Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Reuters examines measles outbreaks in Africa

Reuters reports on how some health experts worry that growing complacency about the threat of measles in Africa is contributing to "some of the largest and most deadly outbreaks in years." Worldwide, "[a]bout 164,000 people died from measles in 2008, down 78 percent from 733,000 in 2000, according to the Measles Initiative," Reuters reports, adding that "UNICEF fears the combined effect of decreased political and financial commitment to measles could reverse the gains, resulting in an estimated 1.7 million measles-related deaths globally between 2010 and 2013."

19 Aug 2010

Rush University Medical Center tests new drug therapy for West Nile fever

Neurological and infectious disease experts at Rush University Medical Center are testing a new drug therapy for the treatment of individuals with West Nile fever or suspected central nervous system infection due to the West Nile virus. Rush is the only site in the Midwest enrolling patients into the $50 million dollar, NIH-funded, Phase II clinical trial called PARADIGM.

18 Aug 2010

Long-term entecavir therapy suppresses HBV DNA, normalizes ALT and improves liver histology

Researchers from this international study found that patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection who received at least 3 years of cumulative entecavir (antiviral) therapy achieved substantial histologic improvement and regression of fibrosis or cirrhosis. Full details of the study appear in the September issue of Hepatology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD).

18 Aug 2010

Long-term Entecavir therapy reverses fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients

17 Aug 2010

Non-viral gene therapy delays onset of eye disease

In one of only two studies of its kind, a study from researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts demonstrates that non-viral gene therapy can delay the onset of some forms of eye disease and preserve vision. The team developed nanoparticles to deliver therapeutic genes to the retina and found that treated mice temporarily retained more eyesight than controls.

17 Aug 2010

NanoViricides' anti-Herpes drug candidates demonstrate significant efficacy in cell culture studies

NanoViricides, Inc., reports that its anti-Herpes drug candidates demonstrated significant efficacy in the recently completed cell culture studies. The studies were performed in the laboratory of Dr. Ken Rosenthal at Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy.

16 Aug 2010

August is National Immunization and Cataract Awareness Month

Childhood immunizations keep our children safe from a number of serious diseases. This is a good time of year to make sure your child is up-to-date on all of his/her immunizations. Continue reading to find out which vaccines the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend for children 6 and under.

16 Aug 2010

Menopause is not the end of women's love life

Menopause doesn't have to signal the end of a woman's love life. In fact, most women can enjoy even better sex after their reproductive years if they follow some healthy advice. Sex is good exercise and slows the aging process, so it's not only permissible but also smart to keep it a central part of one's lifestyle.

16 Aug 2010

Scientists replace human gene to preserve photoreceptor function in retinal degeneration

The easy accessibility of the eye and the established link between specific genetic defects and ocular disorders offer hope for using gene therapy to provide long-term therapeutic benefit. Two reports in the current issue of Human Gene Therapy, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., describe the effective replacement of a human gene to preserve photoreceptor function in a mouse model of severe retinal degeneration. The articles are available free online.

16 Aug 2010

Inovio Pharmaceuticals 2010 second quarter net loss decreases

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today reported financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2010.Total revenue was $1.1 million and $2.5 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2010, compared to $2.5 million and $2.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, respectively.

16 Aug 2010

Adverse effects in childhood lead to immune impairment later in life

The emotional pains we suffer in childhood can lead to weakened immune systems later in life, according to a new study.Based on this new research, the amount of this immune impairment even enhances that caused by the stress of caregiving later in life."What happens in childhood really matters when it comes to your immune response in the latter part of your life," explained Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, professor of psychology and psychiatry at Ohio State University. She explained her work at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in San Diego.

16 Aug 2010

Novavax announces positive results from pre-clinical toxicology study of RSV vaccine candidate

Novavax, Inc. reported today that results from a pre-clinical toxicology study of its vaccine candidate to prevent respiratory syncytial virus, showed the vaccine to be safe and well-tolerated at all doses tested. Novavax's vaccine uses highly purified recombinant particles of RSV-F fusion protein normally found in the virus. There is currently no approved vaccine to prevent RSV infection.

13 Aug 2010

WHO releases H1N1 Emergency Committee roster

Five of the 15 experts advising the WHO on H1N1 (swine flu) had ties to the pharmaceutical industry, "including for flu vaccine research," according to the Emergency Committee members' list released by the agency Wednesday, Agence France-Presse reports.

