2010

Elton John becomes father of Christmas baby: Reuters NewMedia - December 27, 2010; LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Elton John and his partner have become the proud parents of a son born to a surrogate in California on Christmas Day, US Weekly reported on Monday. The boy, named Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, is the first for the British rock star and Canadian filmmaker David Furnish, who have been togeth
New kind of HIV drug stalls infection in trial: Reuters NewMedia - December 22, 2010; Kate Kelland; LONDON (Reuters) - A new kind of experimental HIV medicine can halt one of the earliest stages of HIV infection and may lead in future to a novel class of drugs to fight other dangerous viruses, German scientists said on Wednesday. The drug, being developed by small privately held Hannover-based firm VIRO Pharmaceutica
Better HIV screening worthwhile in U.S., study finds: Reuters NewMedia - December 20, 2010; Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor; WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Expanding screening for the AIDS virus to include every American at least once and the highest-risk people once a year could prevent more than 80,000 infections over the next 20 years, researchers projected on Monday. And if treatment for infected people were integrated into such a program, it wo
Bristol inks deal for Oncolys BioPharma HIV drug: Reuters NewMedia - December 20, 2010; * Deal worth up to $286 mln * Festinavir in Phase II development NEW YORK, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (BMY.N) has signed a deal for rights to an experimental HIV drug in mid-stage development by Japan s Oncolys BioPharma Inc, the companies said on Monday. Bristol will acquire worldwide rights to festina
German doctors declare "cure" in HIV patient: Reuters NewMedia - December 15, 2010; Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - German researchers who used a bone marrow transplant to treat a cancer patient with the AIDS virus, have declared him cured of the virus -- a stunning claim in a field where the word cure is barely whispered. The patient, who had both HIV infection and leukemia, received the bone marrow transplan
Special report: The cost of a malaria-free world: Reuters NewMedia - December 15, 2010; Kate Kelland and Ben Hirschler; LONDON (Reuters) - Joe Cohen, a scientist tantalizingly close to delivering the world s first malaria vaccine, is on the stump. After 23 years of painstaking laboratory work and a program of major trials in seven countries, the 67-year-old biologist says the clinical case for the vaccine is almost proved. It s a breakt
Adcock's portion of ARV tender falls, shares drop: Reuters NewMedia - December 14, 2010; Tiisetso Motsoeneng; * Analysts see Adcock portion as disappointing * Adcock shares drop as much as 7 pct, Aspen up 2 pct JOHANNESBURG, Dec 14 (Reuters) - South African drug maker Adcock Ingram (AIPJ.J) suffered a sharp drop in its share of a lucrative government HIV/AIDS drug supply contract, sending its share price down as much as almost
U.S. considers new tools in global AIDS fight: Reuters NewMedia - December 14, 2010; Andrew Quinn; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. global AIDS program may turn to new tools such as microbicide gels and pre-infection treatment to slow the epidemic in hard-hit countries, the program s director said on Tuesday. Eric Goosby said the President s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was looking closely at both the gels
Kenyans rally against EU-India deal on AIDS drugs: Reuters NewMedia - December 9, 2010; Katy Migiro; NAIROBI (Reuters) - Hundreds of Kenyans living with HIV protested outside EU offices in Nairobi on Thursday against a deal they say may block access to cheap life-saving AIDS drugs. The European Union and India are due to discuss a free-trade agreement in Brussels on Friday which campaigners say will cause shortages of
WHO says Cepheid rapid test will transform TB care: Reuters NewMedia - December 8, 2010; Kate Kelland; * WHO-backed test will transform diagnosis of tuberculosis * Cepheid gives 75 pct price discount for 116 poorer nations * Current tests are slow, developed more than a century ago LONDON, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) gave its backing on Wednesday to a new molecular test for tuberculosis made by
Tuberculosis: A worldwide pandemic: Reuters NewMedia - December 8, 2010; LONDON (Reuters) - The World Health Organization (WHO) gave its backing on Wednesday to a new molecular test for tuberculosis made by Cepheid which can rapidly diagnose TB, one of the world s biggest killer diseases. Here are some facts about tuberculosis. * Tuberculosis (TB) is contagious and spreads through the air.
AIDS charity raises $1 million and "dead" celebs live!: Reuters NewMedia - December 7, 2010; LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - It took longer than many thought -- and comedians had a laugh at their expense -- but singer Alicia Keys and her celebrity friends raised $1 million for an AIDS charity and, with it, lived to tweet again. Keys and her Keep a Child Alive charity co-founder Leigh Blake on Monday said their widely-
Theratechnologies inks distribution deal: Reuters NewMedia - December 6, 2010; * Sanofi to market drug in Latin America, Africa, Mid East * Drug used to treat HIV patients TORONTO, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Theratechnologies (TH.TO) said on Monday it signed a distribution and licensing agreement with Sanofi-Aventis (SASY.PA) in relation to its drug Egrifta, which is used to treat HIV patients. The agre
Factbox - Africa bears heavy AIDS burden, hope ahead: Reuters NewMedia - December 1, 2010; (Reuters) - As World AIDS Day is marked on Wednesday, about 33.3 million people around the world have the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS, according to the latest figures from the United Nations. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most heavily burdened by HIV/AIDS, but there are signs that effort
Unicef says HIV-free generation achievable: Reuters NewMedia - December 1, 2010; Kate Kelland; A generation of babies could be born free of Aids if the international community stepped up efforts to provide universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and social protection, the United Nations said on Tuesday. A report by the UN children s fund Unicef found that millions of women and children, particularly in poo
MTV launches "Me, Myself and HIV" film on AIDS day: Reuters NewMedia - December 1, 2010; LONDON (Reuters) - The head of MTV s AIDS charity was nervous about launching this year s World AIDS Day campaign without a celebrity, but decided to put her faith in two personal tales told by unknown youngsters. The music channel is airing an hour-long television documentary Me, Myself and HIV, which follows the live
More, but not enough, Americans get AIDS tests: Reuters NewMedia - December 1, 2010; Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Guidelines making AIDS tests part of routine care have helped get more Americans tested, but more than half of adults still have no idea if they are infected, government researchers reported on Tuesday. Nearly 83 million Americans have been tested for the AIDS virus, 11.4 million of them since th
U2's Bono says financial woes hurting AIDS fight: Reuters NewMedia - November 30, 2010; James Regan; SYDNEY (Reuters) - Financial tough times in developed economies are undercutting efforts to stop the global spread of AIDS, U2 lead singer Bono said on Tuesday. Times are hard in the Western world, the Irish rock star and campaigner told Reuters after launching World Aids Day, marked around the world on December 1, at
