World Health Organization

ALSO NOTED: AstraZeneca may shake up R&D with spin-off; Vertex sells stock; and much more...

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:59:50 -0500

> AstraZeneca is considering spinning off its GI research institute into a separate company that would go out into the market and hunt for venture capital backing, according to Swedish newspaper reports. The news reports say that the pharma company is looking at spinning off five research projects. Report

> Vertex plans to sell 6 million common shares as well as $250 million in convertible senior subordinated notes due 2013. Report

> Belgium's Innogenetics says it plans to shelve new investments at its therapeutics business Genimmune. Report

> Docs needing blood-thinning drugs may be in a fix. Allergic reactions prompted Baxter to stop making multiple-dose vials of heparin, and the FDA told physicians to stop using them except when absolutely necessary--and then, very carefully. Report

> Finally, someone asked the question we've been wanting to ask ourselves: Even if the Enhance study data remained blinded, could Merck or Schering-Plough have divined its overall sway? Sen. Charles Grassley, who's been shooting out letters to the two companies at the rate of at least two a week, made the query in another round of correspondence yesterday. Report

> Schering-Plough, Sanofi and Teva have announced their earnings. Report

> While they were reporting their earnings, Schering-Plough and Sanofi-Aventis executives both found themselves on a hot seat. Report

> A protein may hold the key to a new vaccine that could effectively target pneumonia, according to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Report

> If you can't afford $350,000 to have your genome sequenced, wait awhile. The price is dropping fast. Report

And Finally… The World Health Organization says that without urgent action a billion people will be killed by tobacco this century. Release

WHO: Infectious disease a growing threat

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 06:59:54 -0400

A new report from the World Health Organization is sounding the alarm on the serious threat the world faces from rapidly spreading infectious disease. New disease are emerging--such as AIDS, Ebola and SARS--and the prevalence of air travel means that localized diseases can be easily transported around the globe within hours. In addition, infectious diseases are becoming more difficult to treat and drug resistance in particular poses a serious threat to world health. "Since 1967, at least 39 new pathogens have been identified, including HIV, Ebola hemorrhagic fever, Marburg fever and SARS. Other centuries-old threats, such as pandemic influenza, malaria and tuberculosis, continue to pose a threat to health through a combination of mutation, rising resistance to antimicrobial medicines and weak health systems," warns the WHO.

- see the WHO report

Related Articles:
The challenges of infectious disease. Report
Study finds alarming spread of MRSA. Report

Press Release: AstraZeneca Makes $100M Research Investment In Boston

Maureen Martino — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 12:12:36 -0500

AstraZeneca Makes $100M Research Investment In Boston

Expansion Of R&D Boston To Create Up To 100 New Scientific Jobs

WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 22 -- AstraZeneca today announced a $100 million research investment to strategically boost work in the infectious disease area and continue its incremental growth in cancer research at its R&D center near Boston, Massachusetts.

The expansion of AstraZeneca's research facility will accommodate up to 100 additional researchers. They would join the more than 400 existing employees who are focused on discovering treatments for infectious diseases and cancer.

"This investment will significantly boost our research capabilities in two critical areas of medical need, and two areas where we have tremendous heritage," said David Brennan, Chief Executive Officer of AstraZeneca. "It will provide additional resources for our scientists who are tackling more complex diseases than ever before, as they work towards our ultimate goal of giving people hope for a healthier future."

Adds Jan Lundberg, Executive Vice President, AstraZeneca Global Discovery Research, "Infectious disease is becoming more prevalent and problematic to patients and healthcare providers, placing a heavy burden on our healthcare systems. With our expanded presence in Boston, our scientists will be better equipped to discover and develop novel medicines to address important areas of unmet need."

The World Health Organization figures show that 41 percent of the global disease burden is due to infection. Outside the European Union and US, the infectious disease burden is greater than the total of all other therapy areas combined. Meanwhile, there has been a worldwide decline in the delivery of new antibiotics -- only 10 new antibacterials have been introduced since 1998, of which two were truly novel. Resistance to currently available antibacterials continues to increase and represents a clear danger to patients and public health globally. AstraZeneca is committed to providing much needed new antibacterial agents for worldwide use.

