Hepatitis Weekly articles from November 2002

Hepatitis Weekly archives from November 2002

Hepatitis C virus speeds progression in HIV patients on antiretrovirals.
November 4, 2002... 2002 NOV 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - The authors of an Italian study believe hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection in those infected with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) can speed up clinical...

Recombinant particles identify HCV antibody where standard assays fail.
November 4, 2002... 2002 NOV 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Scientists have developed recombinant hepatitis C virus (HCV)-like particles that allow for the identification of HCV antibody in patients who otherwise test...

RIBA-3 HCV immunoassay best choice for blood product screening.
November 4, 2002... 2002 NOV 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in Australia have evaluated the performance of a pair of immunoblot screens for hepatitis C virus (HCV) contamination in donated blood. Philip...

Regimen adherence for hepatitis C likely to result in better results.
November 4, 2002... 2002 NOV 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Chronic hepatitis C patients, especially those infected with genotype 1, are more likely to see better results when they adhere to their prescribed treatment...

Hepatitis A vaccine protects hemodialysis patients from viral infection.
November 4, 2002... 2002 NOV 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Hepatitis A vaccine is a feasible way to protect end-stage kidney disease patients from infection, according to a new study. Reporting in the journal...

Compounds selectively target zinc finger protein specific to HIV in vitro.
November 4, 2002... 2002 NOV 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Achillion Pharmaceuticals announced the development of a new class of compounds that inhibits a broad spectrum of drug-resistant HIV strains by targeting a novel virus protein. ACH-0100703, a...

New York veterans suffer high rates of hepatitis C with HIV infection.
November 4, 2002... 2002 NOV 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Veterans in New York have an alarmingly high rate of hepatitis C and HIV infection, researchers say. Norbert Brau and colleagues at Veterans Affairs Medical...

Data demonstrate potent antiviral activity of new anti-HBV agent.
November 4, 2002... 2002 NOV 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- An L-nucleoside antiviral agent, administered orally once daily, rapidly produced potent antihepatitis B virus (HBV) activity in patients chronically infected with HBV, reported Beth Israel Deaconess...

Outbreak prompts warning on reusing needles.
November 4, 2002... 2002 NOV 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A hepatitis C outbreak that has infected 52 people in Oklahoma has led to a national warning to nurse anesthetists against reusing needles in intravenous tubes. James C. Hill, a nurse anesthetist...

Genomics-based pharma joins with Bayer to find liver toxicity markers, create screen.
November 4, 2002... 2002 NOV 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bayer AG (BAY) and CuraGen Corp. (CRGN), an integrated genomics-based pharmaceutical company, announced that CuraGen scientists, in collaboration with Bayer's toxicologists, have developed an innovative...

Das-1 immunostain distinguishes some classes of liver tumors from others.
November 4, 2002... 2002 NOV 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Das-1 immunostain can distinguish between different types of liver tumors, according to a study conducted at a Pennsylvania University. In one of the few...

ALT doesn't reveal the entire truth about liver fibrosis in hepatitis C.
November 11, 2002... 2002 NOV 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Liver enzyme levels may not reveal the full picture of liver fibrosis in some patients with chronic hepatitis C. A collaborative multicenter study of...

Methadone weaning not required before liver transplantation.
November 11, 2002... 2002 NOV 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - People in drug treatment programs who receive methadone don't need to be weaned from its use prior to receiving liver transplantations. For some, the...

Cytokine imbalance detected in livers of fulminant hepatitis B patients.
November 11, 2002... 2002 NOV 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Cellular factors that control the body's response to infection tend to become imbalanced in the livers of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients, new...

Woodchuck hepatitis virus replication diminishes in preneoplastic lesions.
November 11, 2002... 2002 NOV 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Preneoplastic lesions in animals infected with a virus similar to hepatitis B virus (HBV) don't contain very many replicating virions, scientists have learned....

