Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

FDA warns four firms to stop making unproven MRSA prevention claims

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued four warning letters to companies that manufacture and market over-the-counter (OTC) drug products, including hand sanitizers, that claim to prevent infection from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (MRSA).

21 Apr 2011

Jennerex and Green Cross report positive phase 2 JX-594 clinical trial for liver cancer

Jennerex, Inc., a private clinical-stage biotherapeutics company focused on the development and commercialization of first-in-class targeted oncolytic products for cancer, and Green Cross Corporation, a leading company in the development, manufacturing, and commercialization of viral vaccines and other biological products, today reported positive clinical data from a Phase 2 trial evaluating JX-594 for liver cancer which was conducted in South Korea.

21 Apr 2011

Rate of antiretroviral virological failure higher among children living with HIV/AIDS than adults, study finds

One in eight children living with HIV/AIDS "experiences triple-class virological failure - meaning the virus becomes resistant to multiple drugs - within five years of starting antiretroviral treatment," according to a study published Wednesday in the Lancet, HealthDay News/MSN reports. The "failure rate is higher than in adults and highlights the challenge of maintaining viral load suppression in young patients who begin antiretroviral therapy so early in life, the researchers said," according to the news service (Preidt, 4/19).

21 Apr 2011

Biogen Idec first quarter revenues increase 9% to $1.2 billion

Biogen Idec Inc., a global biotechnology leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing and commercialization of innovative therapies, today announced its first quarter 2011 results.

21 Apr 2011

RTCA HT instrument from Roche employs high-throughput real-time cell analysis

The new xCELLigence RTCA HT Instrument from Roche (SWX:RO) (SWX:ROG) (Pink Sheets:RHHBY) rounds out the Diagnostics Applied Science's portfolio in real-time cell analysis with a high-throughput product.

21 Apr 2011

TRIM5 cellular protein helps rhesus monkeys resist HIV

Thanks to a certain protein, rhesus monkeys are resistant to HIV. Known as TRIM5, the protein prevents the HI virus from multiplying once it has entered the cell. Researchers from the universities of Geneva and Zurich have now discovered the protein's mechanism, as they report in Nature. This also opens up new prospects for fighting HIV in humans.

21 Apr 2011

Gilead, MicroDose enter collaboration for inhalable small molecule antiviral fusion inhibitor MDT-637

Gilead Sciences, Inc. and MicroDose Therapeutx, Inc. today announced that the companies have entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement for the development and commercialization of MDT-637, MicroDose's inhalable small molecule antiviral fusion inhibitor for the treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

20 Apr 2011

Roche's cobas HPV Test receives FDA approval for cervical cancer screening

Roche announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the cobas HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Test which identifies women at highest risk for developing cervical cancer. This test will help physicians make early, more accurate decisions about patient care, which may prevent many women from developing this deadly disease.

From Roche Sequencing and Life Science 20 Apr 2011

Oncolytics announces interim data from REOLYSIN translational clinical trial in metastatic colorectal cancer

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. today announced interim data from a U.K. translational clinical trial (REO 013) investigating intravenous administration of REOLYSIN in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer prior to surgical resection of liver metastases. The principal investigator of the study was Professor Alan Melcher of Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, UK.

20 Apr 2011

LMP1 viral protein needs TRAF6 cellular protein to promote B cell activation signaling pathways: Study

By identifying a surprising association of two intracellular proteins, University of Iowa researchers have laid the groundwork for the development of new therapies to treat B cell lymphomas and autoimmune disease.

20 Apr 2011

Study shows possibility of women living with AIDS to breastfeed with lower risk

In low-income countries, 1.4 million women are living with the Aids virus. If no prevention measures are taken, the risk for future mothers of transmitting HIV to their child in utero, during delivery or when breastfeeding is 35%.

20 Apr 2011

Researchers to wind down HIV prevention trial in women after interim results find drug not offering protection from HIV

Researchers on Monday announced they were calling off a trial to test whether taking an oral HIV drug reduces the risk of HIV infection in women after interim analysis of the study showed women taking the medication were no less likely to become infected with HIV than those who were not taking the medicine, the Associated Press reports.

