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.

CRO to run CEL-SCI's upcoming Phase III clinical trial

CEL-SCI Corporation, a late-stage oncology company and a developer of vaccines and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, announced today that it has retained the services of an international Contract Research Organization (CRO) to run CEL-SCI's upcoming Phase III clinical trial in advanced primary head and neck cancer with the Company's lead product candidate, Multikine®.

1 Dec 2009

Swine flu cases appear to have peaked

The current wave of pandemic H1N1 appears to have peaked, with four weeks of declines in several key indicators, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday. Despite the decrease, the outbreak is continuing to take a heavy toll of hospitalizations and deaths, especially among children.

1 Dec 2009

Roche's MagNA Pure 96 System for nucleic acid purification evaluated

TriCore Reference Laboratories of Albuquerque, N.M., reported at a recent user meeting results of their research collaboration with Roche Applied Science in which they evaluated Roche´s new MagNA Pure 96 System for use in nucleic acid purification. The evaluation focused on the Roche system’s ability to process specimens for pathogen testing.

1 Dec 2009

Akonni Biosystems receives $3.2M Phase II SBIR grant from NIH

Akonni Biosystems, a molecular diagnostics (MDx) company focused on providing rapid and highly scalable solutions for infectious disease testing, today announced receipt of a $3.2M Phase II SBIR grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

1 Dec 2009

GAA urges Obama to reflect on AIDS epidemic

On World AIDS Day 2009 the Global AIDS Alliance (GAA) calls on President Obama and his advisors to reflect on two recent alarming reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) showing that the AIDS pandemic continues to be of catastrophic proportion, affecting shockingly high numbers of people around the globe.

1 Dec 2009

Phase 1 study of preventive HIV vaccine testing a novel delivery mechanism completed

A Phase 1 study of a preventive HIV vaccine testing a novel delivery mechanism known as electroporation – the use of electrical pulses to increase the immune responses elicited by DNA vaccines – was recently completed in New York City.

1 Dec 2009

School closure during infectious disease pandemic reduces illness transmission

A survey carried out in eight European countries has shown that closing schools in the event of an infectious disease pandemic could have a significant role in reducing illness transmission.

27 Nov 2009

Free, confidential HIV testing at Northern California ‘Out of the Closet’ locations

To commemorate World AIDS Day 2009, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), together with local partners, will offer free, confidential HIV testing at all five of its popular Bay Area “Out of the Closet” Thrift Stores on Tuesday, December 1st, from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m. The events are part of AHF’s World AIDS Day 2009 “Testing Millions” campaign which seeks to test several million people for HIV in conjunction with this year’s observance of World AIDS Day.

26 Nov 2009

Lethality of H1N1 virus has dropped from its peak of 3.7, shows new data

Biotech firm Replikins Ltd., which has analyzed the H1N1 virus' genomic data from the 1918 pandemic through the prediction, outbreak, and progress of the current H1N1 pandemic, today issued its latest biochemical analysis of the virus.

25 Nov 2009

WHO investigates cases of H1N1 drug resistance in U.S., Britain

The WHO is looking into reports that patients with "severely suppressed immune systems" in Britain and the U.S. developed resistance Tamiflu, which is used to treat the symptoms of H1N1 (swine flu), a spokesman for the organization said Tuesday, Reuters reports.

25 Nov 2009

Sinovac Dalian JV to research, develop, produce and commercialize human-use vaccines

Sinovac Biotech Ltd. ( SVA), a leading developer and provider of vaccines, announced today that it executed a joint venture (JV) agreement to establish Sinovac (Dalian) Vaccine Technology Co., Ltd. (Sinovac Dalian). The JV will research, develop, produce and commercialize human-use vaccines. Sinovac will contribute its expertise and experience in developing and commercializing world-class vaccines; the other party will bring its land use rights, manufacturing facilities and established operating infrastructure.

