Vaccine News and Research

Latest Vaccine News and Research

CR4354 antibody uses crosslinking mechanism to neutralize West Nile virus

Researchers have learned the structure that results when an antibody binds to the West Nile virus, neutralizing the virus by locking up its infection mechanism. The information could help scientists develop a vaccine against the mosquito-borne disease.

3 Nov 2010

Health IT: Apps; Competitive contracts; Electronic medical records

The Wall Street Journal: "Indian technology companies are eyeing a coming wave of U.S. spending to digitize health care records. But sensitivity over outsourcing and resistance by American hospitals to sending medical information overseas could thwart efforts to win big contracts." Next year, the U.S. government will dispense billions to "health-care providers who adopt electronic medical records." Doctors are also facing "a federal mandate to upgrade software as the U.S. switches to a new system of insurance billing codes."

3 Nov 2010

Inviragen receives two grants to develop dengue and chikungunya vaccines

Inviragen, a biotechnology company developing vaccines to protect against infectious diseases worldwide, announced today that it has received two grants totaling $488,958 through the United States government's Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Program.

3 Nov 2010

Virus fighting just got a new boost

In a ground breaking study in the UK researchers have identified a previously unknown mechanism that allows the immune system to fight viruses even after they have infected cells. Until now it was believed that antibodies can act only before the virus enters the cells. The team now has found that antibodies that attached themselves to a virus were able to follow it into cells and help to destroy the virus before it started to reproduce. This could open up new avenues of therapy.

2 Nov 2010

Celldex third quarter net loss increases to $9.1 million

Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2010. Celldex reported a net loss of $9.1 million, or $0.28 per share, for the third quarter of 2010 compared to a net loss of $7.2 million, or $0.45 per share, for the third quarter of 2009. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, Celldex reported a net loss of $25.2 million, or $0.79 per share, compared to a net loss of $23.6 million, or $1.49 per share, for the nine months ended September 30, 2009.

2 Nov 2010

West third quarter gross profit increases $3.0 million to $74.7 million

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. today announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2010.

2 Nov 2010

Soligenix completes enrollment in RiVax Phase 1B ricin toxin clinical trial

Soligenix, Inc., a late-stage biopharmaceutical company, reported today that it has completed enrollment of its Phase 1B clinical trial of RiVax™, a ricin subunit vaccine, in healthy volunteers. Preliminary results indicate that RiVax™ appears safe at all doses tested in volunteers. This trial is designed to assess the duration of immune responses using an adjuvant formulation of RiVax™ over a period of more than one year after vaccination.

2 Nov 2010

VaxInnate’s prototype flu vaccine named as Top 10 Infectious Diseases Projects to Watch in 2011

VaxInnate Corporation announced today that VAX125, its investigational prototype vaccine for seasonal flu, has been named one of the Top 10 Infectious Diseases Projects to Watch in 2011 by Elsevier Business Intelligence and the Windhover Conferences.

2 Nov 2010

PPACA program provides $733,438 grant to Inovio

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the development of therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today that it has received a $733,438 grant under The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA).

2 Nov 2010

Telbivudine prevents HBV transmission from mothers to newborns: Study

Researchers studied the treatment of pregnant women with hepatitis B virus (HBV) with Telbivudine in their second to third trimesters. The study concluded that both the mothers benefited from treatment and no transmission of HBV to newborns was detected at 28 weeks postbirth.

1 Nov 2010

Medicago receives Health Canada clearance for Phase II clinical trial of H5N1 Avian Influenza vaccine

Medicago Inc. a biotechnology company focused on developing highly effective and affordable vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), today announced that it has received clearance from Health Canada to commence a Phase II human clinical trial with its H5N1 Avian Influenza vaccine ("H5N1 vaccine"). Enrolment of volunteers is now underway.

1 Nov 2010

Idera presents IMO-2125 Phase 1 clinical trial data for HCV infection at AASLD Meeting

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today the presentation of data from a Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating IMO-2125, a novel immune modulator, in null-responder patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

1 Nov 2010

Rite Aid to host flu shot clinics at nationwide pharmacies

With the holidays getting closer, Rite Aid is reminding people to get a flu shot so that the only thing they are spreading this season is good cheer. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it can take up to two weeks for flu shots to be effective and protect against the flu; those who get their flu shot now can help protect themselves by the time they sit down for Thanksgiving dinner.

30 Oct 2010

New findings on protein factories could unravel cell complexities, lead to new antibiotics and disease treatments

A team from The Scripps Research Institute has revealed the first-ever pictures of the formation of cells' "protein factories." In addition to being a major technical feat on its own, the work could open new pathways for development of antibiotics and treatments for diseases tied to errors in ribosome formation. In addition, the techniques developed in the study can now be applied to other complex challenges in the understanding of cellular processes.

30 Oct 2010

Research Roundup: Primary care doc pay and satisfaction; fixes to Medicare reimbursements; free vaccines?

A critical element of improving population health in underserved areas is the adequacy and distribution of the primary care physician supply, write the authors of this study, who interviewed 42 primary care physicians from both underserved and non-underserved areas in Los Angeles County, California.

30 Oct 2010

Progress update on Johnson & Johnson and Crucell's public offer

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 7 paragraph 1(a) of the Dutch Decree on Public Takeover Bids (Besluit Openbare Biedingen Wft) requiring a public announcement within four weeks following the announcement of an intended public offer to provide a status update, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and Crucell N.V. provide the following joint update.

30 Oct 2010

Idera presents data on TLR 3 agonist as vaccine adjuvants at Immunological Meeting

Idera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced a presentation describing the chemistry and immunological activity of its proprietary Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 3 agonist compounds and the use of these compounds as vaccine adjuvants in a preclinical model.

30 Oct 2010

Advaxis enters CRADA with NCI for development of live attenuated Listeria vaccines

Advaxis, Inc.,, the live, attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) immunotherapy company, is pleased to announce it has signed a formal research agreement with the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health.

30 Oct 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

Global Fund Will Make 'Every Possible Effort' To Raise Additional Resources: Although pledges to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria at its recent replenishment meeting did not meet "the lowest estimate of demand," the Fund "will make every possible effort to raise the additional resources that we expect countries to request in the years ahead" through new donor recruitment and "innovative financing approaches," writes Executive Director Michael Kazatchkine in a Lancet comment

30 Oct 2010

Drug and device makers face new taxes, fees

A Fox Business report shows the health overhaul is cutting deeper into drug and device makers' profits than many expected. Research & development programs are already being drastically scaled back.

30 Oct 2010