Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Shionogi files New Drug Application in Japan

BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that its partner, Shionogi & Co., Ltd. has filed a New Drug Application (NDA) in Japan to seek regulatory approval for intravenous (i.v.) peramivir to treat patients with influenza. As a consequence of this filing, BioCryst will receive a regulatory milestone payment of $7 million under its agreement with Shionogi.

4 Nov 2009

Henry Schein announces record financial results for third quarter 2009; reports net sales growth in local currencies

Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), the largest provider of healthcare products and services to office-based practitioners, today reported record financial results for the quarter ended September 26, 2009.

4 Nov 2009

Hospitalization and death of H1N1 patients can occur at all ages, says study

In contrast with some common perceptions regarding 2009 influenza A(H1N1) infections, an examination of cases in California indicates that hospitalization and death can occur at all ages, and about 30 percent of hospitalized cases have been severe enough to require treatment in an intensive care unit, according to a study in the November 4 issue of JAMA.

4 Nov 2009

Leprosy: Man's persistent companion

For thousands of years an undesirable and persistent companion has been travelling with man wherever he goes. Mycobacterium leprae, the bacterium that causes leprosy, has only one known natural host - mankind.

4 Nov 2009

Five-year old Pennsylvanian boy dies of H1N1 flu complications

The Department of Health today confirmed that a five-year old Adams County boy died on Oct. 31 as a result of complications from H1N1 flu. This is Pennsylvania's first pediatric death associated with H1N1.

4 Nov 2009

Fear of flu pandemic triggers fear of unrelated health hazards: Study

The swine flu (H1N1) pandemic has received extensive media coverage this year. The World Health Organization, in addition to providing frequent updates about cases of infection and death tolls, recommends hyper vigilance in daily hygiene such as frequent hand washing or sneezing into the crook of our arms. News reports at all levels, from local school closures to airport screenings and global disease surveillance, continue to remind us of the high risk.

4 Nov 2009

Report: Pandemic flu threat influences vaccine market to expand rapidly

MarketResearch.com has announced the addition of Datamonitor's new report "Seasonal Influenza Vaccines Market Forecast," to their collection of Healthcare market reports.

4 Nov 2009

H1N1 has increased focus on effect of hygiene on health

H1N1 has led to increased focus on how everyday hygiene affects our health. Not only is more attention given to managing personal hygiene, but a new cleaning logic is emerging, where wiping the door knob an extra time1 each day is considered more important than picking up the dust in the corner.

4 Nov 2009

Propylene glycol in e cigarettes might keep us healthy, says researchers

According to the Centers for Disease Control, during 2000-2004, "An estimated 443,000 persons in the United States died prematurely each year from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke.

4 Nov 2009

Colorful fruits and vegetables help boost immunity system

Hoping to keep the flu at bay? A strong immune system helps. Enjoying the bounty of colorful fruits and vegetables available right now can be an important step toward supporting your family's immune system this cold/flu season.

4 Nov 2009

H1N1 vaccine: Discussions and debates

You can't avoid H1N1 media coverage. It's front-page news on the web, the presses, the airways. Vaccine details, or lack of, are spurring discussion and debate. And a lot of people are in a quandary about whether or not to have the H1N1 shot based on their personal views and the information disseminated for public knowledge.

4 Nov 2009

U.S. clinical trials show single dose of H1N1 vaccine protects pregnant women, children under 10 need two doses

U.S. government data released on Monday confirmed that a single dose of the vaccine protects pregnant women from the virus, while children under the age of 10 years need two doses of the vaccine, the Washington Post reports. The findings came the same day that a team of experts tasked with monitoring the national H1N1 vaccine campaign for any adverse side effects met for the first time.

4 Nov 2009

Aetna provides free electronic roster billing to pharmacies and other providers for H1N1 flu vaccine claims

Aetna is providing free electronic roster billing for pharmacies and other non-traditional providers to use when submitting claims for the administration of the H1N1 flu vaccine.

4 Nov 2009

Specimen Collection Kit to help medical personnel combat H1N1 and RSV

As the outbreak of H1N1 (Swine Flu) intensifies, there is a growing need for greater speed and accuracy in collecting specimens from patients for testing to determine with what they've been infected.

4 Nov 2009

Common pain killers may blunt the effect of flu shots

With flu vaccination season in full swing, research from the University of Rochester Medical Center cautions that use of many common pain killers - Advil, Tylenol, aspirin - at the time of injection may blunt the effect of the shot and have a negative effect on the immune system.

4 Nov 2009

News outlets examine first World Pneumonia Day

To mark the first World Pneumonia Day, Inter Press Service examines how vaccines and other strategies can be used to combat the disease, which kills more children under age 5 each year "than measles, malaria, and AIDS combined, according to the Global Coalition against Child Pneumonia."

4 Nov 2009

Louisiana struggles with Medicaid shortfall; Texas governor criticizes reform

Newspapers report on health issues at the state level, including Louisiana's struggles with a Medicaid shortfall and the Texas governor's criticism of congressional health care reform efforts.

3 Nov 2009

Triple-S Management reports consolidated revenues of $507.3M for the third quarter of 2009

Triple-S Management Corporation, the largest managed care company in Puerto Rico, today announced consolidated revenues of $507.3 million and operating income of $15.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009. Net income of $18.1 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, includes an after tax net gain of $6.3 million, or $0.22 per share, in net realized and unrealized gains on investments and derivatives.

3 Nov 2009

Puricore reports increase in sales of 25% in Q3

PuriCore, the life sciences company focused on developing and commercializing proprietary, green solutions that safely, effectively, and naturally kill infectious pathogens without causing harm to human health or the environment, today issues an Interim Management Statement covering the three-month and nine-month periods ending September 30, 2009.

3 Nov 2009

Medco Health Solutions reports third-quarter total net revenues of $14.8 billion

Medco Health Solutions, Inc. today reported record third-quarter 2009 GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.69, up 19.0 percent compared to $0.58 for the third quarter of 2008.

3 Nov 2009