Pandemic News and Research

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A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. During a pandemic, transmission can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patient to workers in health care settings, but also among co-workers in general work settings. A pandemic would cause high levels of illness, death, social disruption, and economic loss. Everyday life would be disrupted because so many people in so many places become seriously ill at the same time. Impacts could range from school and business closings to the interruption of basic services such as public transportation and food delivery.

GM-SCF therapy can reduce flu symptoms and prevent death

New research on mice has shown that pulmonary administration of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor significantly reduces flu symptoms and prevents death after a lethal dose influenza virus.

22 Apr 2011

Countries agree to draft framework on virus sharing, WHO says

After almost four years of negotiations, the WHO on Saturday announced it had reached an agreement on sharing flu virus samples, Agence-France Presse reports.

19 Apr 2011

Also in global health news: U.N., Libyan government reach deal over aid; USAID monitoring HIV/AIDS in Philippines; WFP warns of Afghanistan food shortages; U.N. appeals for more aid in Cote d'Ivoire, Namibia

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday at a press conference in Hungary announced that the organization had reached an agreement with the Libyan government to provide humanitarian aid in the country's capital city of Tripoli, the Associated Press reports.

19 Apr 2011

Virus-sharing draft agreement very close; U.S. yet to formally approve, Reuters reports

A draft agreement that would ensure countries would share virus samples in exchange for access to affordable vaccines derived from such samples in the event of a pandemic is nearly complete, senior diplomats told Reuters on Thursday.

16 Apr 2011

WHO group hopes to have virus-sharing draft agreement finalized by Friday

Countries are narrowing in on a "deal to speed up their response to the next flu pandemic by sharing virus samples in return for access to affordable vaccines," co-chairs of a WHO working group told reporters on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

15 Apr 2011

Novartis, Duke sign deal to develop pandemic flu vaccine

The Duke Human Vaccine Institute today announced a collaboration and strategic agreement with Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics to enable the rapid development of a vaccine and accelerate preparedness in case of a pandemic virus threat such as pandemic influenza.

15 Apr 2011

Viral infection likely to encourage pneumonia spread

Bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis are only able to spread when individuals are infected with flu, says a scientist reporting at the Society for General Microbiology's Spring Conference in Harrogate. The work could have implications for the management of influenza pandemics and could help reduce incidence of pneumococcal infections in very young children, who are more susceptible to disease.

11 Apr 2011

Merck announces interim analysis from V710 Phase II/III trial in S. aureus infection

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and Intercell AG today announced that following a pre-specified interim analysis from the Phase II/III clinical trial evaluating V710, an investigational vaccine for the prevention of Staphylococcus aureus infection, the independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended suspension of enrollment.

11 Apr 2011

Democratic Congresswoman highlights threat climate change poses to public health

Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.) "called climate change a bigger public health threat than AIDS, malaria and pandemic flu" before a vote on Wednesday on a bill aimed at thwarting Environmental Protection Agency climate regulations, The Hill's "E2-Wire" blog reports.

8 Apr 2011

Top 10 global pharmaceutical company, Medicago sign deal to develop non-influenza vaccine

Medicago Inc., a biotechnology company focused on developing highly effective and competitive vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles, today announced that it has entered into a research collaboration agreement for the development of a non-influenza vaccine candidate with a top 10 global pharmaceutical company.

7 Apr 2011

NIAID awards Aragen Bioscience with three subcontracts to advance preclinical studies

Aragen Bioscience, Inc., today announced it is a subcontractor on a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases contract for the preclinical development of monoclonal antibodies for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

6 Apr 2011

Post-infection treatment with NanoViricides FluCide reduces lung lesions caused by lethal influenza infection

NanoViricides, Inc. reports that post-infection treatment with its optimized FluCide™ drug candidates resulted in dramatic reduction in the number of lung lesions that are caused by a lethal influenza virus infection. These findings were seen in the most recent H1N1 influenza animal study.

5 Apr 2011

R&D Directions names Novavax VLP influenza vaccine as one of top '100 great investigational drugs in development'

Novavax, Inc. announced that its virus-like particle (VLP) influenza vaccine has been named by the editors of R&D Directions magazine as one of the top "100 great investigational drugs in development" today. In its tenth annual list of promising clinical compounds, R&D Directions cited Novavax's virus-like-particle technology as a promising new approach to producing vaccines to prevent seasonal, H1N1 and avian influenza. The list reflects the current interests of industry observers and analysts and is described in the magazine's March 2011 issue.

5 Apr 2011

Biota Scientific receives BARDA contract to develop single-dose antiviral drug

A contract has been awarded to develop a long-acting single-dose antiviral drug for use in the United States, the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority announced today.

1 Apr 2011

Biota wins U.S. drug development contract for Laninamivir

Australian biotechnology company Biota Holdings revealed its US subsidiary has won a five year $US231 million ($A224.36 million) contract from the US government to develop a long-acting, single-dose flu drug for sale in the US. Shares in the Melbourne-based drug development company jumped 60 cents, or 57%, to $1.60 at the market open today falling back to $1.43, 1pm (AEST).

31 Mar 2011

Sinovac reports fourth quarter net sales of $9.1 million

Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a leading provider of biopharmaceutical products in China, announced today its fourth quarter and full year financial results periods ended December 31, 2010.

31 Mar 2011

International experts meet to focus on impact of vaccines on global health at a time of public scepticism and complacency

International experts gather in Prague today for a three day meeting focused on the impact of vaccines on public health, at a time of increasing concern that public scepticism and complacency could undermine the positive impact of current and future vaccine campaigns.

31 Mar 2011

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

GM-SCF therapy can reduce flu symptoms and prevent death

Countries agree to draft framework on virus sharing, WHO says

Also in global health news: U.N., Libyan government reach deal over aid; USAID monitoring HIV/AIDS in Philippines; WFP warns of Afghanistan food shortages; U.N. appeals for more aid in Cote d'Ivoire, Namibia

Virus-sharing draft agreement very close; U.S. yet to formally approve, Reuters reports

WHO group hopes to have virus-sharing draft agreement finalized by Friday

Novartis, Duke sign deal to develop pandemic flu vaccine

Viral infection likely to encourage pneumonia spread

Merck announces interim analysis from V710 Phase II/III trial in S. aureus infection

Democratic Congresswoman highlights threat climate change poses to public health

Top 10 global pharmaceutical company, Medicago sign deal to develop non-influenza vaccine

NIAID awards Aragen Bioscience with three subcontracts to advance preclinical studies

Post-infection treatment with NanoViricides FluCide reduces lung lesions caused by lethal influenza infection

R&D Directions names Novavax VLP influenza vaccine as one of top '100 great investigational drugs in development'

Biota Scientific receives BARDA contract to develop single-dose antiviral drug

Biota wins U.S. drug development contract for Laninamivir

Sinovac reports fourth quarter net sales of $9.1 million

International experts meet to focus on impact of vaccines on global health at a time of public scepticism and complacency

CEL-SCI to initiate Multikine Phase III trial against head and neck cancer in Israel

WHO Director-General responds to draft report on agency's handling of H1N1 pandemic

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