Fighting flu with designer drugs: A new compound fends off different influenza strains
A study published on February 4th in PLOS Pathogens reports that a new antiviral drug protects mice against a range of influenza virus strains. The compound seems to act superior to Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and independent of the host immune response. (Source: World Pharma News)
Source: World Pharma News - February 5, 2016 Category: Pharmaceuticals Tags: Featured Research Research and Development Source Type: news
Drug which both prevents and treats flu is 'more effective than Tamiflu'
Scientists at the University of Washington, Seattle, developed a drug which works by binding to influenza proteins known as hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), pictured. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - February 4, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
For pregnant women with flu, the earlier the better for antiviral treatment
(Infectious Diseases Society of America) Pregnant women are at higher risk for serious illness and complications, including death, from influenza. For expectant mothers hospitalized with flu, early treatment with the influenza antiviral drug oseltamivir may shorten their time in the hospital, especially in severe cases, suggests a new study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases and available online. The findings also underscore the importance of flu vaccination for this risk group. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - February 4, 2016 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news
Fighting flu with designer drugs: A new compound fends off different influenza strains
(PLOS) A study published on Feb. 4 in PLOS Pathogens reports that a new antiviral drug protects mice against a range of influenza virus strains. The compound seems to act superior to oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and independent of the host immune response. (Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases)
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - February 4, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news
Under the weather? A blood test can tell if antibiotics are needed
Dr. Ephraim Tsalik assesses Charles Watts for a respiratoryinfection in the ER at the Durham VA Medical Center.
DURHAM, N.C. -- Researchers at Duke Health are fine-tuning a test that can determine whether a respiratory illness is caused by infection from a virus or bacteria so that antibiotics can be more precisely prescribed.
The team of infectious disease and genomics experts at Duke has developed what they call gene signatures, patterns that reflect which of a patient’s genes are turned on or off, to indicate whether someone is fighting infection from a virus or bacteria. Results can be derived from a small sample of ...
Source: DukeHealth.org: Duke Health Features - January 20, 2016 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Duke Medicine Source Type: news
Is paracetamol any good for treating flu?
ConclusionThis double-blind, randomised controlled trial aimed to assess the effect of paracetamol on reducing viral load and clinical symptoms of flu. The researchers found paracetamol had no effect on any outcome in people with flu – on viral load, temperature or clinical symptoms – and feel there is not enough evidence to provide the drug as a treatment. However, there are a few points to bear in mind. The randomised design and double-blind nature of the trial are strengths, as these should reduce the risk of bias in how patients were allocated to groups, as well as the risk of bias in outcome reporting. Although...
Source: NHS News Feed - December 14, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Medication Source Type: news
Natco settles patent suit with Gilead, others over Tamiflu
Natco Pharma and its partner Alvogen today said they have settled patent infringement suit with Gilead Sciences Inc and others over Tamiflu. (Source: The Economic Times Healthcare and Biotech News)
Source: The Economic Times Healthcare and Biotech News - December 14, 2015 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news
Scientists Hope Tracking Winter Flu Will Help Close Pandemic Knowledge Gap
ImageContent(562e45c2e4b0aac0b8fd7c69,562e42a91900002e00b94dab,Image,HectorAssetUrl(562e42a91900002e00b94dab,Some(),Some(jpeg)),ViktorCap via Getty Images,) Anyone who goes down with flu in Europe this winter could be asked to enroll in a randomized clinical trial in which they will either be given a drug, which may or may not work, or standard advice to take bed rest and paracetamol. Those who agree could be helping the world prepare for the next potentially deadly disease pandemic as well as helping scientists who are now desperate to plug gaps in knowledge left by previous missed opportunities. Scientists are largely in...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - October 26, 2015 Category: Science Source Type: news
Lack of trial data may lead to wrong clinical choices
Data access should be mandatory, argue authorsRelated items from OnMedicaDoctors’ leaders consult on ethical use of dataDrug giant agrees to release all Tamiflu trial dataNICE rejects arguments against wider statin useUS doctor says FDA should have withdrawn rosuvastatinTime to rethink 4.5h window for alteplase after stroke (Source: OnMedica Latest News)
Source: OnMedica Latest News - October 23, 2015 Category: UK Health Source Type: news
Flu drug given out "indiscriminately"
The antiviral drug Tamiflu was handed out "indiscriminately" during the last swine flu outbreak, a leading panel of UK scientists warns. (Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition)
Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition - October 8, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Experts call for tests on use of flu drugs in pandemic
Report says there is a lack of good data on how well Tamiflu works in the community, after missed opportunity during swine flu outbreakNew trials are urgently needed to establish whether the anti-flu drug Tamiflu would help save lives in a pandemic, experts have said.Flu pandemics are highly dangerous, with the potential to kill millions around the world. Each winter in the UK, hundreds die of flu. Yet the drugs available to treat people, of which the best known and most widely used is Tamiflu, appear to have only a modest effect and have only been tested on seasonal flu, according to a report by the Academy of Medical Sci...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - October 7, 2015 Category: Science Authors: Sarah Boseley Health editor Tags: Flu Health Pharmaceuticals industry Medical research Society Science UK news Source Type: news
Trial results expose Tamiflu's limitations in preventing pandemics
Independent researchers studying findings say drug carries side-effects and fails to reduce need for hospital treatmentResponding to the avian flu pandemic in 2006, the UK government went on to spend £424m on stockpiling Tamiflu over six years, believing it to be money well spent. Since then, however, full information from trials of the drug has been released to independent researchers at the Cochrane Collaboration, a global not-for-profit organisation. They concluded that while Tamiflu did reduce the length of time that symptoms were suffered, the drug came with side-effects and did not reduce the number of people t...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - August 31, 2015 Category: Science Authors: Simon Bowers Tags: Drugs Epidemics World news Pharmaceuticals industry Politics UK news Science Flu pandemic Health Society Source Type: news
GPs will have to declare gifts and hospitality
‘Sunshine rule’ from next year makes declarations compulsory Related items from OnMedicaPharma plans to boost transparency of its financial links to healthcare sectorCall for GMC to register doctors’ competing interestsGMC’s commitment to regulate doctors’ financial and commercial interests questionedAre industry ‘supertrialists’ imbalancing diabetes research?Experts question industry-funded study showing benefits of Tamiflu (Source: OnMedica Latest News)
Source: OnMedica Latest News - August 25, 2015 Category: UK Health Source Type: news
Chief medical officer calls for review after statins and Tamiflu storm
Sally Davies writes to Royal Academy of Science in wake of negative press and public concern regarding the drugsThe chief medical officer, Sally Davies, has requested an expert review to shore up public confidence about the safety and effectiveness of medicines, in the wake of controversy around statins and Tamiflu.Davies wrote to ask the Royal Academy of Science if it would undertake the work. “I am very concerned about the lack of resolution of the statins and side-effects issues in both the medical and general press,” she said. Continue reading... (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - June 16, 2015 Category: Science Authors: Sarah Boseley Health editor Tags: Health Society The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) Medical research Statins NHS UK news Source Type: news
High-dose zinc acetate lozenges shorten a variety of cold symptoms
Zinc acetate lozenges may shorten symptoms of nasal discharge by 34% and cough by 54%Related items from OnMedicaCampaign calls on patients to seek help earlyTreat coughs and colds at home, public toldSignificant proportion of people still regularly takes antibiotics for coughs and coldsTake steps to identify those vulnerable to cold this winter, urges NICEExperts question industry-funded study showing benefits of Tamiflu (Source: OnMedica Latest News)
Source: OnMedica Latest News - March 17, 2015 Category: UK Health Source Type: news
