Potential Safety Issue Identified in Ongoing Phase 2 Clinical Study of HCV-796

EXTON, Pa., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ViroPharma Incorporated announced today the decision made with Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a division of Wyeth , to discontinue dosing with HCV-796 in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in its current Phase 2 study. All subjects, following consultation with the principal investigators at each site, will have the option of continuing on the combination therapy of pegylated interferon and ribavirin, the standard of care. This decision follows yesterday's review by the joint safety review board of safety data accumulated to date, which show elevated liver enzyme levels in some patients after 8 weeks or more of therapy with HCV-796 with pegylated interferon and ribavirin."This is a clear disappointment in light of the exciting antiviral activity observed to date in this study. Although this represents a potential setback for hepatitis C patients, we are committed to the health and safety of patients, and this decision was absolutely the right thing to do," commented Michel de Rosen, ViroPharma's president and chief executive officer. "We are committed to understanding the observations that led to this decision in the hope of advancing this potential therapeutic agent in the future."
read more

ViroPharma to end dosing in Hepatitis C drug trial

Aug 10 (Reuters) - ViroPharma Inc. said (VPHM.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said it and partner Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a unit of Wyeth (WYE.N: Quote, Profile, Research), decided to end dosing with a drug to treat Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in a mid-stage trial due to safety concerns.
Exton, Pennsylvania-based ViroPharma said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been notified that all patients on triple therapy will now be maintained on only pegylated interferon and ribavirin for the remainder of the clinical study.
read more

Download Biology, Medical Books

ook Description:
Blood substitutes are solutions designed for use in patients who need blood transfusions, but for whom whole blood is not available, or is not safe. This interest has intensified in the wake of the AIDS and hepatitis C epidemics. Blood Substitutes describes the rationale, current approaches, clinical efficacy, and design issues for all blood substitutes now in clinical trials. The many summary diagrams and tables help make the book accessible to readers such as surgeons and blood bankers, who have less technical expertise than the biochemists and hematologists who are designing and testing blood substitutes.
read more

America’s Most Polluted Beaches

According to sciencedaily.com, many beaches in the United States are unfit for swimming, and can cause sickness. Swimming in contaminated water can cause infections, skin rashes, respiratory illness and even hepatitis. Elderly and children, and those with poor immune systems are the most at risk. A major cause of water pollution is sewage runoff and storm water. Heavy rains will flood the sewage system, washing contaminants into the ocean. According to the article, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Rhode Island, and Minnesota have the worst beaches.read more

Study shows THC increases risk of KS, but other scientists question results

Hepatitis C (HCV) is a common co-infection with HIV among injection drug users, but historically it has not appeared to be readily transmitted sexually, and so is relatively rare among gay men.
A new study by researchers at Harvard Medical School suggests that THC, the major active ingredient in marijuana, makes cells more vulnerable to infection with the Kaposi抯 sarcoma herpes virus.

The study was published in the Aug. 1 issue of Cancer Research.read more

Premier Educates Continuum of Care Market on Preventing Needlestick and Sharps Injuries

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As part of its commitment to improve worker and patient safety, the Premier Safety Institute this week mailed its new Prevent Needlestick Injuries brochure to Premier members across the continuum of healthcare delivery sites, including surgery centers, home healthcare facilities, imaging centers, clinical laboratories, physician offices, and long term care facilities. Within its Continuum of Care Program, Premier serves more than 47,000 members who provide healthcare services outside the hospital setting.
“Worker safety is paramount in today’s complex and fast-paced healthcare environment,” said Gina Pugliese, R.N., M.S., Premier Safety Institute Vice President. “Injuries from needlesticks and other “sharps,” such as scalpels, pose a risk in developing a serious occupational infection such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV. Caregivers owe it to themselves, their families, and their patients to reduce risk of infection from needlesticks.”
read more

Get blood tests, Oshawa tattoo shop's clients told

Public health officials in Durham Region are trying to contact as many as 2,000 people they fear may have been exposed to unsanitary equipment at an Oshawa tattoo parlour.

They are asking clients of the recently closed Longhorn Custom Body Art parlour to get tested for hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV.read more