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State roundup: Romney on Mass. care, Kansas Rx costs, Colorado insurance costs

The Boston Globe, on former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney's reaction to the new federal health law: "The former governor, who has been mentioned as a possible candidate again for president in 2012, had labeled Obama's bill 'unhealthy for America' and has called for its repeal, even as conservative critics say it was modeled on Romney's policy."

31 Mar 2010

Facts and treatment options for endometriosis

One out of every two women struggling to conceive may suffer from endometriosis - the leading cause of infertility - according to research from Camran Nezhat, M.D., gynecologist at El Camino Hospital, the hospital of the Silicon Valley.

31 Mar 2010

FDA allows GeoVax Labs to commence phase 1 clinical trial for HIV/AIDS therapeutic vaccine

GeoVax Labs, Inc., a biotechnology company that creates, develops, and tests innovative HIV/AIDS vaccines, is now allowed by the FDA to begin a phase 1 clinical trial for GeoVax's therapeutic vaccine, which is intended as a treatment for individuals infected with HIV. The company will begin a non-blinded study in HIV infected individuals who started drug treatment during their first year of infection.

30 Mar 2010

First Edition: March 30, 2010

Today's news pages are full of stories detailing more particulars of the new health care bill to be signed into law today by President Obama. Meanwhile, the headlines also indicate that for Democrats, politically capitalizing on the new measure will be no easy task.

30 Mar 2010

New DNA test to detect Lyme disease spirochete infection

Many of the more than 30,000 people a year in the United States with suspected cases of Lyme disease spirochete (bacterial) infection can now take a DNA test developed by a Connecticut scientist/physician and his team that can quickly determine if they test positive for Lyme spirochetes in their blood.

30 Mar 2010

Resurgence of mumps orchitis among teenage boys and young men

Urologists at a leading Irish hospital have reported an alarming increase in the number of teenage boys and young men developing mumps orchitis, in a paper published in the April issue of the urology journal BJUI.

30 Mar 2010

Emory Institute of Drug Discovery and Zirus collaborate to develop new anti-viral drugs

The Emory Institute of Drug Discovery and Zirus, Inc., a biotechnology company based in Buford, Georgia, have entered into a collaboration and research agreement to develop novel compounds to treat infectious disease. Zirus uses a proprietary method for identifying genes and gene products in host cells that, when blocked, can prevent viruses from multiplying. Over the past several years, either alone or in collaboration with partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Zirus has identified, licensed and filed patents on more than 1000 targets.

30 Mar 2010

UNAIDS Executive Director calls for continued investment in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and removal of travel bans

During a meeting of lawmakers from 150 countries in Bangkok, UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe on Sunday warned that the global economic crisis could reverse recent gains in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Reuters reports.

30 Mar 2010

Wall Street journal examines fundraising efforts by GAVI, Global Fund

The GAVI Alliance and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria "on Friday began an effort to raise as much as $24 billion from members of the Group of 20 nations that will test whether a major push begun a decade ago against infectious diseases can survive the global recession," the Wall Street Journal reports. The two groups held meetings last week in The Hague with government representatives from existing and potential donor nations, according to the newspaper.

30 Mar 2010

Preclinical study of DAS181 for treatment and prevention of ILI published

NexBio, Inc. announced today the publication in the Journal of Infectious Diseases of a preclinical study suggesting that treatment with DAS181 (Fludase®) may reduce the risk of secondary bacterial pneumonia following influenza virus infection.

30 Mar 2010

Research challenges current thinking about TB bacterium

Two new tuberculosis studies by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers provide good news and bad news about the bacterium that infects nearly a third of the world's population and a disease that kills nearly 2 million people each year.

30 Mar 2010

Potential new target for treating HCV infection

A team of scientists including University of Utah researchers has discovered that binding of a potent inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus to the genetic material of the virus causes a major conformational change that may adversely affect the ability of the virus to replicate.

30 Mar 2010

DIATHERIX GI test panel can detect nine types of GI infections

DIATHERIX Laboratories adds a gastrointestinal panel to its lineup of highly sensitive, rapid response diagnostic tests. In a single result, the DIATHERIX GI panel can detect and differentiate nine types of GI infections so physicians can quickly identify patients who have severe, life-threatening infections.

