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Mouse study provides new way to test novel therapies for liver infections

How do you study-and try to cure in the laboratory-an infection that only humans can get? A team led by Salk Institute researchers does it by generating a mouse with an almost completely human liver.

24 Feb 2010

FDA recommends H1N1 for inclusion in next year's flu vaccine

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday recommended that the H1N1 (swine flu) strain be added to next year's seasonal flu vaccine, "putting an end to separate shots deployed against the pandemic," Bloomberg reports. The FDA committee voted unanimously to make the H1N1 strain one of the three strains included in the shot, according to the news service. "The panel's recommendations are routinely adopted and used to guide vaccine manufacturers," Bloomberg writes (Randall, 2/22).

24 Feb 2010

FDA: Invirase-Norvir combination therapy for HIV may adversely affect the heart

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today announced preliminary data suggesting that Invirase (saquinavir) in combination with Norvir (ritonavir) may have potentially important adverse effects on the heart.

24 Feb 2010

Nitric oxide may play key role in the pathogenesis of neonatal meningitis

Current research suggests that nitric oxide may play a role in the pathogenesis of neonatal meningitis. The related report by Mittal et al, "Inhibition of inducible nitric oxide controls pathogen load and brain damage by enhancing phagocytosis of Escherichia coli K1 in neonatal meningitis," appears in the March 2010 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.

24 Feb 2010

Alliance Biosciences to provide engineering and biosafety guidance for Nyumbani's HIV/TB diagnostic facility

Alliance Biosciences reached an agreement with the Nyumbani Children's Home in Kenya to provide engineering and biosafety guidance to Nyumbani's planned HIV/TB diagnostic facility.

24 Feb 2010

Genocea Biosciences secures licensing to extensive HSV antigen patent estate

Genocea Biosciences, a leading vaccine discovery and development company, today announced that it has licensed an extensive patent estate from the University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for 25 pending and issued patents related to herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 2 antigens. The addition of these patents complements the novel antigens discovered by Genocea’s unique and proprietary antigen discovery technology. The combination of Genocea’s novel intellectual property with the patent estate from the University of Washington provides the Company with a broad compendium of HSV antigen patents.

24 Feb 2010

ViiV Healthcare highlights S/GSK1349572, SELZENTRY and EPZICOM for HIV/AIDS at 17th CROI

At the 17th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), ViiV Healthcare presented new data across its broad range of investigational and current medicines for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Highlighted data at the conference included an oral presentation on the investigational integrase inhibitor, S/GSK1349572, as well as data presentations on SELZENTRY® (maraviroc) and EPZICOM® (abacavir/lamivudine).

24 Feb 2010

Flightless mosquitoes could fight dengue, study says

By rendering female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes - the dengue virus vector - unable to fly, scientists say they may be able to slow the spread of the virus which experts believe "affects up to 100 million people a year and threatens over a third of the world's population," the BBC reports. Currently, there is no treatment for dengue nor a vaccine to protect against the virus.

24 Feb 2010

FDA grants EUA for Longhorn Influenza A/H1N1-09 Prime RRT-PCR Assay in CLIA high complexity laboratories

Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics today announced it has been granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Longhorn Influenza A/H1N1-09 Prime RRT-PCR Assay™ in CLIA high complexity laboratories. . The Longhorn Influenza A/H1N1-09 Prime RRT-PCR Assay™ is a ready-use assay that requires no mixing prior to use and has been authorized for use on the ABI 7500.

24 Feb 2010

Also in global health news: Global Fund; MDGs, women; polio eradication

Radio Australia examines the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria's push for more funding from Australia and China. Global Fund Executive Director "Michel Kazatchkine is currently touring the world's capitals seeking renewed government pledges to build on an already impressive record and as well as looking to Australia to do more, he's hoping soon to get China to become not just recipient, but donor."

24 Feb 2010

Pathogen study could provide new insights on gene regulation

About 50 percent of the world's population carry Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in their gastrointestinal tract - 30 percent of the German population are infected. Besides cancer, these bacteria are linked to other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease.

24 Feb 2010

AGA conference highlights emerging technologies for digestive and metabolic disorders

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) is taking the lead in gastroenterological innovation by conducting "Fostering Innovation and Technology in Digestive and Metabolic Diseases."

