HIV/AIDS

In fresh blow, Roche shutters HIV research program

John Carroll — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:23:28 -0400

In another big blow to the AIDS research field, pharma giant Roche is dumping its R&D work in the field. The Financial Times reports that disappointing clinical results had persuaded Roche to shutter programs focused on two different ways to attack HIV. Roche has committed its research work to new programs that promise to offer a significant advance on existing therapies.

"While we had initially been hopeful about their potential, we now have concluded that none would provide a true incremental benefit for patients compared to medicines currently on the market," said Jenny Edge-Dallas, global leader for Roche's HIV Franchise.

- read the report from the Financial Times

Trimeris' shareholder calls for sale of developer

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:59:55 -0500

Once one of the Triangle's most promising drug developers, Trimeris' largest shareholder is demanding that the company drop just about everything and focus on selling itself. "We are not in favor of strategic transactions other than those involving a sale of the business," wrote HealthCor in a letter dated Feb. 1. To make that point as clear as possible, HealthCor is asking for two seats on the board of directors. Trimeris' AIDS drug Fuzeon had been touted as a big seller, but disappointing sales punctured the optimism.

- read the article from the Charlotte News & Observer

Related Articles:
Trimeris to axe R&D ops in '08 restructuring. Report
Novartis sues Trimeris for patent infringement. Report
Trimeris cuts jobs, focuses on revenue. Report

Offshoring clinical trials raises harsh criticisms

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:59:55 -0500

The rapid move toward offshoring drug trials has sparked controversies over the ethics involved in some of these studies, reports the Financial Times. Take for instance California's Viral Genetics, which was criticized for failing to adequately inform AIDS patients in China that they were taking part in a trial rather than taking a proven drug, or that a control arm was given a placebo rather than a standard therapy. Chinese authorities cleared the company of any wrongdoing, but the incident has been used to highlight the potential of abuse when drug companies undertake studies in countries that may not have the same kind of protections found in the U.S. and Europe. Lured by significantly lower costs and driven by a demand for more and better data, developers have been turning to India, China, Russia and Argentina in growing numbers.

- read the article from the Financial Times

ALSO: The Government Accountability Office is set to release a new report on the FDA's terrifically inadequate inspection record overseas. Report

Related Articles:
Forecast: BioPharma outsourcing will grow '08. Report
Chinese outsourcing poses new risks. Report
China now leads India in ongoing clinical trials. Report

ALSO NOTED: CEO: Novartis plans big restructuring; Time notes advances in stem cells, genetics; MabThera trials produce positiv

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 06:59:50 -0500

> In October, Novartis announced some job cuts and management changes. Now, CEO Daniel Vasella says he's working on a sweeping overhaul of his company's org chart. Report

> Time magazine has come out with its list of the top 10 scientific breakthroughs of the year, listing stem cell research and the genetic sequencing activities of J. Craig Venter at the top. Report

> Roche says two mid-stage trials for MabThera demonstrated positive results in leukemia. Release

> Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead plan to collaborate on the commercialization of the HIV drug Atripla in Europe, once it is approved. Report

> Carigent Therapeutics of New Haven has rounded up $2 million in its first round to help develop nanotechnology for drug delivery. Report

> Two investors have put up $3 million for CDI Bioscience. Report

> Biovest International has borrowed $8.5 million to fund research into an experimental cancer therapy. Report

> Millipore and Novozymes today announced an agreement to develop, market, and sell new, animal-free cell culture supplements for biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Release

> Pfizer cleared a big milestone in India today: The company became the first to get patent protection for an AIDS drug there. Report

> When it comes to government spending on medical research, the EU is far behind the U.S. And some of the leaders in the field say it's time to catch up--fast. Report

And Finally… Concerns about safety are growing as the biohazard research field booms. Report

Long delay seen for Merck's AIDS vaccine

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 06:59:57 -0500

The fallout over Merck's disastrous AIDS vaccine trial continues. There are new reports out that other developers have put their trials on hold while researchers and the FDA ponder the safety issues posed by Merck's program, which may have exposed trial participants to a heightened risk of contracting the virus. Merck is now going back to the trial participants to let them know about the extra danger they face.

