Immunology Product Guide

Earlier exposure to flu viruses makes people immune to H1N1 influenza

Jim Marino — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:32:38 +0000

Scientists at University of California, Davis, have found that earlier exposure to the seasonal flu viruses provide people with some level of immunity to the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus. In their study, the researchers identified a group of immunologically important sites on the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus that are also present in other influenza viruses that have been circulating for years. The study has been published in the journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Mylan Gets FDA Approval for Generic Version of Anticonvulsant Topamax(R) Sprinkle Capsules

Jim Marino — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:32:46 +0000

Mylan Inc. has announced that its subsidiary Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) for Topiramate Capsules (Sprinkle), 15 mg and 25 mg. Topiramate Capsules (Sprinkle) are the generic version of Ortho McNeil’s anticonvulsant Topamax® Sprinkle Capsules, 15 mg and 25 mg. Currently, Mylan has 121 ANDAs pending FDA approval representing $85.7 billion in annual brand sales, according to IMS Health.

LG introduces new set of air purifiers

Jim Marino — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:02:48 +0000

LG launched a new range of air purifiers, combining effectiveness, convenience, portability and quiet operation. Combining five different air cleaning technologies and a 16 stage multi-layer filtering system, the new air purifier eliminates fine dust, bacteria, asbestos, amonia, formaldehyde, animal hair, allergy causing germs, mold, smoke, strong odors, and Nitrogen Dioxide. LG air purifier helps eliminating toxic gases emitted from cement, timber, insulating material, paint, home decoration as wall paper, rugs, curtains etc.

Monoclonal antibody reduced systemic lupus erythematosus

Jim Marino — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:18:35 +0000

Researchers of the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines indicated that the monoclonal antibody belimumab (Benlysta), which is under investigation, was safe and effective for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in a Phase III trial. After one year of treatment, belimumab reduced disease activity, flare rates and the use of prednisone, while increasing the time to a first flare.

Harvard researches cost effectiveness of HPV vaccination for boys

Jim Marino — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 06:52:36 +0000

Researchers from Harvard have reported that it may not be cost effective to include boys in a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program. The details of this study were published online in the British Medical Journal on October 8, 2009. The goal of the current study was to assess the cost effectiveness of routinely vaccinating preadolescent boys, as is recommended in girls. These authors suggested that cost effectiveness of vaccinating both boys and girls would improve if the vaccine gave life-long protection against all HPV-related diseases or if the cost of vaccination fell. These authors concluded that “including boys in an HPV vaccination program generally exceeds conventional thresholds of good value for money, even under favorable conditions of vaccine protection and health benefits.”

NicOx submits naproxcinod for FDA approval

Jim Marino — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:24:47 +0000

French biotech firm NicOx has submitted a new drug application (NDA) to the US regulatory authority for its anti-inflammatory drug naproxcinod. The naproxcinod drug is developed for the treatment of osteoarthritis. The marketing approval of the drug could deal a blow to sales of the Pfizer medicine Celebrex. The company also plans to submit a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for naproxcinod to the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The FDA approves Stelara

Jim Marino — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 06:32:01 +0000

The FDA has approved a new biologic drug called Stelara for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults. Plaque psoriasis is an immune system disorder that results in the rapid overproduction of skin cells. According to the FDA, about 6 million people in the US have plaque psoriasis, which is characterized by thickened patches of inflamed, red skin, often covered with silvery scales.

The FDA committee recommends use of GARDASIL on boys and men

Jim Marino — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 04:22:29 +0000

The FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee agreed on the efficacy, immunogenicity and safety data of Merck & Co Inc’s . The clinical trials support the use of GARDASIL [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16 and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant] for boys and men aged 9 to 26 years for the prevention of genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11.

FDA approves vaccines for H1N1

Jim Marino — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:47:48 +0000

The FDA has approved injectible vaccine and a nasal spray vaccine for the 2009 H1N1. In fact, the results have been better than good. Four manufacturers, CSL Ltd, MedImmune LLC, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics Ltd and Sanofi Pasteur Inc, have been given the go-ahead to manufacture them. A study carried in Australia and another one by the US National Institutes of Health indicated that healthy adults got protection from the flu with just one dose of vaccine, instead of two doses. People showed “robust” protection against the virus after about eight to 10 days of getting the vaccine shot, according to the FDA. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects about 45 million doses to be available by mid-October.

Study links fatigue during radiotherapy to pro-inflammatory cytokine network

Jim Marino — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:11:45 +0000

Lead researcher Dr Julie Bower, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of California, Los Angeles has found that patients who experience fatigue during radiotherapy might be reacting to the activation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine network, a known inflammatory pathway. In a study conducted on 20 people, the researchers discovered that increases in serum markers of cytokine activity, specifically IL-1 receptor antagonist and C-reactive protein, were also linked with fatigue.