Science should find aliens, halt cancer: survey: Reuters NewMedia - November 30, 2010; LONDON (Reuters) - Nearly half of Britons believe in aliens and almost 80 percent say cancer is the disease which most needs a vaccine, a poll by one of the world s oldest scientific institutions showed on Tuesday. Britain s Royal Society found that 66 percent of respondents to a survey to mark its 350th anniversary sa
Best to focus on preventing HIV in Africa - report: Reuters NewMedia - November 29, 2010; Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor; * Prevention better approach than treatment * More efforts needed to partner with African governments * 70 million Africans to be infected by 2050 WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Efforts to treat everyone in Africa infected with the AIDS virus are virtually futile, and public health experts should instead focus on preve
Factbox: AIDS virus infects 33 million globally: Reuters NewMedia - November 29, 2010; (Reuters) - A new report from the U.S. Institute of Medicine recommends that governments and non-profit groups fighting AIDS in Africa concentrate more on preventing new cases than on treating patients. The panel of international experts projects that 70 million Africans will be infected with the human immunodeficiency
Merck's HIV drug Isentress fails once-a-day study: Reuters NewMedia - November 29, 2010; Ransdell Pierson; * Once-daily dose deemed inferior to standard twice-daily * Study was meant to widen use among previously untreated * J.P. Morgan sticks to $2 bln sales forecast in 2015 NEW YORK, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Merck & Co (MRK.N) said once-daily use of its HIV drug Isentress was less effective in a late-stage study than standa
AIDS activists welcome pope's words on condoms: Reuters NewMedia - November 21, 2010; Philip Pullella; VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Liberal Catholics, AIDS activists and health officials on Sunday welcomed Pope Benedict s comments that using condoms may sometimes be justified to stop the spread of the disease. It is a marvelous victory for common sense and reason, a major step forward toward recognizing that condom use can
Pope says condoms sometimes permissible to stop AIDS: Reuters NewMedia - November 20, 2010; Philip Pullella; VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The use of condoms to stop the spread of AIDS may be justified in certain cases, Pope Benedict says in a new book that could herald the start of sea change in the Vatican s attitude to condoms. In excerpts published in the Vatican newspaper on Saturday ahead of the book s publication next week,
South Africa could halve new HIV infections: report: Reuters NewMedia - November 19, 2010; Jon Herskovitz; JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa could cut the number of new HIV infections to below 200,000 a year by 2020, more than half the current level, with the right policies, but reaching the goal will be costly, a report on Friday said. South Africa has the most infected people of any country in the world with 5.7 milli
Kidney transplants found safe in HIV patients: Reuters NewMedia - November 18, 2010; Gene Emery; BOSTON (Reuters) - People infected with HIV can safely receive a kidney transplant, researchers reported on Wednesday. The finding, published in Thursday s New England Journal of Medicine, is good news for people with the virus, who are more prone to kidney disease, in part because of the drugs they must take to stay h
Factbox: Facts about TB from annual WHO report: Reuters NewMedia - November 11, 2010; (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation (WHO) issued its annual report on Thursday on tuberculosis, a contagious but curable disease that still kills 1.7 million people a year, or 4,700 a day, mainly in Asia and Africa. Tuberculosis, caused by bacteria, can be cured in six months with antibiotics if detected and trea
Prison to install sunbeds for inmates: Reuters NewMedia - November 11, 2010; MOSCOW (Reuters) - One of Russia s most notorious prisons will soon install sunbeds to improve the health of its inmates, its head said on Tuesday. Styled as a brick fortress, the 19th-century Butyrka prison in central Moscow has held a slew of notable figures behind its bars, from persecuted Soviet-era writers Alexand
WHO says deadly TB preventable, urges action: Reuters NewMedia - November 11, 2010; Stephanie Nebehay; GENEVA (Reuters) - Health authorities worldwide must do more to combat tuberculosis, which killed an estimated 1.7 million people last year, mainly adults in their prime in Africa and Asia, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday. Tuberculosis can be cured in six months if detected and treated early but ca
UPDATE 1-Theratechnologies drug approved by FDA: Reuters NewMedia - November 10, 2010; * Drug developed by Montreal-based Theratechnologies Inc * Merck KGaA s EMD Serono division marketing in US NEW YORK, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved Egrifta, a drug developed by Montreal-based Theratechnologies Inc (TH.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), to treat H
Time for drug price rethink for chronic diseases: Reuters NewMedia - November 9, 2010; Ben Hirschler; NEW YORK (Reuters) - The world s top drugmakers have slashed prices for medicines to fight AIDS and malaria. Now the debate is moving to the next level as pressure builds for them to do more against chronic diseases in poor countries. A major United Nations meeting in September 2011 will put chronic noncommunicable dis
Glaxo says future IPO possible for ViiV: Reuters NewMedia - November 9, 2010; NEW YORK (Reuters) - An HIV company set up a year ago by GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK.L) and Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) could be spun off and floated in an initial public offering once its drug pipeline has matured a little further. It s certainly a possibility, Glaxo Chief Strategy Officer David Redfern said at the Reuters Healt
Mother-baby HIV box targets transmission: Reuters NewMedia - November 9, 2010; Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent; LONDON (Reuters) - It s no great medical breakthrough, just a simple Color-coded box packed with HIV drugs and pictures, but its backers UNICEF hope it may help finally end transmission of the often deadly virus to babies. The mother-baby pack, dubbed innovation for an HIV-free generation will be distributed to 30,000
Study offers new clues to effective HIV vaccine: Reuters NewMedia - November 5, 2010; Julie Steenhuysen; CHICAGO (Reuters) - Slight differences in five amino acids in a protein called HLA-B may explain why certain people resist the human immunodeficiency virus, U.S. researchers said on Thursday in a study that lends new clues about how to make a vaccine to prevent AIDS. For a long time, we ve known that some people progre
UK tuberculosis rates highest in 30 years: Reuters NewMedia - November 3, 2010; LONDON (Reuters) - Cases of tuberculosis in Britain reached their highest level for 30 years in 2009 with 9,040 cases and the number of new drug-resistant TB cases has almost doubled in the past decade, government data showed on Thursday. An annual tuberculosis (TB) report from the government s Health Protection Agency
Obama presses for strong Democratic turnout: Reuters NewMedia - October 30, 2010; Jeff Mason; BRIDGEPORT, Connecticut (Reuters) - President Barack Obama warned on Saturday that if Republicans prevail in next week s congressional elections they could roll back his agenda, as he sought to rally fellow Democrats to the polls in a final campaign push. But in another sign that some liberals have grown disillusioned
