Vaccination News

Panacea has also entered into an agreement to in-license Cambridge's technology for pentavalent and other vaccines used in the treatment of diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and a virulent form of influenza.

Continue reading "Panacea takes stake in Cambridge's new vaccine biz" »

LONDON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Biotech group Allergy Therapeutics Plc <AGY.L> said on Thursday a Phase IIa study of its orally delivered hay fever vaccine showed it to be safe and effective.

The company said it was now confident that it can go ahead and develop the vaccine, which could be the first ever oral alternative to existing injectable treatments.

"These results provide the first indication that we have the technology to deliver a painless, injection-free potentially curative allergy treatment," Chief Executive Keith Carter said.

Analysts at Bridgewell -- which has a buy rating on the stock -- said that the statement was "good news that could uniquely position the drug against its competitors".

© Reuters 2006

University of South Alabama - Beginning next fall all students must have proof of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccinations to attend the University.

"The student health center will be tracking it, and we will be holding up registration for those who have not provided verification," Beverly Kellen, practice director of Student Health, said.

In a step toward this new requirement, international students were required to submit MMR documentation as well as tuberculosis skin testing results this fall semester.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Patsy Covey said she believes the newly required immunizations are "more than justified."

Continue reading "Vaccination proof required to register beginning fall 2007" »

By Darren Schuettler BANGKOK (Reuters) - A vaccine against the killer H5N1 bird flu virus could be licensed for human use in a year, but when to use it is becoming a "tricky issue," a senior World Health Organization official said on Wednesday.

Drug companies are racing to find a cure for the avian influenza virus which has killed 154 people since 2003 and fanned fears of a global human pandemic. At least a dozen manufacturers have clinical trials underway or planned.

"We can expect that a year from now there would be vaccines against H5N1 influenza strains that would be licensed for human use," Marie-Paule Kieny, head of the WHO's Initiative for Vaccine Research, told reporters on the final day of a WHO vaccine conference in Bangkok.

Continue reading "When to use bird flu vaccine a "tricky issue"" »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new diagnostic tool called a gene chip can tell with a single test if a patient has malaria, Ebola, influenza or a bacterial infection, researchers said on Wednesday.

The so-called GreeneChip can quickly diagnose infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites, using tissue, blood, urine and stool, the international team of researchers report in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

So when a patient comes in with flu-like symptoms, such as fever, a sore throat, a cough and muscle aches, a doctor armed with such a chip can quickly tell if it is a dangerous strain of flu or a relatively harmless virus.

Continue reading "Is it flu or malaria? New disease test has answer" »

BOSTON -- Independent Third-Party Analysis by World's Leading Provider of Integrated Preclinical Support Services Confirms HepaLife’s PBS-1 Cells Are Free from Exogenous Agents, Bacteria and Fungi

HepaLife Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: HPLF) (FWB: HL1) (WKN: 500625) today announced confirmation that the Company’s patented ‘PBS-1’ cells, under development for avian influenza vaccines, are free of pathogens, diseases, bacteria, and potentially harmful viruses. Pathogen-free cells are critical for the rapid development of novel, cell-culture based vaccine production to help protect against the spread of influenza viruses among humans, including potentially the high pathogenicity H5N1 avian flu virus.

Continue reading "HepaLife’s Patented ‘PBS-1’ Cells for Avian Influenza Vaccine Achieve FDA’s Early Guidance Research Objective" »

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Influenza vaccination for pregnant women expecting to deliver during influenza season does not seem to reduce the occurrence of respiratory illness in their newborn infant, new research suggests.

Influenza vaccination is currently recommended for children between 6 and 23 months of age. Vaccination in younger children has proven unsuccessful because the vaccine does not stimulate much of an immune response at that age, according to the report in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

One solution to provide protection to these young infants might be to vaccinate the mother in hopes that protective antibodies would be passed to the developing baby while still in the womb. Whether this strategy actually helps prevent respiratory disease in the child is unclear.

Continue reading "Flu vaccination while pregnant does not help baby" »

Dynavax Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: DVAX) announced today positive results from a Phase 2 trial comparing two different vaccination schedules of HEPLISAV, its hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine. The primary endpoint is comparative seroprotection after the second dose.

The data was reported today in a poster at the Canadian Immunization Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada by Dr. Scott A. Halperin, Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology and Immunology at Dalhousie University and Head of Pediatric Infectious Disease at the Halifax-based IWK Health Center.

Continue reading "Dynavax's HEPLISAV(TM) Hepatitis B Vaccine Shows 100% Seroprotection Regardless Of Vaccination Schedule In Phase 2 Trial" »