Bioterrorism Week articles from September 2004

Bioterrorism Week archives from September 2004

Dermatological aspects of anthrax reviewed.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers review anthrax in a recent issue of Dermatologic Clinics. "Anthrax is an ancient disease associated with the plagues in biblical Egypt and modern bioterrorism. Three clinical syndromes...

New technology helps protect New York City buildings from bio-weapons.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Financial institutions, key government buildings and hospitals are using a new technology for protection against terrorists using biological weapons. The technology safeguards against attacks in...

Company receives $16.4M contract to redesign chemical/biological shelter unit.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Engineered Support Systems, Inc., (EASI) has received a new contract for $16.4 million from the U.S. Army for production of a next-generation, electronic-powered chemical biological protective shelter...

Pharmaceutical firm wins $13.1M biodefense research contract.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Caprion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has been awarded a U.S. $13.1 million contract by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a part of the National Institutes of Health, to...

Half of U.S. workers feel their employer is not ready for terrorist attack.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Almost half of U.S. workers say their place of work not is not prepared for a terrorist attack, according to a Tell It Now poll by ComPsych, provider of GuidanceResources (employee assistance programs,...

Monmouth University developing system to detect disease, terror attacks.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers at Monmouth University are developing a computer system to quickly spot early signs of a bioterror attack or serious disease outbreak by pooling information from key medical facilities. ...

CRO announces $2.0 million of new business contracts.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Commonwealth Biotechnologies, Inc., (CBTE) (CBI), a contract research organization (CRO), announced new contract work in two of its core business areas, biodefense and clinical lab trial support. ...

Neugene antisense deal inked with USAMRIID on biodefense agents.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- AVI BioPharma, Inc., (AVII) announced it has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). The...

Rapid response research to emerging infectious diseases reviewed.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists review rapid response research to emerging infectious diseases in a recent issue of Nature Reviews Microbiology. "New and emerging infectious diseases continue to plague the world, and...

$1.4M grant awarded from DOD for anti-microbial coating.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bacterin International, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of elutive bioactive coatings for medical devices, announced that the Department of Defense has awarded the company $1.4 million in DOD...

Biotech products company reports second-quarter income of $12.1M.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Genencor International, Inc., (GCOR) reported that for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, net income available to common stockholders was $12.1 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, compared to $5.8...

Healthcare company announces record revenue and income results.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- ResMed Inc. (NYSE:RMD) announced record revenue and income results for the quarter and year ended June 30, 2004. Revenues for the June 30, 2004, quarter were $92.9 million, a 23% increase over the...

San Diego emergency and critical care center set to open.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Sharp Grossmont Hospital is preparing to open the doors to its new Emergency and Critical Care Center - one of the most technologically advanced emergency and intensive care facilities in the nation....

IT services company acquires full interest in DynPort Vaccine Company.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC) has acquired Porton International Inc.'s interest in DynPort Vaccine Company LLC (DVC), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of biodefense biologics...

Strategies for managing suspected plague cases outlined.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers outline strategies for managing suspected plague cases in a recent issue of Dermatologic Clinics. According to published research from the United States, "Plague is a disease that has...

Basics of smallpox reviewed.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers review the basics of smallpox in a recent issue of Dermatologic Clinics. "Variola major is the causative agent of smallpox, a severe disease that was arguably one of the most serious...

Smallpox vaccine reactions and contraindications reviewed.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists review the reactions from and contraindications to small vaccination in a recent issue of Dermatologic Clinics. According to a study from the United States, "Concern regarding the use of...

BioPort gets approval for new anthrax vaccine tests.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a Michigan company's plan to test a new type of anthrax vaccine on humans, according to BioPort Corp. BioPort, which is the nation's sole...

Eligible plasma donors defined under new CDC program.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In order to donate plasma for a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention experimental anthrax treatment, a person must meet each of these requirements: *Received at least 4 doses of anthrax...

Government collecting blood from soldiers to create anthrax vaccine.
September 6, 2004... 2004 SEP 6 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- They can do it for love of God and country - or for the $60. Either way, soldiers vaccinated against anthrax have the opportunity to help future anthrax victims by donating their blood. The...

Biotech company to participate in U.S. government anthrax project.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cangene announced that it will process plasma to be collected from anthrax-vaccinated military personnel. The Department of Defense announced that the military will support a Health and Human...

Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fever potential agents for biologic warfare.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fever are potential agents for biologic warfare. According to recent research published in the journal Dermatologic Clinics, "The term viral hemorrhagic fever refers...

Molecular techniques can detect and enumerate airborne biocontaminants.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Monitoring airborne microorganisms can be enhanced by using molecular methods. "The sampling and analysis of airborne microorganisms has received attention in recent years owing to concerns with...

Novel method estimates time and size of bioterror attack for real-time use.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A novel method estimates the time and size of a bioterror attack for real-time use. According to a study from the United States, "In the event of a bioterror attack, rapidly estimating the size and...

Antiviral prophylaxis of smallpox reviewed.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers review the antiviral prophylaxis of smallpox in a recent issue of the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. According to a study from the United States, "Proof-of-concept studies...