Top Belgian Catholic vows silence after uproar: Reuters NewMedia - October 29, 2010; Tom Heneghan, Religion Editor; PARIS (Reuters) - Belgium s Roman Catholic leader has sworn off public remarks until Christmas after outraging public opinion twice this month with jarring comments about AIDS and a call for mercy for retired pedophile priests. Brussels Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard, already under fire because of the scandal of sexua
Groups moving forward to develop AIDS gel: Reuters NewMedia - October 27, 2010; Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Groups developing a gel to protect women from the AIDS virus say they are moving ahead to develop the product that was hailed as groundbreaking after a study on its effectiveness was released in July. The developers, who met last week with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said the
Swiss drug policy should serve as model-experts: Reuters NewMedia - October 25, 2010; Stephanie Nebehay; * Policy offers free methadone and clean needles * Russia , Eastern Europe and Central Asia seen lagging * Iran and China have adopted Swiss-inspired programmes GENEVA, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Switzerland s innovative policy of providing drug addicts with free methadone and clean needles has greatly red
U.S. cautions on mixed use of Roche, Abbott HIV drugs: Reuters NewMedia - October 21, 2010; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health officials are cautioning patients and doctors about possible deadly side effects when using two HIV drugs together: Roche Holding s Invirase and Abbott Laboratories Norvir . The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which first warned about the potential heart problems in February
Southern Africa life expectancy rising slightly: U.N.: Reuters NewMedia - October 21, 2010; Patrick Worsnip; UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A dramatic fall in life expectancy in southern Africa caused by AIDS in the 1990s appears to have bottomed out, with new treatments bringing a slight rise in recent years, a U.N. report said on Wednesday. But the region remains the only one in the world where life expectancy is currently less
Gilead 3rd-qtr profit beats Wall Street's estimate: Reuters NewMedia - October 19, 2010; Deena Beasley; * Q3 adjusted EPS $0.90 vs Wall Street view $0.87 * Revenue rises 8 percent to $1.94 billion * Shares rise 2.5 percent LOS ANGELES, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Gilead Sciences Inc (GILD.O:) posted a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday as sales of its core HIV drugs increased 12 percent, and its shares rose 2.5 pe
Obama backs governor where key Senate seat fell: Reuters NewMedia - October 17, 2010; Patricia Zengerle; BOSTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama urged voters in Massachusetts to back the state s governor, Deval Patrick, at a raucous campaign stop on Saturday, pushing for a fellow Democrat who is in a tight re-election fight against a former healthcare executive. Patrick inspires me as a leader, Obama told a cheering cro
Belgian Church head criticized for AIDS remarks: Reuters NewMedia - October 15, 2010; Philip Blenkinsop; BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgium s Roman Catholic Church, already reeling from allegations of sexual abuse, faced a new scandal Friday after its primate wrote that AIDS was a sort of inherent justice. Many lawmakers condemned Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard, the head of the Belgian church, for the remarks in a new book and
WHO takes aim at tuberculosis with new 5-year plan: Reuters NewMedia - October 13, 2010; Jon Herskovitz; JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The World Health Organization laid out a new plan on Wednesday to combat tuberculosis and the nearly 2 million deaths it causes each year through a combination of better testing, diagnosis and drugs. The Global Plan to Stop TB 2011-2015 will cost about $47 billion, with money going to fund more
'Alarming' hunger levels in 29 countries: report: Reuters NewMedia - October 12, 2010; Emily Stephenson; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Twenty-nine countries show alarming levels of hunger and more than a billion people were hungry in 2009, according to a new report on global hunger. World leaders are far from a 1990 goal of halving the number of hungry people by 2015, according to the annual Global Hunger Index published by the
Global Fund sees disease fight hampered by donors: Reuters NewMedia - October 6, 2010; Patrick Worsnip and Kate Kelland; (Reuters) - Donors pledged over $11.5 billion on Tuesday to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis over the next three years but the head of the fund waging the battle said it was not enough to protect millions of people at risk. Announcing the figure raised by a two-day conference in New York, U.N. Secretary-General Ban
Condom use routine for U.S. teens, not adults: Reuters NewMedia - October 4, 2010; Julie Steenhuysen; * Researcher calls results a public health success * Many sexual practices do not involve intercourse CHICAGO, Oct 4 (Reuters) - U.S. teens are not as reckless as some people might think when it comes to sex, and they are much more likely to use condoms than people over 40, according to a survey released on Monday that
China experts design gel to protect women from HIV: Reuters NewMedia - September 30, 2010; Tan Ee Lyn; HONG KONG (Reuters) - Scientists in China and Hong Kong are designing a gel containing an experimental drug which they hope can reduce HIV infections in women. The search for such a prophylaxis is gaining urgency in China with sex becoming the number one mode of HIV transmission and new HIV
U.S. NIH joins patent pool for AIDS drugs: Reuters NewMedia - September 30, 2010; * U.S. NIH becomes first patent holder to join AIDS pool * HIV/AIDS drugmakers, patent holders urged to follow suit LONDON, Sept 30 (Reuters) - The United States National Institutes of Health said on Thursday it will share intellectual property rights on some AIDS drugs in a patent pool designed to make treatments more
U.S. FDA warns Gilead on manufacturing plant: Reuters NewMedia - September 29, 2010; * Gilead says working to resolve FDA concerns LOS ANGELES, Sept 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned Gilead Sciences Inc (GILD.O) about manufacturing problems at the San Dimas, California plant where drugs including the company s flagship HIV medicines are made. Gilead, in a regulatory fi
AIDS treatment up in 2009; 2010 targets in doubt: WHO: Reuters NewMedia - September 28, 2010; Katy Migiro; NAIROBI (Reuters) - A record 1.2 million people in low and middle income countries started antiretroviral therapy for HIV/AIDs in 2009, the World Health Organization said on Tuesday, but targets set for 2010 are unlikely to be met. A total of 5.25 million people were receiving antiretroviral therapy in 2009, three-quar
Analysis: Cancer threat to poor demands same action as AIDS: Reuters NewMedia - September 27, 2010; Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent; LONDON (Reuters) - Cancer is threatening to overwhelm poor countries and governments are under pressure to organize the kind of joined-up global response enlisted to tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Just as with the sexually-transmitted HIV virus that causes AIDS, effective drugs, highly-trained doctors, and policies to s
