Allergies News and Research

Latest Allergies News and Research

First trial of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine testing launched

The first trial testing a candidate 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine in pregnant women is launching this week, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, announced today.

10 Sep 2009

Federal contract awarded to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to study use of antibiotics in children

In the largest study of its kind, pediatric researchers at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have received a federal contract for a project to determine the most beneficial method of using antibiotics to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children.

10 Sep 2009

Ceragenix awarded $2.87M NIH grant to develop a drug for treating Clostrdium difficile and Shigella

Ceragenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Ceragenix”) (OTCBB:CGXP), a medical device company focused on infectious disease and dermatology, today announced that the National Institutes of Health (“NIH”) has awarded a $2.87 million grant to fund the pre clinical development of a Ceragenin™based oral drug to treat two common and potentially deadly gastrointestinal infections: Clostrdium difficile and Shigella.

9 Sep 2009

Foodborne illnesses could be tackled with FDA's Reportable Food Registry

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a new way to head off potential cases of foodborne illness - the Reportable Food Registry (RFR), where food industry officials must use to alert the FDA quickly, through an electronic portal when they find their products might sicken or kill people or animals. The requirement, a result of legislation, took effect with the launch of the portal.

9 Sep 2009

NIH awards Vaxart $2.8M grant to develop an orally-delivered H5N1 Avian influenza vaccine

Vaxart, Inc., a San Francisco biotechnology company developing oral-delivery vaccines, has been awarded a $2.8 million phase II Small Business Innovation Research grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (National Institutes of Health) to support development of its first product, an orally-delivered vaccine for H5N1 Avian influenza.

9 Sep 2009

FDA approves ISTA's Bepreve for treating ocular itch

ISTA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ISTA) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Bepreve(TM) (bepotastine besilate ophthalmic solution) 1.5% as a twice-daily prescription eye drop treatment for ocular itching associated with allergic conjunctivitis in patients two years of age and older.

9 Sep 2009

Philadelphia MCAN project as model for managing childhood asthma and reducing H1N1 risk

Nearly a dozen 7th graders with asthma were welcomed along with other classmates back to school today by a special guest who had a message for them about staying healthy - Kathleen Sebelius, 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).

9 Sep 2009

Exhibition on history of immunology to be presented at 2nd European Congress of Immunology

An exhibition entitled "The Birth of Immunology" during the 2nd European Congress of Immunology from13th to 16th September 2009 at the main foyer of the ICC in Berlin will offer insights into the fast-paced history of immunology. Immunology has promoted medical progress since the end of the 19th century like almost no other discipline.

8 Sep 2009

Axel Ullrich receives the 2009 Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research

Johnson & Johnson today honored the career achievements of Axel Ullrich, Ph.D., with the 2009 Dr. Paul Janssen Award for Biomedical Research. Dr. Ullrich received this award for his scientific discoveries that led to innovative new drugs including Herceptin((R)) (trastuzumab)*, a personalized medicine therapy, which was the first to target a specific type of breast cancer.

8 Sep 2009

Chronic pediatric cough linked to reflux and allergies

New research shows that chronic cough in children is most often caused by gastroesophageal reflux and allergies. Researchers from Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, evaluated 40 patients aged 5 to 12 years with chronic cough (> 8 weeks in duration) with no obvious cause. Each patient underwent extensive multispecialty testing. Results showed that reflux was the single most commonly associated factor of chronic cough by itself (27.5 percent), followed by allergy (22.5 percent).

8 Sep 2009

Azelastine and fluticasone combination for allergic rhinitis gets new lease

Meda and Cipla Ltd, a leading pharma company in India, have expanded the existing long term collaboration agreement for the combination of azelastine and fluticasone.

8 Sep 2009

Benefits of early exposure to daycare not sustainable

New research hints that the common belief that kids who go to daycare have lower rates of asthma and allergy later in life might be nothing more than wishful thinking. While young children in daycare definitely do get more illnesses and experience more respiratory symptoms as a result, any perceived protection these exposures afford against asthma and allergy seem to disappear by the time the child hits the age of eight.

8 Sep 2009

New protein fragments identified for anthrax vaccine development

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have identified two small protein fragments that could be developed into an anthrax vaccine that may cause fewer side effects than the current vaccine.

4 Sep 2009

Novel SLE Responder Index as the primary endpoint in two Phase 3 clinical trials

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. today announced publication by the journal Arthritis Care & Research of an article describing the development and use of a novel evidence-based systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Responder Index selected as the primary endpoint of two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials of BENLYSTA (belimumab) in serologically active patients with SLE.

4 Sep 2009

rPA anthrax vaccine and its Valortim anthrax anti-toxin program data presented

PharmAthene, Inc., a biodefense company developing medical countermeasures against biological and chemical threats, announced today that data from the Company's third generation recombinant protective antigen (rPA) anthrax vaccine program and its Valortim((R)) anthrax anti-toxin program were presented at the Bacillus - ACT 2009 meeting, August 30 - September 3, 2009, organized by the American Society for Microbiology.

4 Sep 2009

Damprid's recommendations for tackling seasonal allergy

For America’s 60 million seasonal allergy sufferers, fall can be one of the most difficult times of year as ragweed begins to release its pollen into the air and mold and fungus spores increase due to the decay of leaves and other plants. Each ragweed plant produces one billion pollen grains per average season. This generally continues until the first frost, usually in October.

3 Sep 2009

New clinical trials to address the effectiveness of antimicrobial drugs

Scientists are addressing the threat of antimicrobial drug resistance by launching two new clinical trials aimed at prolonging the effectiveness of currently available antibacterial drugs. The concept underlying both studies: Less is more.

3 Sep 2009

National Cancer Institute awards grant to Receptor Logic for breast cancer research

Receptor Logic, Inc. announced today receipt of a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grant from the National Cancer Institute. The grant, entitled “Therapeutic Effectiveness of T-Cell Receptor mimic (TCRm™) Antibodies in Breast Cancer Treatment” will accelerate Investigational New Drug Application enabling studies surrounding lead candidate TCRm antibodies.

3 Sep 2009

Sepracor to be acquired by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma for $2.6 billion

Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. (“DSP”, TSE: 4506) and Sepracor Inc. (“Sepracor”, Nasdaq: SEPR) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which DSP will acquire Sepracor for approximately $2.6 billion through a cash tender offer of $23.00 per share, followed by a merger to acquire all remaining outstanding Sepracor shares at the same price paid in the tender offer.

3 Sep 2009

Obama urges Americans to take precautions to protect themselves from H1N1

After a day of meetings with senior White House officials to discuss the U.S. preparations for H1N1 (swine) flu Tuesday, President Obama urged Americans to take the proper precautions to protect themselves from infection, the Associated Press/Boston Herald reports (9/1).

3 Sep 2009