Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

H1N1: Bridging the knowledge gap

A commentary in the December issue of The Lancet Infectious Diseases brings to light the gaps in knowledge on the transmission of a common pathogen - the influenza virus - and its impact on decisions about how best to protect health care workers. Infectious diseases specialist Leonard Mermel, DO, medical director of infection control for Rhode Island Hospital, looks at the ongoing debate in light of the H1N1 pandemic, what past research tells us about the spread of influenza, and what is missing in the debate. His commentary is currently available in an online first edition.

20 Nov 2009

Researchers to discover new vaccine against infection from Lyme disease

A protein found in the saliva of ticks helps protect mice from developing Lyme disease, Yale researchers have discovered. The findings, published in the November 19 issue of Cell Host & Microbe, may spur development of a new vaccine against infection from Lyme disease, which is spread through tick bites.

20 Nov 2009

Adamas Pharmaceuticals expands its Phase 2 TCAD therapy study for influenza A

Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held company, announced today that it has expanded its Phase 2 clinical study of a proprietary investigational triple-combination antiviral drug therapy for influenza to include centers in the United States, Canada and Europe. The study, which was initiated in August 2009 in the Southern Hemisphere, is designed to investigate Adamas' triple combination antiviral drug (TCAD) therapy as a treatment for influenza A, including novel influenza A/H1N1, the cause of the current flu pandemic.

19 Nov 2009

SinoFresh Nasal Spray effective against 'swine flu' in animal study

SinoFresh Healthcare Products, Inc. announced today the successful results of its initial pilot animal study testing the efficacy of the SinoFresh Nasal Spray product when used on animals infected with the H1N1 virus. The study data suggests that treatment with SinoFresh allowed the infected animals to recover more rapidly from H1N1 infection than did untreated animals. In addition, pre-treatment with SinoFresh Nasal Spray decreased the severity and/or incidence of infection.

19 Nov 2009

Exaggerated responses of immune system explain elders’ susceptibility to viral infections

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found that exaggerated responses of the immune system explain why the elderly succumb to viral infections more readily than younger people. Published in the November 19 Cell Host & Microbe, the study bucks the general belief that declining immune responses are to blame for susceptibility to viral infections.

19 Nov 2009

NPSF supports obligatory flu vaccination for healthcare workers

The National Patient Safety Foundation recognizes vaccine-preventable diseases as a matter of patient safety and supports mandatory influenza vaccination of health care workers to protect the health of patients, health care workers, and the community.

19 Nov 2009

Genetic identity of cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody discovered

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) have uncovered the genetic identity of a cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody, a discovery that sheds new light on infection control and immune disorders. The discovery is such a crucial part of immunology that UAB researchers, in conjunction with Japanese researchers, are asking that the gene linked to this antibody receptor be renamed to better describe its role in early immune responses.

19 Nov 2009

Why avian flu virus has not caused a pandemic?

Bird flu viruses would have to make at least two simultaneous genetic mutations before they could be transmitted readily from human to human, according to research published today in PLoS ONE.

19 Nov 2009

FDA issues complete response for Rituxan, a drug for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Genentech, Inc., a wholly-owned member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), and Biogen Idec announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a complete response on the companies’ applications for Rituxan® (rituximab) plus fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC) for the treatment of people with previously untreated and previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

19 Nov 2009

Chronic hepatitis B seems to progress faster in men, report scientists

Scientists in China are reporting discovery of unusual liver proteins, found only in males, that may help explain the long-standing mystery of why the hepatitis B virus (HBV) sexually discriminates -- hitting men harder than women. Their study has been published online in ACS' Journal of Proteome Research, a monthly publication.

19 Nov 2009

Results from Phase IIa clinical trial evaluating VT-111 reported by Viron Therapeutics

Viron Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company pioneering the development of immune-modulating protein therapeutics derived from pathogens, today reported results from a Phase IIa clinical trial evaluating VT-111 (Serp-1), an anti-inflammatory protein derived from the myxoma virus.

19 Nov 2009

WHO to launch yellow fever vaccination campaign in West Africa

The WHO on Tuesday announced it would lead a week-long, multi-country vaccination campaign in Africa next week to protect those "deemed at highest risk from yellow fever," Reuters reports.

19 Nov 2009

mdBriefCase to provide online education course on H1N1 virus in pregnant women

mdBriefCase Inc., in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Canada (SOGC), is pleased to provide a new online education course on the H1N1 virus in pregnant women.

