Influenza News and Research

Latest Influenza News and Research

Whitehead researchers develop new type of genetic screen for human cells

Whitehead researchers have developed a new type of genetic screen for human cells to pinpoint specific genes and proteins used by pathogens, according to their paper in Science.

27 Nov 2009

Lethality of H1N1 virus has dropped from its peak of 3.7, shows new data

Biotech firm Replikins Ltd., which has analyzed the H1N1 virus' genomic data from the 1918 pandemic through the prediction, outbreak, and progress of the current H1N1 pandemic, today issued its latest biochemical analysis of the virus.

25 Nov 2009

WHO investigates cases of H1N1 drug resistance in U.S., Britain

The WHO is looking into reports that patients with "severely suppressed immune systems" in Britain and the U.S. developed resistance Tamiflu, which is used to treat the symptoms of H1N1 (swine flu), a spokesman for the organization said Tuesday, Reuters reports.

25 Nov 2009

Unilife Medical Solutions files a patent application for its Unifill Select ready-to-fill syringe

Unilife Medical Solutions Limited today announced the filing of patent applications in the United States ("US") for a new ready-to-fill syringe product to be marketed as the Unifill™ Select. Unilife is confident that this new pipeline product, which is to be primarily targeted for use with vaccines, can further expand the Company's ability to penetrate the pharmaceutical market for prefilled syringes.

25 Nov 2009

Sinovac Dalian JV to research, develop, produce and commercialize human-use vaccines

Sinovac Biotech Ltd. ( SVA), a leading developer and provider of vaccines, announced today that it executed a joint venture (JV) agreement to establish Sinovac (Dalian) Vaccine Technology Co., Ltd. (Sinovac Dalian). The JV will research, develop, produce and commercialize human-use vaccines. Sinovac will contribute its expertise and experience in developing and commercializing world-class vaccines; the other party will bring its land use rights, manufacturing facilities and established operating infrastructure.

25 Nov 2009

FDA provides marketing clearance for Prodesse's ProParaflu+ assay

Gen-Probe Incorporated announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared for marketing Prodesse's ProParaflu+(TM) assay, a molecular test that detects and differentiates parainfluenza 1, 2 and 3 viruses, which cause lower respiratory tract infections.

25 Nov 2009

New Medicare rules on home-oxygen affect patients, businesses

The Wall Street Journal: "New Medicare rules designed to reduce waste and fraud in medical-equipment reimbursements are driving some home-oxygen suppliers out of business and leaving patients scrambling to find new providers." The rules - scheduled to go into effect January 1, apply to people "who rely on Medicare to pay for oxygen services, which relieve the symptoms of conditions such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease."

24 Nov 2009

Ohr Pharmaceutical to develop OHR/AVR118 for cachexia treatment

Ohr Pharmaceutical Inc. is developing OHR/AVR118 for treatment of cachexia based on technology acquired earlier this year from Advanced Viral Research Corp. OHR/AVR118 has shown excellent therapeutic efficacy and safety in human clinical trials in over 100 patients with applications for cachexia in Cancer and AIDS patients, as well as Rheumatoid Arthritis.

24 Nov 2009

Fourth-quarter and year-end fiscal 2009 results announced by Allied Healthcare International

Allied Healthcare International Inc., a leading provider of flexible healthcare staffing services in the United Kingdom, has issued financial results for its fiscal 2009 fourth quarter and year-end.

24 Nov 2009

Fourth-quarter and full year fiscal 2009 results announced by Hillenbrand

Hillenbrand reported net revenues of $153.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2009, which ended Sept. 30, 2009, a $5.7 million (3.6 percent) decline from the same period in fiscal 2008. The company posted net income of $22.6 million, a $3.4 million (17.7 percent) increase from last year.

24 Nov 2009

Iowa State University's researcher develops and ships H1N1 vaccine for swine producers

The only swine vaccine available for the H1N1 virus has been sent to vaccinate a swine herd infected with the virus. The vaccination marks the first time vaccine has been sent to a swine herd diagnosed with the pandemic flu.

24 Nov 2009

Vitamin D: A multi-purpose nutrient for overall health

A string of recent discoveries about the multiple health benefits of vitamin D has renewed interest in this multi-purpose nutrient, increased awareness of the huge numbers of people who are deficient in it, spurred research and even led to an appreciation of it as "nature's antibiotic."

24 Nov 2009

H1N1 spreading eastward, WHO says

The H1N1 (swine flu) virus appears to be spreading eastward across Europe and Asia, after appearing to have leveled off in the U.S. and some western European countries, the WHO said Friday, Reuters reports.

23 Nov 2009

CDC: 'Beggining to see some declines in swine flu'

Reuters: "The pandemic of swine flu may be hitting a peak in the United States, health experts said on Friday. But they stressed that influenza, especially a pandemic, could hit several peaks in a single season. They said weeks or months more of disease could be expected.

23 Nov 2009

New FluCide better than the older version

NanoViricides, Inc., announced today that Dr. Eugene Seymour, MD MPH, CEO of the Company, presented lifetime data from the recent FluCide™ animal study on November 19th at the Influenza Congress USA 2009 in Washington, DC (www.terrapinn.com/usaflu). These data clearly established that the new version of FluCide™ is superior to the older version.

23 Nov 2009

RSV found to cause more emergency department visits and hospitalizations than seasonal flu

Influenza, particularly H1N1, has understandably captured the attention of public health officials, the media and the public. However, an analysis from Children's Hospital Boston, based on patients seen in its emergency department (ED) during several recent flu seasons, shows that another virus - respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) - takes a substantially greater disease toll among young children than does seasonal flu.

23 Nov 2009

Compliance directive issued to protect health care workers from 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus

For the protection of frontline health care and emergency medical workers at high risk of infection, the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today issued a compliance directive to ensure uniform procedures when conducting inspections to identify and minimize or eliminate high to very high risk occupational exposures to the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus.

21 Nov 2009

Rates of infection by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus may have peaked in late October: Quest Diagnostics

Rates of infection by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus may have peaked in late October, but the pandemic flu virus continues to be a potential source of illness in all age groups, including the elderly, according to a new report by Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services.

From Quest Diagnostics 21 Nov 2009

First nationwide human immunology registry for infectious disease research

RemedyMD (www.RemedyMD.com), the leading provider of disease registry software, today announced the first nationwide human immunology registry for infectious disease research. The new registry was developed to help clinicians and researchers better understand the human immune response to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.

21 Nov 2009

Evidence does not connect H1N1 vaccine to patient deaths, WHO says

The deaths of 41 people from six countries who had received the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine were not directly linked to the vaccine, the WHO said Thursday, the Associated Press/MSNBC reports (11/19).

20 Nov 2009