Oral medicines developer names expert in antiviral discovery and development as CEO.
November 11, 2002... 2002 NOV 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Chimerix, Inc., an emerging biotechnology company developing orally available, targeted medicines from bioactive molecules, announced the appointment of George Painter, PhD, as company president and...

Pharmaceutical firm elects new board member.
November 11, 2002... 2002 NOV 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- BioMedicines, Inc., announced that Deepa Pakianathan, PhD, has been elected to the company's board of directors. She is a general partner at Delphi Ventures where she focuses on biotechnology...

Potential new treatment described.
November 11, 2002... 2002 NOV 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers from the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California report that the compound interleukin-18 (IL-18) may control replication of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and be an effective...

PEGylated Infergen to be developed for hepatitis C infection.
November 11, 2002... 2002 NOV 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- InterMune, Inc., (ITMN) and Inhale Therapeutic Systems, Inc., (INHL) announced an agreement for use of Inhale's technology to develop a PEGylated version of Infergen (Interferon alfacon-1)...

Type 1 diabetes patients suffer poorer outcomes following liver transplantations.
November 11, 2002... 2002 NOV 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Type 1 diabetes patients stand a greater risk for complications following liver transplant surgeries, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University. ...

Combination therapy effective for hemophiliacs with chronic hepatitis C.
November 18, 2002... 2002 NOV 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Doctors believe a drug regimen combining interferon and ribavirin is the best method for treating hemophilia patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C. ...

Higher doses of ribavirin increase risk for anemia in chronic hepatitis C.
November 18, 2002... 2002 NOV 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Chronic hepatitis C patients who are prescribed doses of ribavirin of a gram or more may sustain a greater risk for developing anemia. The results of a...

Unsuspected and unreported infection may be cause of Japanese liver cancers.
November 18, 2002... 2002 NOV 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Physicians in Japan say unreported or unsuspected viral hepatitis infections may be the cause of transfusion-related liver cancer within the general Japanese...

Patients with myocarditis, hepatitis C virus, respond to immunosuppression.
November 18, 2002... 2002 NOV 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Individuals affected by lone myocarditis may have concurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, according to an Italian study. Study authors say...

Assay for hepatitis C core antigen suggests storage degrades viral components.
November 18, 2002... 2002 NOV 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Evaluations of a new assay that can reveal hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen status suggest portions of the virus may degrade when held in long-term...

Drug discovery company names new chief financial officer.
November 18, 2002... 2002 NOV 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (NASDAQ:BCRX) announced the promotion of Michael A. Darwin from controller to chief financial officer, treasurer and secretary, effective November 1, 2002. Mr....

License option agreement signed for cancer epitopes for ex vivo applications.
November 18, 2002... 2002 NOV 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Epimmune, Inc., (NASDAQ:EPMN) a biotechnology company focused on the development of pharmaceutical products using multiple, specific epitopes to activate the body's immune system, announced that it had...

CellExSys and Itochu partnership announced.
November 18, 2002... 2002 NOV 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- CellExSys, Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Targeted Genetics Corp. (NASDAQ:TGEN) and Itochu Corp. announced they have agreed to form an alliance in the field of cellular therapy. Under the...

System to administer medications has several applications.
November 18, 2002... 2002 NOV 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Aradigm Corporation (NASDAQ:ARDM) announced financial results for the third quarter and 9 months ended September 30, 2002, highlighting some of the company's programs. The company's AERx system is...

Company's third quarter revenue positively affected by HIV, HCV contracts.
November 18, 2002... 2002 NOV 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Boston Biomedica, Inc., (NASDAQ:BBII) reported its third quarter financial results. "Third quarter revenue increased 8.6%, driven primarily by strong activity in two service contracts related to...

Drug manufacturers settle royalty payment arbitration.
November 18, 2002... 2002 NOV 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Biogen, Inc., (NASDAQ:BGEN) announced that it has settled its arbitrations with Schering-Plough Corporation over royalties on U.S. sales of alpha interferon products. As part of the settlement,...