Amgen, J&J anemia drugs recalled over glass flakes: Reuters NewMedia - September 24, 2010; Deena Beasley; LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Amgen Inc is recalling several hundred lots of anemia drugs Epogen and Procrit, sold by Johnson & Johnson , because vials of the injectable medicines might develop tiny glass flakes that could cause blood clots and other serious health problems. Amgen, which sells Epogen, manufactures th
1 in 5 gay, bisexual men in US cities has HIV: Reuters NewMedia - September 23, 2010; Julie Steenhuysen; * Nearly half are unaware of their infection - CDC * CDC calls for renewed HIV prevention efforts CHICAGO, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Nearly one in five gay and bisexual men in 21 major U.S. cities are infected with HIV, and nearly half of them do not know it, U.S. health officials said on Thursday. Young men, and especially
Factbox: Progress in the U.N. Millennium Development Goals: Reuters NewMedia - September 22, 2010; (Reuters) - The United Nations is set to launch a $40 billion global strategy on Wednesday to help pregnant mothers and their infants, as it tries to boost efforts to meet its Millennium Development Goals. The anti-poverty goals are meant to be achieved by 2015. Here is a description of the goals and progress made so f
Obama urges AIDS hecklers to protest Republicans: Reuters NewMedia - September 22, 2010; Steve Holland; NEW YORK (Reuters) - President Barack Obama, heckled on Wednesday by AIDS activists at a Democratic event, urged them to aim their protests at Republicans, who he warned would cut AIDS funding if they win November 2 congressional elections. A handful of protesters created enough of disruption in a crowded ballroom at a
Zimbabwe drops charges against U.S. health workers: Reuters NewMedia - September 22, 2010; Nelson Banya; HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean prosecutors on Wednesday withdrew charges against six health workers, four of them from the United States , accused of dispensing AIDS drugs without a license, their lawyer said. The six members of a Californian-based Christian volunteer health service which runs two clinics in Zimbabwe wo
World must rethink poverty fight: U.S. aid chief: Reuters NewMedia - September 19, 2010; Andrew Quinn; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The world must rethink strategies for fighting global poverty, with new emphasis on economic growth, accountability and governance key if basic goals for helping the world s poorest by 2015 are to be met, the U.S. aid chief said. With leaders gathering in New York on Monday for a United Nations s
Pope, in London, confronts biggest protest: Reuters NewMedia - September 18, 2010; Avril Ormsby; LONDON (Reuters) - Pope Benedict faced the biggest protest of his 17 trips abroad Saturday when more than 10,000 people marched in London attacking his treatment of the abuse scandal in the Church, women priests and homosexuality. Some of the demonstrators were dressed in costumes, including black leather nuns habits a
Yams and mosquito nets on Nigeria's Sesame Street: Reuters NewMedia - September 17, 2010; Yinka Ibukun; LAGOS (Reuters) - Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch have some new friends. Meet Zobi, a yam-eating taxi driver, and Kami, a talkative five-year-old living with HIV. Sesame Street, the U.S. show which started 40 years ago on state-run television as an attempt to help underprivileged children learn, hits
Hard hit Africa leads fall in new HIV infections: U.N.: Reuters NewMedia - September 17, 2010; Kate Kelland; LONDON (Reuters) - African nations whose populations have been devastated by AIDS have made big strides in fighting HIV, with new infections down 25 percent since 2001 in some of the worst hit places, a U.N. report said on Friday. African countries with the biggest epidemics like Nigeria ,
Maternal deaths fall 34 percent, still above U.N. target: Reuters NewMedia - September 15, 2010; Laura MacInnis; GENEVA (Reuters) - Deaths from complications during pregnancy and childbirth have fallen by a third in the past two decades but 1,000 women still die needlessly every day, the World Health Organization said Wednesday. Women in poorer countries are 36 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than those in
Freer trade may hurt access to India generic drugs: Reuters NewMedia - September 14, 2010; Laura MacInnis; * UNITAID says 80 percent of its AIDS drugs come from India * Tougher intellectual property rules may harm trade GENEVA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Freer trade could harm India s generic drug business, which supplies the bulk of the AIDS medicines sent to developing countries, a study backed by the drug-purchasing body UNITAI
Gilead says Quad pill suppresses HIV at 48 weeks: Reuters NewMedia - September 13, 2010; * Quad maintains HIV suppression after 48 weeks * Drop-out rates, side effects similar in both trial arms * Shares rise 0.2 percent LOS ANGELES, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Gilead Sciences Inc (GILD.O) said 48-week data from a mid-stage trial of its closely watched four-medicine HIV pill known as the Quad show the drug works
Zimbabwe holds 4 U.S. health workers over AIDS drugs: Reuters NewMedia - September 12, 2010; HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwean police have arrested four health workers from the United States on suspicion of dispensing AIDS drugs without a license, the U.S. embassy said on Sunday. An embassy statement said the four members of a Christian volunteer health service of the Oakland, California-based Allen Temple AIDS mi
India not treating Aids patients on time: Reuters NewMedia - September 9, 2010; Bappa Majumdar; Thousands of Aids patients in India are not receiving treatment on time, underscoring huge challenges the country faces as it combats the syndrome, the Global Fund To Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria said on Thursday. India, with 2,27-million people living with the syndrome, is among the top three countries with th
HIV spread "out of control" among French gay men: Reuters NewMedia - September 9, 2010; Kate Kelland; LONDON (Reuters) - Transmission of the AIDS virus seems to be out of control among gay men in France despite an overall fall in the number of new HIV cases in the country, according to a study published on Thursday. Scientists from the French National Institute for Public Health Surveillance found that nearly half of t
Great apes protected as EU restricts animal testing: Reuters NewMedia - September 8, 2010; Pete Harrison; BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Primates, including mankind s closest relatives -- chimpanzees, gorillas, bonobos and orangutans -- have gained new protection after the European Parliament backed a clampdown on animal testing. The use of non-human primates should be permitted only in those biomedical areas essential for the benef
Factbox - Ads for sleep aid, HIV drug among those warned by FDA: Reuters NewMedia - September 3, 2010; Susan Heavey; This factbox is part of a special report on the FDA s efforts to regulate drug marketing. The full report can be seen here: link.reuters.com/dyt39n WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 (Reuters) - The following are details of some recent FDA warnings sent to drugmakers over misleading or inappropriate advertising, along with the dates
S. Africa state workers reject offer, take to street: Reuters NewMedia - September 2, 2010; Jon Herskovitz and Peroshni Govender; * Government says cannot afford to pay more * Union leaders will try to urge members to accept deal * Union decision expected next week JOHANNESBURG, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Striking South African state workers staged a protest march on Thursday after rejecting a revised wage offer aimed at ending their three-week strike th
