Bioterrorism Week articles from June 2003

Bioterrorism Week archives from June 2003

Adverse events occur in British service personnel after anthrax vaccination.
June 2, 2003... 2003 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Adverse medical events have occurred in British service personnel after receiving anthrax vaccination. According to a study from England, "The safety of the UK anthrax vaccine in British service...

Researchers use a new method to accurately identify bacteria.
June 2, 2003... 2003 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- University of Arkansas researchers have used a high-tech analytical tool to identify proteins in bacteria and have shown it to be faster and more accurate than other currently used methods. The research...

MIT research may lead to treatment.
June 2, 2003... 2003 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- While the nation wrestles with the complications of vaccinating health professionals against smallpox, MIT researchers report that they have identified a potential new way to combat the disease. In...

Americans are experiencing great levels of anxiety.
June 2, 2003... 2003 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- More than 17 million Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder - America's most common mental illness. These individuals can experience a variety of symptoms, which can include spontaneous panic...

Versar awarded large Army research contract.
June 2, 2003... 2003 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Versar, Inc., (VSR) announced that its homeland defense pillar subsidiary, GEOMET Technologies, LLC, has been awarded a task order contract to provide analysis and testing support to the U.S. Army...

Experts examine global progress in vaccines.
June 2, 2003... 2003 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Many of the world's vaccine scientists met at the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases' (NFID) Sixth Annual Conference on Vaccine Research to present the latest research on vaccines against...

New data released on plague, strep vaccines.
June 2, 2003... 2003 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- ID Biomedical has confirmed that nasal Proteosome-based vaccines protect against pneumonic Plague caused by lethal aerosol infection with virulent Plague bacteria in a mouse model of airborne...

Researchers to centralize emergency room data to combat epidemics, bioterrorism.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hospital emergency rooms constitute a key part of the first line of defense against infectious disease epidemics like SARS and even bioterrorism, but word of what happens in one emergency room might not...

Scientists look for methods to improve vaccinations for infectious diseases.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) researchers are studying new methods to dramatically increase the number of people who can receive vaccinations against smallpox and other deadly diseases. ...

Homeland security program purchases new system for biodefense.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Response Biomedical Corp. (RBM: TSX Venture Exchange) announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has purchased 16 of the Company's RAMP Systems for the purpose of training first responders...

Neurologists play key role in evaluating threat of smallpox attack.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Neurologists need to play a key role in evaluating the threat posed by a terrorist attack using smallpox. According to a study from the United States, "Smallpox virus, used as a weapon against an...

European patent issued; DNA vaccine research contract granted.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Vical Incorporated (NASDAQ:VICL) announced that European Patent EP0737750, entitled "Expression of Exogenous Polynucleotide Sequences in a Vertebrate," has been granted to Vical. This patent is...

CalbaTech submits proposal through BioSTAR program.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- CalbaTech, Inc., (CLBE) announced that the company has submitted a collaborative proposal with a prominent University of California researcher through the BioSTAR Program, which fosters research in...

Americans fail to consider medication needs in emergency planning.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A significant majority of Americans (80%) feel it is important to have a plan in place to access their important medications in the case of an emergency. However, only one-third (34%) have made such...

Biological detection company reports fiscal-year 2003 results.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- IGEN International, Inc., (IGEN) reported that its revenues for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2003, increased 34% to a record $56.5 million, compared to $42.0 million in the same period last year. ...

Pharmaceutical company announces 2003 first quarter results.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Symbollon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., reported a net loss of $166,197 or $0.04 per share for the first quarter 2003, compared to a net loss of $191,019 or $0.05 per share in the same period in 2002. ...

Vaccine developer reports 2003 first quarter results.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- VaxGen, Inc., (NASDAQ:VXGN) announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2003. VaxGen reported an increase in revenue due primarily to its anthrax vaccine development contract...

FDA acceptance of ciprofloxacin ANDA filing triggers strategic investment.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPPI) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acceptance of the Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for ciprofloxacin by the company's NeoJB...

Multiplexed liquid arrays detect simulants of biological warfare agents.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, have developed "liquid array-based multiplexed immunoassays designed for rapid, sensitive, specific, and simultaneous...

Severe acute respiratory syndroms shows weakness in biosecurity.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The risk of major economic disruptions due to emerging infectious diseases like SARS is increasing, according to a study released today by Bio Economic Research Associates (bio-era ), an independent...

USPS biodetection contract awarded.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cepheid (CPHD) announced that the United States Postal Service (USPS) has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation's (NOC) Security Systems LLC unit a contract to manufacture and integrate Biohazard...

Vaccine provides more protection than previously thought.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University announced preliminary study results showing smallpox vaccine protection lasts longer than previously thought. Until now, it was widely accepted...

NIH awards grant to develop test for biowarfare agents.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Genomic Profiling Systems, Inc., announced that it has received a phase I small business innovation research grant (SBIR) from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) for $119,820 to develop its...

