Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Millennium's sNDA for VELCADE granted priority review by the FDA

Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted priority review to the Company’s supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for VELCADE. The sNDA contains long-term overall survival (OS) data from the landmark VISTA trial examining the use of VELCADE based therapy in patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma (MM).

19 Sep 2009

Human Identification symposium discusses DNA technology advancement

The 20th International Symposium on Human Identification will highlight advances in DNA technology and explore controversial issues brought about by the expanded power and use of DNA typing.

19 Sep 2009

Mass notification systems to relay pandemic outbreaks

As students head back to school, the CDC is reporting increasing influenza activity across the U.S. (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/). With the H1N1 vaccine not yet available, what can schools do to ease parent's minds? Communicate.

18 Sep 2009

Analysis project inflation rates for healthcare supplies to remain unchanged through 2010

Inflation rates for healthcare supplies are projected to remain unchanged through 2010, according to an analysis released by the Premier healthcare alliance.

18 Sep 2009

Researchers reveal reasons for low vaccination rates against influenza viruses

Less than one third of healthcare workers have themselves vaccinated against classic influenza. This reluctance is astounding, firstly because vaccination against influenza viruses is considered safe and effective and secondly because it has been proved to prevent nosocomial transmission of disease to patients—provided at least 50% of employees have been vaccinated.

18 Sep 2009

Disaster recovery program for schools

EdOptions (www.edoptions.com), an award-winning educational technology company, announced today that it will offer schools a built-in disaster recovery plan to provide an affordable, accessible strategy for educators to help ensure the continuity of learning.

18 Sep 2009

SEQUENOM's first laboratory developed cystic fibrosis test launched

SEQUENOM, Inc. today announced that the company's first laboratory developed test, the SensiGene(TM) Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Carrier Screening test, has been launched.

18 Sep 2009

Notice of Allowance issued by PTO for OSI's EGFR drug

OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has issued a “Notice of Allowance” in OSI’s reissue application for U.S. Patent No.5,747,498 (the ‘498) composition of matter patent for Tarceva® (erlotinib). The reissued patent will replace the original ‘498 patent and have the same November 2018 expiration date.

18 Sep 2009

New Healthier Habits Rewards Program educates families on healthy hygiene routines

LYSOL((R)), the number one pediatrician recommended brand, announced today the launch of the Healthier Habits Rewards Program, an initiative to educate families on healthy hygiene routines. Through the Healthier Habits Rewards program, parents can learn valuable tips to help protect themselves and their children from potential illness-causing germs at home or at school.

18 Sep 2009

Juvaris BioTherapeutics completes first close on Series B equity financing

Juvaris BioTherapeutics, Inc., a biotechnology company developing adjuvanted vaccines for infectious diseases, announced that it has completed the first close on its Series B equity financing of up to $25 million led by SV Life Sciences (SVLS) along with existing investor, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB).

18 Sep 2009

In Massachusetts, fears about public health vaccination proposal

The Boston Globe reports on the dramatic and fearful response to a "seemingly prosaic piece" of pending Massachusetts state legislation "that aims to better define - and, in some respects, restrict - the emergency powers of the state's public health officials."

18 Sep 2009

FDA approves Valturna tablets for treating high blood pressure

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Valturna((R)) (aliskiren and valsartan) tablets, the first and only medicine to target two key points within the renin system, also known as the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS), an important regulator of blood pressure.

18 Sep 2009

Meridian Bioscience to update its TRU FLU test package

Meridian Bioscience, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio today announced that the company has been granted a Special 510(k) clearance to update the TRU FLU package insert to include analytical sensitivity claims with two strains of 2009 H1N1 virus cultured from positive respiratory specimens. TRU FLU is a rapid test which identifies influenza A and B in human specimens.

18 Sep 2009

WHO in talks with developed countries about sharing H1N1 vaccine with developing nations

The recent news that a single dose of H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine can protect adults against the virus has sparked conversations between the WHO and developed countries about sharing their vaccine stockpiles with developing countries, Bloomberg reports.

From Baxter International Inc. 18 Sep 2009

HTDS update on its H1N1 project status

HTDS- The Company is pleased to provide the following update to its shareholders and followers on the (H1N1) Vaccine for Mellow Hope Inc, its China based subsidiary; and other general business matters.

18 Sep 2009

Plans could change how Medicare pays doctors, hospitals

Sen. Max Baucus' health proposal includes achieving cost savings, in part, by reconfiguring the way doctors and hospitals are paid for their services, The Wall Street Journal reports.

18 Sep 2009

Merck, Wellcome Trust to launch vaccine center in India to produce vaccines for developing countries

Pharmaceutical company Merck and the Wellcome Trust have joined together to create a non-profit, £90-million (about $150 million) research center in India to facilitate the development of new vaccines, "including [those for] neglected diseases for which inadequate or no vaccines exist," Nature News reports.

18 Sep 2009

Quebec research on contagious period of H1N1 patients to be presented

Members of a group of Quebec researchers will be presenting the preliminary results of their work on Influenza A (H1N1) tomorrow at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, a prestigious international conference that the American Microbiology Association is currently presenting in San Francisco.

18 Sep 2009

Quidel's QuickVue Influenza A+B test receives special 510(k) clearance for H1N1 reactivity update

Quidel Corporation (NASDAQ: QDEL), a global leader in point-of-care (POC) rapid diagnostic tests, received Special 510(k) clearance for an update to the Company's QuickVue® Influenza A+B test package insert to include reactivity with culture isolates of the 2009 H1N1 Influenza A virus.

17 Sep 2009

InterMune and National Jewish Health to collaborate in the research of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

InterMune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ITMN) today announced that it will be collaborating with National Jewish Health(R)( )investigators in order to help further the research of inherited genetic factors that may play a role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). InterMune will provide researchers at National Jewish with access to DNA collected from patients who participated in the Company's Phase 3 clinical trials in IPF for both pirfenidone (CAPACITY trials) and Actimmune(R) (interferon gamma-1b) (INSPIRE).

17 Sep 2009