Construction of the 132,000 square foot facility will begin at the Waltham, Mass. site during the first quarter of 2007 with scheduled completion by mid 2009. Upon completion, the total size of the AstraZeneca research facility will be 382,000 square feet. AstraZeneca first established a research presence in Boston in 1995, ahead of many competitors. In 2000, the company opened their state-of-the-art research facility in Waltham where it has continued to invest and expand, growing from 170,000 square feet to the current 250,000 square foot facility.

Since the opening of AstraZeneca R&D Boston, scientists there have discovered three potential drugs that are under development to treat different cancers including breast, ovarian, thyroid and prostate cancer, and two novel- class candidate drugs to potentially treat serious skin infections, serious cases of chronic bronchitis and serious pneumonias.

AstraZeneca believes Boston gives the company access to the leading scientific talent, potential partners and collaborators, and emerging science in a worldwide biotechnology hub.

AstraZeneca is a major international healthcare business engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of healthcare services. It is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies with healthcare sales of $23.95 billion and leading positions in sales of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory, oncology and infection products. AstraZeneca is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (Global) as well as the FTSE4Good Index.

Press Release: MGI PHARMA Says Saforis Meets Main Goal In Late-Stage Trial

Maureen Martino — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 09:12:44 -0500

MGI PHARMA Says Saforis Meets Main Goal In Late-Stage Trial

MINNEAPOLIS -- MGI PHARMA, INC., a biopharmaceutical company focused in oncology and acute care, today announced publication of data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial of Saforis(TM) (glutamine) Powder in UpTec(TM) for Oral Suspension in the journal Cancer. Results of this study, which were first presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2004 Annual Meeting, indicate that treatment with Saforis significantly reduced the incidence of severe oral mucositis when compared to placebo.

Saforis is an investigational therapy for the treatment and prevention of oral mucositis in patients receiving mucotoxic cancer therapy. Results of this phase 3 study formed the foundation for the Saforis New Drug Application (NDA). MGI PHARMA received an approvable letter for Saforis from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2006. Based on the FDA's request for an additional phase 3 trial, the Company is currently evaluating options to maximize the value of Saforis.

The pivotal phase 3 trial of Saforis was conducted in 326 patients with breast cancer who were receiving anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens. Patients in this trial were randomized to receive Saforis or placebo during their first chemotherapy cycle. After their first treatment cycle was complete, study participants were then crossed over to receive the alternate treatment during their next cycle of chemotherapy.

The primary endpoint of this trial, defined as a reduction in incidence and severity of oral mucositis, was met. Data from this study indicate that the incidence of World Health Organization (WHO) Grade 2 or higher oral mucositis was significantly reduced in Saforis-treated patients compared to patients who received placebo (38.7 percent versus 49.7 percent; p=0.026). Among those patients that experienced oral mucositis in this study, the incidence of severe oral mucositis (WHO Grade 3 or higher) was significantly lower in the Saforis arm compared with the placebo arm (1.2 percent versus 6.7 percent; p=0.005).

Overall, the data indicated that the safety profile of Saforis was comparable with that of placebo. The most frequently-observed adverse events considered possibly or probably related to the study drug were nausea and dry mouth. No patient experienced a serious adverse event while receiving Saforis.

About Oral Mucositis

Oral mucositis, a common side effect of mucotoxic cancer therapy, is characterized by painful ulcerations, redness and swelling in the mouth, which can cause difficulty swallowing and eating. It is estimated that approximately 35% of patients undergoing mucotoxic cancer therapy develop significant oral mucositis, which equates to more than 200,000 patients per year. In addition to being difficult for patients to manage, oral mucositis can interfere with a patient's ability to continue their cancer therapy and may lead to an increased risk of infection. It is also associated with higher healthcare expenses as a result of frequent opioid analgesics used to manage mucositis-related pain, emergency room visits due to complications from oral mucositis and prolonged hospital stays.

About Saforis(TM) (glutamine) Powder in UpTec(TM) For Oral Suspension

Saforis(TM) (glutamine) Powder in UpTec(TM) for Oral Suspension is a product candidate for the prevention and treatment of oral mucositis that occurs as a result of mucotoxic cancer therapy. Saforis has not been approved for marketing by the U.S. FDA or any other regulatory agency. An oral formulation of glutamine delivered via MGI PHARMA's proprietary UpTec(TM) system, Saforis is designed to deliver high concentrations of glutamine into damaged oral mucosa in order to prevent damage from mucotoxic cancer therapies and to promote healing. Although glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in human plasma, the availability of and demand for glutamine becomes critical when oral mucosa has been injured as a result of chemotherapy or radiation. By directly exposing the oral mucosa to increased concentrations of this important amino acid, Saforis may prevent damage to and promote healing of the lining of the mouth.

