Virus Weekly articles from June 2002

Virus Weekly archives from June 2002

Trimeris and Neokimia sign antiviral drug discovery and development agreement.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2002... 2002 JUN 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Trimeris, Inc., (TRMS) and Neokimia Inc., announced the execution of a collaborative agreement to discover and develop small molecule fusion inhibitors of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). ...

CalTIP grant to be used to develop a docosanol-based treatment.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2002... 2002 JUN 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Avanir Pharmaceuticals (AVN) announced that it has received notification from the California Trade, Technology and Commerce Agency that a California Technology Investment Partnership (CalTIP) grant to...

Foundation presses Capitol Hill on health education in elementary school.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2002... 2002 JUN 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hepatitis C has hit the headlines identifying the devastating impact on the lives of celebrities, healthcare workers, and especially prisoners and injection drug users. An estimated 2.7 million...

CEL-SCI announces that its derG peptide protects against malaria in mice.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2002... 2002 JUN 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- CEL-SCI Corporation (CVM) and the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) announced the presentation of detailed protection results against malaria challenge obtained with CEL-SCI's newly discovered...

Cost-effectiveness assessments important for HIV response in Africa.(Brief Article)
June 4, 2002... 2002 JUN 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A systematic review in the May 11, 2002, issue of the Lancet highlights the importance of cost-effectiveness evaluation to identify realistic intervention programs to tackle HIV/AIDS in Africa (p....

Time to vaccinate everyone under 30?(Brief Article)
June 4, 2002... 2002 JUN 4 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A massive immunization campaign to vaccinate young Americans against smallpox now might save many more lives than a strategy focused on isolating and vaccinating those at risk only after a terrorist...

Combination of vaccine and antiviral fractures immune tolerance in virus model.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2002... 2002 JUN 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) infects woodchucks in a manner similar to the way hepatitis B virus (HBV) infects humans. Using woodchucks infected with WHV,...

Stress reduces mucosal immunity against herpes simplex virus.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2002... 2002 JUN 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS, senior medical writer - Psychological stress has been shown to inhibit the protective effects of vaccination against herpes simplex virus (HSV) in mice mucosa. ...

RNA levels at 12 weeks best indicator for sustained response in hepatitis C.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2002... 2002 JUN 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - According to a new report, the best predictor for whether or not a person infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) will developed a sustained response to...

Sam68 expression can restore some Rev function in infected astrocytes.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2002... 2002 JUN 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in the United States have identified a cellular protein that appears to facilitate viral RNA export by the HIV Rev protein. "Human...

DC-SIGN intercellular interactions not crucial for transmission.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2002... 2002 JUN 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in the United States have cast doubt on a putative mechanism for intracellular HIV transmission. "DC-SIGN, a type II membrane-spanning C-type...

Crucell and NIAID to develop Ebola vaccine.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2002... 2002 JUN 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Dutch antibody and vaccine company Crucell N.V. (CRXL) announced it has entered into a cooperative research and development agreement with the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of...

Digene Corp. narrows loss in third quarter.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2002... 2002 JUN 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Digene Corp. (DIGE) reported revenues for the third quarter increased 58% to $14.2 million compared with $9.0 million reported for last year's third quarter. Net loss, excluding a one-time charge,...

Company reveals new aspects of mechanism of action for HspE7.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2002... 2002 JUN 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Stressgen Biotechnologies Corporation (SSB) presented new research results, which further validate the company's mechanism of action for its patented heat shock protein (Hsp) fusion platform technology...

Data on peginterferon alfa-2a presented at digestive disease conference.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2002... 2002 JUN 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Data was presented at the Digestive Disease Week (DDW) meeting 2002 in San Francisco on Pegasys (peginterferon alfa-2a) - a once-weekly, pegylated form of interferon that is being investigated for the...

Humoral immune activity important for (gamma)-herpesvirus control.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2002... 2002 JUN 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in the United States have proposed a novel form of preventive treatment for patients with latent (gamma)-herpesvirus infections. "The human...

Low platelet counts during exanthem subitum linked to bone marrow suppression.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2002... 2002 JUN 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in Japan have shed new light on the factors underlying the low platelet levels often seen in infants suffering from roseola. Dr. Hiroyuki...