Atmospheric Research Chamber may have broad applications.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has developed a chamber that can disclose key information about chemicals and compounds. That information may be useful in addressing a wide range...

Second BioSTAR submission announced.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- CalbaTech, Inc., (CLBE) announced that the company has submitted a second collaborative proposal with another prominent University of California researcher through the BioSTAR Program, which fosters...

Survey: Americans call science and technology critical to U.S. security.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- As the conflict in Iraq winds down and the focus on homeland security heightens, a new Gallup survey reveals Americans overwhelmingly recognize the critical role science and technology play in U.S....

VaxGen raises $5 million through sale of common stock.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- VaxGen, Inc., (NASDAQ:VXGN) announced that it has raised $5 million through the sale of 1,742,160 newly issued shares of VaxGen's common stock to a single institutional investor. The net proceeds...

Founding partner named for new institute at MIT.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- DuPont (DD) will be serving as a founding partner of the new Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, which officially opened its 28,000-square-foot research and development facility at the...

New test launched for environmental detection of smallpox.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Response Biomedical Corp. (RBM: TSX Venture Exchange), has announced the commercial launch of the RAMP Pox Test, the first rapid on-site environmental test capable of detecting orthopox viruses...

GlobalOptions: America vulnerable to terrorist attack on medicine supply system.
June 23, 2003... 2003 JUN 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A terrorist attack against America's medicine supply is a growing threat to the United States that requires immediate attention, according to the report "An Analysis of Terrorist Threats to America's...

Health system unprepared for water terrorism.
June 23, 2003... 2003 JUN 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- U.S. public health experts report that front-line health care responders are not adequately prepared to identify and control major outbreaks of water-borne disease, including outbreaks resulting from...

Biochip technology enables label-free detection of pathogens and their toxins.
June 23, 2003... 2003 JUN 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A new biochip technology enables label-free detection of pathogens and their toxins, report scientists with Biopraxis, Inc., a San Diego, California-based biotechnology firm. A.E. Grow and...

Company to test vaccine on people.
June 23, 2003... 2003 JUN 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- U.S. regulators approved VaxGen, Inc.'s plan to test its experimental anthrax vaccine on about 100 people, the biotechnology company said Tuesday. The Brisbane, California-based company said it...

Fully human antibody demonstrates activity against anthrax in animal model.
June 23, 2003... 2003 JUN 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Medarex, Inc., (MEDX) announced the results of preclinical studies of its fully human antibody against anthrax. In a standard preclinical animal study conducted by an independent party, rabbits...

Yeast, wormwood and bacterial genes combine in microbial factory to make drug.
June 23, 2003... 2003 JUN 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- By combining genes from three separate organisms into a single bacterial factory, University of California, Berkeley, chemical engineers have developed a simpler, less expensive way to make an...

New patent awarded for use of dye in polymerase chain reaction.
June 23, 2003... 2003 JUN 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued the University of Utah a patent relating to methods of nucleic acid amplification in the presence of certain dyes such as SYBR Green I. The issuance...

Local public health officials develop framework to combat SARS.
June 23, 2003... 2003 JUN 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Public health officials from many of the nation's largest metropolitan areas recently attended a 2-day meeting that addressed local response plans for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). ...

Federally funded technology detects bioterror pathogens rapidly on site.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A technology to rapidly and accurately detect and identify bioterror pathogens is the focus of a new business, SensoPath Technologies, Inc., in Bozeman, Montana. The business, SensoPath...

Agencies team up to ensure safety of first responder gas masks.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Firefighters and other first responders faced with a terrorist attack soon will breathe a little easier knowing that their gas masks have been tested to ensure they work properly under emergency...

New investigational vaccine set to be tried in humans.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers at Saint Louis University's Center for Vaccine Development and its clinical research organization, SoLUtions, are preparing to conduct a human study of a new investigational vaccine to...

Cell toxin sensor chip developed by combining electronics with living cell.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In experiments conducted at the University of California, Berkeley, researchers have found a way to tap into the telltale electrical signals that mark cell death, opening the door to the creation of a...

FDA clears IND for anthrax vaccine candidate.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- VaxGen, Inc., (VXGN) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the Investigational New Drug (IND) application for its candidate anthrax vaccine. The effective IND...

Biodefense R&D agreement signed with U.S. Army.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (BISP) announced that it has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army's Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases...

Company awarded $54 million decontamination contract.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- VSE Corporation (NASDAQ:VSEC) announced that it has been awarded a cost plus fixed fee, multi-year support contract by the Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center (IHD/NSWC) at Indian Head,...

Risk Management Solutions launches new multiline accumulation management system.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Risk Management Solutions (RMS), a provider of products and services for catastrophe risk management, announced today that it has launched a new multiline accumulation management system, which is...

Smallpox vaccination recommended for those exposed to virus.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued interim guidance advising states that persons investigating monkeypox outbreaks and involved in caring for infected individuals or...