About MGI PHARMA

MGI PHARMA, INC. is a biopharmaceutical company focused in oncology and acute care that acquires, researches, develops and commercializes proprietary products that address the unmet needs of patients. MGI PHARMA markets Aloxi® (palonosetron hydrochloride) Injection, Dacogen(TM) (decitabine) for Injection and Gliadel® Wafer (polifeprosan 20 with carmustine implant) in the United States. MGI PHARMA directly markets its products in the U.S. and collaborates with partners to reach international markets. For more information, please visit www.mgipharma.com.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are typically preceded by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "will," "may," "should," or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of MGI PHARMA's future performance and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in these statements. Factors that might cause MGI PHARMA's results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the ability of MGI PHARMA to continue to increase sales of its marketed products, the ability to successfully commercialize Saforis(TM) / the ability for MGI PHARMA to respond to the FDA's approvable letter, the successful completion of clinical trials for the Company's other product candidates, and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in MGI PHARMA's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including its most recently filed Form 10-K and Form 10-Q. MGI PHARMA undertakes no duty to update any of these forward-looking statements.

Contact: MGI PHARMA, INC. Jennifer Davis, 212-332-4381 IR@mgipharma.com or Susan Silao, 212-332-4364

SPOTLIGHT: New bird flu strain emerges

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 19:01:33 -0500

The World Health Organization says that two Egyptians were infected by a new strain of bird flu that is resistant to Tamiflu. They don't know how the strain developed, but noted that it is worrying as Tamiflu remains the primary protection against the H5N1 version of avian flu. Report

Press Release: InterMune Achieves Manufacturing Milestone In HCV Collaboration With Roche

Maureen Martino — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 11:07:45 -0500

InterMune, Inc. Achieves Manufacturing Milestone In HCV Collaboration With Roche

BRISBANE, Calif., Jan. 9 -- InterMune, Inc. announced today that it successfully completed large-scale synthesis and delivery to its partner Roche of active pharmaceutical ingredient for hepatitis C virus (HCV) drug candidate ITMN-191, currently in a Phase 1a clinical trial. The milestone triggered a $10 million payment to InterMune from Roche as part of the companies' collaboration to develop and commercialize novel protease inhibitors for the treatment of HCV.

"InterMune has successfully executed key steps in the manufacture of a very sophisticated protease inhibitor molecule and transferred the materials to Roche for future studies," said Lawrence M. Blatt, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of InterMune. "We're pleased to have completed these crucial manufacturing-related activities and that our HCV clinical development program that is partnered with Roche is off to an excellent start."

About HCV and ITMN-191

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 3.9 million Americans (1.8%) have been infected with HCV, of whom 2.7 million are chronically infected. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that there are 170 million people worldwide afflicted with this disease. Currently available therapies are insufficient, creating a need for the development of novel therapeutic approaches. ITMN-191, the lead HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor compound from the InterMune discovery program, has demonstrated in preclinical studies its potential to be an important drug candidate because of its favorable cross resistance and potency profiles, as well as pharmacokinetic results that support the exploration of twice-daily oral dosing in HCV patients.

About InterMune

InterMune is a biotechnology company focused on the research, development and commercialization of innovative therapies in pulmonology and hepatology. InterMune has a pipeline portfolio addressing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. The pulmonology portfolio includes two Phase III programs evaluating possible therapeutic candidates for treatment of patients with IPF. The INSPIRE trial is evaluating Actimmune(R) (interferon gamma-1b) and the CAPACITY program is evaluating pirfenidone. The hepatology portfolio includes the HCV protease inhibitor compound ITMN-191 in Phase 1a, a second-generation HCV protease inhibitor program, and a research program evaluating a new target in hepatology. For additional information about InterMune and its R&D pipeline, please visit www.intermune.com.