Radiofrequency ablation benefits most with unresectable liver cancers.
November 18, 2002... 2002 NOV 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Individuals with either primary or metastatic liver cancers deemed unresectable can benefit from radiofrequency ablation, physicians in China report. ...

Steroid tapering after liver transplant affects hepatitis C recurrence.
November 18, 2002... 2002 NOV 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - The way steroid dosages are lowered in liver transplantation recipients can markedly affect hepatitis C virus (HCV) severity and recurrence. In fact,...

Virus activates a protein sometimes linked to onset of cancer.
November 25, 2002... 2002 NOV 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - New evidence has linked hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with the activation of STAT3 protein, which has been implicated in cancer pathogenesis. "The...

Combination therapy appropriate for treating hepatitis C-related glomerulopathy.
November 25, 2002... 2002 NOV 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Therapy combining interferon and ribavirin may be the best way to treat patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related kidney disease. HCV infections are...

Routine use of bleach to disinfect syringes may lower odds for hepatitis C.
November 25, 2002... 2002 NOV 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Epidemiologists from several medical centers have teamed up with investigators at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to study syringe bleach disinfection...

Postexposure hepatitis B vaccine not effective in hemodialysis patients.
November 25, 2002... 2002 NOV 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Accelerated hepatitis B vaccine schedules are not very effective for protecting hemodialysis patients after they have been exposed to hepatitis B virus (HBV)....

Glucosidase inhibitors could augment interferon in chronic hepatitis C.
November 25, 2002... 2002 NOV 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Scientists at Thomas Jefferson University say glucosidase inhibitors augment interferon in bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). The Philadelphia,...

First platelet pathogen inactivation system receives CE clearance.
November 25, 2002... 2002 NOV 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Subsidiaries of Baxter International Inc. (BAX), and Cerus Corporation (CERS) announced CE Mark declaration for the illuminator device for the Intercept Blood System. This represents the final...

Ultra-sensitive test detects hepatitis B virus mutants.
November 25, 2002... 2002 NOV 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- IGEN International, Inc. (IGEN) announced that the Bloodborne Pathogens and Hepatitis Lab of Health Canada has developed an ultra-sensitive test for the detection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutants...

Update given for HIV, cystic fibrosis, and hepatitis drugs in clinical pipeline.
November 25, 2002... 2002 NOV 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Chiron Corporation (CHIR) announced decisions on three clinical development programs: * Chiron is stopping SILCAAT, a phase III study for recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2, aldesleukin) in...

Combination therapy effective for refractory hepatitis C infection.
November 25, 2002... 2002 NOV 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A study of a new combination therapy for patients with hepatitis C infection who had failed to respond to the drug ribavirin alone was presented at the American College of Gastroenterology's 67th...

Vaccine blunts virus's sting.
November 25, 2002... 2002 NOV 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The livers of people infected with hepatitis C could be saved if one of a handful of experimental vaccines lives up to its early promise. Innogenetics of Belgium has reported that its therapeutic...

Antisense nucleotides keep cancer cell proliferation in check.
November 25, 2002... 2002 NOV 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Some day, one of the most common forms of cancer in the world could be treated with synthetic nucleotides. Scientists know that hepatoma-derived growth...

Patient randomization of Actimmune phase II trial completed.
November 25, 2002... 2002 NOV 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- InterMune, Inc. (ITMN) announced that the company has completed patient randomization of its large phase II clinical trial of Actimmune (interferon gamma-1b) injection for the treatment of severe liver...

Final settlement of disputes involving Amdoxovir announced.
November 25, 2002... 2002 NOV 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Triangle Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (VIRS) announced the final settlement of patent disputes involving Triangle's drug candidate Amdoxovir. Amdoxovir is a purine nucleoside analogue for the treatment...

FDA approves peginterferon alfa-2a for treatment.
November 25, 2002... 2002 NOV 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Roche announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a) for the treatment of adults with chronic hepatitis C who have compensated liver disease and...