AIDS Vaccine Week articles from June 2003

AIDS Vaccine Week archives from June 2003

HIV-1 escapes attack by changes in carbohydrate structures.
June 2, 2003... 2003 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- HIV-1 escapes attack by changing the structure of its carbohydrate moieties. According to recent research from the United States, "HIV-1 readily mutates to escape the immune response, evolving in...

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...

Interleukin-12, cholera toxin adjuvants enhance glycoprotein vaccine.
June 2, 2003... 2003 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in the United States have identified a pair of adjuvants which enhance the performance of an HIV glycoprotein-based vaccine. Diana I. Albu and...

Group urges boost in worldwide spending.
June 2, 2003... 2003 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Worldwide spending to prevent new infections by the AIDS virus should be increased by $3.8 billion by 2005, an advocacy group recommended. The report by the Global HIV Prevention Working Group said...

Gene therapy company reports first quarter 2003 financial results.
June 2, 2003... 2003 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Targeted Genetics Corp. (TGEN) announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2003. For the first quarter of 2003, the company reported a net loss of $830,000, or $0.02 per common share,...

American guidelines for HAART initiation appropriate.
June 2, 2003... 2003 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The recently adopted American guidelines for initiating antiretroviral therapy in HIV patients are a good standard. "The appropriate immunologic stage of human immunodeficiency virus infection at...

Modified gagpol fusion gene highly immunogenic in animals.
June 2, 2003... 2003 JUN 2 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - A novel fusion of the HIV gag and pol genes is highly immunogenic in animals, researchers in California report. "Results of both natural history studies and...

Many Americans think an HIV/AIDS vaccine already exists.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Many Americans wrongly believe that a preventive vaccine for HIV/AIDS has already been developed, according to surveys recently conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases...

Vaccine induces HIV-specific immune response in chronic infection.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A controversial vaccine against HIV has been shown to stimulate a critical part of the HIV-specific immune response in chronically infected patients. The small study conducted by researchers at...

DNA priming improves HSV-1 amplicon vector immunogenicity.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - DNA priming improves the immunogenicity of herpes simplex virus-based vectors expressing HIV proteins, researchers in the United States report. "A single...

Hyperglycosylated gp120 mutants may induce broad humoral responses.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Polymorphic forms of the HIV coat protein gp120 may elicit broad humoral responses, researchers in the United States say. "The ability to induce broadly...

Vaccine to be developed will be directed against multiple HIV antigens.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- BioVex announced that it has signed a letter of intent with the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, in relation to the...

Botswana to begin trials for AIDS vaccine on humans.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Botswana is scheduled to begin tests on an AIDS vaccine to find out if it is safe when given to healthy adults, officials say. The experimental vaccine, which has already been tested successfully...

Human Genome Sciences acquires license for human monoclonal antibody.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Abgenix, Inc., (ABGX) and Human Genome Sciences, Inc., (HGSI) announced that Human Genome Sciences has acquired an exclusive worldwide license from Abgenix to develop and commercialize a fully human...

Pressure groups call on countries to fund project to treat AIDS, malaria, TB.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A global project that offered hope to the victims of diseases that kill 6 million people a year is in danger of collapsing because the world's richest countries have failed to finance it, pressure...

Combination vaccine delivers double blow.
June 9, 2003... 2003 JUN 9 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A new vaccine approach that delivers a one-two punch could give the immune system an edge against malaria, AIDS and other exigent diseases in people, Adrian Hill and colleagues report. The...

Review of vaccines for AIDS and Ebola virus infection published.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A review of vaccine approaches for preventing AIDS and Ebola virus infection has been released. According to recent research published in the journal Virus Research, "Ebola virus and HIV present...

Viral replication reduced in macaques mucosally immunized with SHIV[subscript]89.6.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Evidence has been found for immune-mediated reduction of viral replication in macaques mucosally immunized with inactivated SHIV[subscript]89.6. "Although most HIV-1 infections worldwide result...