Except for the historical information contained herein, this press release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation the statements related to the progress, future patient enrollment in and timing of InterMune's clinical trials and announcements of results thereof. All forward-looking statements and other information included in this press release are based on information available to InterMune as of the date hereof, and InterMune assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements or information. InterMune's actual results could differ materially from those described in InterMune's forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in detail under the heading 'Risk Factors' in InterMune's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 13, 2006 (the "Form 10-K") and updates included in the most recent Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 7, 2006 (the "Form 10-Q"), and other periodic reports filed with the SEC, including the following: (i) risks related to the development of our product and product candidates; (ii) risks related to timely patient enrollment and retention in clinical trials, including the use of third parties to conduct such clinical trials; (iii) risks related to achieving positive clinical trial results; (iv) risks related to the uncertain, lengthy and expensive clinical development and regulatory process, including having no unexpected safety, toxicology, clinical or other issues; (v) risks related to our collaboration agreement with Roche; and (vi) risks related to our intellectual property rights. The risks and other factors discussed above should be considered only in connection with the fully discussed risks and other factors discussed in detail in the Form 10-K and InterMune's other periodic reports filed with the SEC.

InterMune, Inc.
CONTACT: InterMune, Inc. Investor Relations Dept, +1-415-466-2242, orir@intermune.com; or media, Pam Lord of Porter Novelli Life Sciences,+1-619-849-6003, or plord@pnlifesciences.com, for InterMune, Inc.

ALSO NOTED: Catalyst prices IPO; Hollis-Eden raises money; and much more...

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 19:01:30 -0500

> Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners has priced its IPO of 3.4 million shares at $6 per share. Report

> Hollis-Eden Pharma is raising $26 million from the sale of shares. Report

> Medarex and PacMab struck a deal to market antibody-based drugs for blood cancer. Details of the deal were not released. Report

> Boehringer Ingelheim is touting three new anti-cancer therapies during its R&D press conference today. Release

> A group of Mayo Clinic-affiliated researchers studying arthritis drugs has publicly apologized for failing to fully disclose financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry. The researchers, who looked at cancer risks among patients taking Remicade, Enbrel and Humira for rheumatoid arthritis, published the results of their study last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Report

And Finally… The World Health Organization tapped the noted bird flu expert Dr. Margaret Chan, a Chinese national, to be its next director-general. Article

WHO calls for $10B in bird flu vaccine research

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 20:01:35 -0400

The World Health Organization is warning governments around the globe that they need to invest another $10 billion if they expect to be able to stockpile enough vaccines to ward off a global bird flu pandemic. The WHO's global plan also calls for a big increase in seasonal flu vaccine production in order to expand vaccine production capacity and long-term R&D efforts to build better pandemic vaccines.

WHO would like to see annual production of seasonal vaccines boosted from 350 million to 560 million doses. And several billion dollars in new investments in R&D would offer the world a reasonable chance of gaining new vaccine protection from bird flu in three to five years.

- here's the report from the Financial Times for more information

Related Articles:
Indonesia agrees to release bird flu data. Report
WHO study points to threats of avian flu. Report
The challenges of infectious disease. Report

Indonesia agrees to release bird flu data

Sun, 06 Aug 2006 20:01:39 -0400

Under heavy pressure from the World Health Organization and a host of researchers around the globe, the Indonesian government has agreed to open up access to the genetic codes of the H5N1 virus that has afflicted dozens of people in the country. Until now, the codes, or sequences, have been restricted to a handful of WHO labs. Researchers have been seeking access to the codes in order to study the way the virus may be mutating. Indonesian officials, who have seemed largely stumped when it comes to organizing a response to the threat, say they just found out that researchers have been clamoring for the data. Much of the world has been alarmed by news that at least one of these Indonesian strains has spread human-to-human in a family cluster, making it one of the most virulent strains to date.

- read the article on bird flu from The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)

WHO study points to threats of avian flu

Sun, 02 Jul 2006 20:01:38 -0400

A new study by the World Health Organization concludes that the number of avian flu cases is likely to spike again this winter as the average age of the victims who die of the virus slowly drops. Overall, bird flu killed 56 percent of the people who caught it, with most falling in the age range of 10 to 19. The virus is difficult to catch, the report adds, but notes that with the H5N1 virus widely spread in poultry, the chances of it mutating into a form that can trigger a human pandemic remains high. These trends reflect the development of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, which killed 2 percent of all the people who caught it and 5.7 percent of young people.