Influenza infection attracts pneumonia bacteria.(Brief Article)
June 11, 2002... 2002 JUN 11 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Lung cells infected with the influenza A virus are more likely to bind with bacteria that cause pneumonia than uninfected cells, but this phenomenon can be reversed with antiviral treatment....

Cord blood immune cells can prevent infection.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... 2002 JUN 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Under the right circumstances, immune cells in umbilical cord blood are capable of fighting off oncogenic Epstein-Barr virus infection, researchers in the...

Molecular wedge could lead normal virus formation astray in hepatitis B.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... 2002 JUN 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Small molecules that act like secret agents could be key to disrupting the formation of hepatitis B and other viruses, suggest researchers at the University of...

Hepatitis B seroconversion yields good outlook for most patients.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... 2002 JUN 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) who experience seroconversion can expect to have a good outlook for the future in most instances. However, a...

Interleukin-12 mediates human T-lymphotropic virus-induced spinal inflammation.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... 2002 JUN 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in Japan have shed new light on the factors involved in spinal inflammation triggered by human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection. ...

Methotrexate interferes with KS virus gene transcription.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... 2002 JUN 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - The anti-inflammatory drug methotrexate (MTX) disrupts gene activity by the virus responsible for Kaposi's sarcoma, researchers say. "Kaposi's...

Panacos Pharmaceuticals awarded NIH grant supporting development of PA-457.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... 2002 JUN 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Panacos Pharmaceuticals, Inc., announced that it has been awarded a phase I Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant for $125,000 by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The award, from...

Apoptosis not necessary for CD4 cell death.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... 2002 JUN 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in the United States have shed new light on mechanisms of CD4 T-cell loss associated with HIV infection. "A better understanding of the death...

Advanced Viral Research names Dr. Mark H. Kaplan to scientific advisory board.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... 2002 JUN 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Advanced Viral Research Corp. announced that Mark H. Kaplan, MD, has joined the company's scientific advisory board. Dr. Kaplan brings specialized expertise in AIDS treatment and research, including...

ViroLogic announces first quarter 2002 financial results.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... 2002 JUN 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- ViroLogic, Inc., (VLGC) reported revenue of $5.7 million for the first quarter, an increase of 85% over revenue of $3.1 million for the same period in 2001. "We achieved our revenue goal for the...

Roche, Qiagen to develop diagnostic system for hepatitis and HIV PCR testing.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... 2002 JUN 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Roche Molecular Systems, Inc., (RMS), a business area of Roche Diagnostics and Roche Diagnostics Corp. (RDC), the U.S. sales and marketing arm of Roche Diagnostics, and Qiagen GmbH, a wholly owned...

Drug used in treatment of alcoholism may have role in treatment of HIV.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... 2002 JUN 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Naltrexone, a drug used in the treatment of heroin addiction and alcoholism, may increase the effectiveness of the antiretroviral drugs zidovudine (AZT) and indinavir, which are used in the treatment...

HIV vaccine research is 'best hope' for controlling AIDS pandemic.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... 2002 JUN 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- May 18th marked the 5th annual HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, which highlights research advances and the challenges of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and underscores why developing preventive HIV vaccines offers...

Study: 9 in 10 hepatitis C patients with cirrhosis are virus free on PEGASYS with ribavirin.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... 2002 JUN 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Early results from an ongoing study by the Swiss Association for the Study of the Liver show that PEGASYS [peginterferon alfa-2a] used in combination with a standard dose of ribavirin (1000-1200 mg)...

Research supporting use of HSV animal model published.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... 2002 JUN 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Northeastern Ohio Universities College Of Medicine (NEOUCOM) and Cel-Sci Corp. (CVM) announced the publication of research conducted to show the utility of the mouse herpes simplex virus (HSV)...

Option Care announces purchases specialty pharmacy in Houston.(Brief Article)
June 18, 2002... 2002 JUN 18 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Option Care, Inc., (OPTN) announced that it acquired Infusion Specialties, a specialty pharmacy based in Houston, Texas, for $2 million in cash for 60% of its stock, and an agreement to acquire the...

Herpes simplex vectors can enhance immunogenecity.
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Herpes simplex-based vectors may be the best choice for antigen delivery by HIV vaccines, researchers report. "Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infects...

