Drug Week

HIV/AIDS Opportunistic Infection - Cryptococcal meningitis prophylaxis not needed after immune recovery

HIV/AIDS Opportunistic Infection - Sulfadiazine pharmacokinetics similar when given two or four times a day

HIV/AIDS Pathogenesis - T-cell subsets harboring HIV in vivo have implications for HIV pathogenesis

HIV/AIDS Therapy - Effects of ART on sCD27 expression elucidated

HIV/AIDS Therapy - Lopinavir pharmacokinetics evaluated during Kaletra treatment

HIV/AIDS Therapy - Novel assay enables ddATP monitoring in ddI-treated patients

HIV/AIDS Therapy - Saquinavir exposure enhanced in HIV patients with diarrhea or wasting syndrome

HIV/AIDS Tuberculosis - PZA pharmacokinetics elucidated in HIV-TB patients

HIV/AIDS Vaccine - HIV vaccine antibodies bind more poorly than natural infection antibodies

HIV/AIDS Vaccine - SIV promoter exchange creates strain that protects against viral challenge

HIV/AIDS Women's Health - Oral lesions in HIV-positive women reduced in HAART therapy

Healthcare & Politics - One West Virginia healthcare plan targets drug costs, uninsured

Healthcare Access - Europe, Central Asia countries pledge "universal access" to HIV/AIDS treatment by 2005

Hearing Disorder - Hearing impairment is complication of diabetes

Heart Disease Prevention - Group rallies to halt silent killer

Heart Failure - Epidemiology of HF with left ventricular systolic function reviewed

Heart Failure Therapy - Home peritoneal drainage feasible for heart failure patients

Heart Surgery - Autologous repair of supravalvar pulmonary stenosis feasible

Heart Transplantation - Donor spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage linked to poor outcome

Hematology - Hormone replacement therapy doesn't restore bone mass in thalassemic women

Hepatitis - Novel HEV strain identified in Namibia outbreak

Hepatitis B Vaccine - Hepatitis B vaccine induces higher antibody responses in newborns than adults

Hepatitis C Vaccine - DNA vaccine enhances Th1 immune response against hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C Virus - FDA issues approvable letter for ribavirin capsules

Hepatitis E Virus - Genetic changes and strain takeover mark HEV genotype variability in India

Hepatology - Liver-specific promoter directs potent therapeutic gene expression

Hereditary Emphysema - First trial completed evaluating nebulized recombinant alpha 1-antitrypsin

Herpes - FDA approves phase II clinical trials for herpes labialis treatment

Hodgkin Disease - As many as 95% of Hodgkin disease patients can be cured with modern therapy

Hodgkin Disease - Manufacturing agreement announced for monoclonal antibody product candidate

Hormone Replacement Therapy - New data lead NIH to halt active phase of one WHI study, begin follow-up

Hormone Therapy - Estrogen alone is risky as hormone treatment, too

Human Antithrombin - EMEA accepts MAA submission for review of ATryn

Human Hepatocytes - MultiCell Technologies hepatocytes introduced at three 2004 conferences

Huntington Disease - Glucocorticoid-induced kinase SGK inhibits mutant huntingtin toxicity

Hypertension - Basal transcription of rat AT_1A receptor gene characterized

Hypertension - Tempol ameliorates glomerular injury in Dahl salt-sensitive rats

Hypertension Risk Factor - Intrauterine fetal growth restriction alters factors affecting salt metabolism

Hypertension Therapy - Tempol lowers blood pressure but not vascular superoxide in DOCA-salt rats

Hypogonadism - Study: Testim improves symptoms of ED and low libido

Illegal Drugs - Las Vegas drug-related deaths on the rise

Illegal Drugs - Utah lawmakers pass meth lab cleanup bill

Immunization - Iowa Senate committees approve bills on blood donation, vaccinations

Immunization - Short supply of childhood meningitis drug

Immunization - West Virginia House subcommittee kills immunization bill

Immunology - Downregulation of MHC class I linked to viral immune evasion proteins