Adenovirus Gag vector with CRL1005 adjuvant effective in macaques.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in the United States have identified an HIV vaccine regimen which elicits potent cellular immunity in non-human primates. "Cellular immune...

Prime-boost regimens with flu, vaccinia virus vectors effective in animals.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Prime-boost HIV vaccine regimens using influenza and vaccinia virus vectors are effective in animal models, researchers say. "Vaccines that elicit...

Brazilian national AIDS program receives 2003 Gates Award for Global Health.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced that the Brazilian National AIDS Program (NAP) has been selected to receive the 2003 Gates Award for Global Health. The program, considered a model for...

Many Americans think an HIV/AIDS vaccine already exists.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Many Americans wrongly believe that a preventive vaccine for HIV/AIDS has already been developed, according to surveys recently conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases...

NIH awards grant for T-helper cell-expanding virus vaccine.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded an HIV grant to Antigen Express for its T-helper cell-expanding virus vaccine. This $357,000 NIH small business innovative research (SBIR)...

Broad product license acquired for breakthrough DNA-based vaccine.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- In a windfall step that prominently places the company at the center of DNA-based HIV vaccine development, CytRx Corporation (CYTR) announced it has licensed, from the University of Massachusetts...

Delivery technology licensed for therapeutic vaccines.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Valentis, Inc., (NASDAQ:VLTSC) and Juvaris BioTherapeutics announced that they have entered into a broad, non-exclusive licensing agreement in which Juvaris will use Valentis' proprietary plasmid...

New manufacturing patent issued for AIDS vaccine, cystic fibrosis and arthritis programs.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Targeted Genetics Corporation (NASDAQ:TGEN) announced the issuance of an additional patent related to its adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector manufacturing process. U.S. Patent No. 6,566,118 is titled,...

Grant will fund study of human genes as anti-HIV drug targets.
June 16, 2003... 2003 JUN 16 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A federal research grant to study human genes as possible drug targets for fighting HIV infection has been awarded jointly to Virogenomics Inc., a Portland-based drug discovery company, and scientists...

Demand likely to outpace distribution of successful vaccine.
June 23, 2003... 2003 JUN 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Success in vaccine development will be only the first step in controlling the HIV pandemic, researchers in Switzerland warn. "Once an effective HIV...

Structure of broadly neutralizing antibody b12 characterized.
June 23, 2003... 2003 JUN 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in North America have characterized the structure of a key antiretroviral antibody. "IgG1 b12 is a broadly neutralizing antibody against human...

Research: Namibian youth don't understand terms "abstinence" or "faithfulness".
June 23, 2003... 2003 JUN 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Terms used to describe some HIV prevention strategies - such as "abstinence" or "faithfulness" - are not understood by a large majority of young adults in Namibia, a country where current HIV/AIDS...

Foundation urges G8 countries to ante up for global AIDS fight.
June 23, 2003... 2003 JUN 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- On the heels of the monumental achievement of the signing of president's Bush's groundbreaking $15 billion global AIDS funding bill in Washington, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) called upon the...

Failing to meet public health goals could cost nation $18 billion.
June 23, 2003... 2003 JUN 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Failure to reduce new HIV infections in the United States by 50% in the next 2 years not only will have substantial human consequences, but could cost the nation more than $18 billion. A study by...

New grant awarded to develop anti-HIV drugs.
June 23, 2003... 2003 JUN 23 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- PTC Therapeutics has been awarded a Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease of the National Institutes of Health...

Study will evaluate recombinant canarypox HIV-1 vaccine in IV drug users.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A Harvard School of Public Health researcher will be conducting a study to evaluate the efficacy of a recombinant canarypox HIV-1 vaccine in IV drug users. S. Dhalla announced the clinical trial at...

Research sheds further light on the origins of HIV-1.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A study published in the June 13, 2003, issue of Science sheds further light on the origins of HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS. For more than 10 years, Prof. Paul Sharp at the University of...

Company presents preclinical results from AIDS vaccine program.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Targeted Genetics Corporation (NASDAQ:TGEN) announced that it presented positive data in support of its AIDS vaccine program at the 6th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Gene Therapy in...

