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Study evaluates cost benefits of new interventions for treating, preventing PDN and PHN

Constantly rising U.S. health care costs could be reduced significantly by preventing and treating neuropathic pain conditions associated with diabetes and herpes zoster virus infections, according to research published in The Journal of Pain, the peer review publication of the American Pain Society, www.ampainsoc.org and jpain.org.

28 Apr 2010

AHF applauds Merck for doubling Isentress discount rebates and freezing price for ADAPs

Following an innovative, years long advocacy campaign spearheaded by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) that targeted Merck and Co. Pharmaceuticals over the pricing of its AIDS drug Isentress—one of the most expensive first line AIDS therapies on the US market today—officials from AHF lauded Merck today for significant concessions that the drug giant is putting in place on its pricing and rebate policies for the nation's AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAP), the federally funded, state run programs that supply lifesaving AIDS drugs to low-income Americans in need.

28 Apr 2010

BiondVax announces successful conclusion of second Phase I/II trial of Multimeric-001 Universal Flu Vaccine

BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd., an Israeli biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of global efforts towards the development of a Universal Influenza Vaccine, announced the successful conclusion of the Company's second Phase I/II clinical trial of the Multimeric-001 Universal Influenza Vaccine.

28 Apr 2010

Causes of death in AIDS patients

New research shows that Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) continues to dramatically reduce rates of mortality from HIV infection in high-income countries, such that non-AIDS-related deaths exceed AIDS deaths after approximately four years of taking ART.

28 Apr 2010

State Round-up: Federal prosecutors investigate bid rigging at New York hospitals; Montana prepares for health reform implementation; and Florida spares Medicaid from budget cuts

The Wall Street Journal: "Federal prosecutors are investigating allegations that bid rigging and fraud at Mount Sinai Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital resulted in the hospitals awarding contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to outside contractors. Purchasing officials at the hospitals ... are alleged to have gotten more than a million dollars in payments from companies that were then given lucrative contracts to perform work such as re-insulating pipes and removing asbestos, according to documents filed in the Southern District of New York.

28 Apr 2010

Researchers develop new diagnostic approach to fight against Chagas disease

Chagas disease is one of the most deadly parasitic diseases in the world. It affects more than 10 million people, primarily in the Americas. In South America alone it kills 50 000 people each year. A reliable and rapid diagnosis is the key in the battle against infection but until now, this has been next to impossible.

28 Apr 2010

Trade negotiations between EU, India could affect access to low-cost generics

The Associated Press examines the ongoing free-trade negotiations between the EU and India - a country that according to PricewaterhouseCoopers currently "makes one-fifth of the world's generics." The negotiations "could make it harder for millions … across the developing world to get lifesaving drugs. The deal is taking shape as India tries to transform itself from a generics powerhouse into a base for drug discovery - a trend that could ultimately do more than any trade agreement to curtail its reign as a pharmacy to the poor."

28 Apr 2010

China lifts ban on tourists suffering from HIV/AIDS

In a new development China has lifted its decades old reservations towards travelers and tourists suffering from HIV and AIDS in the wake of the Shanghai World Expo this weekend.

28 Apr 2010

WHO welcomes China's decision to remove entry, travel restrictions for people living with HIV

"China's decision to categorically remove HIV/AIDS from the list of conditions subject to entry restrictions is a significant step in the right direction," said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. "This decision should inspire other nations to change laws and policies that continue to discriminate against people living with HIV."

28 Apr 2010

Report looks at AIDS funding in developing countries

"A global pullback on commitments to fund and fight AIDS is resulting in restrictions on the number of people being enrolled into treatment programmes, more frequent drug shortages, and reduced national AIDS budgets," according to a report released Monday by the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition, BMJ News reports.

28 Apr 2010

News outlets continue malaria coverage

World Malaria Day was Sunday and news organizations continued to cover local events.

28 Apr 2010

International initiative seeks to reduce heterosexual HIV transmission

Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute has received a $350,000 grant to study the safety of a gel designed to reduce the heterosexual transmission of HIV from the International Partnership for Microbicides, a nonprofit global initiative to develop products to reduce HIV transmission, and the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Institute announced today.