Immunology - IL-27 may play role in Th1 response to granulomatous disease

Immunology - Innate immune response relies on selectins and integrins for tumor suppression

Immunology - Mice lacking GTPase RhoG exhibit mildly increased IgG immune response

Immunology - Mutations in hepatitis B core epitopes alter the way CD4⁺ T cells act

Immunology - Novel whole blood assay facilitates DC monitoring

Immunology - The Amaxa nucleofection system delivers genes into human natural killer cells

Inflammatory Disorders - Study reviews new approach to control inflammation using melanocortin receptors

Influenza Testing - FDA grants CLIA-waived status to QuickVue Influenza A+B Test

Influenza Vaccine - Recombinant influenza virus neuraminidase is protective in mice

Information Technology - Electronic prescriptions application geared to reduce prescription errors

Information Technology - Pharmaceutical company joins web-based retail pharmacy network

Information Technology - Questra device management software designed for drug development market

Insulin - Positive opinion on Levemir received from E.U. Commission

Insulin Delivery - Oral delivery system for insulin administration designed

Kaposi Sarcoma - KSHV K1 protein activates Akt cell survival pathway

Kennedy Disease - Androgen receptor glutamine expansion reduces its suppression ability

Labor Management - Pharmaceutical company concludes new union agreement

Legal Issues - Drug that suppresses lactation blamed in woman's death

Legal Issues - Feds review complaints that Chiron hinders research

Legislative Issues - Iowa Senate committee approves prescription drug hotline bill

Legislative Issues - New healthcare measures signed into law in New Mexico

Leukemia - Clofarabine is active in children with advanced leukemia

Leukemia - Nipent European marketing authorizations acquired

Leukemia - Role of hematopoietic stem cells in CML reviewed

Leukemia - Totally implantable subcutaneous port system can cause extensive bleeding

Liver Disease - Patients with hepatitis B virus genotype C experience delayed seroconversion

Liver Transplant - Civacir phase I/II trial completed, preliminary results encouraging

Low Back Pain - Chronic low back pain can be diagnosed using the reductionist approach

Lung Cancer - Data published on GVAX lung cancer vaccine

Lung Cancer - Standard management policies for SCLC in British Columbia are effective

Lung Cancer - Two new studies of Abraxane initiated in chemotherapy-naive patients

Lyme Disease - Gamma interferon neutralization of augments severe Lyme arthritis

Lymphoma - Chlorambucil can be toxic to the central nervous system

Lymphoma - Combined regimen is effective and minimally toxic in non-Hodgkins lymphoma

Lymphoma - Researchers find direct link between CBP gene and lymphoma

Lymphoma Therapy - Lymphocyte dose correlated with survival after auto-SCT in NHL patients

Lymphoma Therapy - Stem-cell transplant resolves pediatric hepatosplenic gammadelta T-cell lymphoma

Malaria -  Plasmodium reichenowi reticulocyte binding-like genes exhibit rapid evolution

Malaria - Collaboration to discover novel antimalarial compounds

Malaria - Malarex validated again as an antimalarial agent

Malaria Diagnostics - Thrombocytopenia indicates malaria in febrile patients

Malaria Drug Resistance - Development of artemether resistance slow and reversible in mice

Malaria Pathogenesis -  Plasmodium falciparum RAMA protein characterized

Malaria Risk Factor - IL-1 gene variants have limited effect on malaria susceptibility

Malaria Therapy - Amodiaquine/sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine regimen cost-effective in Africa

Malaria Therapy - New venture explores potential of drug compound

Malaria Vaccine - Cellular immunity induced by malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS02, in adults in Gambia

Malaria Vaccine - Malaria-infected red blood cell antigens show promise as vaccine candidates

Market Analysis - Biogeneric approval on its way?

