Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

American Lung Association urges families to get immunized against seasonal influenza

The American Lung Association is intensifying its seasonal influenza public education initiative to urge families to get vaccinated as soon as possible. The Faces of Influenza campaign aims to ensure Americans get immunized against seasonal influenza, which each year causes an estimated 36,000 deaths and over 226,000 hospitalizations from the virus and its related complications.

15 Sep 2009

Alnylam and Medtronic announce pre-clinical research findings from their Huntington’s disease program

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALNY), a leading RNAi therapeutics company, and Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT), the world’s leading developer of medical devices, announced today the presentation of new pre-clinical research findings from their Huntington’s disease program at the 2009 World Congress on Huntington’s Disease held September 12-15, 2009 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

15 Sep 2009

FluCide more effective than Tamiflu

NanoViricides, Inc. (OTC BB: NNVC.OB) (the "Company"), announced today that Anil Diwan, PhD, President of the Company presented a talk at NanoBusiness 2009 - the 8th annual NanoBusiness Conference in Chicago, IL, on Wednesday, September 9th.

15 Sep 2009

Thermo Fisher to showcase food safety solutions at AOAC 2009, Philadelphia

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE: TMO), the world leader in serving science, today announced that it is featuring its industry-leading range of instrumentation, equipment, consumables and software used for food safety testing at the AOAC International annual meeting and exposition in Philadelphia from Sept. 11-17.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 15 Sep 2009

MSD's ISENTRESS approved by the EU Commission for treating HIV-1 infection in adult patients

Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited (MSD) announced today that ISENTRESS® (raltegravir) has been granted an expanded licence from the European Union Commission (Commission) for use in combination with other antiretroviral (ARV) medicinal products for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adult patients, including adult patients starting HIV-1 therapy for the first time (treatment-naïve), as well as treatment-experienced adult patients.

15 Sep 2009

Phase II VICTOR-E1 clinical study results reported

Schering-Plough Corporation today reported long-term data with vicriviroc, its investigational CCR5 receptor antagonist, from an ongoing, open-label extension of the Phase II VICTOR-E1 study in treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients.

15 Sep 2009

Phase 2b trial of Mpex's Aeroquin with PARI Pharma's eFlow Nebulizer System successful

Mpex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. reported positive top line results from a Phase 2b clinical trial with Aeroquin, a novel aerosol formulation of levofloxacin delivered by an optimized Investigational eFlow Nebulizer System from PARI Pharma. In the Mpex cystic fibrosis trial, nebulized Aeroquin met the primary endpoint of reducing bacterial counts of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in sputum after 28 days of dosing versus placebo.

15 Sep 2009

IBC offers coverage for H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines

In an effort to help keep members healthy and flu-free this year, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) will offer coverage for the administration costs of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine when it becomes available. In addition, IBC will continue to cover seasonal flu vaccine.

15 Sep 2009

FDA clears Diagnostic HYBRIDS' D3 FastPoint L-DFA Respiratory Virus Identification Kit

Diagnostic HYBRIDS, a leading developer of IVD fluorescent staining kits and cell culture products, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (510k) clearance of its D3 FastPointTM L-DFATM Respiratory Virus Identification Kit, which allows the individual detection of influenza A, influenza B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), adenovirus and parainfluenza viruses from a patient’s specimen in under 30 minutes.

15 Sep 2009

Emerging Growth Research to manage investor relations programs for Biomagnetics Diagnostics

Biomagnetics Diagnostics Corp., a producer of revolutionary diagnostic systems and technology for HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis, and malaria detection, today announced it has retained Emerging Growth Research, LLP to manage its public relations and investor relations programs. Emerging Growth Research specializes in small market capitalization companies in the technology and biotechnology sectors.

14 Sep 2009

Emergency Medical Associates to track swine flu movement with SAP business intelligence solutions

As families return from summer travels and children head back to school, Emergency Medical Associates (EMA) is preparing for a potential resurgence in the swine flu virus (H1N1) this fall. By using business intelligence (BI) solutions from SAP AG (NYSE: SAP), EMA will continue to pinpoint the movement of swine flu and alert federal organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as 21 different emergency medical departments to patterns of outbreak.

14 Sep 2009

H1N1 vaccine to be available in U.S. earlier than anticipated

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said on Sunday that the H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine will be available in the U.S. earlier than previously anticipated, the Wall Street Journal reports. "We are on track to have an ample supply rolling out by mid-October, but we may have some early vaccine as early as the first full week in October. And we plan to get the vaccine rolling out the door as fast as it hits the production line," Sebelius said (Davis, 9/13).

14 Sep 2009

Washington Post examines HIV/AIDS rights, responsibilities questions

The Washington Post examines how African countries are "grappling with debates over what rights and duties to give those living with [HIV/AIDS] -- a growing segment of the population that remains largely hidden." The newspaper writes: "Across the continent, lawmakers are considering whether to make criminals of those who infect others with HIV, allow bosses to test workers for the virus, punish women who pass it to their babies and give constitutional protections to those with HIV."

14 Sep 2009

Clinical studies reveal treatment with pirfenidone is safe and well-tolerated

InterMune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ITMN) today announced that the results of a comprehensive review of safety data from four clinical studies were presented at the 2009 European Respiratory Society Annual Congress in Vienna, Austria by Dr. Ulrich Costabel of the Ruhrlandklinik, Essen, Germany.

14 Sep 2009

New data confirm link between Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis

Over the last 40 years, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been repeatedly associated with multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. During the 2nd European Congress of Immunology ECI 2009 held in Berlin, Francesca Aloisi, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, will present new data that further support the link. In the brain lesions of patients with multiple sclerosis her team found abnormal accumulation of EBV infected B lymphocytes.

14 Sep 2009

Malnutrition, poor sanitary conditions and HIV leads to defective immune system

The most common causes worldwide include malnutrition, poor sanitary conditions and human immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection. Other causes of temporary or permanent damage to the immune system include old age, medications (e.g. cortisone, cytostatic drugs), radiotherapy, stress after surgery and malignant tumors of the bone marrow and the lymph nodes.

14 Sep 2009

Wash and dry hands to fight against H1N1

Countries around the world are trying to tackle the escalating H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic in different ways. Advice from all authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), remains the same: good hand hygiene, particularly in public places. Despite this, there are still too few people who know how to wash and dry their hands in the most hygienic way.

14 Sep 2009

VBI's flu vaccine offers protection against H1N1

Variation Biotechnologies, Inc. (VBI), an emerging leader in the discovery and development of novel vaccines to fight infectious diseases, today reported that the company’s proprietary influenza vaccine triggered a robust immune response and provided protection against the H1N1 strain of influenza.

14 Sep 2009

Multi-topic, hour-long series hosted by a cardiac surgeon premiers today

"The Dr. Oz Show," a high octane, multi-topic hour-long series hosted by trusted health expert, best-selling author, and world-renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, premieres in syndication today (check local listings). Episodes airing during its premiere week feature two of the recently announced "Core Team Oz" guest contributors, fashion and style expert Tim Gunn ("Project Runway") and fitness specialist Bob Harper ("The Biggest Loser"). Also debuting this week as a member of Core Team Oz is "America's vet," Dr. Marty Becker, the popular author and regular veterinary contributor on ABC-TV's "Good Morning America."

14 Sep 2009

Technology and science tours on Pittsburgh's economy

Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) have driven a dramatic shift in the Pittsburgh economy during the last four decades, transforming the city from a manufacturing town to an international knowledge-based center for research, education and medicine.

14 Sep 2009