24 Feb 2010

Blair talks about combating malaria in Nigeria, part of 3-nation African trip

"Former British prime minister Tony Blair on Saturday called for concerted efforts to combat malaria in Nigeria which accounts for a quarter of the [nearly] one million malaria deaths annually in Africa," Agence France-Presse writes (2/20).

23 Feb 2010

FDA grants Diagnostic Hybrids emergency use authorization for 2009 H1N1 Influenza A Virus ID Kit

Diagnostic Hybrids, a Quidel Company has received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its D3® UltraTM 2009 H1N1 Influenza A Virus ID Kit, a monoclonal antibody fluorescent staining kit for the specific identification of 2009 H1N1 influenza A in direct patient specimens or incubated tissue cultures.

23 Feb 2010

Aradigm initiates dosing in Phase 2b trial of inhaled liposomal ciprofloxacin formulations in BE patients

Aradigm Corporation today announced that it dosed the first patient in the U.S. as part of its ORBIT-1 (Once-daily Respiratory Bronchiectasis Inhalation Treatment) trial, an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2b study designed to evaluate the Company's inhaled liposomal ciprofloxacin (ARD-3100) in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (BE) under a U.S. IND. This orphan disease indication is a chronic, severe respiratory disease and there are currently no approved treatments for this disease in the U.S.

23 Feb 2010

Menssana Research develops 85% accurate breath test for pulmonary tuberculosis

A new breath test can detect active pulmonary tuberculosis, according to a report to be published in the journal "Tuberculosis."

23 Feb 2010

TCAD therapy active and synergistic against drug resistant influenza virus strains

Adamas Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held company, reported today on the publication of results from a preclinical study that demonstrated the synergistic effects of triple combination antiviral drug (TCAD) therapy against multiple strains of seasonal, pandemic, and avian influenza A (H1N1, H3N2 and H5N1) virus, including three strains of amantadine resistant pandemic H1N1 and two strains of oseltamivir resistant seasonal H1N1.

23 Feb 2010

Study to restrict hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers

study published in the March 2010 issue of the journal Anesthesiology gives researchers new insights in how to better understand and control a severe side effect of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs), often referred to as "artificial blood."

23 Feb 2010

GlycoVaxyn initiates Phase I clinical study of GVXN SD133 vaccine candidate against Shigella dysenteriae

GlycoVaxyn, a pioneer in the development of innovative bioconjugate vaccines, has commenced a Phase I clinical study with its vaccine candidate (GVXN SD133) against Shigella dysenteriae, a cause of serious intestinal infections. This is the first product from the company to enter clinical evaluation.

23 Feb 2010

Humans can harbor bacteria in gallstones, infect others with active typhoid fever

A new study suggests that the bacteria that cause typhoid fever collect in tiny but persistent communities on gallstones, making the infection particularly hard to fight in so-called "carriers" - people who have the disease but show no symptoms.

23 Feb 2010

Disease/Infection News

Mouse study provides new way to test novel therapies for liver infections

FDA recommends H1N1 for inclusion in next year's flu vaccine

FDA: Invirase-Norvir combination therapy for HIV may adversely affect the heart

Nitric oxide may play key role in the pathogenesis of neonatal meningitis

Alliance Biosciences to provide engineering and biosafety guidance for Nyumbani's HIV/TB diagnostic facility

Genocea Biosciences secures licensing to extensive HSV antigen patent estate

ViiV Healthcare highlights S/GSK1349572, SELZENTRY and EPZICOM for HIV/AIDS at 17th CROI

Flightless mosquitoes could fight dengue, study says

FDA grants EUA for Longhorn Influenza A/H1N1-09 Prime RRT-PCR Assay in CLIA high complexity laboratories

Also in global health news: Global Fund; MDGs, women; polio eradication

Pathogen study could provide new insights on gene regulation

AGA conference highlights emerging technologies for digestive and metabolic disorders

Blair talks about combating malaria in Nigeria, part of 3-nation African trip

FDA grants Diagnostic Hybrids emergency use authorization for 2009 H1N1 Influenza A Virus ID Kit

Aradigm initiates dosing in Phase 2b trial of inhaled liposomal ciprofloxacin formulations in BE patients

Menssana Research develops 85% accurate breath test for pulmonary tuberculosis

TCAD therapy active and synergistic against drug resistant influenza virus strains

Study to restrict hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers

GlycoVaxyn initiates Phase I clinical study of GVXN SD133 vaccine candidate against Shigella dysenteriae

Humans can harbor bacteria in gallstones, infect others with active typhoid fever

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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