Basic research producing new anthrax therapies.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Thanks to new screening tools, and some luck, researchers at the University of Chicago have discovered three unrelated compounds that inhibit the two toxins - edema factor and lethal factor - that have...

Government collecting blood from vaccinated soldiers to create treatment.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- They can do it for love of God and country - or for the $60. Either way, soldiers vaccinated against anthrax have the opportunity to help future anthrax victims by donating their blood. The...

IND accepted by FDA for anthrax immunity-stimulating molecule.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- BioPort Corporation disclosed the recent acceptance of an Investigational New Drug (IND) submission by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) related to anthrax vaccine. The acceptance by the...

Needle-free anthrax vaccine shows promise in animal studies.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers have developed a powdered form of an anthrax vaccine that could potentially be inhaled through the nose and eliminate the need for needle injections. The new vaccine, which appears...

Virus product could kill anthrax and beat antibiotic resistance.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers from Rockefeller University, New York, have developed a new way of killing dangerous bacteria like the ones that cause anthrax and pneumonia, using products from a virus, according to new...

Contract awarded for joint biological point detection systems.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, a business unit of General Dynamics (GD), has been awarded a $25 million delivery order as part of a firm-fixed-price contract by the U.S. Army...

Emergency preparedness conferences well attended.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- National Trade Productions, producers of GOVSEC, The Government Security Expo and Conference; the U.S. LAW Enforcement Conference and Exposition (U.S. LAW), and READY!, The Emergency Preparedness and...

Biopharmaceutical company announces Q2 net loss of $1,473,376, updates progress.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- DOR BioPharma, Inc., (DOR) a biopharmaceutical company focused on biodefense vaccines and therapeutics for unmet medical needs, announced its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2004. ...

Biotechnology company provides guidance for 2004.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- ID Biomedical Corporation announced expected financial results for the 6 and 12 months ending December 31, 2004, assuming the transaction to acquire the vaccine business of Shire Pharmaceuticals Group...

Biotechnology company announces update on FDA-requested Homspera study.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- ImmuneRegen BioSciences provided an update on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration-requested study evaluating the efficacy of Homspera as a treatment against gamma radiation when administered via...

Real-time network surveillance solution selected by four healthcare institutions.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Q1 Labs announced that four healthcare organizations have selected its QRadar software to provide surveillance, analysis and control of their networks and to facilitate HIPAA compliance. The most...

Scientists to develop vaccine to combat bioterrorism threat from deadly bacteria.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers at University of California (UC) Irvine will develop a vaccine against the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, an organism that can be dispersed by an aerosol spray and used as an agent...

Lab's experience managing potential threats offers guidelines for others.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Laboratories working with biological threat agents must develop comprehensive programs to minimize the risk of occupational exposures, according to investigators at the U.S. Army Medical Research...

Local variation in public health preparedness outlined.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists outline local variation in public health preparedness in the United States in a recent issue of Health Affairs. According to a study from the United States, "Since September 2001...

Tularemia signs/symptoms awareness can decrease morbidity during terror attack.
September 13, 2004... 2004 SEP 13 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The awareness of the signs and symptoms of tularemia can decrease morbidity during a terror attack. According to recent research from the United States, "Tularemia is a bacterial infection usually...

Compulsory vaccination against terrorist attack is unjustified.
September 20, 2004... 2004 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The compulsory use of vaccines to prevent the effects of a bioterrorist attack seems to be based on an unproven threat, according to a newly published editorial. In 1997, the United States began a...

Bioterrorism preparedness dependent on action of health care systems.
September 20, 2004... 2004 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Bioterrorism preparedness is dependent on the action of health care systems. "Preparedness for bioterrorism poses significant ethical challenges. Although public health ethics and preparedness have...

Antibody specific to C. botulinum neurotoxin type B identified.
September 20, 2004... 2004 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists have characterized a neutralizing antibody specific to internalization domain of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type B. "Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), the causative agents for...

Biomarkers of whole Coxiella burnetii phase I identified.
September 20, 2004... 2004 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists have identified biomarkers of whole Coxiella burnetii phase I by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. "Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF...

Confidence drops in U.S. ability to protect against, respond to terror attack.
September 20, 2004... 2004 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Three years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, confidence in the federal government's ability to protect Americans has fallen to a crisis level - dropping to 53% from 62% in 2003 -...

Corvallis business will be studying bioterrorism threat.
September 20, 2004... 2004 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A local biotech company has been awarded $12 million by the U.S. National Institutes of Health to develop drugs to fight smallpox and arenaviruses, which can cause hemorrhagic fevers such as ebola....

Nebraska gets $3.6 million for bioterrorism, $1.1 million for health centers.
September 20, 2004... 2004 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Two U.S. Health and Human Services grants will bring nearly $5 million to Nebraska for bioterrorism preparedness and health education network projects. A release from U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel said...

Texas to receive almost $64 million for bioterrorism defense.
September 20, 2004... 2004 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Texas Department of State Health Services has been awarded almost $64 million to help local and regional public health departments prepare for possible bioterrorism. The money from the U.S....