Automated chemiluminescent immunoassay an alternative to NAT.(nucleic acid amplification testing)
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Sonia Nichols, senior medical writer - Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) can detect products of viral infection in the blood much earlier than serological testing can but at a higher cost...

Phase 2 of IND for Product R initiated.(investigational new drug)
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Advanced Viral Research Corp. (ADVR) announced the start of phase 2 of its investigational new drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the topical treatment of genital...

Rapid HIV test for at-risk pregnant women to help reduce infection to newborns.
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Pregnant women who receive little or no prenatal care and who are at risk for contracting the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS will soon be offered a rapid HIV test aimed at reducing...

Adult enterovirus infection often misdiagnosed.
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Enterovirus-induced meningitis outbreaks in adult patients may be potentiated by outdated diagnostic techniques, researchers in France found. "Enterovirus...

Preclinical results: Onconase a potential antiviral agent.(Brief Article)
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Alfacell Corp. (ACEL) announced preclinical results which demonstrate that Onconase exerts its antiviral activity at two stages in the HIV-1 life-cycle. These findings were published in the Journal...

Roche adds MV026048 to its HIV treatment portfolio.
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Roche has signed a licensing agreement with Medivir, a Swedish biotechnology company, for MV026048, a treatment in development for HIV. A novel nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor...

HIV repressor factor linked to viral quiescence.
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in the United States have elucidated the factors leading to HIV quiescence in response to successful antiviral treatment. "Repression of human...

Company reports 17.7% sales increase in the first quarter.(Abbott Laboratories)
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Abbott Laboratories reported increases in both sales and earnings for the first quarter of 2002. The company also announced that it had submitted U.S. and European regulatory packages to the FDA...

Strong first quarter positions Baxter well to meet full year 2002 commitments.
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Baxter International, Inc., (BAX) reported strong growth in sales and earnings in the first quarter. Sales advanced 11% to $1.95 billion, up from the $1.76 billion reported for the same period...

Foundation International presses Capitol Hill on health education.(Hepatitis Foundation International)
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hepatitis C has hit the headlines identifying the devastating impact on the lives of celebrities, healthcare workers, and especially prisoners and injection drug users. An estimated 2.7 million...

SciClone begins U.S. phase III clinical trials for Zadaxin.
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- SciClone Pharmaceuticals (SCLN) announced the first patients in its Zadaxin U.S. phase III hepatitis C clinical trials have been enrolled and are receiving treatment. "The injection of the first...

Protein fusion augments HPV-E7 immunogenicity.(human papillomavirus )
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in Europe have found a way to enhance the performance of DNA-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. "DNA vaccination is a promising...

Protection against malaria, herpes, and cancer reported with new peptide.
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cel-Sci Corp. (CVM) and the Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) announced that a newly discovered peptide provided 100% protection against malaria infection in a mouse model. Dr. Yupin Charoenvit...

Berna and Iomai announce collaboration for patch delivery of vaccines.(Berna Biotech, Ltd., Iomai Corp.)(Brief Article)
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Berna Biotech, Ltd., (BBIN) and Iomai Corp., a private biopharmaceutical company, announced a collaboration for the development of vaccines for administration using a skin patch. The collaboration...

AIDS activists optimistic about change in South Africa policy.
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- After more than 2 years of despair over South Africa's stubborn AIDS policy, activists and critics have expressed guarded optimism over the government's announcement of major changes to its...

Improved treatment in Zimbabwe is goal of collaboration between UB and University of Zimbabwe.(University at Buffalo)
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Improving treatment of patients with HIV in Zimbabwe and potentially other developing nations by adapting approaches that have been successful in the U.S. is the goal of a new collaborative effort...

BD bifurcated needle cleared by FDA.(Becton, Dickinson and Co.)(Brief Article)
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Becton, Dickinson and Co. (BDX) announced that the FDA has cleared BD's bifurcated needle, a two-pronged needle designed for the delivery of the smallpox vaccine. The total development time for...

Idun presents data on apoptosis control.(Idun Pharmaceuticals)
June 25, 2002... 2002 JUN 25 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In a presentation entitled "Prospects for Caspase Inhibitor Therapy in Acute Stroke," Thomas Deckwerth, PhD, Idun Pharmaceuticals, discussed preclinical data that showed caspase inhibitors might...