug companies are particularly focused on expanding their reach in sub-Saharan Africa.

1 Mar 2011

Anti-AIDS gel shows promise

Dr. Ian McGowan, a professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh who is leading a second-phase study of the gel said, “These are early results, but [they] help set the stage for current and future trials of rectal microbicides and the development of a rectal-specific formulation of tenofovir gel.” Researchers have focused on the use of microbicides such as tenofovir, as a preventive treatment to be used in vaginal sex. However, scientists think unprotected anal sex is much more risky.

1 Mar 2011

Scientists to launch international working group to tackle HIV

More than 30 scientists gathered for a one-day meeting prior to the 18th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections to launch an international working group on HIV reservoirs and strategies to control them.

1 Mar 2011

Meda launches Medivir's cold sore treatment Xerese in the U.S.

Medivir AB, the emerging research-based specialty pharmaceutical company focused on infectious diseases, today announces that the Company's commercialization partner, Meda AB, has launched Medivir's unique cold sore treatment Xerese in the United States.

1 Mar 2011

Positive preliminary data from SB-728-902 Phase 1 trial against HIV/AIDS presented at 18th CROI

Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. announced today the presentation of positive preliminary clinical data from its Phase 1 trial.

1 Mar 2011

Novavax announces agreement to license VLP vaccine technology to LGLS

Novavax, Inc. announced today an agreement to license its proprietary, recombinant virus-like-particle vaccine technology to LG Life Sciences, Ltd.

1 Mar 2011

Cancer drug may help combat flu

Ever get a flu shot and still get the flu? If so, there's new hope for flu-free winters in the years to come thanks to a new discovery by researchers who found that a drug called DMXAA, originally developed as anti-tumor agent, enhances the ability of flu vaccines to ward off this deadly virus.

1 Mar 2011

Social networking websites can increase risky sexual behaviors in homeless youth: New study

A new UCLA AIDS Institute study suggests that the use of social networking websites by homeless youth can lead to an increase in risky sexual behaviors. But interestingly, homeless kids who used these sites were also more likely to have been tested for sexually transmitted infections and to be better informed about preventing such infections and HIV.

1 Mar 2011

HHS awards two contracts to accelerate flu vaccine availability

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded two contracts today to help make vaccine available more quickly for seasonal flu outbreaks and pandemics. The contracts for advanced development of new types of vaccine and new ways to make flu vaccine known as next-generation recombinant influenza vaccine total $215 million.

28 Feb 2011

EDMA supports the Rare Disease Day

On the occasion of the 2011 Rare Disease Day, EDMA, the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association, underlines the crucial role the In Vitro Diagnostic industry can play to diagnose rare diseases.

28 Feb 2011

Tenofovir gel may help reduce risk of HIV from anal sex

A gel developed to protect against HIV during vaginal sex produced a strong antiviral effect when used in the rectum, according to an early-phase study presented today at the 18th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI). The results, based on rectal tissue biopsies sampled from HIV-negative men and women who used the product daily for one week, provide the first-ever evidence that tenofovir gel could help reduce the risk of HIV from anal sex, even though the vaginal gel formulation may not be optimal for rectal use.

28 Feb 2011

Synageva supports Fourth International Rare Disease Day

Synageva BioPharma Corp., a privately held biopharmaceutical company that is developing therapeutic products for rare disorders, announced today that the company is supporting the Fourth International Rare Disease Day observance on February 28, 2011.

28 Feb 2011

Positive results from Trius torezolid Phase 1 lung study

Trius Therapeutics, Inc. today announced results from its Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the ability of torezolid to penetrate into the lung for potential use to treat lung infections. In this study a 200 mg dose of torezolid phosphate was administered orally once-daily for three days to healthy adult volunteers. The trial achieved its primary goal of establishing the steady-state plasma pharmacokinetics and distribution of active drug into epithelial lining fluid (ELF).

28 Feb 2011

EPA approves BioNeutral's Ygiene 206 antimicrobial disinfectant

BioNeutral Group, Inc., a specialty life science technology-based company, today announced that it has received approval and registration from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in response to the Company's regulatory application for its Ygiene™ 206.

28 Feb 2011

19th annual EJAF Academy Awards Viewing Party raises nearly $4 million to fight against HIV/AIDS

The 19th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party hosted by Sir Elton John and David Furnish raised nearly $4 million for the fight against HIV/AIDS. The gala, which took place on Sunday, February 27, at the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles, was co-sponsored by Chopard and Jo & Raffy Manoukian.

28 Feb 2011

Immunitor to present latest results from imm01 trial in tuberculosis patients at African conference

Immune Network Ltd. advises that Immunitor will present latest results from its imm01 clinical trial in tuberculosis patients in Abuja, Nigeria at the 18th Union TB and Lung Diseases Conference of the African Region, 2nd to 5th March, 2011.

28 Feb 2011

MEPs, OETC visit new TB vaccine trial site to express support for candidate development

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. announced that a joint delegation of Members of the European Parliament and representatives from the Oxford-Emergent Tuberculosis Consortium today visited the trial site where MVA85A, the world's most clinically advanced tuberculosis vaccine candidate in development, is being studied in a Phase IIb infant efficacy clinical trial.

28 Feb 2011

New research may shed light on how HIV virus reactivates from latency

New research enhances the current knowledge of how human immunodeficiency virus type-1, which causes AIDS, controls the cell cycle of cells that it infects. The new findings may shed light on how the virus reactivates after entering a dormant state, called latency.

28 Feb 2011

House, Senate leaders continue negotiations on FY11 budget; global health advocates protest spending cuts

Federal budget negotiations continued on Thursday, "as Senate Democrats looked for targets for cuts in the remaining months of fiscal 2011 and House Republicans appeared ready to unveil a stopgap plan that would make deep reductions over the next two weeks," CQ reports.

28 Feb 2011

Scientists identify new pathogen linked to childhood dental disease

Researchers at The Forsyth Institute have made a significant discovery about the nature of childhood dental disease. The scientific studies led by Anne Tanner, BDS, Ph.D., identified a new pathogen connected to severe early childhood caries.

28 Feb 2011