Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Researchers study the role of stem cells in development of liver cancer

Penn State College of Medicine researchers, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Southern California, have taken an important step in understanding the role of stem cells in development of liver cancer.

18 Sep 2009

Disaster recovery program for schools

EdOptions (www.edoptions.com), an award-winning educational technology company, announced today that it will offer schools a built-in disaster recovery plan to provide an affordable, accessible strategy for educators to help ensure the continuity of learning.

18 Sep 2009

In Massachusetts, fears about public health vaccination proposal

The Boston Globe reports on the dramatic and fearful response to a "seemingly prosaic piece" of pending Massachusetts state legislation "that aims to better define - and, in some respects, restrict - the emergency powers of the state's public health officials."

18 Sep 2009

Study reveals that older widowers are likely to be diagnosed with a STD

Widowers take care: Older men who have recently lost their wives are more likely than still-married peers to be diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD), according to a new study.

18 Sep 2009

Meridian Bioscience to update its TRU FLU test package

Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio today announced that the company has been granted a Special 510(k) clearance to update the TRU FLU package insert to include analytical sensitivity claims with two strains of 2009 H1N1 virus cultured from positive respiratory specimens. TRU FLU is a rapid test which identifies influenza A and B in human specimens.

18 Sep 2009

WHO in talks with developed countries about sharing H1N1 vaccine with developing nations

The recent news that a single dose of H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine can protect adults against the virus has sparked conversations between the WHO and developed countries about sharing their vaccine stockpiles with developing countries, Bloomberg reports.

From Baxter International Inc. 18 Sep 2009

Preventive treatment extension after kidney transplantation reduces the risk of CMV disease

For kidney transplant recipients, infection with a virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) may lead to devastating complications. New research suggests that extending the period of preventive treatment after kidney transplantation can reduce the risk of CMV disease, according to an upcoming report in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).

18 Sep 2009

Quebec research on contagious period of H1N1 patients to be presented

Members of a group of Quebec researchers will be presenting the preliminary results of their work on Influenza A (H1N1) tomorrow at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, a prestigious international conference that the American Microbiology Association is currently presenting in San Francisco.

18 Sep 2009

Quidel's QuickVue Influenza A+B test receives special 510(k) clearance for H1N1 reactivity update

Quidel Corporation (NASDAQ: QDEL), a global leader in point-of-care (POC) rapid diagnostic tests, received Special 510(k) clearance for an update to the Company's QuickVue® Influenza A+B test package insert to include reactivity with culture isolates of the 2009 H1N1 Influenza A virus.

17 Sep 2009

New CLF survey on the unawareness of Canadians in contracting food-related illnesses

A new survey from the Canadian Liver Foundation (CLF) reveals more than half of Canadians over the age of 25 (57 per cent) are concerned about contracting food-related illnesses like hepatitis A, but many are unaware that their everyday food preparation and consumption habits may put them at risk for this liver disease

17 Sep 2009

Discovery of key molecule may yield new therapies for AIDS and cancer

Discovery by Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers of an additional role for a key molecule in our bodies provides a further step in world-wide efforts to develop genetic regulation aimed at controlling many diseases, including AIDS and various types of cancers.

17 Sep 2009

Mexico fights H1N1 cases with Polycom visual communication systems

As the world braces for the coming winter flu season, health officials in Mexico expect to battle an anticipated rise in H1N1 flu cases with interactive visual communication systems from Polycom, the global leader in telepresence, video and voice communication solutions.

17 Sep 2009

TOWN HALL Los Angeles hosts panel discussion on H1N1 outbreak preparedness

"Hand Washing, Not Hand-Wringing: Preparing for H1N1" is the subject of a panel discussion hosted by TOWN HALL Los Angeles on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy in downtown Los Angeles.

17 Sep 2009

Military families to benefit from expansion of Health Net Federal Services

As flu season approaches, Health Net Federal Services, LLC, the government operations division of Health Net, Inc. (NYSE:HNT), is proud to expand the provider network as well as promote awareness, education and resources to encourage all TRICARE North Region U.S. service members, retirees and their families to receive the influenza vaccine and practice preventive measures to avoid the virus this season.

17 Sep 2009

VeriChip to fund its existing partnership with RECEPTORS

VeriChip Corporation (“VeriChip”) and its development partner RECEPTORS LLC, a technology company whose AFFINITY by DESIGN™ chemistry platform can be applied to the development of selective binding products, announced today that VeriChip plans to fund its existing partnership with RECEPTORS to continue the development of a triage detection system for detection of the H1N1 virus.

17 Sep 2009

Fully-insured members of Capital BlueCross to receive coverage for administration fee for H1N1 Flu vaccine

Capital BlueCross announced today that it will cover an administration fee for the H1N1 Flu vaccine for fully-insured members and those with individual coverage during the upcoming 2009-2010 flu season. Self-funded groups may opt to have their coverage customized to include this benefit.

17 Sep 2009

Researchers investigate individual's ability to get rid of Hepatitis C

More than seventy percent of people who contract Hepatitis C will live with the virus that causes it for the rest of their lives and some will develop serious liver disease including cancer. However, 30 to 40 percent of those infected somehow defeat the infection and get rid of the virus with no treatment. In this week's Advanced Online Publication at Nature, Johns Hopkins researchers working as part of an international team report the discovery of the strongest genetic alteration associated with the ability to get rid of the infection.

17 Sep 2009

FDA approves Sirion's Zirgan for treating acute herpetic keratitis

Sirion Therapeutics, Inc., a privately held ophthalmic-focused biopharmaceutical company, announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its New Drug Application for Zirgan(TM) (ganciclovir ophthalmic gel) 0.15% as a treatment for acute herpetic keratitis (dendritic ulcers). The FDA granted orphan drug designation to Zirgan for this indication in April 2007.

17 Sep 2009

FDA approves H1N1 vaccine, paves way for large-scale U.S. vaccination campaign

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced Tuesday during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing that H1N1 (swine flu) vaccines produced by four manufacturers — CSL Ltd., Novartis, Sanofi-Pasteur and Medimmune — had won FDA approval, paving the way for a U.S. large-scale vaccination campaign, The Wall Street Journal reports. The application for GlaxoSmithKline PLC's vaccine is still being considered (Dooren/Favole, 9/15).

17 Sep 2009

Administrative cost of H1N1 vaccine to be covered for CIGNA's customers

The spread of the H1N1 influenza virus has the potential to make this year’s flu season more severe than usual. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has designated vaccination as the most powerful public health tool to control influenza.

17 Sep 2009