Influenza News and Research

Latest Influenza News and Research

Prescription drug may have new use in boosting effectiveness of vaccines for bacterial, viral diseases

A prescription drug already approved to treat genital warts and skin cancer may have a new use in boosting the effectiveness of future vaccines for bacterial and viral diseases, such as hepatitis C and HIV (the AIDS virus). These findings appear in ACS' Molecular Pharmaceutics, a bi-monthly journal.

6 May 2010

Nausea in pregnant women can be a sign of flu: Researchers

Nausea in pregnant women tends to fade after the first three months, but during the second and third trimesters it can be a sign of flu, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found in a study of expectant women who sought medical care.

6 May 2010

New breakthrough: Seaweed for treatment of swine flu

In a groundbreaking new discovery a Tasmanian company has used seaweed as treatment for swine flu. The lab trials have been going on for the past nine months using the undaria seaweed (better know as wakame seaweed) harvested from waters at Triabunna, of Tasmania's East Coast.

5 May 2010

Cryo-EM images shed light on virus structure, function

UCLA researchers report in the April 30 edition of the journal Cell that they have imaged a virus structure at a resolution high enough to effectively "see" atoms, the first published instance of imaging biological complexes at such a resolution.

5 May 2010

Vical commences enrollment in Phase 1 trial of Vaxfectin DNA pandemic influenza vaccine

Vical Incorporated today announced the enrollment of the first subject in its Phase 1 trial of the company's Vaxfectin®-formulated plasmid DNA (pDNA) pandemic influenza vaccine. The trial will be conducted in collaboration with the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC).

5 May 2010

Eight states to receive grants for local health programs

Pregnant women in eight states will receive prenatal services and education from the March of Dimes, thanks to a $313,000 grant from the WellPoint Foundation, Inc., a private, nonprofit organization wholly funded by WellPoint, Inc.

5 May 2010

Results from STEALTH C-3 clinical trial of nitazoxanide presented at DDW 2010

Romark Laboratories announced results from its STEALTH C-3 clinical trial, a phase 2 clinical study of nitazoxanide in treatment-naive patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C. Study results were presented this afternoon as an oral communication at a late breaking forum of the American Gastroenterological Association Institute during Digestive Disease Week 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

5 May 2010

New findings show seaweed extract inhibits H1N1 virus

In a breakthrough that offers new hope for the containment of influenza outbreaks, an Australian biotechnology company has isolated a natural extract from seaweed which has been shown to inhibit the H1N1 virus.

5 May 2010

Widespread support for a full flu vaccine side effects enquiry

After nearly 250 children suffered from serious side effects of the seasonal flu shots including one death the Western Australian Government’s step to suspend further vaccinations and investigate the issue has received widespread support. The enquiry will look into the Health Department's handling of the flu vaccination program as well.

4 May 2010

Response Biomedical first-quarter total revenue down 43%

Response Biomedical Corporation today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2010.

4 May 2010

Aethlon Medical plans to initiate patient recruitment for cancer immunotherapy study

Aethlon Medical, Inc., the pioneer in developing therapeutic filtration devices to address infectious disease and cancer, announced today that it plans to initiate patient recruitment for a cancer immunotherapy study by year end. The pilot study seeks to demonstrate an improved immune function in cancer patients as a result of the Aethlon Hemopurifier removing tumor-secreted exosomes from the circulatory system.

4 May 2010

MicroStockProfit.com releases investment report on Vical

MicroStockProfit.com announces an investment report featuring Vical Inc. The report includes financial, comparative and investment analyses, and industry information you need to know to make an educated investment decision.

4 May 2010

Author of new study calls for responsible media coverage of public health emergencies

A study of emergency department activity before and during the H1N1 influenza pandemic highlights the role public fear can play in unnecessarily straining medical facilities and will aid in ongoing preparations for public health emergencies, according to the authors.

4 May 2010

H1N1 positivity highest among children

More than 99 percent of specimens tested for influenza were positive for H1N1 over approximately the past 11 months, according to a report released today from Quest Diagnostics Incorporated ( DGX). The Quest Diagnostics Health Trends™ Report suggests that H1N1 "crowded out" other influenza viruses to be the dominant flu virus of the 2009-2010 flu season.

4 May 2010

Older children hospitalized with pandemic H1N1 influenza in 2009: Study

Children hospitalized with pandemic H1N1 influenza in 2009 were older and more likely to have underlying medical conditions than children hospitalized with seasonal influenza during prior flu seasons, according to a study to be presented Tuesday, May 4 at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

4 May 2010

Fate of the unused swine flu vaccines

The United States Government in an announcement on Monday revealed that the U.S. still has 71 million doses of unused H1N1 swine flu vaccine but there is still time left before it is wasted. They have urged the providers to keep the vaccines and continue to supply them to people until pharmaceutical manufacturers start distributing seasonal vaccine for the coming influenza season in the autumn.

4 May 2010

NIAID researchers initiate trial of DAS181 in patients with asthma, bronchiectasis

NexBio, Inc. announced today the initiation of a trial of DAS181 (Fludase®) in patients with the respiratory conditions asthma and bronchiectasis, being conducted by researchers with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This trial will examine the effects of DAS181 in subjects with well-controlled or stable pulmonary disease.

3 May 2010

Seasonal flu vaccine ups the risk of getting H1N1 flu

Initial reports linking seasonal flu vaccine and getting swine flu or H1N1 flu emerged September 2009 in Canada. In spring 2009 many people who acquired pandemic H1N1 flu had been initially vaccinated with seasonal flu vaccine. This triggered four additional studies in Canada to explore the link further. The studies included 2,700 patients with or without H1N1. The first of the studies showed a surprising 68 percent rise of risk of development of H1N1 flu in those vaccinated with seasonal flu shot. The other 3 studies showed increase of risk of H1N1 flu by 1.4 to 1.5 times with the original flu shot.

2 May 2010

CDC report shows increase in seasonal flu vaccinations, greatest increase among children

More Americans were vaccinated against seasonal flu during the 2009-10 season (40 percent of eligible population) than during the previous flu season (33 percent of eligible population), according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

30 Apr 2010

CDC presents clinical trial results of Biojector 2000 at 13th Annual Conference on Vaccine Research

Bioject Medical Technologies Inc., a leading developer of needle-free injection therapy systems (NFITS), today announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its collaborating institutions presented the latest results of its clinical trial of the Biojector® 2000 at the 13th Annual Conference on Vaccine Research, sponsored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and held in Bethesda, Maryland April 26 - 28, 2010.

30 Apr 2010