"The recent Merck trial results were a big blow to the field," Dr. Gary Nabel, director of the National Institutes of Health's Vaccine Research Center in Bethesda, told the Baltimore Sun. Some now estimate that any new vaccine to protect people from AIDS is at least a decade away. But work in the field is continuing.

- see this report from The Baltimore Sun
- read the report on the trial participants

Relate Articles:
Merck's HIV vaccine linked to higher infections rate. Report
Merck halts study of "ineffective" HIV vaccine. Report
New advances made in gene therapy for HIV. Report
AIDS scientist backed on new vaccine approach. Report

SPOTLIGHT: Merck scraps AIDS vaccine

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:59:53 -0400

Over the weekend Merck announced that it was scrapping development of a promising AIDS vaccine after researchers concluded that it had failed a large international study. This was considered a major setback in the effort to develop an AIDS vaccine. In the trial, 24 volunteers receiving the vaccine contracted AIDS compared to 21 in the control group. Release

FDA panel endorses Merck's new AIDS drug

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 06:59:55 -0400

An FDA expert panel has provided an important endorsement for Merck's experimental AIDS drug Isentress. The twice-a-day pill is the first in a new class of AIDS drugs. If fully approved by the agency, it would be added to the currently available drug "cocktails" for use among patients who have developed resistance to the HIV drugs already on the market. But some of the experts voiced their concerns at the high rate of cancer developed by trial participants. They're worried that the same trends would apply to the broader population of patients taking the drug, and may warrant restricting the drug's use to patients who have failed multiple therapies.

- check out this release on the vote

Related Articles:
FDA: Merck's anti-HIV drug hopeful. Report
FDA priority review granted for Merck's Isentress. Report
Brazil threatens to break Merck AIDS drug copyright. Report

Tobira garners $31M to advance HIV drugs

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 06:59:54 -0400

Up-start biotech Tobira Therapeutics, which is developing HIV/AIDS drugs, has raised $31 million in its first round of venture capital. Domain Associates and Frazier Healthcare Ventures led the round for Tobira, which also announced that James Sapirstein has been named CEO. Tobira is getting started on its development work with therapies licensed in from Japan's Takeda. Tobira announced that it has licensed in TAK-652 and TAK-220, CCR5 antagonists that can be administered orally and bind CCR5 receptors to interfere with the entry of the HIV-1 virus into macrophages and activated T-cells by inhibiting fusion between viral and cellular membranes.

- read the report from SoCalTech

ALSO: Princeton, NJ based Celator Pharmaceuticals has closed a $10 million follow-on round of financing from Domain Associates, Quaker BioVentures, TL Ventures, Ventures West Management, GrowthWorks Capital, the Business Development Bank of Canada and Hearthstone Investment. Release

ALSO NOTED: Advanced Magnetics touts Phase III data; MicroIslet makes staffing changes; and much more...

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 06:59:50 -0400

> Advanced Magnetics has announced preliminary positive results from its fourth and final planned Phase III clinical trial of ferumoxytol as an intravenous iron replacement therapeutic in chronic kidney disease patients. Release

> It's hard to decipher, but 'staffing changes' have been announced by MicroIslet in a new release. Release

> Depomed and Watson Pharmaceuticals have inked a deal to co-promote the extended-release version of Depomed's urinary tract infection treatment ProQuin. Release

And Finally… Roche's low-key recall of the AIDS drug Viracept has roiled the treatment of many of the world's poorest patients. Article

Altus loses orphan drug status

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 00:01:34 -0400

The FDA on Tuesday yanked Altus Pharmaceuticals' orphan drug designation for its experimental pancreatic insufficiency therapy, saying the number of patients with the condition exceeds the 200,000 mark required for an orphan drug. The drug--ALTU-135--is intended to treat a rare condition in which a person fails to develop the chemicals and enzymes needed to absorb food. Altus officials say they may consult with the agency about refilling an application.

"We believe that only a subset of patients with HIV/AIDs has fat malabsorbtion due to pancreatic insufficiency and that our original filing was intended to be within the 200,000 person limit for this disease condition, however, the FDA concluded otherwise," Altus said.

