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Researchers develop new gene therapy to thwart potential influenza pandemic

Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania have developed a new gene therapy to thwart a potential influenza pandemic. Specifically, investigators in the Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, directed by James M. Wilson, MD, PhD, demonstrated that a single dose of an adeno-associated virus expressing a broadly neutralizing flu antibody into the nasal passages of mice and ferrets gives them complete protection and substantial reductions in flu replication when exposed to lethal strains of H5N1 and H1N1 flu virus.

30 May 2013

Coronavirus incubation period may be longer than previously thought

A detailed clinical description of two cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in France, published online in The Lancet today, suggests that the incubation period for the virus may be longer than previously thought, and longer quarantine periods may be required to rule out infection among patient contacts.

29 May 2013

Atopix awarded grant to pursue development of OC459 for atopic dermatitis

Atopix Therapeutics Ltd, a biopharmaceutical company developing a novel class of anti-allergic medicines, has been awarded a £1.7 million grant from the UK Biomedical Catalyst fund to pursue development of OC459 in the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (a form of eczema).

29 May 2013

UCLA researchers show that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function

UCLA researchers now have the first evidence that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function in humans. In an early proof-of-concept study of healthy women, they found that women who regularly consumed beneficial bacteria known as probiotics through yogurt showed altered brain function, both while in a resting state and in response to an emotion-recognition task.

29 May 2013

Transplantation of human stem cells improves muscle function in rats used to model ALS

Transplantation of human stem cells in an experiment conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison improved survival and muscle function in rats used to model ALS, a nerve disease that destroys nerve control of muscles, causing death by respiratory failure.

29 May 2013

Research sheds new light on the increasing use of prescription drugs among young people

Young people are increasingly turning to prescription drugs to get high. Research out of the University of Cincinnati sheds new light on what could increase or lower that risk.

29 May 2013

Unique omega-3 supplement improves lung function, reduces airway inflammation in asthmatics

An Indiana University study has found that a unique omega-3 supplement derived from the New Zealand green-lipped mussel significantly improved lung function and reduced airway inflammation in asthmatics who experience exercise-induced bronchoconstriction, also called exercise-induced asthma.

29 May 2013

Asfotase alfa gets Breakthrough Therapy designation from FDA for treatment of patients with HPP

Alexion Pharma International Sàrl, a subsidiary of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to asfotase alfa for the treatment of patients with hypophosphatasia (HPP) whose first signs or symptoms occurred prior to 18 years of age, including perinatal-, infantile-, and juvenile-onset forms of the disease.

28 May 2013

Unintentional ingestions of marijuana-laced foods by children have increased significantly

A new study shows the relaxation of marijuana laws in Colorado has caused a significant spike in the number of young children treated for accidentally eating marijuana-laced cookies, candies, brownies and beverages.

28 May 2013

Omthera to be acquired by AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Omthera Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company based in Princeton, New Jersey, focused on the development and commercialization of new therapies for abnormal levels of lipids in the blood, referred to as dyslipidemia.

28 May 2013

Mortality rates are highest in heart failure patients admitted in January, on Friday, and overnight

Mortality and length of stay are highest in heart failure patients admitted in January, on Friday, and overnight, according to research presented today at the Heart Failure Congress 2013. The analysis of nearly 1 million heart failure admissions over 14 years was presented by Dr David P. Kao (Denver, Colorado).

27 May 2013

Astellas submits application for marketing approval of enzalutamide for prostate cancer

Astellas Pharma Inc. and Medivation, Inc. today announced that Astellas has submitted an application for marketing approval of enzalutamide (generic name) to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan for the treatment of prostate cancer.

24 May 2013

New, improved drugs can boost body's natural flu killer system

A known difficulty in fighting influenza (flu) is the ability of the flu viruses to mutate and thus evade various medications that were previously found to be effective. Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have shown recently that another, more promising, approach is to focus on improving drugs that boost the body's natural flu killer system.

24 May 2013

Common type of childhood asthma is not related to allergens and inflammation

Little is known about why asthma develops, how it constricts the airway or why response to treatments varies between patients. Now, a team of researchers at Weill Cornell Medical College, Columbia University Medical Center and SUNY Downstate Medical Center has revealed the roots of a common type of childhood asthma, showing that it is very different from other asthma cases.

24 May 2013

Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals starts Phase I study of SB 9200 for treatment of HCV infection

Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing innovative medicines for the treatment of viral infections, today announced that it has initiated dosing in a Phase I study of SB 9200, its investigational, once daily, oral therapy for the treatment of HCV infection.

24 May 2013

CCSC, HHS honor hospitals, health care facilities for preventing HAIs

The Critical Care Societies Collaborative, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announces recipients in the 2013 National Awards Program to Recognize Achievements in Eliminating Health Care-Associated Infections.

24 May 2013

Researchers reveal roots of a common type of childhood asthma

24 May 2013

Prosonix commences Phase 2 clinical study of PSX1002 for treatment of moderate to severe COPD

Prosonix, an innovative speciality pharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of inhaled Respiratory Medicines by Design, has initiated a Phase 2 clinical study with PSX1002 that will assess its effect on lung function and the safety of a range of doses in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

23 May 2013

Researchers find that over 40% of patients treated for COPD did not actually have the disease

More than 40 percent of patients being treated for COPD at a federally funded clinic did not have the disease, researchers found after evaluating the patients with spirometry, the diagnostic "gold standard" for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

23 May 2013

Systemic inflammation is linked with depression in COPD patients, say researchers

Depression is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has been linked with disease severity and impaired quality of life. Now, for the first time, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have linked the systemic inflammation associated with COPD with depression in these patients.

22 May 2013

Respiratory News and Research

Researchers develop new gene therapy to thwart potential influenza pandemic

Coronavirus incubation period may be longer than previously thought

Atopix awarded grant to pursue development of OC459 for atopic dermatitis

UCLA researchers show that bacteria ingested in food can affect brain function

Transplantation of human stem cells improves muscle function in rats used to model ALS

Research sheds new light on the increasing use of prescription drugs among young people

Unique omega-3 supplement improves lung function, reduces airway inflammation in asthmatics

Asfotase alfa gets Breakthrough Therapy designation from FDA for treatment of patients with HPP

Unintentional ingestions of marijuana-laced foods by children have increased significantly

Omthera to be acquired by AstraZeneca

Mortality rates are highest in heart failure patients admitted in January, on Friday, and overnight

Astellas submits application for marketing approval of enzalutamide for prostate cancer

New, improved drugs can boost body's natural flu killer system

Common type of childhood asthma is not related to allergens and inflammation

Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals starts Phase I study of SB 9200 for treatment of HCV infection

CCSC, HHS honor hospitals, health care facilities for preventing HAIs

Researchers reveal roots of a common type of childhood asthma

Prosonix commences Phase 2 clinical study of PSX1002 for treatment of moderate to severe COPD

Researchers find that over 40% of patients treated for COPD did not actually have the disease

Systemic inflammation is linked with depression in COPD patients, say researchers

How can microdialysis benefit drug development

Global and Local Efforts to Take Action Against Hepatitis

Addressing Important Cardiac Biology Questions with Shotgun Top-Down Proteomics

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