Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Intrauterine devices may protect against cervical cancer

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) may protect against cervical cancer. This is the conclusion of the broadest epidemiological study to date in which has participated the research group in Viruses and Cancer of IDIBELL, published at The Lancet Oncology.

14 Sep 2011

ViroPharma initiates Cinryze Phase 2 subcutaneous trial in patients with HAE

ViroPharma Incorporated and Halozyme Therapeutics announced today that ViroPharma has initiated an open-label, multi-dose Phase 2 study to evaluate the safety, and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of subcutaneous administration of Cinryze in combination with Halozyme's Enhanze technology, a proprietary drug delivery platform using Halozyme's recombinant human hyaluronidase enzyme, in subjects with hereditary angioedema.

14 Sep 2011

Breakthrough opens new avenues for hep C vaccine

Hopes for an effective vaccine and treatment against the potentially fatal hepatitis C virus (HCV) have received a major boost following the discovery of two ‘Achilles’ heels’ within the virus.

12 Sep 2011

Government funding crisis in Swaziland disrupts supply of HIV/AIDS supplies

"An acute government funding crisis in Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarchy, is disrupting supplies of HIV/AIDS drugs and hampering the fight against the virus in the country with the world's highest infection rate, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said Friday," Reuters reports.

12 Sep 2011

Enrollment complete in HemaQuest HQK-1001 Phase 2 study in sickle cell disease

HemaQuest Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on developing small molecule therapeutics to treat hemoglobin disorders, announced today that it has completed enrollment in a randomized multi-dose Phase 2 study of HQK-1001 in patients with sickle cell disease.

12 Sep 2011

Mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus detected

There is a recent surge in the West Nile-carrying mosquitoes after a relatively dry spell accompanied by warm temperatures last week. The health department monitors about 40 traps across the county two times per week, and last week found four traps in Wheaton alone with infected mosquitoes.

12 Sep 2011

Genetically modified ‘glow cat’ for HIV/AIDS research

U.S. researcher Eric Poeschla has produced three glowing genetically modified cats by using a virus to carry a gene, called green fluorescent protein (GFP), into the eggs from which the animals eventually grew. This method of genetic modification is simpler and more efficient than traditional cloning techniques, and results in fewer animals being needed in the process.

12 Sep 2011

Gay blood donations to be allowed soon in UK

Soon the lifetime ban on blood donations by homosexual and bisexual men will be lifted in England, Scotland and Wales. Ministers have agreed to let men who have not had sex with another man in the past 12 months to donate from November.

12 Sep 2011

Mayo Clinic develops genome-based immunization strategy against feline AIDS

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a genome-based immunization strategy to fight feline AIDS and illuminate ways to combat human HIV/AIDS and other diseases. The goal is to create cats with intrinsic immunity to the feline AIDS virus. The findings -- called fascinating and landmark by one reviewer -- appear in the current online issue of Nature Methods.

12 Sep 2011

UMSOM to receive FDA approval for whole parasite malaria vaccine clinical trials

For the first time, a malaria vaccine that uses the entire malaria parasite has proven safe and shown promise to produce a strong immune response in a clinical trial, according to a new study co-authored by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine Center for Vaccine Development.

12 Sep 2011

Nexera to submit amended claims for FDA 510(k) clearance of SpectraShield 9500 Surgical N95 Respirator

Nexera Medical, Inc., today announced plans to submit to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended antimicrobial claims for its current 510(k) clearance for the SpectraShield 9500 Surgical N95 Respirator with embedded antimicrobial technology. The expanded antimicrobial claims will be supported by test data on the inactivation performance of certain strains of viruses.

8 Sep 2011

'Chaperone' protein may play a critical role in pathogenesis of heart failure

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have identified a new drug target that may treat and/or prevent heart failure. The team evaluated failing human and pig hearts and discovered that SUMO1, a so-called "chaperone" protein that regulates the activity of key transporter genes, was decreased in failing hearts.

8 Sep 2011

Researchers identify new drug target for heart failure

8 Sep 2011

Pall inaugurates new Singapore Life Sciences Centre of Excellence

Pall Corporation, a global leader in filtration, separation and purification, today inaugurated its Pall Life Sciences Centre of Excellence in Singapore, the latest addition to the company's global customer support network.

From Pall Corporation 8 Sep 2011

Donald Danforth Center receives $11.9M funding for Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa project

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center announced today that it has received additional funding totaling $11.9 million for the Virus Resistant Cassava for Africa (VIRCA) project to advance its work to improve the health and wellbeing of farmers, their families, and other consumers of cassava living in Sub Saharan Africa.

8 Sep 2011

FDA to review bone drugs; CDC reports parasite may be a risk to blood supply

Two advisory panels of the Food and Drug Administration will consider on Friday whether to recommend requiring women who use popular bone drugs like Fosamax to take "drug holidays" because of rising concerns about rare side effects with long-term use, according to people involved in the review.

7 Sep 2011

'No evidence' mutant bird flu virus poses increased risk to humans, WHO and FAO say

After the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) "last week voiced concern about the appearance in Vietnam and China of" a mutant strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus, the WHO and FAO on Monday "said in a joint statement issued in response to questions from Agence France-Presse" that "there is no evidence to suggest yet that this new virus strain will have any increased risk to human health," the news agency reports.

7 Sep 2011

NanoViricides selects NV-INF-1 anti-influenza drug for FDA submission

NanoViricides, Inc. announced today that it has selected a clinical candidate, now designated NV-INF-1, for FDA submission in its highly successful FluCide anti-influenza therapeutics program.

6 Sep 2011

Pharmasset reports SVR results from PSI-7977 phase 2b combination study on HCV genotype 1

Pharmasset, Inc., announced today sustained virologic response (SVR) results from its phase 2b PROTON study with PSI-7977 400 mg dosed once daily in combination with peginterferon alfa 2a and ribavirin (Peg-IFN/RBV) in subjects with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 who have not been treated previously. 43 out of 44 (98%) evaluable subjects achieved an SVR12, defined as HCV RNA below the limit of detection (<15 IU/mL) 12 weeks after the completion of treatment.

6 Sep 2011

AMT, NIH enter exclusive license agreement for use of AAV5-based gene therapy vectors

Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics, a leader in the field of human gene therapy, today announced that it has entered into an exclusive license agreement with the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) for use of adeno-associated virus serotype 5 (AAV5)-based gene therapy vectors for liver and brain indications.

6 Sep 2011