Factbox: Violence in Mozambique: Reuters NewMedia - September 1, 2010; MAPUTO (Reuters) - Clashes have broken out between police and demonstrators across Mozambique s capital Maputo in protest against rising prices. Following are some facts about the country and its people: * ECONOMY: -- Mozambique expects investment in its fast-growing tourism sector to jump five-fold to $2 billion in th
U.S. FDA gets tougher with certain drug trials: Reuters NewMedia - August 27, 2010; Susan Heavey; * Agency limiting use of non-inferiority clinical trials * FDA being more selective with trials * GAO concerned about biocreep, or waning effectiveness WASHINGTON, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is cracking down on use of certain clinical trials that show a new drug is no worse than another al
US FDA releases safety concerns for recent quarter: Reuters NewMedia - August 27, 2010; WASHINGTON, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released its latest list of possible drug safety concerns, citing Roche s (ROG.VX) breast cancer drug Herceptin and Sanofi Aventis (SASY.PA) heart drug Multaq, among others. The list, which comes out quarterly, covers safety issues that the
African police seize 10 tonnes of fake medicines: Reuters NewMedia - August 26, 2010; PARIS, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Police seized about 10 tonnes of counterfeit medicines and arrested 80 people in a sweep across eastern Africa, international police agency Interpol said on Thursday. The operation, which Interpol coordinated under the umbrella of the World Health Organisation (WHO) over the last two months, i
S.Africa's poor bear brunt of public sector strike: Reuters NewMedia - August 24, 2010; Peroshni Govender; * South Africa s poor suffer most during strike * Public opinion battle mostly fought along class lines JOHANNESBURG, Aug 24 (Reuters) - South Africa s government and unions are facing increased pressure to end a nearly week-long state workers strike from a public angry at the mounting impact the stoppage has had on th
South Africa's Aspen sees higher profit, local unit robust: Reuters NewMedia - August 23, 2010; * FY headline EPS to likey rose 25 pct * EPS likely increased by 30-35 pct * Shares dowm 0.6 pct JOHANNESBURG, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Africa s biggest generic drugmaker Aspen Pharmacare (APNJ.J: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Monday full-year headline earnings per share likely rose by 25 percent boosted by i
Hepatitis E vaccine appears effective in China trial: Reuters NewMedia - August 23, 2010; HONG KONG, Aug 23 (Reuters) - An experimental vaccine appears to be safe and effective in protecting people against hepatitis E infection, a trial in China has found. Hepatitis E virus is shed in feces and spread via tainted water and food. Even though most people recover from it, it can cause severe illness in elderly
Developing nations to bear cancer brunt: Reuters NewMedia - August 19, 2010; Tan Ee Lyn; HONG KONG (Reuters) - Developing countries will bear 60 percent of the world s cancer burden by 2020 and 70 percent by 2030, but are not prepared for the looming crisis, cancer experts warned in a report on Thursday. These countries do not have the infrastructure in place to prevent cancer, diagnose it early or provide
Genetic signature may lead to better TB diagnosis: Reuters NewMedia - August 18, 2010; Kate Kelland; * Study shows gene pattern in blood is marker of active TB * Finding is significant step towards developing blood test LONDON, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Scientists have found a genetic signature in the blood of patients with active tuberculosis (TB) and believe their discovery could help develop better diagnostic tests for th
New TB test must reach more people: expert: Reuters NewMedia - July 29, 2010; HONG KONG (Reuters) - A new diagnostic tool that reduces to two hours the time needed to detect drug-resistant tuberculosis must be made available to populations vulnerable to the disease, a World Health Organization expert said. Asia carries more than half the global caseload of drug resistant TB, which is very diffic
Gilead AIDS drug safe for HIV prevention in study: Reuters NewMedia - July 23, 2010; Kate Kelland; * Study is safety study only, no data on effectiveness * Researchers encouraged that no increased risks seen VIENNA, July 23 (Reuters) - Gilead s (GILD.O) HIV drug tenofovir is safe to be given to men at high risk of contracting the virus as a preventative measure, scientists said on Friday, but further trials are need
Early, rural-based HIV care offers hope in Africa: Reuters NewMedia - July 22, 2010; Kate Kelland; * African studies show patients do well in community care * Health charity says new approaches can cut costs * Early treatment means HIV patients need fewer doctors VIENNA, July 22 (Reuters) - Treating HIV patients in remote areas of Africa soon after they are infected and using community care teams instead of doctors
ViiV sees one new HIV product a year by 2012: Reuters NewMedia - July 22, 2010; Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent; * CEO says focused on R&D and building portfolio first * Expects to start gaining market share beyond 2012 * Drug price pressures in Europe will have an impact VIENNA, July 22 (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and Pfizer s (PFE.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) joint v
J&J AIDS drug shows promise: Reuters NewMedia - July 22, 2010; VIENNA (Reuters) - Two pivotal trials of a Johnson & Johnson experimental HIV drug found it worked as well as an existing drug, with fewer side effects but also with nearly twice as many patients failing to respond to treatment. The drug, rilpivirine or TMC278, is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (N
WHO criticises big divide in tackling HIV in Europe: Reuters NewMedia - July 21, 2010; Kate Kelland; * Disparity in approaches fuels rapid growth in HIV rates * Europe has fast growing AIDS virus epidemic in the world * WHO calls for concerted action across European region VIENNA, July 21 (Reuters) - Huge disparities between Western and Eastern Europe in tackling the AIDS virus mean the HIV crisis in the region is far
Poverty-stricken U.S. cities have HIV epidemics: Reuters NewMedia - July 19, 2010; Kate Kelland; * Study finds high HIV rates heterosexuals in poorest areas * Experts say results show prevention should be top priority VIENNA, July 19 (Reuters) - Many low-income urban areas across the United States have epidemics of HIV, with 2.1 percent of heterosexuals in poverty-stricken urban areas infected with the incurable A
AIDS drug cocktails halve new HIV cases in study: Reuters NewMedia - July 19, 2010; Kate Kelland; VIENNA (Reuters) - Treating HIV patients with cocktails of AIDS drugs helps to stop them spreading the infection further and more than halved the number of new HIV diagnoses in a study in Canada , scientists said on Sunday. The findings show that treating those with HIV can not only help them live longer with the often
Harsh attitudes fuel Eastern Europe HIV epidemic: UNICEF: Reuters NewMedia - July 19, 2010; Kate Kelland; VIENNA (Reuters) - An underground HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is building at an alarming pace, fueled by drug use, risky sex and severe social stigma that stops people asking for help, the United Nations said on Monday. In a report published at an international conference on AIDS, the U.N. children