18 Nov 2009

Lee's Pharmaceutical granted exclusive license to Jennerex' lead product for HCC

Jennerex, Inc., a clinical-stage biotherapeutics company developing a proprietary breakthrough class of targeted oncolytic virus therapeutics, today announced in conjunction with Lee's Pharmaceutical Holdings, the execution of a collaboration and license agreement for Jennerex's lead product candidate, JX-594, in certain Asian territories.

18 Nov 2009

Epiphany Biosciences announces results from its valomaciclovir Phase 2b trial for shingles

Epiphany Biosciences announced results from its Phase 2b dose-ranging study of EPB-348 (valomaciclovir) in patients with shingles (herpes zoster) infection. The study's primary endpoint was non-inferiority of once-daily valomaciclovir compared to thrice-daily valacyclovir in terms of time to complete crusting of the shingles rash.

18 Nov 2009

New pre-clinical data from Alnylam Pharmaceuticals' ALN-VSP program presented

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading RNAi therapeutics company, today announced new pre-clinical data from its ALN-VSP program presented at the AACR-NCI-EORTC Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics International conference being held November 15 - 19, 2009 in Boston, Mass.

18 Nov 2009

SynCon Chikungunya virus DNA vaccine induces protective neutralizing antibody responses in animal model

Inovio Biomedical Corporation, a leader in DNA vaccine design, development and delivery, announced today that the company's SynCon™ Chikungunya virus DNA vaccine induced protective neutralizing antibody responses in a preclinical non-human primate model.

18 Nov 2009

Request for pre-IND meeting to discuss IND application for therapeutic vaccine granted by FDA

GeoVax Labs, Inc. (the "Company"), an Atlanta-based, biopharmaceutical company developing human vaccines for diseases caused by HIV-1 (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and other infectious agents, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted its request for a pre-IND meeting to discuss the proposed Investigational New Drug (IND) application for GeoVax's therapeutic vaccine as a treatment for individuals already infected with HIV.

18 Nov 2009

IBM scientists create one-step point-of-care-diagnostic test based on innovative silicon chip

IBM (IBM) scientists have created a one-step point-of-care-diagnostic test, based on an innovative silicon chip, that requires less sample volume, is significantly faster, portable, easy to use, and can test for many diseases, including one of world's leading causes of death, cardiovascular disease.

18 Nov 2009

Enigma ML, the fully automated Point-of-Care mini-laboratory instrument to be showcased

Enigma Diagnostics Limited, the decentralised point-of-care molecular diagnostics company, announces the showcasing of its fully automated Point-of-Care mini-laboratory instrument, the Enigma ML, at MEDICA 2009 at the Dusseldorf Trade Fair Centrehas in Dusseldorf, Germany in Hall 1, stand E07a between 18-20 November.

18 Nov 2009

Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

H1N1: Bridging the knowledge gap

Researchers to discover new vaccine against infection from Lyme disease

Adamas Pharmaceuticals expands its Phase 2 TCAD therapy study for influenza A

SinoFresh Nasal Spray effective against 'swine flu' in animal study

Exaggerated responses of immune system explain elders’ susceptibility to viral infections

NPSF supports obligatory flu vaccination for healthcare workers

Genetic identity of cellular receptor for the immune system's first-response antibody discovered

Why avian flu virus has not caused a pandemic?

FDA issues complete response for Rituxan, a drug for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Chronic hepatitis B seems to progress faster in men, report scientists

Results from Phase IIa clinical trial evaluating VT-111 reported by Viron Therapeutics

WHO to launch yellow fever vaccination campaign in West Africa

mdBriefCase to provide online education course on H1N1 virus in pregnant women

Lee's Pharmaceutical granted exclusive license to Jennerex' lead product for HCC

Epiphany Biosciences announces results from its valomaciclovir Phase 2b trial for shingles

New pre-clinical data from Alnylam Pharmaceuticals' ALN-VSP program presented

SynCon Chikungunya virus DNA vaccine induces protective neutralizing antibody responses in animal model

Request for pre-IND meeting to discuss IND application for therapeutic vaccine granted by FDA

IBM scientists create one-step point-of-care-diagnostic test based on innovative silicon chip

Enigma ML, the fully automated Point-of-Care mini-laboratory instrument to be showcased

A new way of characterising biomolecules eBook

Evolving spectrophotometry for modern biopharma workflows

Scaling B-cell cloning workflows for antibody development

Fluidics in Modern Healthcare & Medical Device Innovation

Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

A new way of characterising biomolecules eBook

Evolving spectrophotometry for modern biopharma workflows

Scaling B-cell cloning workflows for antibody development

Fluidics in Modern Healthcare & Medical Device Innovation

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