2008 Developing World Disease R&D Status Report Shows Growing Industry Effort On "Most Neglected" Diseases
The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) has published a new edition of its Status Report on Pharmaceutical Industry R&D for Diseases of the Developing World(1). The new report shows that the number of medicine and vaccine projects undertaken by companies with product development partnerships or on their own has increased 67, up from 58 in November 2007.

Scientists Discover New Species Of Ebola Virus
Scientists report the discovery of a new species of Ebola virus, provisionally named Bundibugyo ebolavirus, November 21 in the open-access journal PLoS Pathogens. The virus, which was responsible for a hemorrhagic fever outbreak in western Uganda in 2007, has been characterized by a team of researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia the Uganda Virus Research Institute; the Uganda Ministry of Health; and Columbia University.

Long-Term Antibiotics Reduce COPD Exacerbations, Raise Questions
Long-term use of a macrolide antibiotic may reduce the frequency of exacerbations in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by as much as 35 percent, according to a London-based study. "Our results show a significant effect of low-dose macrolide therapy, reducing exacerbation frequency and severity with moderate to severe COPD," wrote lead author of the paper, Terence A. R. Seemungal, Ph.D., and Jadwiga Wedzicha, M.D.

Lytix Presents LTX-109 Anti-Microbial Data At ICAAC
The Scandinavian-based drug development company Lytix Biopharma has announced results of studies on its lead antimicrobial candidate LTX-109. Presented at ICAAC in Washington, DC, the studies showed that the novel lytic peptidomimetic has an ultra-rapid bacteriocidal effect, significantly better towards killing Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes than marketed gold standard drugs.

Common Cold Virus Came From Birds
A virus that causes cold-like symptoms in humans originated in birds and may have crossed the species barrier around 200 years ago, according to an article published in the December issue of the Journal of General Virology. Scientists hope their findings will help us understand how potentially deadly viruses emerge in humans. "Human metapneumovirus may be the second most common cause of lower respiratory infection in young children.

Adults Need Vaccines Too
Many adults are unaware of the potential risks of vaccine-preventable diseases, the need for booster doses to maintain maximum protection, and the availability of newer vaccines. The American College of Physicians (ACP) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) have released a joint statement on the importance of adult vaccination against an increasing number of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Brown Physicists Explain How Bacteria Swim
Imagine yourself swimming in a pool: It's the movement of your arms and legs, not the viscosity of the water, that mostly dictates the speed and direction that you swim. For tiny organisms, the situation is different. Microbes' speed and direction are subjected more to the physical vagaries of the fluid around them. "For bacteria to swim in water," explained Jay Tang, associate professor of physics at Brown University, "it's like us trying to swim through honey.

FDA Advisory Committee Provides Opinion On Oritavancin For The Treatment Of Complicated Skin And Skin Structure Infections
Targanta Therapeutics Corporation (Nasdaq: TARG) today announced that oritavancin, the Company's investigational antibiotic therapy for the treatment of complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) caused by gram-positive pathogens, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), received a mixed review from the United States Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Anti-Infective Drugs Advisory Committee.

News From The American Chemical Society, Nov. 19, 2008
Microcapsules act as "roach motel" to kill harmful bacteria Researchers in New Mexico and Florida are reporting development of microscopic particles that act as chemical booby traps for bacteria. The traps attract and kill up to 95 percent of nearby bacteria, including microbes responsible for worrisome hospital-based infections. The scientists describe their discovery as micro-sized "roach motels" for harmful bacteria.

Reducing African Meningitis Epidemics With The Help Of UCAR Weather Forecasts
The University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), working with an international team of health and weather organizations, is launching a project this month to provide long-term weather forecasts to medical officials in Africa to help reduce outbreaks of meningitis. The forecasts will enable local health providers to target vaccination programs more effectively for this deadly disease, which is correlated with dry and dusty conditions.

Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections - Enrollment Begins In Exploratory Phase II Trial Of NovaBay's Lead Aganocide Compound, NVC-422
NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AMEX: NBY), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing non-antibiotic, anti-infective compounds for the treatment or prevention of a wide range of bacterial, fungal and viral infections, announced today that it has commenced patient enrollment in a Phase II Exploratory Study of hospitalized patients who are catheterized and have bacteriuria.

New Study Reaffirms Quick-Med's NIMBUS(R) Technology Poses No Threat Of Bacterial Resistance
Quick-Med Technologies, Inc. announced today that Dr. Albina Mikhaylova, Senior Scientist at Quick-Med, presented conclusive evidence at the Symposium on Skin and Wound Care that the Company's patented NIMBUS® antimicrobial technology poses no threat of bacterial resistance.

Despite Warm Temperatures, Arizona Confirms First Flu Case Of The Season
Although Valley temperatures continue to loom into the mid 80's this week, the flu is right on schedule. Today, the Arizona Department of Health Services confirms the state's first case of influenza, officially kicking off the 2008-2009 flu season. The patient is an infant from Maricopa County who is now recovering at home. "We usually expect to see our first case by Thanksgiving, so this comes as no surprise," said Will Humble, ADHS Deputy Director.