Early treatment key for HIV-positive patients: WHO: Reuters NewMedia - July 19, 2010; Kate Kelland; VIENNA (Reuters) - The number of people receiving medicines for the AIDS virus leapt by a quarter last year but more patients need to be brought into treatment before they are too sick, the World Health Organisation said on Monday. Presenting the data at an international conference on AIDS in Vienna, the WHO said an es
Study finds MTV AIDS project changes HIV attitudes: Reuters NewMedia - July 19, 2010; Kate Kelland; * Music channel campaign programmes had key AID/HIV messages * Study finds shows changed young people s thinking on HIV VIENNA, July 19 (Reuters) - MTV drama programmes about HIV and AIDS shown to young people in some of the highest-risk countries in Africa and the Caribbean had a dramatic affect on attitudes to the di
Factbox: HIV/AIDS in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Reuters NewMedia - July 19, 2010; VIENNA (Reuters) - An underground HIV epidemic in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is building at an alarming pace, fueled by drug use, risky sex and severe social stigma that stops people asking for help, according to the United Nations. Here are some facts and figures about HIV and AIDS in the region: * Since 2001, HI
African women can cut HIV risk with new gel - study: Reuters NewMedia - July 19, 2010; Wendell Roelf; * Gel seen as promising option for women * Women found gel easy to use * AIDS-plagued areas looking for remedies CAPE TOWN, July 19 (Reuters) - For Xoli Mthethwa, an unmarried 26-year-old mother of one living in the village of Vulindlela, the first trial of an AIDS gel using a prescription drug was a matter of life and
AIDS groups call for "renaissance" in vaccine hunt: Reuters NewMedia - July 19, 2010; Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent; VIENNA (Reuters) - Scientists searching for the Holy Grail of a vaccine against the incurable AIDS virus say recent encouraging steps should now galvanize efforts to use limited funds in smarter ways to drive the field forward. International AIDS vaccine advocates said recent studies showing first evidence of vaccine-i
AIDS gel with Gilead drug protects women in study: Reuters NewMedia - July 19, 2010; * Women used gel reliably, but further testing needed * WHO chief says findings are exciting * UNAIDS HEAD says results give hope to women VIENNA, July 19 (Reuters) - A gel containing a prescription drug can sharply reduce HIV infections in women, a study described as groundbreaking by the World Health Organisation sho
Bill Clinton and Bill Gates want value for money in AIDS fight: Reuters NewMedia - July 19, 2010; Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent; LONDON (Reuters) - Bill Clinton and Bill Gates urged AIDS activists on Monday to squeeze value out of every cent of funds to fight HIV, saying they could not expect donors to give more in hard times unless it was carefully spent. Addressing 20,000 AIDS scientists, health workers and activists at an international confer
FACTBOX - HIV/AIDS numbers from around the world: Reuters NewMedia - July 18, 2010; July 18 (Reuters) - A major international conference on AIDS starts in Vienna on Sunday, when thousands of scientists, health workers, activists, and government officials will gather to discuss the latest advances against the disease. An estimated 33.4 million people worldwide are infected with the human immunodeficien
FACTBOX - Vaccines: the Holy Grail of AIDS research: Reuters NewMedia - July 18, 2010; July 18 (Reuters) - A major international conference on AIDS starts in Vienna on July 18, when thousands of scientists, health workers, activists, and government officials will gather to discuss the latest advances against the disease. There are many drugs to treat HIV and prevention and measures have been deployed try
AIDS group fears annual HIV costs may hit $35 bln: Reuters NewMedia - July 17, 2010; Kate Kelland; * Alliance says focus on prevention could stem rising costs * HIV/AIDS services must aim to reach marginalised groups LONDON, July 17 (Reuters) - The International HIV/AIDS Alliance warned on Saturday that the annual cost of tackling the HIV epidemic could balloon to $35 billion by 2030 if governments fail to invest in
Many forks loom in road to AIDS vaccine: Reuters NewMedia - July 17, 2010; Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor; * Recent studies point to best routes for research * Companies, nonprofits seek best use of scarce money WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - AIDS experts and advocates gathering in Vienna this weekend for a conference on the pandemic will hear about progress in protecting people from the deadly virus using drugs, and ways
Glaxo, Pfizer JV opens HIV pipeline to generic cos: Reuters NewMedia - July 16, 2010; * Generic firms offered licences for all ViiV medicines * Royalty-free offer includes current and pipeline products * Covers 69 poor countries, including all sub-Saharan Africa LONDON, July 16 (Reuters) - ViiV Healthcare, GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer s joint venture company for AIDS drugs, is opening its entire product l
Budget choices on AIDS funds threaten lives -report: Reuters NewMedia - July 15, 2010; Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent; * Choice is to treat AIDS, or get more graves, charity says * Report says cutting funding now is short-sighted approach LONDON, July 15 (Reuters) - Reduced funds from rich donor nations to treat HIV/AIDS in poorer nations will ultimately lead to more graves and higher care costs for people who get sick while they wait
Geron ends joint venture with Hong Kong university: Reuters NewMedia - July 15, 2010; * HKUST to get royalty on future drug sales * Geron to fund development of drug candidates July 15 (Reuters) - Stem cell research company Geron Corp (GERN.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said it ended its joint venture with Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and it will be responsib
Almost half Russia prisoners are ill, many with HIV: Reuters NewMedia - July 14, 2010; * HIV, TB, mental illness prominent among inmates * Prison service admits to problem being abysmal MOSCOW, July 14 (Reuters) - Almost half of inmates in Russia s notorious prison system are ill, many infected with HIV or with tuberculosis, the country s Federal Prison Service said late on Tuesday. Of Russia s 846,000 p
FACTBOX: HIV/AIDS numbers from around the world: Reuters NewMedia - July 13, 2010; LONDON (Reuters) - A major international conference on AIDS starts in Vienna on July 18, when thousands of scientists, health workers, activists, and government officials will gather to discuss the latest advances against the disease. An estimated 33.4 million people worldwide are infected with the human immunodeficien
Safer sex by young in Africa drives HIV rates down: Reuters NewMedia - July 13, 2010; Kate Kelland; * HIV prevalence falls in 16 of 25 worst affected countries * Young people are having safer sex with fewer partners LONDON, July 13 (Reuters) - Young people in Africa are leading a revolution in HIV prevention and driving down rates of the disease by having safer sex and fewer sexual partners, the United Nations AIDS p
New U.S. AIDS policy targets prevention: Reuters NewMedia - July 13, 2010; Ross Colvin and Maggie Fox; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new domestic AIDS policy rolled out by the White House on Tuesday asks states and federal agencies to find ways to cut new infections by 25 percent, get more patients treated quickly and educate Americans about the deadly and incurable virus. As an immediate down payment, Health and Human Servi