- read the AP report for more info

Related Articles:
Altus inks $140M pact for human growth hormone. Report
Altus stock plunges on clinical trial delay. Report

GE negotiating for Abbott diagnostics unit

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 19:01:37 -0500

Several news reports have surfaced that General Electric is close to a deal to buy the diagnostics unit of Abbott Laboratories for about $5 billion. A deal would greatly increase the size of GE's healthcare business, which has been focused on expanding its presence in IT as well as molecular diagnostics.

- read the AP's report on the talks

Related Articles:
JPMorgan, GE make healthcare acquisitions. Report
Abbott documents reveal plan to boost AIDS drug sales. Report

Press Release: Sequoia Pharmaceuticals Raises $35M In Series C Financing

Maureen Martino — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 11:11:42 -0500

Sequoia Pharmaceuticals Raises $35M In Series C Financing

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Jan. 8 -- Sequoia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced today that it has raised $35 million in a Series C financing that will be used to further develop its pipeline candidates for the treatment of drug-resistant HIV infections, including the company's two lead clinical candidates, an HIV protease inhibitor as well as a novel therapeutic agent: a Pharmacokinetic Enhancer. The Wellcome Trust led the round of financing and was joined by other existing investors including Healthcare Venture, Sofinnova Partners, and Aberdare Ventures as well as new investor, MedImmune Ventures, Inc. As a result, Julie Eskay-Eagle of Wellcome Trust and Wayne T. Hockmeyer, Ph.D., President of MedImmune Ventures and Chairman of the Board, former CEO and founder of MedImmune, Inc., join the Sequoia board.

"We are delighted to have the continued endorsement of our current investors, led by Wellcome Trust, as well as to have a new investor in MedImmune Ventures in this round of financing," said Cindy Collins, President & CEO, Sequoia Pharmaceuticals. "The proceeds from this Series C financing enable us to further advance the development of our drug candidates. Sequoia is anticipating sponsoring two clinical trials beginning in early 2007." Julie Eskay-Eagle, who represents The Wellcome Trust, says, "Wellcome is very pleased to continue supporting Sequoia's breakthrough discoveries in HIV therapy and other viral diseases as these are aligned with the Trust's mission to improve human health, as well as its commitment to fund outstanding health care investment opportunities."

About Sequoia:

Sequoia Pharmaceuticals discovers and develops revolutionary new treatments, primarily for viral diseases including HIV/AIDS and HCV-induced hepatitis with a focus on the growing global problem of drug-resistant infectious diseases. Although most drugs are likely to become less effective over time due to the emergence of drug-resistant mutations, Sequoia's drugs are expected to overcome that critical deficiency.

Sequoia Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
CONTACT: Gary Altman, PhD, of Sequoia Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,+1-301-514-5286 or gary@sequoiapharma.com

Press Release: pSivida Limited Signs Drug Delivery Licensing Agreement With Faber Research

Maureen Martino — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 11:04:08 -0500

pSivida Limited Signs Drug Delivery Licensing Agreement With Faber Research; Payments Totalling US $990K

BOSTON & PERTH, Australia -- Global bio-nanotech company pSivida Limited today announced it has entered into a licensing agreement with US-based Faber Research LLC (Faber) to develop pSivida's proprietary Durasert(TM), Zanisert(TM) and Co-Drug(TM) drug delivery technologies for infectious diseases and diseases of the ear.

This announcement follows an announcement on December 26, 2006 that pSivida entered into an exclusive negotiation period with a major global pharmaceutical company to acquire a worldwide, royalty bearing license to make, use and sell products using pSivida's drug delivery technologies. The pharmaceutical company will make payments totalling US$990k (AU$1.3m) to pSivida for the right to exclusively negotiate a licensing agreement with the Company for a period of three months and to fund the cost of a preclinical study. The commencement of licensing negotiations follows a 12 month evaluation of pSivida's technologies by the large global pharmaceutical company.

Under the terms of the Faber license, Faber receives exclusive rights to pSivida's technologies for diseases of the ear and for five specific infectious diseases, namely malaria, HIV/AIDS, influenza, tuberculosis, and osteomyelitis. All costs of development will be born by Faber and its operating company Auritec Pharmaceuticals Inc (Auritec) and pSivida will receive royalties and milestone payments.