30 Mar 2010

Trius Therapeutics' Phase 1 trial establishes safety and tolerability of IV torezolid phosphate for MRSA

Trius Therapeutics, Inc. today announced results from its Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of the intravenous (IV) dosage form of torezolid phosphate, an IV and orally administered second generation oxazolidinone for the treatment of serious gram positive infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

30 Mar 2010

Also in Global Health News: H1N1; USAID's Global Pulse; Rotavirus vaccine; Uzbek doctors; Zimbabwe development; Malaria vaccine

WHO flu chief Keiji Fukuda on Monday announced that a group of 29 independent scientists and public health experts has been formed to evaluate the response of the organization and national governments to the emergence of H1N1 (swine flu), the Associated Press reports. According to Fukuda, the committee will hold its first meeting April 12-14 (3/29).

29 Mar 2010

GSK offers free vaccines for low income adults without insurance coverage

GlaxoSmithKline today announced the launch of the GSK Vaccines Access Program, which will provide the company's adult vaccines free of charge to eligible, low income individuals who do not have insurance coverage for vaccines. The program will cover the company's FDA-approved vaccines for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis for eligible persons ages 19 and older.

29 Mar 2010

Final results from Novavax' Phase II clinical trial of trivalent seasonal influenza VLP vaccine announced

Novavax, Inc. a clinical-stage vaccine company, released the final results from a Phase II clinical trial evaluating Novavax's trivalent seasonal influenza Virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine candidate in healthy adults. The study enrolled healthy volunteers 18 to 49 years in age who were immunized with a single injection of Novavax's trivalent seasonal influenza VLP vaccine matched to the influenza strains recommended for the 2008-2009 influenza vaccine.

29 Mar 2010

Positive results from Pearl Therapeutics' Phase 1 study of inhaled combination bronchodilator for COPD

Pearl Therapeutics Inc., a company developing clinically differentiated combination therapies for the treatment of highly prevalent chronic respiratory diseases, today announced positive results from a Phase 1 safety and pharmacokinetics study of PT003, its lead combination therapeutic for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Based on these results, and previously announced positive results from Phase 2a studies of PT003's individual components, the company has advanced PT003 into a Phase 2b trial.

29 Mar 2010

Parenteral Biotech to supply and distribute Sinovac Biotech's Anflu and PANFLU.1 vaccines in India

Sinovac Biotech Ltd., a leading China-based vaccine manufacturer, announced today it has entered into exclusive license, supply and distribution agreements with Parenteral Biotech Ltd., a subsidiary of Parenteral Drugs (India), Ltd., an India-based pharmaceutical company. Pursuant to the agreements, Parenteral is authorized to register, supply and distribute Sinovac's Anflu (seasonal influenza vaccine) and PANFLU.1 (H1N1 vaccine) to the government of India and private market in India. Currently, the registration process is ongoing in India.

29 Mar 2010

Rift Valley Fever on the rise

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes that mainly affects animals and livestock but may also infect humans. It can lead to high rates of death and disease. While mild forms of the disease can cause fever, muscle and joint pains, headaches, loss of appetite etc., the severe form can affect the eyes, cause meningitis, severe bleeding and even death.

29 Mar 2010

Disease/Infection News

State roundup: Romney on Mass. care, Kansas Rx costs, Colorado insurance costs

Facts and treatment options for endometriosis

FDA allows GeoVax Labs to commence phase 1 clinical trial for HIV/AIDS therapeutic vaccine

First Edition: March 30, 2010

New DNA test to detect Lyme disease spirochete infection

Resurgence of mumps orchitis among teenage boys and young men

Emory Institute of Drug Discovery and Zirus collaborate to develop new anti-viral drugs

UNAIDS Executive Director calls for continued investment in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and removal of travel bans

Wall Street journal examines fundraising efforts by GAVI, Global Fund

Preclinical study of DAS181 for treatment and prevention of ILI published

Research challenges current thinking about TB bacterium

Potential new target for treating HCV infection

DIATHERIX GI test panel can detect nine types of GI infections

Trius Therapeutics' Phase 1 trial establishes safety and tolerability of IV torezolid phosphate for MRSA

Also in Global Health News: H1N1; USAID's Global Pulse; Rotavirus vaccine; Uzbek doctors; Zimbabwe development; Malaria vaccine

GSK offers free vaccines for low income adults without insurance coverage

Final results from Novavax' Phase II clinical trial of trivalent seasonal influenza VLP vaccine announced

Positive results from Pearl Therapeutics' Phase 1 study of inhaled combination bronchodilator for COPD

Parenteral Biotech to supply and distribute Sinovac Biotech's Anflu and PANFLU.1 vaccines in India

Rift Valley Fever on the rise

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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