Market Analysis - Study looks at new growth strategies for biopharmaceutical companies

Measles Vaccine - Expanding measles vaccination program in Zambia would save lives

Medical Marijuana - Lawmakers consider merits of legalizing medical marijuana

Medicare - Another survey confirms seniors are confused about new prescription drug law

Medication Safety - Accutane causing miscarriages, major birth defects

Medulloblastoma - Research seeks to improve treatment of a common childhood brain tumor

Melanoma - Aranoza is approved for treating patients with melanoma

Meningitis Vaccine -  Haemophilus influenzae vaccine use prevents meningitis

Menopause - CASR gene changes may not be markers of postmenopausal osteoporosis

Menopause - Participants sought for clinical trial of herbal treatments

Mental Health - Beverages with quinine increase risk of neurological complications

Mergers and Acquisitions - Acquisition of TheraSense clears review; firm supports FDA's bar code rule

Mergers and Acquisitions - Acquisition to enhance Merck's cancer research program

Mergers and Acquisitions - China Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced

Mergers and Acquisitions - Genzyme Corp. to acquire oncology drug development company

Mergers and Acquisitions - Hollis-Eden announces acquisition

Mergers and Acquisitions - Johnson & Johnson acquires interest in European joint venture

Mergers and Acquisitions - Neutron Enterprises, Inc., announces appointment and merger

Mergers and Acquisitions - Nutritional supplement company to acquire glucose maker in China

Mergers and Acquisitions - Pharmaceutical company acquires assets of biotechnology company

Mergers and Acquisitions - Women's Capital, Plan B emergency contraceptive acquired

Metabolic Syndrome - Liver disease is common in patients treated in metabolic departments

Metastatic Solid Tumors - Biotechnology company receives approval to begin U.K. phase I cancer trial

Mononucleosis - Biology of Epstein-Barr virus during infectious mononucleosis explored

Mosquito-borne Disease - Novel PCR assay distinguishes members of An. fluviatilis complex

Mosquito-borne Disease - Residual life of bendiocarb determined

Multiple Myeloma - Thalomid multiple myeloma treatment sNDA accepted by FDA for review

Multiple Sclerosis - Multiple sclerosis symptoms suppressed in vivo with Neurodur, research shows

Multiple Sclerosis - Pharmaceutical company and country music star expand MS awareness campaign

Myelodysplastic Syndromes - FDA accepts NDA, grants priority review for Vidaza for the treatment of MDS

Myeloid Disorders - New targeted agents in acute myeloid leukemia are more effective and less toxic

Myeloma - Cancer drug company announces $9.7 million common stock financing

Neisseria - DNA binding by meningococcal RdgC protein linked to pilin antigens

Nephrology - Glomerular hyperfiltration prevails during the early postpartum period

Nephrology - Plasmid DNA targets the kidneys after retrograde injection into the renal vein

Nephropathy - Alliance to develop oral treatment for IgA-nephropathy

Neuroblastoma - Angiogenesis inhibitors stop hemangioblastoma progression

Neurodegeneration - Deletion of selenoprotein P gene results in neurological dysfunction

Neurodegeneration - In vitro models of age-related neurodegenerative disorders outlined

Neuroscience - Acellular nerve grafts regenerate peripheral nerve growth

Neuroscience - Children and young adults with myelomeningocele have reaching difficulties

Neuroscience - Dihydropyridine neuropeptide YY₁ receptor antagonists examined

Neuroscience - JAK2-STAT5 signaling needed for microglia activation by IL-3

Neuroscience - Protein Homer1a/Vesl-1S redistributes Homer1c/Vesl-1L in rat neurons

Neuroscience - Pseudotyped lentiviral vectors provide strong nervous system transduction

Neuroscience - Vascular endothelial growth factor supports regenerated nerves after grafting

Nicotine - Nicotine reduces G-protein coupling to GABA_B receptor in rats

Nicotine Addiction - Minors able to buy nicotine replacement therapy products

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma - SGN-30 receives orphan drug designation for T-cell lymphomas

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer - Gemcitabine plus cisplatin is cost effective in non-small cell lung cancer