Common Virus Helps Quality Of Life For Sarcoma Patients Says Cancer Expert
New data shows that some sarcoma patients are benefiting from treatment with REOLYSIN, developed from a harmless virus called the reovirus that most people are exposed to at some point in their lives. Dr. Monica Mita of the Institute of Drug Development (IDD), the Cancer Therapy and Research Center at the University of Texas Health Science Center, (UTHSC), San Antonio, Texas, delivered her findings at both the Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) annual meeting in London, U.

New U.S. Army Mosquito Control Technology Licensed For Deployment Against Dengue
A novel, patented mosquito-killing technology developed by U.S. Army researchers under a long-term, joint-development agreement between the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , the United States Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, and the U.S.

Critical Gap In Global Health Covered By Primate Disease Field Guide
Why are so many infectious diseases jumping from animals to humans? Why do we have so little capacity to predict epidemics, or avoid them? Some answers, and possible solutions, can be found in the first trench-to-bench guide to wild primate infectious diseases, published Nov. 17 in the Yearbook of Physical Anthropology. "There is growing awareness that the majority of emerging pathogens in the world are coming from wildlife.

Gates Foundation Awards Grant For Development Of A Database To Accelerate Discovery Of New Therapies Against Tuberculosis
Collaborative Drug Discovery, Inc. (CDD) today announced that it has received a grant for $1,896,923 from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop a collaborative database that will enable scientists to archive, mine, and selectively collaborate around their research data to discover new cures for tuberculosis (TB). The TB bacillus infects approximately one third of the world's population and the disease kills over 1.5 million people every year.

48% Of Nurses Injured By Needles While 34% Fear Contracting HIV Or Hepatitis
Nearly half of all nurses (48%) have been stuck by a needle that had previously been used on a patient, according to a new report from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). The report also shows that a third (34%) feel at risk of contracting diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C following such injuries. The results are published in the RCN's Needlestick Injury in 2008 report which will be launched to MPs, Peers and stakeholders at the House of Commons later today.

Mothers See Flu As Serious Health Threat, But Often Don't Get Their Families Vaccinated
While 78 percent of mothers in the United States consider influenza a severe and potentially life-threatening disease that can strike anyone, only half say it is likely their families will get vaccinated this season, according to a new survey from the American Lung Association.

Future Generation Of Antibiotic Users To Be Taught The Dangers Of Inappropriate Prescribing
Children are to be taught in schools about prudent antibiotic use and the importance of good hygiene as part of a new campaign to control the spread of antibiotic resistant infections. Children are to be taught in schools about prudent antibiotic use and the importance of good hygiene as part of a new campaign to control the spread of antibiotic resistant infections.

Leaflet For Patients To Coincide With European Antibiotic Awareness Day Unveiled By The Welsh Assembly Government
A new leaflet for patients has been unveiled by the Welsh Assembly Government to reduce the inappropriate use of antibiotics in Wales. It comes as a major new report from the National Public Health Service for Wales (NPHS) shows that some infections are becoming more resistant to treatment - an issue faced by healthcare systems across the world.

Avoid Hospital Visits If You Have Had Diarrhea And Vomiting Symptoms During Last 48 Hours, Say Bristol Hospitals, England
Hospitals across Bristol are reminding people to avoid visiting if they have had symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting in the previous 48 hours. Over the past few weeks, cases of Norovirus - the winter vomiting virus - have increased in the community. Norovirus is brought into hospitals from the local community and is easily spread by contact with people suffering diarrhoea and vomiting who may have contaminated the environment.

42 Top U.S. Scientists And Specialists Explore Cutting-Edge Innovations To Defend America From Dangerous Zoonotic Diseases
Forty-two leading U. S. scientists and specialists gathered at a November national forum to consider cutting-edge innovations that may defend America's public health and national economy from outbreaks of dangerous zoonotic diseases, the FAZD Center announced. Among those innovations: -- A "Doc in a Box" on every American kitchen table that detects highly contagious and dangerous zoonotic diseases in people before symptoms appear.

First 3-D Glimpse Of Bacterial Cell-Wall Architecture
The bacterial cell wall that is the target of potent antibiotics such as penicillin is actually made up of a thin single layer of carbohydrate chains, linked together by peptides, which wrap around the bacterium like a belt around a person, according to research conducted by scientists at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Cyclosporin Human Neuroprotection Validated By Maas Biolab Scientists
Maas Biolab researchers CSO Eskil Elmér, M.D., Ph.D. and neuroscientist Magnus Hansson, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues have for the first time ever demonstrated the mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT) or "megapore" occurs in viable adult human neuron mitochondria and the ability of cyclosporin-A to block its formation. These effects had previously been well characterized in animal neuroprotection studies and have now been validated in human brain tissue.