Systemic priming with mucosal boosting shows promise in animals.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Vaccine researchers in the United States say that a mixture of systemic and mucosal immunization may offer improved protection against HIV infection. ...

Patent granted for herpes vaccine; peptide may be used as adjuvant for vaccines.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Cel-Sci Corp. (CVM) has been issued a new U.S. patent, no. 6,572,860, which further expands the proprietary protection for Cel-Sci's herpes simplex-based therapeutic and preventive vaccines. The...

Drug giant urged to resolve pricing battle.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The U.S.' third-largest pension fund - California's State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) - urged British drug giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to finally resolve ongoing disputes over AIDS drugs for...

National organizations applaud educational initiative.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The National Association of AIDS Education & Training Centers (NAAETC) and the American Public Health Association applauded the launch of "Dialogues: Education and Treatment for a Well Planned...

HAART appears to have caused biological shift towards more treatable disease.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Since the use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to treat HIV, physicians have seen an improvement in the prognosis for patients with AIDS-related lymphomas. Researchers from the U.S....

Study suggests prevalent anal sex in Sub-Saharan Africa key in HIV spread.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, experts have assumed that anal sex was virtually non-existent in sub-Saharan Africa. In the July 2003 International Journal of STD and AIDS, medical...

New program helps people with HIV communicate with healthcare providers.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC) announced that it supports the launch of "Dialogues: Education and Treatment for a Well Planned Future", which is a new initiative to help increase...

Enfuvirtide is first fusion inhibitor for treating patients with HIV.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Enfuvirtide is the first fusion inhibitor reported for the treatment of patients with HIV-1 infection. According to recent research from the United States, "Enfuvirtide (Fuzeon, Roche/Trimeris) is...

Hydroxyurea shows promise in combination regimens.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Hydroxyurea shows promise as part of anti-HIV drug regimens. "The safety and efficacy of hydroxyurea with didanosine in combination with stavudine in nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor...

Lactic acidosis risk factors during NRTI treatment identified.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- by Michael Greer, senior medical writer - Researchers in France have identified factors linked to an increased risk of lactic acidosis during HIV treatment. Fabrice Bonnet and colleagues at Hopital...

Monopyrrolinone-based HIV-1 protease inhibitors developed.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A series of monopyrrolinone-based HIV-1 protease inhibitors have been developed. "The design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of a series of HIV-1 protease inhibitors [(-)-6, (-)-7, (-)-23,...

Natural compounds inhibit viral promoter activity.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A series of natural compounds inhibit HIV promoter activity. "Tannins and lignins are natural compounds contained in plants such as tea leaves," scientists in Japan explained. Previous...

Nordihydroguaiaretic acid derivative inhibits viral Tat function.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A nordihydroguaiaretic acid derivative inhibits the activity of the HIV Tat protein. Scientists in the United States evaluated "a water soluble derivative of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA),...

Novel octapeptide has antiviral activity in cats.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A novel octapeptide is highly active against the feline version of HIV. Scientists in Italy "described the antiviral activity of an octapeptide corresponding to a Trp-rich domain of feline...

Novel plant extracts have antiviral activity.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A series of novel plant extracts have demonstrated anti-HIV activity. In a study from Ghana, "the effects of Ocimum gratissimum (GHX-2), Ficus polita (GHX-6), Clausena anisata (GHX-7), Alchornea...

SL1 RNA stem may be therapeutic target.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- The SL1 HIV RNA stem may be a target for novel antiretroviral agents. "The 5'-leader of HIV-1 RNA controls many viral functions. Nucleocapsid (NC) domains of gag-precursor proteins select genomic...

Technique exploits aptamer-gp120 interactions to identify new antiretrovirals.
June 30, 2003... 2003 JUN 30 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Researchers in Oxford University's Sir William Dunn School of Pathology have developed a novel high throughput screening (HTS) technique for identifying antiretroviral agents/drugs that inhibit HIV...