Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Austrian AGES approves Baxter's PREFLUCEL vaccine for seasonal influenza

Baxter International Inc. today announced the first approval of PREFLUCEL by the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES). The vaccine was shown to be effective in preventing seasonal influenza and is indicated for prophylaxis of influenza in adults and the elderly. PREFLUCEL is manufactured using Baxter's proprietary advanced Vero cell technology.

From Baxter International Inc. 30 Sep 2010

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals publishes ALN-RSV01 Phase IIa study results

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. a leading RNAi therapeutics company announced today that it has published results in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine from its double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized Phase IIa study of ALN-RSV01 in lung transplant patients naturally infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

30 Sep 2010

HIV AIDS drugs’ universal access dream remains improbable: Report

In a disappointing new report jointly commissioned by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the UN's AIDS programme and UNICEF it was revealed that only one third of people worldwide who need life-saving HIV drugs are actually getting treated. Universal access to these medicines has been the theme of effort but it was seen that that targets would not be met. The report urges the poorer countries must “substantially ramp up” the funds for HIV/AIDS.

29 Sep 2010

Swine flu no longer a threat to Americans: Report

According to the latest research most Americans are immune to the swine flu virus. Results of the study by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, published in the journal mBio show that around 59 percent of the 310 million U.S. population has developed immunity to H1N1 either from exposure to similar viruses, vaccination, or natural H1N1 infection.

29 Sep 2010

NIAID study utilizes Biojector B2000 system to explore syringe, needle benefits

Bioject Medical Technologies Inc., a leading developer of needle-free injection therapy systems, today announced that its unique Needle-Free Injection Therapy (NFIT) system, the Biojector 2000, is being utilized in a study sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) which is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).

29 Sep 2010

Quidel receives FDA clearance for QuickVue RSV 10 immunoassay test

Quidel Corporation, a leading provider of rapid diagnostic testing solutions, announced today that it has received 510(k) clearance from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the sale of its QuickVue RSV 10, a lateral flow immunoassay test for the qualitative detection of acute respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections.

29 Sep 2010

NIH trial selects Inovio's PENNVAX-G DNA vaccine candidate to evaluate HIV-1 prevalent

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leader in the development of therapeutic and preventive vaccines against cancers and infectious diseases, announced today that a Phase I study, called RV262, recently began to evaluate a combination DNA prime/MVA vector boost regimen that was developed to protect against diverse subtypes of HIV-1 prevalent in North America, Europe, Africa, and South America.

29 Sep 2010

Report shows continuing progress in scaling up global HIV/AIDS interventions

The 2010 report on universal access to HIV prevention, care and treatment released today by WHO, UNAIDS, and UNICEF shows continuing progress in scaling up global HIV/AIDS interventions.

29 Sep 2010

ZymoGenetics announces positive survival data from IL-21 Phase 2a clinical trial

ZymoGenetics, Inc. today announced positive survival data from a Phase 2a clinical trial in metastatic melanoma with recombinant Interleukin 21 (IL-21) as a single agent. Median overall survival was 12.4 months, and the percentage of patients surviving at 12 months was 53%.

29 Sep 2010

CAP cells produce high virus titers upon influenza strain infection

CEVEC Pharmaceuticals, the developer of an extremely potent protein expression system based on human CAP cells, announced today that CAP cells produce high virus titers upon infection with influenza strains. The virus titers are as good as or even higher than with MDCK and Vero cells, host cells currently used for influenza vaccine production.

29 Sep 2010

New topical microbicide gel can prevent HIV transmission

Amyloid protein structures are best known for the troubles they pose in the brains of Alzheimer's patients. Now researchers are trying to exploit their presence in a very different place in semen to find a new way to stop HIV.

29 Sep 2010

Early initiation of ART may prevent immune system damage in HIV patients: Study

HIV-infected individuals who begin antiretroviral therapy (ART) soon after acquiring the virus may have stronger immune responses to other pathogens than HIV-infected individuals who begin ART later, a new study from the National Institutes of Health has found. This finding suggests that early initiation of ART may prevent irreversible immune system damage and adds to the body of evidence showing significant health benefits from early ART.

29 Sep 2010

Tamir's compounds perform better than Ganciclovir for Cytomegalovirus disease: Study

Tamir Biotechnology, Inc. announced today that scientists supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) reported test results confirming two of our lead compounds outperformed market leader Roche's drug Ganciclovir in cell culture and plaque reduction assay (the gold standard) for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease. Additionally, antiviral activity was also apparent against other human herpesviruses, namely, HSV-1 (cold sores), HSV-2 (genital herpes), and Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) (chicken-pox and shingles).

29 Sep 2010

RV262 Phase I study launched to evaluate DNA prime/MVA vector boost vaccine regimen for HIV

A Phase I study, called RV262, recently began to evaluate a combination DNA prime/MVA vector boost vaccine regimen that was developed to protect against diverse subtypes of HIV-1 prevalent in North America, Europe, Africa and South America.

29 Sep 2010

Oncolytics Biotech receives patent for modified reovirus variant

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. today announced that it has been granted U.S. Patent, 7,803,385 entitled Reoviruses Having Modified Sequences. The patent claims cover methods for making and using modified reoviruses, and pharmaceutical compositions that include modified reoviruses.

28 Sep 2010

Portable humidifiers may reduce airborne influenza virus: Study

A new scientific study published in the open access, peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health indicates that the use of portable humidifiers in the home may reduce the survival of airborne influenza virus by controlling humidity indoors.

28 Sep 2010

Humans have similar immune system like plants

In addition to known antiviral agents such as antibodies and interferons, people also seem to have a similar immune system to that previously identified in plants. This is the result of research carried out by Esther Schnettler at Wageningen University.

28 Sep 2010

Study indicates majority of children suffering from chronic headache may outgrow the condition

Most children who suffer from chronic daily headache may outgrow the disabling condition, according to research published in the July 15, 2009, online issue of NeurologyÂ®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

28 Sep 2010

AASLD, TFAH report calls for action to help identify Americans living with HBV, HCV

The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the Trust for America's Health issued a new report today calling for action to be taken to transform how the country deals with viral hepatitis – to help identify millions of Americans who know they are living with chronic forms of hepatitis B and C and to assure access to treatment for all who need it, to prevent even more Americans from becoming infected.

28 Sep 2010