Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Latest Cold, Flu & Cough News and Research

Clinical studies reveal treatment with pirfenidone is safe and well-tolerated

InterMune, Inc. (Nasdaq: ITMN) today announced that the results of a comprehensive review of safety data from four clinical studies were presented at the 2009 European Respiratory Society Annual Congress in Vienna, Austria by Dr. Ulrich Costabel of the Ruhrlandklinik, Essen, Germany.

14 Sep 2009

Early vaccination minimizes the risk of damage by potentially harmful infections

Parents should not be worried, that early vaccination would overwhelm their babies. Recent data show, that the immune system of newborns is able to respond to a world full of antigens already at birth.

14 Sep 2009

Positive results from Transave's Phase II clinical trial of ARIKACE in non-CF bronchiectasis patients

Transave, Inc., today reported positive results from a Phase II clinical trial in non-cystic fibrosis (CF) bronchiectasis patients for its lead investigational drug, ARIKACE(TM) (liposomal amikacin for inhalation). The Phase II data indicated that ARIKACE, delivered once daily for 28 consecutive days, demonstrated superior clinical benefit compared to placebo as measured by patient and physician reported outcomes and reduction in Pseudomonas aeruginosa density.

14 Sep 2009

Wash and dry hands to fight against H1N1

Countries around the world are trying to tackle the escalating H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic in different ways. Advice from all authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), remains the same: good hand hygiene, particularly in public places. Despite this, there are still too few people who know how to wash and dry their hands in the most hygienic way.

14 Sep 2009

Final results of SAPHRIS clinical study released

Schering-Plough Corporation today reported final results of a SAPHRIS(R) (asenapine) long-term schizophrenia relapse prevention clinical study.

14 Sep 2009

VBI's flu vaccine offers protection against H1N1

Variation Biotechnologies, Inc. (VBI), an emerging leader in the discovery and development of novel vaccines to fight infectious diseases, today reported that the company’s proprietary influenza vaccine triggered a robust immune response and provided protection against the H1N1 strain of influenza.

14 Sep 2009

Multi-topic, hour-long series hosted by a cardiac surgeon premiers today

"The Dr. Oz Show," a high octane, multi-topic hour-long series hosted by trusted health expert, best-selling author, and world-renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Mehmet Oz, premieres in syndication today (check local listings). Episodes airing during its premiere week feature two of the recently announced "Core Team Oz" guest contributors, fashion and style expert Tim Gunn ("Project Runway") and fitness specialist Bob Harper ("The Biggest Loser"). Also debuting this week as a member of Core Team Oz is "America's vet," Dr. Marty Becker, the popular author and regular veterinary contributor on ABC-TV's "Good Morning America."

14 Sep 2009

FDA to consider an additional labelling claim for Noveko's masks and respirators

Noveko International Inc. ("the Company") is pleased to announce that further to its request, the Food and Drugs Administration (the "FDA") accepted to meet with the Company, to consider an additional labelling claim for its Noveko(TM) masks and respirators.

14 Sep 2009

Phase III STARTMRK clinical study on ISENTRESS in comparison to efavirenz

ISENTRESS , an integrase inhibitor from Merck & Co., Inc., was studied in comparison to efavirenz in maintaining viral load suppression to undetectable levels (less than 50 copies/mL) and at improving CD4 cell counts in previously untreated (treatment-naïve) HIV-1-infected patients through 96 weeks in a Phase III study called STARTMRK.

14 Sep 2009

Eat healthy foods to prevent flu

As flu season grips the nation with heightened awareness of hand washing and cough covering, healthy eating is a potent prevention method getting left out in the cold.

14 Sep 2009

Clinical data emphasizing on efficacy and potency of torezolid to be presented

Trius Therapeutics, Inc. announced today that 13 posters will be presented at the 49th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) supporting the potency, efficacy and safety of torezolid as a potential new antibiotic for the treatment of severe skin infections caused by gram positive bacteria including MRSA.

14 Sep 2009

Influenza patients treated with Tamiflu has higher survival rates

Roche announced today that two new observational studies concluded that influenza patients treated with Tamiflu(R) (oseltamivir phosphate) had significantly higher survival rates than untreated patients.

14 Sep 2009

FDA approves Theravance's VIBATIV for treating complicated skin and skin structure infections

Theravance, Inc. (NASDAQ: THRX) and Astellas Pharma US, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved VIBATIV™ (telavancin) for the treatment of adult patients with complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) caused by susceptible Gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, both methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) strains.

14 Sep 2009

Clinical study results of DAS181 against H1N1 influenza presented

NexBio, Inc. announced today the presentation of two studies of DAS181 activity against H1N1 influenza and NAI-resistant influenza at the 2009 Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) meeting on Sunday, September 13, 2009, in San Francisco, CA.

14 Sep 2009

Phase IIa trial results of panobacumab released

Kenta Biotech has presented positive Phase IIa results of its lead drug candidate, panobacumab (KBPA101), showing it is safe and well tolerated in patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The compound, a fully human IgM monoclonal antibody, has the potential to reduce mortality rates.

14 Sep 2009

Prevention and treatment of pneumonia are critical to reducing child mortality

New World Health Organization data to be published in this week's edition of the Lancet will shed new light on two leading causes of pneumonia, the world's leading killer of children under age 5, both globally and within specific countries.

14 Sep 2009

Reme-Flu secured as trade name for Nuvilex's homeopathic flu remedy

Nuvilex, Inc., announced today that Legacy Biotechnologies, Inc., its joint venture partner, has informed the company that Reme-Flu has been secured as the trade name for its homeopathic remedy for helping to prevent and treat flu-like symptoms resulting from influenza, including swine flu.

14 Sep 2009

Practical tips for parents on H1N1 and seasonal flu infections

With the early onset of flu season coinciding with the start of school this year, concern about the flu, and in particular the H1N1 strain of the flu, is growing among parents. Experts from The Children’s Hospital in Denver, Colo., can offer a pediatric perspective on all types of flu, including H1N1, also known as swine flu.

14 Sep 2009

Communicable and Chronic Disease and AIDS course on biological agents causing diseases

Indiana State University's exposure this week to the H1N1 virus has one of the school's environmental health sciences professors using the campus as her classroom.

14 Sep 2009

FOCUS 1 and FOCUS 2 clinical trial results released

Forest Laboratories, Inc today presented at the 49th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in San Francisco new data from a complete analysis of FOCUS 1 and FOCUS 2, two global multicenter Phase III studies of ceftaroline for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in hospitalized patients.

14 Sep 2009