25 Nov 2009

Africa region leaders meet to discuss H1N1 procurement, distribution

Representatives of African countries are meeting in Abuja this week to discuss the procurement and distribution of the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine, the Daily Trust/allAfrica.com reports (Rabiu, 11/23).

24 Nov 2009

Also in Global Health news: Home HIV treatment; voluntary testing in Kenya; women/HIV scorecard; Global Fund Zimbabwe grant; contraceptives in Tanzania

The New York Times reports on a Lancet study that found treating Ugandan HIV patients at home is cheaper and just as effective as treating them in a clinic.

24 Nov 2009

New Medicare rules on home-oxygen affect patients, businesses

The Wall Street Journal: "New Medicare rules designed to reduce waste and fraud in medical-equipment reimbursements are driving some home-oxygen suppliers out of business and leaving patients scrambling to find new providers." The rules - scheduled to go into effect January 1, apply to people "who rely on Medicare to pay for oxygen services, which relieve the symptoms of conditions such as emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease."

24 Nov 2009

Iowa State University's researcher develops and ships H1N1 vaccine for swine producers

The only swine vaccine available for the H1N1 virus has been sent to vaccinate a swine herd infected with the virus. The vaccination marks the first time vaccine has been sent to a swine herd diagnosed with the pandemic flu.

24 Nov 2009

H1N1 spreading eastward, WHO says

The H1N1 (swine flu) virus appears to be spreading eastward across Europe and Asia, after appearing to have leveled off in the U.S. and some western European countries, the WHO said Friday, Reuters reports.

23 Nov 2009

CDC: 'Beggining to see some declines in swine flu'

Reuters: "The pandemic of swine flu may be hitting a peak in the United States, health experts said on Friday. But they stressed that influenza, especially a pandemic, could hit several peaks in a single season. They said weeks or months more of disease could be expected.

23 Nov 2009

Rates of infection by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus may have peaked in late October: Quest Diagnostics

Rates of infection by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus may have peaked in late October, but the pandemic flu virus continues to be a potential source of illness in all age groups, including the elderly, according to a new report by Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services.

From Quest Diagnostics 21 Nov 2009

Evidence does not connect H1N1 vaccine to patient deaths, WHO says

The deaths of 41 people from six countries who had received the H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine were not directly linked to the vaccine, the WHO said Thursday, the Associated Press/MSNBC reports (11/19).

20 Nov 2009

BD acquires HandyLab for $275 million

BD today announced the completion of its acquisition of HandyLab, Inc., an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based company that develops and manufactures molecular diagnostic assays and automation platforms.

From BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) 20 Nov 2009

Pandemic News and Research

Further Reading

CRO to run CEL-SCI's upcoming Phase III clinical trial

Swine flu cases appear to have peaked

Roche's MagNA Pure 96 System for nucleic acid purification evaluated

Akonni Biosystems receives $3.2M Phase II SBIR grant from NIH

GAA urges Obama to reflect on AIDS epidemic

Phase 1 study of preventive HIV vaccine testing a novel delivery mechanism completed

School closure during infectious disease pandemic reduces illness transmission

Free, confidential HIV testing at Northern California ‘Out of the Closet’ locations

Lethality of H1N1 virus has dropped from its peak of 3.7, shows new data

WHO investigates cases of H1N1 drug resistance in U.S., Britain

Sinovac Dalian JV to research, develop, produce and commercialize human-use vaccines

Africa region leaders meet to discuss H1N1 procurement, distribution

Also in Global Health news: Home HIV treatment; voluntary testing in Kenya; women/HIV scorecard; Global Fund Zimbabwe grant; contraceptives in Tanzania

New Medicare rules on home-oxygen affect patients, businesses

Iowa State University's researcher develops and ships H1N1 vaccine for swine producers

H1N1 spreading eastward, WHO says

CDC: 'Beggining to see some declines in swine flu'

Rates of infection by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus may have peaked in late October: Quest Diagnostics

Evidence does not connect H1N1 vaccine to patient deaths, WHO says

BD acquires HandyLab for $275 million

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