UN sets out AIDS treatment plan to save 10 million: Reuters NewMedia - July 13, 2010; Kate Kelland; * United Nations AIDS body sets out new approach to disease * Says Treatment 2.0 plan could save 10 million lives LONDON, July 13 (Reuters) - Ten million AIDS deaths could be averted by 2025 and a million new HIV infections prevented every year if countries took a fresh look at how to meet targets for treating the dise
US White House AIDS strategy to focus on prevention: Reuters NewMedia - July 12, 2010; Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor; * Plan aims to cut infection rate by a quarter * U.S. also aims to reduce disparities WASHINGTON, July 12 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama released a domestic AIDS strategy on Monday that aims to cut the infection rate by 25 percent, test 90 percent of those infected and get 85 percent of patients treated right
Antibody finding may help in quest for AIDS vaccine: Reuters NewMedia - July 9, 2010; Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Researchers have discovered antibodies that can protect against a wide range of AIDS viruses and said they may be able to use them to design a vaccine against the fatal and incurable virus. The bodies of some people make these immune system proteins after they are infected with the AIDS virus, wh
World Bank names Zimbabwean to head AIDS program: Reuters NewMedia - July 9, 2010; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The World Bank on Thursday named David Wilson, a Zimbabwean national who has written extensively about AIDS in the developing world, to head the poverty-fighting institution s global HIV/AIDS program. Wilson, who joined the Bank in 2003, has advised governments in South Africa ,
INTERVIEW - WHO chief wants efficiency drive in AIDS care: Reuters NewMedia - July 7, 2010; Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent; * With funding tight, AIDS groups must adapt care systems * Efficiencies should mean simpler delivery, fewer doctors * Earlier treatment good for patients and prevention LONDON, July 7 (Reuters) - Groups tackling AIDS must make better use of scarce funds if they are to reach the goal of universal access to treatment, t
Men taking drugs for sex function risk sex diseases: Reuters NewMedia - July 5, 2010; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Men who took erectile dysfunction drugs such as Viagra were more likely to become infected with sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS, U.S. researchers reported on Monday. This infection rate was higher even in the year before the men got their prescriptions filled, which suggests the ris
Interview - HIV stigma stifles outreach in Arab states: Reuters NewMedia - July 1, 2010; Erika Solomon; * Under 14 pct of HIV patients in MENA region get treatment * U.N. calls for end of deportation of foreigners with HIV DUBAI, July 1 (Reuters) - Only 10 to 14 percent of the 400,000 people infected with HIV in the Middle East and North Africa get treatment due to the stigma and discrimination that has made people wary
Gilead to acquire CGI for up to $120 mln: Reuters NewMedia - June 25, 2010; * CGI focused on small molecule chemistry and biology * Funding will come from cash on hand * Expects deal to close in the third quarter BOSTON, June 25 (Reuters) - Gilead Sciences Inc (GILD.O) said on Friday it agreed to acquire privately held drug discovery company CGI Pharmaceuticals Inc for up to $120 million.
OraSure gets FDA nod for hepatitis C test, shares up: Reuters NewMedia - June 25, 2010; * Says partner Merck to provide promotional support * Shares up 16 pct June 25 (Reuters) - OraSure Technologies Inc (OSUR.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said it received U.S. regulatory approval to market a hepatitis C virus (HCV) test, sending its shares up as much as 16 percent. Last year, the U.S. Food and
Russia drops case against ill former Yukos exec: Reuters NewMedia - June 24, 2010; * Former colleague of Mikhail Khodorkovsky ill with HIV/AIDS * Court says statute of limitations prevents prosecution MOSCOW, June 24 (Reuters) - A Russian court on Thursday dropped a criminal case against a former oil executive gravely ill with HIV/AIDS whose three-year detention sparked international condemnation, ne
Analysis: Overshadowed by G20, G8 likely to preserve a role: Reuters NewMedia - June 23, 2010; Alister Bull; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Group of Eight is losing relevance as faster-growing rivals like China and Brazil play a larger role managing the global economy, but it will still endure as a key forum for traditional industrial powers. Meeting in Huntsville, Canada on June 24-25, the G8
Research project takes genetics to African roots: Reuters NewMedia - June 22, 2010; Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent; LONDON (Reuters) - A $37 million international collaboration by major research bodies in the United States , Britain and Africa wants to take the fruits of the genetic revolution to a continent it has largely bypassed until now. The project, named Human Heredity and Health in Africa or H3Africa, will use genetic tech
U.S. FDA approves more advanced HIV test: Reuters NewMedia - June 21, 2010; Jon Lentz; * Abbott s test aims to detect HIV sooner * Earlier testing may help stem HIV spread -Abbott * Abbott shares close down nearly 1 percent WASHINGTON, June 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a test that may help slow the spread of HIV by detecting the virus more quickly in the early period
U.N. body tackles stigma of AIDS in the workplace: Reuters NewMedia - June 17, 2010; * ILO approves standard for tackling discrimination * Non-binding measure calls for help for infected workers GENEVA, June 17 (Reuters) - The first international standard to tackle discrimination against HIV/AIDS sufferers in the workplace won overwhelming approval from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on Th
Nurses as good as doctors in Aids care monitoring: Reuters NewMedia - June 16, 2010; Kate Kelland; Nurses are as good as doctors at monitoring treatment for Aids patients, and shifting this role to them could help ease a critical shortage of health workers, experts said on Wednesday. A study into so-called task-shifting in HIV care in South Africa found virtually no difference in outcomes for patients taking antiret
Zambia's poor in rare World Cup television viewing: Reuters NewMedia - June 11, 2010; Chris Mfula; LUSAKA (Reuters) - Over 10,000 poor young Zambians and Angolan refugees in the soccer-crazy country s remote areas will watch some of the World Cup matches in South Africa live on specially mounted huge flat screens, a UN agency said on Friday. UNICEF spokesman Patrick Slavin said large open-air screens and projectors
Customs group to fight $200 bln bogus drug industry: Reuters NewMedia - June 10, 2010; John Irish; * WCO members to sign accord to fight fake drugs * More fake than real drugs on market, official says * Counterfeit drugs now a $200 billion-a-year industry PARIS, June 10 (Reuters) - Counterfeit drugs have become a $200-billion-a-year industry and the 176-nation World Customs Organisation (WCO) will sign a declaration
Britain could cut aid funding to some multilaterals: Reuters NewMedia - June 9, 2010; LONDON June 9 (Reuters) - Britain could halt aid flows to some multilateral organisations and boost funding to others following a review into the work of bodies such as the World Bank and the United Nations, the government said on Wednesday. Britain gives aid money to more than 30 organisations, including the African D