In addition, pSivida has granted Faber co-exclusive rights to the Durasert(TM), Zanisert(TM) and Co-Drug(TM) drug delivery technologies for other infectious diseases. Under this arrangement pSivida and Faber can elect to convert their co-exclusive rights to exclusive rights for a specific infectious disease indication(s). pSivida believes this maximizes the potential to commercialize these technologies in the development of novel anti-infective drugs, a market that reached (a)US$44 billion in 2005.

pSivida's Durasert(TM) controlled release technology is already validated in that it forms the basis of the company's ophthalmic drug delivery products, Retisert(TM), which is FDA approved, and Medidur(TM), which is currently in Phase III clinical trials.

Auritec has developed novel approaches to extended release drug delivery with implications for indications including: HIV microbicides, the treatment of malaria and the prevention of pandemic influenza. Auritec also has an active program for the delivery of drugs to the inner ear.

Dr. Roger Brimblecombe, Chairman and CEO at pSivida said, "We believe this represents a significant opportunity for our drug delivery technologies to be exploited in another therapeutic area - that of infectious diseases and it will be done at no direct cost to us."

Dr. Thomas J Smith, MD, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Auritec said, "We look forward to the opportunities for synergies between our companies in the treatment of infectious diseases."

Dr William H. Slattery, MD, Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology at the University of Southern California, and Director of Otology Research at Auritec said, "The ability to utilize pSivida's drug delivery technologies will accelerate our otology program significantly."

Faber Research LLC and Auritec Pharmaceuticals

Faber is the intellectual property holding company for Auritec, a private company based in Pasadena, California, specializing in innovative, extended release drug delivery systems. Auritec was co-founded by Dr. Thomas J Smith, MD, who was previously Chairman and co-founder of Control Delivery Systems, Inc., the Boston, MA. based drug delivery company pSivida acquired in January 2006.

(a) CHA Advances Reports, 2006

NOTES TO EDITORS:

pSivida is a global bio-nanotech company committed to the biomedical sector and the development of drug delivery products. pSivida has developed proprietary drug delivery technology which it had previously referred to as its AEON technology. pSivida now has identified two somewhat distinct avenues for such technology: non-biodegradable implants for focused drug delivery (Durasert(TM)) and biodegradable implants for focused drug delivery (Zanisert(TM)).

Retisert(TM) is FDA approved for the treatment of uveitis. Vitrasert® is FDA approved for the treatment of AIDS-related CMV Retinitis. Bausch & Lomb own the trademarks Vitrasert® and Retisert(TM). pSivida has licensed the technologies underlying both of these products to Bausch & Lomb. The technology underlying Medidur(TM) for diabetic macular edema is licensed to Alimera Sciences and is in Phase III clinical trials.

pSivida owns the rights to develop and commercialize a modified form of silicon (porosified or nano-structured silicon) known as BioSilicon(TM), which has applications in drug delivery, wound healing, orthopedics, and tissue engineering. pSivida's subsidiary, AION Diagnostics Limited is developing diagnostic products and the subsidiary pSiNutria is developing food technology products both using BioSilicon(TM).

pSivida's intellectual property portfolio consists of 76 patent families, 95 granted patents, including patents accepted for issuance, and over 300 patent applications. pSivida conducts its operations from offices and facilities near Boston in the United States, Malvern in the United Kingdom, Perth in Australia and Singapore.

pSivida is listed on NASDAQ (PSDV), the Australian Stock Exchange (PSD) and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on the XETRA system (German Symbol: PSI. Securities Code (WKN) 358705). pSivida is a founding member of the NASDAQ Health Care Index and the Merrill Lynch Nanotechnology Index.

