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NanoViricides anti-HIV drug candidates demonstrate efficacy in cell culture studies with HIV-1 isolates

NanoViricides, Inc. reports that its anti-HIV drug candidates demonstrated efficacy in the recently completed cell culture studies using two distinctly different HIV-1 isolates. The studies were performed in the laboratory of Carol Lackman-Smith at the Southern Research Institute, Frederick, Maryland.

8 Jun 2010

Health Canada approves Novartis' Menveo for prevention of meningococcal disease

Novartis Pharmaceutical Canada Inc. announced that Menveo (Meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y and W-135) Oligosaccharide CRM197 Conjugate Vaccine), a quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine was approved by Health Canada for active immunization of adolescents (11 to 18 years of age) and adults (19 to 55 years of age) to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y and W-135.

8 Jun 2010

Idera reports preliminary results from IMO-3100 Phase 1 clinical trial for autoimmune, inflammatory diseases

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced preliminary results from a Phase 1 clinical trial of IMO-3100, its lead Toll-like Receptor (TLR) 7 and TLR9 antagonist drug candidate for potential applications in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In this trial, healthy subjects in five dosage cohorts received single doses of IMO-3100 from 0.04 to 0.64 mg/kg. IMO-3100 was well tolerated at all dose levels.

8 Jun 2010

FDA grants Cepheid marketing clearance for Xpert SA Nasal Complete molecular test

Cepheid today announced it has received clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to market Xpert® SA Nasal Complete, the first and only molecular test designed for the simultaneous detection and differentiation of both Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization in less than one hour. The test runs on Cepheid's GeneXpert® System, the world's leading molecular platform for accuracy, speed, and ease-of-use.

8 Jun 2010

Vitiligo associated with genes variations linked to body's immune response

Scientists including researchers from the University of Florida have discovered additional evidence that generalized vitiligo - a disease that typically causes patches of white skin on the face, neck and extremities that pop star Michael Jackson may have experienced - is associated with slight variations in genes that play a role in the body's natural defenses.

8 Jun 2010

Combined cardiac bypass and liver tumor surgery performed on 63-year-old Nigerian

Adding another feat to the history of cardiothoracic surgery at Fortis Hospitals Bangalore, the team of experts led by noted Dr. Vivek Jawali, Chief Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Dr. Ramcharan Thiagarajan, Consultant Surgical GI & Hepato-Pancreatic Biliary Surgoen has performed a combined cardiac bypass and liver tumor surgery on a 63 year old Nigerian.

8 Jun 2010

New tool to expedite research ethics review during emergency preparedness

A new emergency review tool will help research ethics boards and institutions to expedite research while respecting the procedures of ethics reviews, states an article in CMAJ.

8 Jun 2010

Chemotherapy drug sunitinib promising for HIV-positive cancer patients

Preliminary findings from a unique study with sunitinib suggest that it might be possible to tweak the dosage of chemotherapy drugs used to treat HIV-positive cancer patients to achieve therapeutic benefit. Given the type of drug cocktail patients use to treat their HIV, much more or considerably less chemotherapy may be warranted, say the researchers, part of the NCI-supported AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC). The trial design is being presented at the 2010 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

8 Jun 2010

Updated HIV treatment guidelines may benefit individuals infected with HIV: Researchers

Researchers from the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS and the University of British Columbia today released a comprehensive study revealing that the 2008 IAS-USA therapy guidelines for commencing HIV treatment would create significant benefits for individuals infected with HIV and society as a whole.

8 Jun 2010

Can-Fite BioPharma opens CF101 IND for psoriasis with US FDA

Can-Fite BioPharma Ltd, a biotechnology company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, announced today that it has opened Investigational New Drug application (IND) with the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA). The IND is for Can-Fite's lead compound, CF101, for the treatment of patients with psoriasis. This is the third US IND for CF101, and the fourth for Can-Fite.

8 Jun 2010

QBC Diagnostics launches SureFocus Microscope Slide for detection of tuberculosis bacteria

QBC Diagnostics is pleased to announce the release of the SureFocus Microscope Slide, a breakthrough in the detection of tuberculosis bacteria.

8 Jun 2010

HIV & Hepatitis scare after endoscopy at a Warrawong Clinic

The South-Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health Service claims that the risk of contracting blood borne serious viral infections like HIV and Hepatitis are low among patients who had an endoscopy done at a private Warrawong clinic. This clinic came under into the spotlight after investigations started to detect the cause of illness in nine persons who underwent endoscopy. The facility is at Cowper Street, Warrawong run by Dr Zakaria Lakhany and is presently closed.

7 Jun 2010

Ten prevention tips to stay safe from infection and illness during summer camp

As summer sets in, nearly six million campers will attend summer camps in the U.S. And while summer is typically not know as cold or flu season, illnesses and injuries – some very serious – occur every year at hundreds of camps.

7 Jun 2010

BGS develops new bio filters for testing E. coli, salmonella, listeria and pseudomonas in food samples

BioSpec Global Solutions Inc., and partner -ICBS Ltd., announced today that it has begun development of three new bio filter for the testing of E. coli, salmonella, listeria and pseudomonas in food samples. Development of the Antibody/antigen multiple discrete filters and optical system for the simultaneous analysis of E.coli, salmonella, listeria and pseudomonas in food samples.

7 Jun 2010

Thesis examines infections caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum in lambs

Erik Georg Granquist's thesis examines infections caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum in lambs. This bacterium is the cause of the disease tick-borne fever in ruminants and granulocytic anaplasmosis in humans. The bacterium is transmitted by ticks and is the indirect cause of considerable animal welfare problems and financial losses in Norwegian sheep farming.

7 Jun 2010

GSK submits BENLYSTA MAA for systemic lupus erythematosus

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today announced that GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has submitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for approval to market BENLYSTA® (belimumab) for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

7 Jun 2010

Eye test to detect cattle infected with Mad Cow Disease

The eyes may or may not be windows to the soul, as the old adage goes, but scientists are reporting evidence that a peek into the eyes of cattle may become the basis for a long-sought test to detect infection with the agent that causes Mad Cow Disease. That test could help prevent the disease from spreading in the food supply. A study on using the tell-tale glow given off by eyes infected with the Mad Cow agent appears in ACS' semi-monthly journal Analytical Chemistry.

5 Jun 2010

IFST Advisory Statement cautions against food-borne Campylobacter infection

Campylobacter is one of the major causes of food poisoning, and the theme of this year's Food Safety Week is how to prevent illness caused by it. Campylobacter is a germ that occurs widely in the intestines of many warm-blooded animals and birds, particularly chickens and turkeys, and can be carried in animals that are used for food production and in domestic pets. In addition, it can occur in untreated water and raw milk.

5 Jun 2010

CSTE 2010 Annual Conference to focus on public health challenges

The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists 2010 Annual Conference will be held June 6-10 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon. An array of experts representing federal, state, and local health departments will discuss issues ranging from last year's flu pandemic, obesity, food safety, health care reform, information technology, and the global response to disasters such as the Haiti earthquake.

5 Jun 2010

BMJ report questions WHO advisors' ties to pharmaceutical industry

"Key scientists behind World Health Organization advice on stockpiling of pandemic flu drugs had financial ties with companies which stood to profit," according to a joint investigation by BMJ in collaboration with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, BBC News reports (6/4).

5 Jun 2010