Nutrition - Transporter's function provides support for eating vegetables, limiting antibiotics

Obesity - Phase Ic dose-sequencing study using PYY3-36 obesity drug nasal spray begins

Obesity Surgery - Acute Wernicke's encephalopathy occurs after bariatric surgery

Obesity Treatment - Clinical trial of new antiobesity drug initiated

Obstetrics - Aspirin and antioxidants should be given the opportunity to treat preeclampsia

Obstetrics - Blindness arising from postpartum leukoencephalopathy syndrome usually resolves

Oncology - Antisense suppression of DENN alters the growth of cancer cells and tumors

Oncology - Apoptin expression kills human biliary tract cancer cells

Oncology - Enhanced PAR expression makes tumors form in immunocompromised mice

Oncology - Hepatitis B virus X protein makes mice more susceptible to carcinogens

Oncology - Invasive and metastatic retinoblastomas bear higher vessel densities

Oncology - Newly approved bevacizumab strikes down rectal cancer vessel growth

Ophthalmic Anesthesia - Regional and topical anesthesia are more widely used in ophthalmology

Oral Health - Oral streptococci exhibit diverse susceptibility to human beta-defensin

Oral Mucositis - Orphan drug designation granted for CG53135

Orthopedics - Heparanase is important for the angiogenesis of fracture repair in mice

Osteoarthritis - Glucosamine and chondroitin now available in retail nutrition centers

Osteomyelitis - Vascularized fibular grafting for MRSA osteomyelitis and infected nonunion

Osteoporosis - Macaques model age-related changes in the human skeletal system

Osteoporosis - Multidisciplinary teams can solve evolving problems in osteoporosis patients

Osteoporosis - Physiotherapy aids mobility and defeats pain after osteoporotic fractures

Osteosarcoma Model - Radiation helps cytotoxic drugs reach the tumor cells of osteosarcoma xenografts

Outbreaks - Intergrons can aid epidemiological study of nosocomial infections

Ovarian Cancer - Prostate-derived Ets exhibits strong tumor association

Ovarian Cancer - Resveratrol induces cell death in ovarian cancer cells

Pain - FDA issues letter of approvability for S-Caine skin-numbing products

Pain Medicine - Cortistatin induces analgesia in rats

Pain Medicine - Painkiller linked to rise in overdose deaths

Pain Therapy - NDA for Ralivia ER accepted for review

Pancreatic Cancer - Nerve block cuts pain in cancer patients by 50%

Papillomatosis - HspE7 lengthens time between papillomatosis surgeries, data shows

Parkinson Disease - NIH begins phase II clinical testing of GPI 1485

Parkinson Disease - p53 links proteasome system and neuronal death in Parkinson disease

Patents - Company receives ninth patent approval for treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Patents - Guidant announces settlement of litigation

Patents - Immunotherapeutics company files two patent applications

Patents - Patent granted for AIDS treatment

Pediatric Oncology - Teens and young adults the new frontier in cancer, says U.S. specialist

Pediatric Pharmacology - Researchers receive NIH grant to open research center

Pediatrics - Assessment of health-related quality of life in children reviewed

Periodontal Health - Company announces additional results in phase I dental study

Personnel - Bioscience company appoints Azim Fancy to board of directors

Personnel - Board appoints Leslie J. Williams chief operating officer at pharmaceutical firm

Personnel - CEO at oxygen therapeutics company

Personnel - Clive Seymour joins biosciences company as VP for Asia-Pacific

Personnel - Development expert Robert Hecht to join AIDS vaccine nonprofit

Personnel - Genomics company announces resignation of CFO

Personnel - Pharmaceutical company announces new chief executive officer

Personnel - R&D company announces new member of board of directors

Personnel - Research-focused biopharma names Lauffenburger to board

Personnel - Steadman named president, tissue management

Pharmaceutical & Drug Development - Bis(Maltolato)zinc(II) complex treats injured livers in mice

