Virology News and Research

Latest Virology News and Research

Shingles drug receives clearance for final stage of testing

A new Welsh-developed drug to help alleviate the suffering of shingles could move a step closer for patients if the final stage of testing is given the go-ahead.

24 Mar 2010

Life Technologies' real-time PCR instrument available for IVD use in Europe

Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: LIFE) today announced that its Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Dx Real-Time PCR Instrument is available as a platform suitable for in vitro diagnostics (IVD) use in Europe. Clinical laboratories from 22 countries and European institutions that develop in vitro molecular diagnostic assays in oncology, genetic disease and infectious disease will now be able to leverage the instrument’s regulatory clearance to develop tests for clinical applications.

24 Mar 2010

FDA recommends clinicians temporarily suspend use of Rotarix vaccine

The agency recently became aware that an independent U.S. academic research team, using a novel technique, has found DNA from porcine circovirus 1 (PCV1) in Rotarix, which is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. PCV1 is not known to cause illness in humans or other animals. In addition, Rotarix has been studied extensively, before and after approval, and found to have an excellent safety record.

24 Mar 2010

Washington State mercury-limit suspension for swine flu vaccine ends

When it comes to some diseases prevention still is better than cure and swine flu is one such disease. The sheer global panic that gripped nations last year is hard to forget. The PanvaxH1N1 vaccine is specifically manufactured to target the influenza (A) H1N1 strain known more popularly as swine flu. Getting the flu shots may be crucial in prevention of spread of the highly contagious disease. Health officials say that the H1N1 strain of flu is still circulating but at low levels.

24 Mar 2010

WHO advises continued use of GSK's rotavirus vaccine in developing countries

The WHO on Monday advised developing countries to continue administering GlaxoSmithKline's Rotarix vaccine - which offers protection to children against the diarrhea-causing rotavirus - after the FDA advised doctors in the U.S. to temporarily stop using the vaccine following the discovery that it was "contaminated with an apparently harmless pig virus," Reuters reports

24 Mar 2010

HPV test could help predict risk of cervical cancer, but more research needed

Testing for the human papillomavirus (HPV) - the major cause of cervical cancer - may not help to identify women who are at risk of the disease, a new UK study suggests.

24 Mar 2010

Celladon Corporation receives USPTO notice of allowance covering MYDICAR for advanced heart failure

Celladon Corp. announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has granted a notice of allowance for a broad patent covering the company's lead drug candidate MYDICAR®, a genetically targeted enzyme replacement therapy for advanced heart failure. The patent will be issued to The Regents of the University of California and licensed exclusively to Celladon.

23 Mar 2010

Merix Pharmaceutical introduces new Fast-Results! Genital Herpes Treatment

Merix Pharmaceutical Corp. unveiled its new Fast-Results!™ Genital Herpes Treatment March 1st while attending a retail industry trade show in Dallas. The first ever OTC treatment for genital herpes, Fast-Results! answers the unmet need of people who suffer painful symptoms caused by the herpes virus.

23 Mar 2010

More awareness and earlier diagnosis of brain cancer needed

One of the UK’s largest surveys of brain cancer sufferers and carers, conducted by the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust, suggests that GPs and the general public need better guidance on spotting the key symptoms to aid earlier diagnosis and improve survival.

23 Mar 2010

Researchers devise simple water test to check for herbicide clomazone

University of California, Davis, scientists are helping rice farmers in Uruguay stop polluting their waterways -- including drinking-water sources and a globally valuable nature reserve.

23 Mar 2010

First reported Australian swine flu case of 2010 – gearing up with protective measures

Swine flu a form of influenza, became a major health scare assuming pandemic proportions starting in Mexico early last year. There were 37,000 confirmed cases in Australia with 5,000 hospitalizations, 700 admissions in intensive care units and 191 deaths.

23 Mar 2010

Temporary suspension of Rotarix – a rotavirus vaccine for kids

The US FDA after deliberation has come up with a warning to the nation’s pediatricians to stop giving children a vaccine that prevents diarrhea causing Rotavirus vaccine. There is reportedly a contamination with a harmless pig virus in this vaccine called Rotarix and manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.

23 Mar 2010

Chest x-rays may help identify high-risk H1N1 patients

A new study published in the April issue of Radiology suggests that chest x-rays may play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of H1N1 influenza by predicting which patients are likely to become sicker.

23 Mar 2010

WHO H1N1 vaccine shipments headed to more developing countries

The WHO on Friday announced "it had delivered the first doses of H1N1 [swine flu] vaccine to Cuba, and a dozen countries in Africa would receive millions of doses in coming weeks," Reuters reports.

23 Mar 2010

New understanding of cell in immune system may guide creation of effective flu vaccines: Study

A new understanding of a certain cell in the immune system may help guide scientists in creating better flu vaccines, report researchers from the Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine and the Immune Disease Institute at Children's Hospital Boston.

23 Mar 2010

GSK notifies regulatory authorities of the presence of PCV-1 in Rotarix vaccine

GlaxoSmithKline today confirmed that it has notified regulatory authorities of the presence of material from a virus called PCV-1 in its oral rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix™. PCV-1 does not multiply in humans and is not known to cause illness in humans.

23 Mar 2010

China Sky One Medical prepares for commercial launch 13 new SFDA approved products

China Sky One Medical, Inc., a leading fully integrated pharmaceutical company producing over-the-counter drugs in the People's Republic of China, today announced the pending commercial launch of 13 new SFDA approved products over the next few quarters.

22 Mar 2010

Pevion Biotech commences Phase 1 clinical trial of PEV7 vaccine

Pevion Biotech, the Swiss vaccine company, today announced that PEV7, the first vaccine for chronic recurrent thrush - recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis has entered Phase 1 clinical trial.

22 Mar 2010

Vical awarded contract to conduct Phase 1 clinical trial of Vaxfectin-formulated DNA vaccine against A/H1N1

Vical Incorporated announced today that the U.S. Navy, through the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., has awarded Vical a contract to conduct a Phase 1 clinical trial of the company's Vaxfectin®-formulated DNA vaccine against A/H1N1 pandemic influenza (swine flu).

22 Mar 2010

Researchers develop new compound to inhibit HIV transmission

A compound that can inhibit the transfer of HIV from one cell to another has been developed by researchers at the Institut de Biologie Structurale Jean-Pierre Ebel.

22 Mar 2010