28 Apr 2010

Australian Medical Association says doctor followed all procedures in flu shot death

The death of a two year old girl a day after she relieved a flu shot has become an issue for the Brisbane doctor who gave the girl and her twin sister the flu shot. The Australian Medical Association branch in Queenland has warned against making Dr Amir Eskandari the scapegoat in the case.

27 Apr 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals publishes encouraging results from Phase II GEMINI study in PNAS

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, announced today that it has published results from its Phase II GEMINI study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). These data, previously presented at the International Symposium on Respiratory Viral Infections in Singapore in 2008, showed human proof of concept with an RNAi therapeutic in a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study.

27 Apr 2010

Prime-boost malaria vaccine regimen provides sterile protection: Vical

Vical Incorporated announced today that a prime-boost malaria vaccine regimen provided sterile protection, with no disease symptoms and no detectable malaria parasites, in 4 of 15 vaccinated volunteers a full 28 days after challenge with multiple infected-mosquito bites.

27 Apr 2010

UK MHRA authorizes Presidio Pharmaceuticals to initiate Phase 1 clinical trial of PPI-461 for HCV

Presidio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorized the initiation of a Phase 1 first-in-human clinical trial of PPI-461, an orally administered NS5A inhibitor for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV). The Phase 1 clinical trial will be conducted in healthy volunteers.

27 Apr 2010

Laughter increases production of antibodies and activates body's protective cells

Laughter is a highly complex process. Joyous or mirthful laughter is considered a positive stress (eustress) that involves complicated brain activities leading to a positive effect on health. Norman Cousins first suggested the idea that humor and the associated laughter can benefit a person's health in the 1970s. His ground-breaking work, as a layperson diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, documented his use of laughter in treating himself—with medical approval and oversight—into remission.

27 Apr 2010

People infected with gastrointestinal worms respond better to injected vaccines

According to the World Health Organization, two billion people around the globe suffer from chronic parasitic worm infections, which, in addition to causing illness and developmental delay, are also suspected to interfere with the effectiveness of ordinary vaccines, making their victims more vulnerable to life-threatening diseases. A recent discovery by researchers at the Trudeau Institute promises to bypass these obstacles and help deliver more effective vaccines to these people, boosting their protection against common childhood diseases.

27 Apr 2010

Opinions: G8 summit; World Malaria Day; Family planning; Global Food Security Act

As G8 development leaders gather in Halifax, Nova Scotia, this week to discuss priorities for the upcoming summit, Josette Sheeran, executive director of the WFP, calls for world leaders to focus on the nutritional needs of mothers and children in developing countries in a Toronto Star opinion piece.

27 Apr 2010

News outlets examine World Malaria Day 2010

Ahead of Sunday's World Malaria Day, news outlets examined global efforts to combat the disease and the mood among advocates.

27 Apr 2010

Disease/Infection News

Study evaluates cost benefits of new interventions for treating, preventing PDN and PHN

AHF applauds Merck for doubling Isentress discount rebates and freezing price for ADAPs

BiondVax announces successful conclusion of second Phase I/II trial of Multimeric-001 Universal Flu Vaccine

Causes of death in AIDS patients

State Round-up: Federal prosecutors investigate bid rigging at New York hospitals; Montana prepares for health reform implementation; and Florida spares Medicaid from budget cuts

Researchers develop new diagnostic approach to fight against Chagas disease

Trade negotiations between EU, India could affect access to low-cost generics

China lifts ban on tourists suffering from HIV/AIDS

WHO welcomes China's decision to remove entry, travel restrictions for people living with HIV

Report looks at AIDS funding in developing countries

News outlets continue malaria coverage

International initiative seeks to reduce heterosexual HIV transmission

Australian Medical Association says doctor followed all procedures in flu shot death

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals publishes encouraging results from Phase II GEMINI study in PNAS

Prime-boost malaria vaccine regimen provides sterile protection: Vical

UK MHRA authorizes Presidio Pharmaceuticals to initiate Phase 1 clinical trial of PPI-461 for HCV

Laughter increases production of antibodies and activates body's protective cells

People infected with gastrointestinal worms respond better to injected vaccines

Opinions: G8 summit; World Malaria Day; Family planning; Global Food Security Act

News outlets examine World Malaria Day 2010

Edoardo Fabini

Reducing polypharmacy through innovative drug formulation technologies

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