13 Aug 2010

Astex and MMRC commence Phase II clinical trial of AT7519 CDK inhibitor in multiple myeloma

Astex Therapeutics, the UK-based biotechnology company developing targeted therapies for oncology and virology, and the Multiple Myeloma Research Consortium announced today the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, AT7519, to treat patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer. The trial is designed to investigate both single agent and combination activity of AT7519 with bortezomib (Velcade®).

13 Aug 2010

Pharmasset receives fast track designation from FDA for PSI-7977

Pharmasset, Inc. has received fast track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for PSI-7977 for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection. PSI-7977 is an oral uridine nucleotide analog polymerase inhibitor of HCV. Pharmasset recently completed dosing in a 28 day Phase 2a trial to evaluate PSI-7977 in combination with Pegasys (pegylated interferon) plus Copegus (ribavirin) in treatment-naive patients chronically infected with HCV genotype 1.

12 Aug 2010

News outlets look at how H1N1 will inform WHO's future outbreak response

Following the WHO's decision on Tuesday to declare the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic over, several news outlets reviewed the emergence of the virus around the world, exploring how some of the lessons learned from H1N1 could assist the WHO's handling of future outbreaks.

12 Aug 2010

Pathway's drug development milestone triggers $4.5M tranche of Series A private equity placement

Pathway Therapeutics, a drug discovery and development company founded in New Zealand, announced that it has met an important drug development milestone triggering a US$4.5 million fourth tranche of its Series A private equity placement. The financing was led by GBS Venture Partners, Australia and CM Capital Investments, Australia with co-investors the Breast Cancer Research Trust, the Trans-Tasman Commercialisation Fund, and the New Zealand Venture Investment Firm.

12 Aug 2010

Emergency Committee Members report on post-pandemic period of H1N1

The world is no longer in phase 6 of influenza pandemic alert. We are now moving into the post-pandemic period. The new H1N1 virus has largely run its course.These are the views of members of the Emergency Committee, which was convened earlier today by teleconference.The Committee based its assessment on the global situation, as well as reports from several countries that are now experiencing influenza. I fully agree with the Committee's advice.

12 Aug 2010

Bristol-Myers Squibb, ACTF announce enhanced agreement to support ADAPs

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and the ADAP Crisis Task Force today announced an enhanced agreement to support the efforts of AIDS Drug Assistance Programs to provide antiretroviral medicines to people living with HIV and AIDS. Building on an agreement signed in March of 2010, today's announcement marks a multi-year enhancement to assist ADAPs in meeting the challenges of increasing patient case loads and strained government funding.

12 Aug 2010

Human Immune Phenotyping Centers to receive NIAID grants for research

A new nationwide research initiative has been launched to define changes in the human immune system, using human and not animal studies, in response to infection or to vaccination. Six U. S.-based Human Immune Phenotyping Centers will receive a total of $100 million over five years to conduct this research.Funding for the centers is provided by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. Support for the first year of this initiative will come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

12 Aug 2010

Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Reuters examines measles outbreaks in Africa

Rush University Medical Center tests new drug therapy for West Nile fever

Long-term entecavir therapy suppresses HBV DNA, normalizes ALT and improves liver histology

Long-term Entecavir therapy reverses fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients

Non-viral gene therapy delays onset of eye disease

NanoViricides' anti-Herpes drug candidates demonstrate significant efficacy in cell culture studies

August is National Immunization and Cataract Awareness Month

Menopause is not the end of women's love life

Scientists replace human gene to preserve photoreceptor function in retinal degeneration

Inovio Pharmaceuticals 2010 second quarter net loss decreases

Adverse effects in childhood lead to immune impairment later in life

Novavax announces positive results from pre-clinical toxicology study of RSV vaccine candidate

WHO releases H1N1 Emergency Committee roster

Astex and MMRC commence Phase II clinical trial of AT7519 CDK inhibitor in multiple myeloma

Pharmasset receives fast track designation from FDA for PSI-7977

News outlets look at how H1N1 will inform WHO's future outbreak response

Pathway's drug development milestone triggers $4.5M tranche of Series A private equity placement

Emergency Committee Members report on post-pandemic period of H1N1

Bristol-Myers Squibb, ACTF announce enhanced agreement to support ADAPs

Human Immune Phenotyping Centers to receive NIAID grants for research

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