20 Apr 2011

Chronic inflammation due to infection may lead to cancer

A new study shows how inflammation can help cause cancer. Chronic inflammation due to infection or to conditions such as chronic inflammatory bowel disease is associated with up to 25 percent of all cancers.

20 Apr 2011

FHI to stop FEM-PrEP study of HIV prevention among heterosexual women

On the heels of Centers for Disease Control announcement earlier today that an ongoing study of the use of Gilead's top selling AIDS treatment, Truvada, as a possible form of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention in women is being abruptly halted because the, "…trial could not demonstrate efficacy," the AIDS Healthcare Foundation renewed its call on Gilead Sciences to slow its fast track pursuit of its application for FDA approval of use of its AIDS drug as a possible form of HIV prevention.

20 Apr 2011

Cervical cancer vaccine target falls short: Report

Data from the Australian federal government shows that the target to immunize 80 per cent of 12-year-old girls against cervical cancer is not being met because many of them are failing to have all three doses of the vaccine. This potentially undermines the effectiveness of the $436 million program started in 2007.

19 Apr 2011

African AIDS drug trial stopped prematurely

One of the studies in three African countries where women were given an AIDS drug to prevent HIV infection is being stopped because the project is not working, researchers said Monday. These women on the trial were taking a daily dose of the drug Truvada or a look-alike placebo pill and had an equal chance of becoming infected. The ones taking Truvada were expected to have had a much lower infection rate.

19 Apr 2011

Countries agree to draft framework on virus sharing, WHO says

After almost four years of negotiations, the WHO on Saturday announced it had reached an agreement on sharing flu virus samples, Agence-France Presse reports.

19 Apr 2011

People with infectious mononucleosis, low UVB exposure may face high risk of MS

New research suggests that people who are exposed to low levels of sunlight coupled with a history of having a common virus known as mononucleosis may be at greater odds of developing multiple sclerosis than those without the virus.

19 Apr 2011

NIH awards U of M's scientist with $10 million grant for HIV research

Reuben Harris, professor in the University of Minnesota's College of Biological Sciences, has been awarded a five-year, $10 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to direct a large-scale research effort to study a human antiviral protein with potential for treating HIV and other viral diseases.

19 Apr 2011

Roche introduces new EMR interface for the U.S. Department of VA

Roche announced today that it has introduced a new Electronic Medical Record interface for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that helps VA healthcare facilities improve their efficiency and accuracy by transmitting patient diabetes management data directly into the VistA computerized patient record system.

From Roche Sequencing and Life Science 19 Apr 2011

Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

FDA warns four firms to stop making unproven MRSA prevention claims

Jennerex and Green Cross report positive phase 2 JX-594 clinical trial for liver cancer

Rate of antiretroviral virological failure higher among children living with HIV/AIDS than adults, study finds

Biogen Idec first quarter revenues increase 9% to $1.2 billion

RTCA HT instrument from Roche employs high-throughput real-time cell analysis

TRIM5 cellular protein helps rhesus monkeys resist HIV

Gilead, MicroDose enter collaboration for inhalable small molecule antiviral fusion inhibitor MDT-637

Roche's cobas HPV Test receives FDA approval for cervical cancer screening

Oncolytics announces interim data from REOLYSIN translational clinical trial in metastatic colorectal cancer

LMP1 viral protein needs TRAF6 cellular protein to promote B cell activation signaling pathways: Study

Study shows possibility of women living with AIDS to breastfeed with lower risk

Researchers to wind down HIV prevention trial in women after interim results find drug not offering protection from HIV

Chronic inflammation due to infection may lead to cancer

FHI to stop FEM-PrEP study of HIV prevention among heterosexual women

Cervical cancer vaccine target falls short: Report

African AIDS drug trial stopped prematurely

Countries agree to draft framework on virus sharing, WHO says

People with infectious mononucleosis, low UVB exposure may face high risk of MS

NIH awards U of M's scientist with $10 million grant for HIV research

Roche introduces new EMR interface for the U.S. Department of VA

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