Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

New results from BioCryst's BCX4208 Phase 2b gout study

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. presents new results from its Phase 2b randomized, double-blind, dose-response study of BCX4208 in patients with gout who have failed to reach the clinically important serum uric acid (sUA) goal of <6 mg/dL on allopurinol alone.

8 Nov 2011

Private sector companies should contribute to GAVI Matching Fund

The GAVI Alliance has "announced a major new initiative aimed at engaging private sector leaders: the GAVI Matching Fund," through which "the British Government's Department for International Development (DFID) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will provide a 100 percent match of contributions to GAVI from corporations and foundations as well as their customers, members and employees," Bill Roedy, former CEO of MTV Networks and a GAVI Alliance envoy, writes in a post on the Huffington Post's "Impact" blog.

8 Nov 2011

Beware mail order Chicken pox warn Doctors

Doctors have warned against a new trend that has emerged via social networking websites like Facebook - one that guides parents through a process of exposing their children to chicken pox, so that they can get the virus, early and avoid any need for vaccination.

7 Nov 2011

Transgenomic and A. Menarini Diagnostics enter distribution agreement for mutation detection systems

Transgenomic, Inc. and A. Menarini Diagnostics today announced an exclusive distribution agreement for Transgenomic's SURVEYOR Scan and WAVE MCE (Micro-Capillary Electrophoresis) Mutation Detection system to its network of over 2,000 pathologists throughout Europe.

7 Nov 2011

Electronic Nose can diagnose TB in symptomatic patients

A new hand-held device called the Electronic Nose, which has the potential to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) in symptomatic patients, was awarded a $950,000 grant from Grand Challenges Canada and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today to support further development and testing of this ground-breaking technology.

7 Nov 2011

Encouraging results from SEEK's FLU-v Phase II study

SEEK, a leading UK privately-owned drug-discovery group, today announced encouraging results following the successful completion of its Universal Flu Vaccine Phase II challenge study.

7 Nov 2011

UCB to sponsor several key sets of Cimzia data on RA at ACR 2011 meeting

UCB, a leading biopharmaceutical company at the forefront of immunology treatment and research, is proud to sponsor several key sets of Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) data at the American College of Rheumatology's 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, November 5-9.

7 Nov 2011

New data from Novartis' ACZ885 Phase III study on SJIA

Novartis announced today new pivotal Phase III data showing 45% of children with active systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) were able to substantially reduce their use of oral corticosteroids (often described as steroids) within 28 weeks of commencing treatment with ACZ885.

7 Nov 2011

MRSA co-infection increases risk of flu-related mortality among children

During the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, many previously healthy children became critically ill, developing severe pneumonia and respiratory failure, sometimes fatal. The largest nationwide investigation to date of influenza in critically ill children, led by Children's Hospital Boston, found one key risk factor: Simultaneous infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) increased the risk for flu-related mortality 8-fold among previously healthy children.

7 Nov 2011

Children with polyarticular JIA benefit from early and aggressive therapy

Children with juvenile arthritis who are treated early and aggressively have better outcomes, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago.

7 Nov 2011

Doctors may stop anti-TNF medications for RA patients before surgery to reduce disease flares

As guidelines recommend, doctors appear to be stopping anti-TNF medications before surgery, but may be doing so far sooner than is necessary, according to a new study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery. These medications are used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, and better timing of withdrawal prior to surgery might minimize the risk of disease flares.

6 Nov 2011

Final results from Vertex VX-509 Phase 2a study on RA

Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated today announced the final results from a Phase 2a study of the investigational selective oral JAK3 inhibitor VX-509.

6 Nov 2011

$Women under 50 with RA more likely to have new fractures$

Women under 50 with RA more likely to have new fractures

Women under 50 with rheumatoid arthritis are at greater risk of breaking bones than women without the condition, according to a Mayo Clinic study being presented at the American College of Rheumatology annual scientific meeting in Chicago.

6 Nov 2011

Teleflex to showcase respiratory solutions, education programs at AARC Congress

Teleflex Incorporated will showcase a number of respiratory solutions and education programs at the annual American Association of Respiratory Care Congress to be held in Tampa, Florida on November 5-8, 2011.

5 Nov 2011

Human Genome Sciences to present abstracts regarding BENLYSTA, SLE at ACR/ARHP meeting

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. announced today that several abstracts related to BENLYSTA (belimumab) and systemic lupus erythematosus will be presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology/ Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals, being held in Chicago, IL from November 4 to November 9, 2011.

5 Nov 2011

Supplemental dose of pneumonia vaccine recommended for age-eligible patients

In a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthcare providers are being urged to administer a supplemental dose of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to age-eligible patients as they come in for visits.

5 Nov 2011

Misconceptions affecting participation in HIV vaccine trials

On December 1st, World AIDS Day 2011 will be observed in many countries around the globe. The theme of this year's World AIDS Day is "Getting to Zero"—specifically, zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.

5 Nov 2011

Single-parent status, household income linked to increased rate of hospital readmissions of asthmatic children

Financial strain and competing priorities at home may contribute to the greater number of hospital readmissions of children with asthma from single-parent homes compared to dual-parent households, according to a new study presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Meeting in Boston, Nov. 3-8.

5 Nov 2011

Sunovion reports positive results from ciclesonide nasal aerosol Phase III study for perennial allergic rhinitis

Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. today announced results from a large Phase III clinical study of ciclesonide nasal aerosol, a corticosteroid formulated with a hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) propellant, intended for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

5 Nov 2011

Dark, cold weather derails physical activity routines of older people with arthritis: Study

As cold winter weather sets in and daylight hours dwindle, many older Chicagoans with arthritis tend to sit idle, missing out on the daily dose of physical activity they need to improve their health, according to a Northwestern Medicine study.

5 Nov 2011