This document contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties including with respect to Faber's development of pSivida's technologies for infectious diseases and disease of the ear; the major global pharma's acquiring a license to pSivida's drug delivery technology; the potential signing of definitive agreements with Nordic on the terms described; the amount of pSivida's portion of the costs to develop Medidur(TM) for DME; the potential size of certain markets; and potential products, applications and regulatory approvals. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable at this time, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements due to many important factors including:

The failure of Faber to develop pSivida's drug delivery technologies for infectious diseases and diseases of the ear; failure of the election to convert co-exclusive rights to exclusive rights to maximize the potential to commercialize pSivida's technologies in the development of novel anti-infective drugs; inability of any products developed under the license to Faber to penetrate the novel anti-infective drug market; failure of novel anti-infective drug market to continue to remain at US$44 billion; failure of Auritec's novel approaches to extended release drug delivery to have implications for indications including; HIV microbicides, the treatment of malaria and the prevention of pandemic influenza; failure of Auritec to continue its active program for the delivery of drugs to the inner ear; the failure of the company to successfully negotiate and sign a license agreement with the major global pharma on advantageous terms or at all; failure of the ongoing evaluation with the major global pharma to produce favorable results; failure of the focus of the preclinical study to be in a very significant product opportunity; failure of the company to successfully close the transaction with Nordic contemplated by the MOUs with Nordic; the failure of the Company to obtain the requisite shareholder approvals to complete the Nordic transactions; failure of pSivida's share of Medidur(TM) development costs to be no more than US$22m; failure of the results of the Retisert(TM) for DME trial to be a good indicator of the results of pSivida's ongoing Phase III Medidur(TM) for DME trial; failure of the Medidur(TM) trials in DME to show a very similar improvement in visual acuity and diabetic retinopathy severity score as Retisert(TM) for DME; failure of Medidur(TM) to release fluocinolone acetonide at the same rate as Retisert(TM); our inability to recruit patients for the Phase III Medidur(TM) for DME trial; our inability to raise additional funds at favorable terms or any terms; our inability to repay the amended notes and new convertible notes; our inability to develop proposed products, including without limitation, in the drug delivery, wound healing, orthopaedics, and tissue engineering, diagnostics and food technology fields; failure of our evaluation agreements to produce favorable results and/or result in license agreements; failure to develop applications for BioSilicon(TM) due to regulatory, scientific or other issues; failure to complete negotiations for new centers for the BrachySil(TM) Phase IIb clinical trial for inoperable primary liver cancer; failure of our discussions with the FDA for BrachySil(TM) to continue or to lead to FDA approval; failure of the BrachySil(TM) Phase IIb clinical trial for inoperable primary liver cancer to determine the optimal dose, provide key safety data or support future pivotal efficacy trials or product registration or approval; failure of the BrachySil(TM) primary liver program that is in Phase IIb clinical trials to provide a valuable platform for the development and commercialization of BrachySil(TM) for pancreatic cancer and other indications; failure of the findings of the pancreatic cancer Phase IIa trial to provide a platform for further multicenter efficacy and safety trials; and failure of there to be optimization and standardization between our two pancreatic cancer study centers. Other reasons are contained in cautionary statements in the Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, under Item 3.D, "Risk Factors" therein. We do not undertake to update any oral or written forward-looking statements that may be made by or on behalf of pSivida.

Contact: pSivida Limited Brian Leedman, + 61 412 281 780 Director of Investor Relations brianl@psivida.com or Martin E. Janis & Company, Inc US Public Relations Beverly Jedynak, 312-943-1100 ext. 12 President bjedynak@janispr.com or Accent Marketing Limited European Public Relations Eva Reuter, +49 (254) 393 0740 e.reuter@e-reuter-ir.com or For Auritec Auritec Pharmaceuticals Gary Ransom, 626-376-4070 Vice-President Corporate Development gransom@auriecpharma.com www.auritecpharma.com or Oak Crest Institute of Science US Public Relations Sayuri D. Hanna, 626-817-0886 s.hanna@oak-crest.org

Abbott documents reveal plan to boost AIDS drug sales

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 19:01:37 -0500

The Wall Street Journal has a story revealing internal Abbott documents that reviewed its strategy to boost sales of Kaletra, its new AIDS drug. According to the report, documents and e-mails illustrate how company executives reviewed ways to manipulate the market for the AIDS drug by boosting the price of Norvir, its older AIDS therapy that is included with other drugs in combinational therapies. Abbott execs considered pulling Norvir or selling it only in liquid form, which one exec noted tastes like 'someone else's vomit.' Abbott then decided to simply quintuple the price of Norvir, expecting that the furor over the sudden price hike - touted as a measure to accurately reflect the drug's real value - would fade as Kaletra sales rose.