U.S. Dept. of Defense funds Mirasol Pathogen Reduction Technology development.
September 20, 2004... 2004 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Navigant Biotechnologies, Inc., announced that the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has awarded it an additional $2 million grant to continue to develop and test its Mirasol Pathogen Reduction...

Minorities worry health system won't respond fairly in a bioterrorist event.
September 20, 2004... 2004 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- African Americans and Asians are less likely to believe the public health system would respond fairly in a bioterrorist event, a University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) study shows While...

SMD-technology company announces patent publication.
September 20, 2004... 2004 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Centrex, Inc., (CNEX) announced the issuance by the U.S. Patent Office of the patent that covers the single molecule nucleic acid detection technology (SMD) which forms the core of Centrex's planned...

Biometrics company names Jerry Janik as new CEO.
September 20, 2004... 2004 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- DICUT (DCUT) announced that Jerry Janik has accepted the position of CEO of the company. After 15 years developing the portfolio and performance of Dixtor Investments, Ltd., an Ontario-based...

SIGA announces receipt of $12 million in NIH funding for biodefense.
September 20, 2004... 2004 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- SIGA Technologies, Inc., (NASDAQ: SIGA) announced the receipt of two grants totaling approximately $12 million from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The $12 million in grant funding...

'Non-take' responses in adults vaccinated with smallpox reported.
September 20, 2004... 2004 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers report 'non-take' responses in adults vaccinated with smallpox in a recent issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. "This small, retrospective study of laboratory workers...

Generalized vaccinia in a deployed military member reported.
September 20, 2004... 2004 SEP 20 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Generalized vaccinia has been reported in a deployed military member. "This case report demonstrates the clinical progression of a case of lesions consistent with generalized vaccinia after primary...

U.S. FDA approves ciprofloxacin to manage postexposure inhalational anthrax.
September 27, 2004... 2004 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved ciprofloxacin hydrochloride for the management of postexposure inhalational anthrax. According to a study from the United States, "In August...

Firm to provide contract research for Homeland Security project.
September 27, 2004... 2004 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Accelrys, Inc., (ACCL) announced a subcontract agreement with the Northrop Grumman Corp. to assist in the research and development of bioagent detectors for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security...

Symptoms predictive of death in patients with food-borne botulism reported.
September 27, 2004... 2004 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers outline the signs and symptoms predictive of death in patients with food-borne botulism in a recent issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases. According to published research from the...

World Trade Center workers find high rates of respiratory, mental problems.
September 27, 2004... 2004 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Nearly half of more than 1000 screened rescue and recovery workers and volunteers who responded to the World Trade Center attacks have new and persistent respiratory problems, and more than half have...

Virus B5R protein antibodies neutralize vaccinia immune globulin.
September 27, 2004... 2004 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Antibodies against the extracellular enveloped virus B5R protein are mainly responsible for the EEV neutralizing capacity of vaccinia immune globulin. According to published research from the...

Anthrax risk from contact with infected livestock increased by hand cuts.
September 27, 2004... 2004 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Anthrax risk from contact with infected livestock is increased by the presence of cuts on the hands. "A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted in Kazakhstan to define modifiable risk factors...

Researchers improve detection of diverse anthrax strains.
September 27, 2004... 2004 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Scientists have capitalized on genomic data to define novel diagnostic tests and to gain insight into the evolutionary and genetic history of the deadly pathogen Bacillus anthracis (anthrax). ...

Biotechnology company's chief researcher interviewed on bioterrorism threat.
September 27, 2004... 2004 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Dr. Mark Witten, chief scientist for ImmuneRegen BioSciences, Inc., (IRBO), was interviewed by CBS affiliate KOLD-TV and ABC affiliate KGUN-TV in Tucson, concerning the hovering threat of bioterrorism...

Report says U.S. Postal Service underestimated anthrax attacks.
September 27, 2004... 2004 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Public health officials underestimated the health risks when letters containing anthrax spores were handled in five U.S. Postal Service facilities in 2001, delaying medical help to employees, a report...

Diabetes group, pharma firm partner for research.
September 27, 2004... 2004 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The American Diabetes Association (ADA) Research Foundation announced the results of a campaign by Roche Diagnostics, maker of Accu-Chek(R) products and services, to raise funds for research into...

September 11-related cancers may not appear for decades, doctors say.
September 27, 2004... 2004 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A patchwork of post-September 11 health screening programs will not detect increases in more serious, long-term illnesses like cancer, experts told Congress September 8, 2004. Doctors and...

$18 million bioinformatics center to become weapon against deadly diseases.
September 27, 2004... 2004 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A computer database designed to help biomedical scientists identify and exploit the weak spots in scores of deadly microorganisms will be established with an $18 million contract from the National...

Identifying tick genes could halt disease, bioterrorism threat.
September 27, 2004... 2004 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Ticks as small as a freckle can transmit a number of illnesses for which there is no vaccine and, in some cases, no cure. These creatures even could become bioterrorism weapons. To find new ways...

Life science company's biological defense systems names advisory board.
September 27, 2004... 2004 SEP 27 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Invitrogen Corporation's (IVGN) Biological Defense Systems (BDS) subsidiary announced the formation of an expert Advisory Board to provide the company direction in addressing this critical area of...