Pharmaceutical & Drug Development - Cationic nanospheres are an alternative to negatively charged DNA carriers

Pharmaceutical & Drug Development - Minigene cocktails comprising VEGF isoforms jumpstart angiogenesis

Phenylketonuria - Clinical program in PKU initiated

Phototherapy - Company announces 510(k) clearance of the levia phototherapy system

Pneumonia - Linezolid is superior treatment for drug-resistant pneumonia

Postoperative Ileus - Entereg (alvimopan) receives FDA fast track designation

Premature Delivery - MediciNova acquires phase II premature labor compound

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder - FDA approves intermittent dosing of Paxil CR for PMDD

Prescription Drug Abuse - Report reveals a growing problem in U.S.

Prescription Drug Importation - AARP appeals to pharmaceutical industry to make cheaper drugs available in U.S.

Prescription Drug Importation - Lawmakers grill Thompson over opposition to drugs from Canada

Prescription Drugs - Missouri Senate OKs bill to take back unused prescription drugs

Prion Disease - Frequency of prion genotypes in scrapie-affected flocks reported

Prion Disease - Prion gene variations in chimpanzees has implication for prion diseases

Prostate Cancer - Company identifies protein target for cancer therapy

Prostate Cancer - Most men take preventive measures against prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer - NDA submitted for 6-month prostate cancer product

Prostate Cancer - Nadir PSA can predict progression to androgen-independent prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer - Reolysin kills tumor cells without damaging healthy tissue, study shows

Prostate Cancer - Satraplatin shows in vitro efficacy in taxane-resistant tumor cells

Prostate Cancer - Selenium disrupts androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer

Protein Interactions - Novel method for identifying protein interactions in proteomics published

Proteomics - Common elements might link osteoporosis and vascular disease

Proteomics - Integrins regulate Rac targeting by internalization of membrane domains

Pulmonary Medicine - Chronic hypercapnia hampers hypoxia-induced angiogenesis in the lungs

Receptor Studies - Epigallocatechin-3 gallate blocks VEGF-mediated cell proliferation

Receptor Studies - Structural analysis of neprilysin with inhibitors reported

Renal Disease - Estrogen production affords female rodents protection from kidney disease

Respiratory Syncytial Virus - Immunity affected by priming and boosting vaccines against RSV

Retinoblastoma - Protein's role in retina development key to understanding devastating eye cancer

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Interleukin-1 (IL-1) Trap clinical trial scheduled for second half of 2004

SARS - Asymptomatic SARS case with normal chest radiographs reported

SARS - GenVec and NIH expand contract to include for SARS vaccine candidate

SARS - Viral replication in nasopharynx linked with diarrhea in severe SARS

Schistosomiasis - IL-13 receptor alpha 2 prolongs host survival in schistosomiasis

Schizophrenia - Cell damage could explain why some schizophrenics fail to respond to treatment

Schizophrenia - Earlier diagnosis of schizophrenia improves results of treatment

Sepsis - New guidelines support goal-directed therapy to treat sepsis

Smoking Cessation - Encouraging results from NicVAX phase I/II clinical trial

Spermicide - Condom retailer first to ban products containing nonoxynol-9

Spina Bifida - Reduced folates might be better supplements for expectant mothers

Splenic Lymphoma - Low-dose cladribine led to good response in patients with splenic lymphomas

Stem-Cell Research - FoxO3a regulates erythroid differentiation via BTG1 expression

Stem-Cell Research - Hematopoietic stem-cell pathology in aplastic anemia reviewed

Stem-Cell Research - Magnetodendrimer labeling enables tracking of muscle stem cells

Stem-Cell Research - Modified stem cells treat the neurological symptoms of lysosomal storage disease

Stem-Cell Research - Musashi1 expression examined in murine cochlea

Stem-Cell Research - Novel culture enables neutrophil differention of embryonic cells

Stem-Cell Research - Power line magnetic fields have non-thermal effects on embryonic stem cells