Abbott's decision on Norvir three years ago has drawn an investigation by the Illinois Attorney General as well as civil suits. But Kaletra sales were pushed past a billion dollars a year after the Norvir price hike made Kaletra a cheaper alternative to a combination of Reyataz, made by Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Norvir.

- here's the article on Abbott from The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)

ALSO: Here are the documents cited in the story. Report

Related Articles:
AIDS activists target Abbott's Kaletra. Report
Europeans OK Kaletra tablets. Report

Genentech strikes $919M deal to buy Tanox

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 19:01:38 -0500

Welcome Genentech to the 2006 biotech buyout spree. The biogiant has agreed to pay $919 million to acquire Tanox--the first acquisition in its 30-year history. Genentech's primary aim was improving its returns on Xolair, a monoclonal antibody for allergic asthma that was developed by Genentech, Novartis and Tanox. Xolair earned $107 million in the U.S. in the third quarter. Tanox sparred with Genentech in an attempt to develop a similar therapy on its own, though it later agreed to shutter the program in exchange for $6.6 million. Genentech also obtains Tanox's pipeline, which includes an AIDS drug that prevents HIV from infecting the host. Shares of Novartis sank after the announcement as Genentech stands to gain Novartis' share of the Xolair profits.

Genentech is paying $20 a share for a stock that closed yesterday at $13.64. Analysts hailed the deal as new evidence for the hot buyout market for biotech companies. There have been seven buyout deals in the past two months, and investors are predicting that the hunger for acquisitions during a time of intense competition for promising therapies is far from sated.

- check out Genentech's press release on the deal
- here's an article on the acquisition from The Los Angeles Times
- see the The Wall Street Journal report (sub. req.)

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Gilead shares surge on $2.5B Myogen buyout. Report

2006 Mid-Atlantic Bio: The challenges of infectious disease

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:19:17 -0400

On the second day of the 2006 Mid-Atlantic Bio conference, Dr. Tony Fauci, director of the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), delivered a fascinating speech on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. He kicked off his talk with a quote from physician and anthropologist T. Aidan Cockburn. “We can look forward with confidence to a considerable degree of freedom from infectious diseases at a time not too far in the future. Indeed…it seems reasonable to anticipate that within some measurable time…all the major infections will have disappeared.”

Cockburn predicted the eventual eradication of infectious disease in 1963, just as Dr. Fauci was embarking on a career in the field. But fortunately for Fauci, Cockburn’s prediction couldn’t have been farther from the truth. What Cockburn didn’t take into account was that infectious disease never really abated in other countries and that disease would evolve in the U.S. In recent years we’ve seen the emergence and re-emergence of some of the most serious infectious diseases the world has ever know, including HIV/AIDS, bird flu, SARS, West Nile virus, malaria, and, most recently, extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis. These diseases have challenged scientists and health workers alike, but they’ve also opened up new opportunities for the healthcare industry to develop new methods of dealing with infectious disease.

HIV/AIDS, Fauci observed, is perfect example of an emerging disease. While we may not realize it, we’re currently living through one of the greatest health disasters in history: tens of millions have died of the disease and many more have been infected. But despite the high human cost, Fauci says the global effort to halt the disease stands as a testament to what can be achieved if health officials around the world support drugmakers in their quest for a cure. The sum total of antiviral drugs developed for HIV/AIDS is greater than the number of antiviral drugs created for all other viruses combined. This is no accident. Lawmakers and health officials gave the industry an incentive to develop these drugs which accounts for the wide variety of treatments available today. A robust financial commitment, more researchers and better infrastructure has led to understanding of the etiology and pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS. This, in turn, promotes faster drug development. Imagine if we were to put this much effort into other diseases.