- read the article on avian flu from The New York Times

PLUS: A group of health experts meeting in Paris say that it could take 10 years to develop a vaccine that would protect the world's population from a bird flu pandemic. Report

Flu deaths trigger rise of biotech stocks

Wed, 24 May 2006 20:01:36 -0400

Recent headlines about a cluster of avian flu deaths in Indonesia could be felt among biotech companies working on the virus. A host of stocks, from Novavax to BioCryst to Generex and more, saw their stocks go up as investors reacted to the headlines by buying up shares. Analysts say that every time a new headline hits newspapers and the Internet, we're likely to experience gyrations on the stock market.

- here's the report from the Philadelphia Inquirer

PLUS: The World Health Organization is sending a team of experts to study the cluster. Article

ALSO: The feds say a host of avian flu drugs on the market are fake. Report

WHO recommends dual therapy for avian flu

Sun, 21 May 2006 20:01:37 -0400

The World Health Organization has suggested a dual-therapy approach to certain cases of avian flu that combines Tamiflu with one of the older antiviral drugs on the market: amantadine and rimantadin. Researchers say that the dual therapy could prevent the virus from replicating.

- here's the AP report for more on the dual therapy

ALSO: The director general of the World Health Organization, Dr. Lee Jong Wook, died this morning after emergency surgery for a blood clot. Report

ALSO NOTED: Esprit to collaborate with Novavax; Novartis touts Diovan data; and much more...

Thu, 18 May 2006 20:00:50 -0400

> Esprit Pharma has inked a deal to collaborate with Novavax on the development of a mid-stage testosterone therapy for women with sexual dysfunction. Report

> Novartis unveiled new data that demonstrates is blockbuster blood pressure drug Diovan also influences a key marker in inflammation linked to higher risk of heart attacks and strokes. Report

> The World Health Organization wants all drug developers to register all human clinical trials so that negative results can no longer be kept secret. Report

> Shares of Arena Pharmaceuticals jumped yesterday on news that the company had started a Phase II trial of its experimental therapy for preventing hardening of the arteries. Report

> Researchers say that adding dipyridamole to aspirin may help patients ward off a second cardiovascular event better than aspirin alone. Report

> The Justice Department has joined a whistleblower lawsuit against Abbott Laboratories and Hospira, which claims they conspired to inflate Medicare and Medicaid bills. The feds claim Abbott inflated its prices to price list groups by up to 1,000 percent over what it charged providers. The tactic allegedly was used to inflate reimbursements and expand market share. Report (Wall Street Journal sub. req.)

> Synthetic Blood International has treated the fourth patient in its eight-patient study of Oxycyte for traumatic brain injury. Release

> France's Flamel Technologies has received a $1 million milestone from GSK. Release

And Finally… Spring has arrived in Alaska, and federal wildlife authorities have begun testing migratory birds for the H5N1 virus. Report

Roche stockpiles Tamiflu for bird flu

Tue, 18 Apr 2006 20:01:35 -0400

Roche says that it has assembled a stockpile of 30 million capsules--three million treatment courses--of Tamiflu that is ready for the World Health Organization on request. Roche can deliver the drugs on demand to any international airport that is requested by WHO. The drugs are intended to slow the spread of a potential pandemic. Roche has been rapidly scaling up its production capability of Tamiflu, saying it can now produce up to 400 million treatment courses a year.

- read the MarketWatch report on the stockpile

ALSO: Indonesian health officials have confirmed the country's 24th death from bird flu while Sudan has announced that the virus has been confirmed in poultry and one man. Report

H5N1 flu virus splits into genetic subtypes

Mon, 20 Mar 2006 19:01:35 -0500

Researchers have determined that the H5N1 virus has evolved into two distinct genetic subtypes, making it harder to find a vaccine and increasing the odds of a pandemic. Researchers at the CDC have determined that the virus strain spreading in Indonesia is genetically distinct from the virus that has spread elsewhere in the world. But they add that neither subtype can pass easily among humans. People who have contracted the disease from birds have experienced a 50 percent mortality rate. The potential of a human pandemic has triggered intense research activity to find a vaccine to protect people.