Stem-Cell Research - Retinoic acid can induce neural differentiation of cord blood cells

Stem-Cell Transplantation - Femoral vascular access safe and effective for PBSC collection

Stem-Cell Transplantation - HSV-specific immunity delayed in adult CBT recipients

Stem-Cell Transplantation - Post-SCT eosinophilic pustular folliculitis described

Stem-Cell Transplantation - Quality of life not impaired in adult survivors of childhood BMT

Stem-Cell Transplantation - Th1 immune response associated with acute GVHD

Stem-Cell Transplantation - Two-loci or greater HLA mismatch associated with poor SCT outcome

Stroke - Statins could reduce stroke risk by a third

Substance Abuse - Crystal methamphetamine use increases HIV risk

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome - Sudden infant death syndrome prevention programs in Austria should continue

Synthetic Peptide - Hyaluronan-binding peptide binds with Bcl-2 to initiate cell death

Systemic Amyloidoses - Understanding of mechanism of systemic amyloidoses offers therapy hope

Thrombocytopenia - FDA clearance sought to market rapid heparin/platelet factor 4 test

Thromboembolism - Low-molecular-weight heparin in orthopedic surgery helps prevent thromboembolism

Tick-borne Encephalitis Vaccine - Progress reported in developing vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis

Tongue Cancer - P34^cdc2 expression predicts poor prognosis in tongue carcinoma

Total Joint Arthroplasty - Ferrous sulphate treatment of anemia after joint replacement is of no value

Total Shoulder Arthroplasty - Managing infection in total shoulder prostheses should be multidisciplinary

Transplant Medicine - Aetna launches transplant life management program

Transplant Medicine - Central nervous system PTLDs characterized

Transplant Medicine - Gene therapy protects livers from transplant-related injury

Transplant Medicine - New drugs limit deadly effects of graft-vs.-host disease

Transplant Medicine - Researchers find national kidney transplant failure rate is rising

Tuberculosis -  M. tuberculosis DsbE protein characterized

Tuberculosis Drug Resistance - Multiplex PCR amplimer conformation detects gyrA mutations

Tuberculosis Enzymology -  M. tuberculosis prodrug activator EtaA is Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase

Tuberculosis Immune Control - Monocyte cytokine output linked to clinical features in TB patients

Tuberculosis Pathogenesis -  M. tuberculosis PIM triggers early endosomal fusion

Tuberculosis Pathogenesis - IFN-I not needed for anti-TB responses in aged mice

Tuberculosis Therapy - Liposomal aerosols improve rifampicin delivery to alveolar macrophages

Tuberculosis Vaccine - Requirements for perfect tuberculosis vaccine reviewed

Tularemia - Researchers decode genome of rabbit fever pathogen

Type 2 Diabetes - Repaglinide plus pioglitazone improves blood glucose control, study shows

Type 2 Diabetes Therapy - Exenatide is potential therapeutic for type 2 diabetes

Ulcerative Colitis - Biotech companies sign agreement to develop ulcerative colitis treatment

Vaginal Infections - Company announces agreement to market Gynazole-1 in China

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor - The protein cdk5 may play an important role in endothelial cell regulation

Vector Development - Herpes simplex virus-based vectors help reporter genes track neurite activity

Vector Development - Polycation liposome-mediated gene transfer mechanisms have been outlined

Venous Thromboembolism - Antithrombotic prophylaxis should continue after hospital discharge

Venous Thromboembolism - Fondaparinux can prevent venous thromboembolism after major orthopedic surgery

Viral Genomics - The hypervariable region of HCV E2 evolves after selective pressure

Virology - Cytotoxic T cells from HCV patients use Fas-FasL to kill bystander cells

Virology - Immune-mediated clearance of neonatal woodchuck hepatitis virus falls short

Virology - Low doses of woodchuck hepatitis virus target the lymphatic system

Virology - The hepatitis C virus core protein is key to virus-host interactions

Von Willebrand Disease - Paradox explains how von Willebrand factor works