Influenza, in all its forms, is the re-emerging disease we’re probably all most familiar with. Each year between 250,000 and 500,000 people die of the flu and if all flu deaths in history are added up, influenza emerges as the second worst pandemic in human history (behind the Bubonic Plague). Every year the virus mutates just enough to warrant a new vaccine. While those in poor health need the flu shot, most people have enough immunity to the flu that they can survive without it. But every once in a while the flu mutates so much that no one’s body has immunity to it. This happened three times in the 20th century and could happen again with the bird flu. In order to prevent a worldwide pandemic, Fauci says health officials should go about developing a H5N1 vaccine the same way they poured money and resources into HIV/AIDS research. He also noted updating our vaccine production technology is necessary for meeting the demand for new treatments

The deliberate disseminated infectious diseases like anthrax have posed threats to public health and caused concern among the general population. And in recent weeks, food-borne pathogens such as E. coli and botulism have caused several products to be pulled from supermarkets shelves. As Fauci notes, there will always be new threats that pose challenges that the industry must meet. The extraordinary capability of microbial pathogens to persist, emerge and re-emerge has been in a delicate balance with public health measures, biomedical research and technological advances. Neither man nor microbes will ever triumph over each other. But through new innovation in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries, health officials will improve their ability to prevent, diagnose and treat infectious disease. - Maureen

Mid-Atlantic BIO: The challenge of infectious disease

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 20:01:34 -0400

On the second day of the 2006 Mid-Atlantic Bio conference, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), delivered a fascinating speech on emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. In 1963 a noted physician and anthropologist predicted the eventual eradication of infectious disease but as Fauci noted, this prediction couldn't missed the mark. In recent years we've seen the emergence and re-emergence of some of the most serious infectious diseases the world has ever know, including HIV/AIDS, bird flu, SARS, West Nile virus, malaria, and, most recently, extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis. These diseases have challenged scientists and health workers alike, but they've also opened up new opportunities for the healthcare industry to develop new methods of dealing with infectious disease.

For more coverage of Fauci's speech:
- read the full report

Related Article:
On Tuesday, David Holveck, President of Johnson & Johnson Development Corporation (the VC arm of J&J) took the stage to deliver the keynote address of the conference. His speech focused on the changing environment the healthcare industry is facing and how the industry must adapt in order to thrive. Report

Rumor Mill: Schering-Plough considering BMS bid

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 20:01:38 -0400

The Star-Ledger is reporting that top officials at Schering-Plough are seriously considering making a bid to merge with the troubled Bristol-Myers Squibb. Fresh from ousting its CEO and general counsel in the wake of a fresh scandal generated by their bungled attempt at delaying a generic competitor, BMS quickly became the subject of speculation that it could become a takeover target. For Schering-Plough, a deal would give it a greatly expanded pipeline with cancer treatments and antiviral therapies for HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C. For BMS, it would offer an opportunity to hook up with Schering-Plough CEO Fred Hassan, who enjoys a solid reputation as one of the industry's leading turnaround experts.

- read the report on the discussions from The Washington Post

ALSO NOTED: FDA expands use of Plavix; Merck touts Fosamax data; and much more...

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 20:00:50 -0400

> The FDA has approved the use of Plavix for certain types of heart attacks. Report

> Merck is touting new data that shows Fosamax helped build bone density in the spines of volunteers using steroids to treat arthritis. Report

> GlaxoSmithKline dropped its bid to patent the AIDS drug Combid in Thailand and India after its move sparked protests on the parts of AIDS advocates. Report

> Poniard Pharmaceuticals has completed enrollment in a Phase II trial for small cell lung cancer. Release

And Finally… Researchers at Duke University Medical Center in Durham have used siRNAs to kill prostate cancer cells in mice. Article

Viread data points to role in HIV prevention

Sun, 13 Aug 2006 20:01:35 -0400

A new study of Viread in Africa demonstrated its effectiveness in preventing the transmission of HIV. The statistical difference between Viread and a placebo in preventing the spread of HIV was too small to prove compelling, but researchers say that given the results the drug may quickly become a key weapon in the fight against AIDS. The test involved 859 women in Africa, many of whom work as prostitutes--a high-risk group. Two of the women in the Viread group were infected during the trial compared to six in the placebo group. Researchers note that counseling women on the use of condoms and prevention reduced the average rate of infection in the placebo group 50 percent.

- here's the report on Viread from Medical News Today

PLUS: Bill Gates, who has already contributed hundreds of millions of dollars to the field, says he plans to increase the amount he's giving for prevention research. But he also wants governments and others to step up their contributions as well. Report