Virus News and Research

Latest Virus News and Research

Vaccines approved by the FDA are at least a million times safer than the viruses that they prevent

For more than 200 years, vaccines have played an important role in the prevention of infectious diseases.

2 Aug 2007

Study of therapeutic vaccine shows promise for metastatic colorectal cancer

A therapeutic cancer vaccine has shown effectiveness when given alongside chemotherapy to patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in a phase II trial, according to researchers at Oxford BioMedica (UK) Ltd.

1 Aug 2007

Bill Gates digs deep in his pocket for AIDS

The University of Maryland has been awarded a grant worth $15 Million by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop an HIV/AIDS vaccine.

1 Aug 2007

Novavax begins human clinical testing of novel pandemic flu vaccine

Novavax has announced that it has begun vaccinating healthy volunteers in the first human clinical trial of its virus-like particle ("VLP") based pandemic influenza vaccine.

1 Aug 2007

Recent research into HPV and cervical cancer

The development of the first vaccine for the prevention of cancer came 30 years after Harald zur Hausen first hypothesized that human papilloma virus (HPV) might be associated with cervical cancer.

1 Aug 2007

New report on HIV/AIDS globally

Thirty-nine million people have been infected by the HIV virus, and seventeen million have died as a result, mostly in the developing world.

1 Aug 2007

Scientists show how HIV turns into AIDS

A new UC Irvine study sheds light on how HIV develops into AIDS and suggests a possible way to block the deadly transformation.

31 Jul 2007

Researchers genetically modify a plant to halt reproduction of HIV related virus

In a study that could lead to new ways to prevent infection by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and similar organisms, Purdue University researchers have been able to genetically modify a plant to halt reproduction of a related virus.

31 Jul 2007

Chinese authorities ban AIDS conference

An AIDS conference planned to take place in China in August has been banned by government authorities.

30 Jul 2007

Smugglers exacerbate bird flu outbreak in India

India's latest bird flu outbreak has been further complicated by poultry farmers in the country's northeast attempting to smuggle flocks of chickens out of a quarantine zone.

30 Jul 2007

Ranbaxy and GSK agree to settle Valacyclovir U.S. patent case

Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited (RLL) announced today that the Company has reached an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) resulting in a dismissal of their U.S. litigation with regard to Valtrex(R) (Valacyclovir Hydrochloride tablets).

27 Jul 2007

New target for drugs to fight the HIV/AIDS virus

Researchers from Rome, Italy, describe a finding in the August 2007 print issue of The FASEB Journal that could lead to new drugs to fight the HIV/AIDS virus, as well as new vaccines to prevent infection.

27 Jul 2007

Researchers track how a single molecule of RNA or DNA unwinds

The process by which genes are duplicated is mysterious and complex, involving a cast of characters with diverse talents and the ability to play well with others in extremely close quarters.

27 Jul 2007

FDA statement on gene therapy trial

On July 24, 2007 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was informed by Targeted Genetics Corporation of Seattle about the death of a patient who received an investigational gene therapy product in a clinical trial for the treatment of active inflammatory arthritis.

27 Jul 2007

Tonsil epithelial factors may influence oropharyngeal HIV transmission

Current research demonstrates that the tonsils may possess the necessary factors to act as a transmission site for the spread of HIV.

27 Jul 2007

Bavarian Nordic and Acambis settle disputes on modified vaccinia Ankara virus

On 25 July 2007, Bavarian Nordic and Acambis reached a global settlement ending the legal disputes between the two companies on matters relating to smallpox vaccines based on the Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) virus.

27 Jul 2007

Long-term herpes treatment may reduce HIV infectivity

Long-term anti-herpes treatment of women infected with both HIV and HSV2, the virus that causes genital herpes, may reduce the proportion of women with detectable HIV virus in their genital secretions according to the results of a trial in Tanzania presented the International AIDS Society Conference in Sydney.

26 Jul 2007