- here's the article from the BBC

PLUS: The FDA has banned the use of anti-viral drugs in poultry in order to maintain their effectiveness for people. Report

ALSO: The World Health Organization is under growing pressure to share flu virus data with researchers. Report

AND: Pakistan has now confirmed the presence of the virus in poultry. Report

Researchers want easy access to bird flu data

Sun, 12 Mar 2006 19:01:37 -0500

An expert in the field of genetic sequencing is calling on researchers to publicly post data on the H5N1 bird flu viruses that are spreading around the globe. Currently the data is collected and kept confidential by a small group of labs that do testing for the World Health Organization. But Dr. Steven Salzberg, director of the Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at the University of Maryland, says the data should be readily available to everyone studying the virus. Italy's Dr. Ilaria Capua started the campaign after deciding to post her sequencing data in an open access base called Genbank. Others have noted that open access would also make it far easier to develop new diagnostic tests that are needed as new strains of the H5N1 virus appear. But some countries such as Turkey and Iraq have refused to allow data on the viruses that have appeared in their countries to be made public.

- read the article from The Globe and Mail

PLUS: The virus continued to spread around the globe, appearing in Myanmar, Afghanistan and Cameroon. Report

Avian flu virus appears to be mutating

Thu, 12 Jan 2006 19:01:36 -0500

British researchers say that the Turkish strain of avian flu virus that has killed at least two children has begun to mutate toward a more infectious structure that can be more easily passed among humans. "Research has indicated that the Hong Kong 2003 viruses preferred to bind to human cell receptors more than to avian (bird) receptors, and it is expected that the Turkish virus will also have this characteristic," said Sir John Skehel, director of the MRC's National Institute for Medical Research, and the World Health Organization. Those viruses, he added, appear very close to the Turkish strains as well as the strain found near Qinghai Lake in remote western China, an area where migratory birds routinely flock to and which may prove to be a critical point for the evolution of the virus and its spread around the globe.

Avian flu has infected 150 people and killed a confirmed 78 in various countries. Disease experts fear that it could mutate into a disease that will spread easily among humans, making it more like the 1918 flu virus that killed millions at the end of World War I. The news about avian flu has shaken the long dormant vaccine business, helping drive a consolidation of the business while spurring efforts to find new ways to develop and manufacture vaccines much more efficiently. It has also spurred governments around the world to stockpile any supplies of Tamiflu they can find.

- read this article from The Daily Mail

ALSO: New cases of bird flu in Turkey has prompted Roche to offer a bigger supply of Tamiflu to Asian countries. Report

Bush updates plan to combat avian flu pandemic

Mon, 31 Oct 2005 19:01:37 -0500

President Bush outlined a new plan to spend $7.1 billion to stockpile medications to combat an outbreak of human transmissible bird flu at a speech at the National Institutes of Health. The thrust of the plan is to prepare the country to identify an outbreak and contain it as swiftly as possible. Bush also discussed efforts to develop cell-based vaccines that can be produced much faster than today's vaccines and stockpile antiviral drugs like Tamiflu and Relenza. The country expects to have 4 million doses on hand by the end of the year, less than what the World Health Organization has recommended.

Whatever the country's plans, problems abound. Roche has made it clear that it is already back-ordered more than a year on Tamiflu, and researchers are concerned that there won't be enough antiviral medicine available to blunt the global onslaught of a possible pandemic. A pandemic can only be triggered by a mutated H5N1 virus, which may not be affected by antiviral drugs or any of the vaccines currently in development. The US is also already significantly behind countries like France and the UK, where planning efforts have been far more detailed.

- read this article from CNN for more information

SPOTLIGHT: Ranbaxy drugs re-approved

Thu, 11 Aug 2005 20:01:33 -0400

The World Health Organization has returned seven of Ranbaxy's drugs to its list of pre-qualified HIV medications. The drugs had been removed last year due to discrepancies in clinical test data. Story

ALSO NOTED: Nuvelo gains equity financing; First federal Vioxx trial scheduled; Anadys prices stock offering; and much more...

Thu, 04 Aug 2005 20:00:50 -0400

> Nuvelo has lined up an equity financing facility for up to $75 million. Report

> The first federal case on Vioxx is scheduled to start November 28 and focus on the death of a 53-year-old Florida man. Story

> San Diego-based Anadys has priced a stock offering of 5 million shares at $12.40 each. Release

> DOV Pharmaceutical of Hackensack, New Jersey, has begun a Phase III trial of bicifadine in the treatment of post-operative pain following vaginal hysterectomy. Release

> Sankyo has granted Schering-Plough marketing rights to the hypertension drug olmesartan in several Latin American countries. Release

And Finally... The World Health Organization is pressing China to find out why a bacterial disease in pigs has led to 38 deaths. Story