Russia calls for crackdown on Afghan drugs: Reuters NewMedia - June 9, 2010; Alexei Anishchuk; MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Wednesday rolled out a global initiative to stem Afghan drug trafficking to include a comprehensive crackdown on opium poppy growing, but the United States gave a cool reception to the plan. Russia, the world s largest per capita heroin consumer with an estimated 30,000 people dying of abus
Myriad Pharma cuts 21 jobs, suspends HIV program: Reuters NewMedia - June 8, 2010; * Says plans to focus on oncology portfolio * Says to conserve its financial resources * Says to suspend its HIV maturation program * Says reduced its headcount by 21 employees * Expects charges of about $1.2 mln June 8 (Reuters) - Myriad Pharmaceuticals Inc (MYRX.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said it would
Group urges Bristol to protect HIV-drug for babies: Reuters NewMedia - June 7, 2010; Ransdell Pierson; NEW YORK (Reuters) - Board members of an international group that helps ensure patient get access to HIV drugs has warned that Bristol-Myers Squibb Co s plans to close a factory in France could leave thousands of babies without a life-saving treatment for the virus that causes AIDS. The United Nations-affiliated gr
FIFA to spread HIV educational message at World Cup: Reuters NewMedia - June 5, 2010; JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - FIFA will screen advertisements for condoms and HIV educational messages at fan parks during the World Cup in South Africa , which has one of the world s highest rates of AIDS. Soccer s governing body issued a statement on Saturday denying local press reports that it had blocked South African g
UN committee moves to keep out gay-lesbian NGO: Reuters NewMedia - June 3, 2010; Louis Charbonneau; * Egypt , Qatar , Sudan among those opposing the group * Britain, U.S. advocate accrediting gay-lesbian NGO UNITED NATIONS, June 3 (Reuters) - A United Nations committee that decides which nongovernmental organizations can be accredited to the world body moved on Thursday to keep out the International G
African mining may be driving TB epidemic: study: Reuters NewMedia - June 1, 2010; Kate Kelland; LONDON (Reuters) - Poor living and working conditions for miners of gold, diamonds and other precious metals have contributed significantly to tuberculosis (TB) epidemics across Africa, scientists said on Tuesday. Researchers from Britain and the United States said their study suggested that crowded living and working
Prescribed heroin offers answer for worst addicts - study: Reuters NewMedia - May 28, 2010; Kate Kelland; * Addicts prescribed heroin cut down on use of street drugs * Keeping addicts in treatment reduces costs to society LONDON, May 28 (Reuters) - Prescribing heroin to chronic addicts may be politically sensitive, but it is more effective than the substitute methadone at keeping drug abusers in treatment programmes, Briti
AIDS funding squeeze puts lives at risk: Reuters NewMedia - May 27, 2010; LONDON, May 27 (Reuters) - Backtracking by international donors in funding for HIV/AIDS may undermine years of progress and is already putting lives at risk, the health aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said on Thursday. In a report on AIDS in eight sub-Saharan African countries, it said major donors have decide
Drug cocktails cut couples' HIV transmission risk: Reuters NewMedia - May 27, 2010; Julie Steenhuysen; CHICAGO (Reuters) - In a study that supports the widespread use of drugs to help control the AIDS pandemic, researchers said on Wednesday that HIV patients who took the drugs were far less likely to infect their partners. Using the drug cocktail reduced the likelihood of transmission by 92 percent, the researchers repo
US panel backs Theratech drug for HIV patients: Reuters NewMedia - May 27, 2010; Lisa Richwine; * Panel votes 16-0 to recommend approval of Egrifta * FDA usually follows panel recommendations * Final decision due by July 27 ADELPHI, Md., May 27 (Reuters) - An experimental drug from Theratechnologies Inc (TH.TO: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) to reduce abdominal fat in HIV patients should be approved, a U.S
FDA staff: Theratech drug works, but risks weighed: Reuters NewMedia - May 25, 2010; Lisa Richwine; * Advisory panel to weigh Egrifta on Thursday * FDA staff: More diabetes seen in patients given drug * Shares fall 51 percent WASHINGTON, May 25 (Reuters) - An experimental drug from Theratechnologies Inc reduced abdominal fat in HIV patients, but safety concerns must be weighed, U.S. reviewers said, sending the compan
SAfrica's Adcock H1 profit up, sees growth ahead: Reuters NewMedia - May 25, 2010; * Turnover up 7 pct to 2 billion rand * Sees further volume growth ahead JOHANNESBURG, May 25 (Reuters) - South Africa s biggest over-the-counter drugs maker Adcock Ingram (AIPJ.J) booked an 11 percent rise in first-half profit, helped by the stronger rand and volumes growth in its AIDS-suppressing drugs unit. Adco
Rich nations failing to meet aid promises to Africa: Reuters NewMedia - May 25, 2010; Lesley Wroughton; * G7 on track to give $13.7 bln of $22.6 bln aid promised * Italy called an utter failure, dragged down G7 average WASHINGTON, May 25 (Reuters) - The world s seven industrialized nations have fallen short on their promises to double aid to Africa by 2010, according to a report on Tuesday by ONE Campaign against poverty
Researchers try new approaches to preventing HIV: Reuters NewMedia - May 24, 2010; (Reuters) - Tablets, insertable rings and dissolving films can effectively deliver drugs to help protect women and perhaps men from infection with the AIDS virus, researchers reported on Monday. They also found evidence that using such an approach -- called a microbicide -- may help overcome some of the risks of drug r
Cannes stars turn out for glitzy AIDS charity bash: Reuters NewMedia - May 21, 2010; Mike Collett-White; ANTIBES, France , May 21 (Reuters) - Mick Jagger, Russell Crowe and Jennifer Lopez were among the guests at AIDS charity amfAR s annual party during the Cannes film festival, which raised $6.7 million from a celebrity auction and seat prices. The total was up from last year s $4.5 million but down on 2008 s $10 million
Genetics shine new light on old diseases: Reuters NewMedia - May 20, 2010; Tan Ee Lyn; HONG KONG, May 20 (Reuters) - Lui Sang, now 81, was diagnosed with leprosy as a boy shortly after his older brother came down with the same infection, notorious for centuries for causing disfiguring skin lesions and stigma. Now, patients such as Lui -- who lost his left leg -- may be helping not only in eradicating lep
Sex workers fear missing the party: Reuters NewMedia - May 19, 2010; Agnieszka Flak; JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Like other Johannesburg prostitutes, Zandile dreamed of getting rich from World Cup fans. Now she complains that foreigners will be scared off by fear of AIDS and crime and there will be no World Cup bonanza. South Africa has the world s biggest HIV caseload, with 5.7 million cases, and foreign
Counterfeit drugs on rise, pose global threat--WHO: Reuters NewMedia - May 19, 2010; Stephanie Nebehay; * Unwary consumers buying counterfeit drugs on Internet * FDA chief says counterfeiting growing in complexity, scale * WHO s Chan says he does not seek drug patent policing role GENEVA, May 19 (Reuters) - Production and sale of counterfeit drugs is on the rise in rich and poor countries, with more unwary consumers buyi
U.S. OKs Abbott test for Chagas disease parasite: Reuters NewMedia - May 19, 2010; * Automated Prism system to test for dangerous parasite * Disease most common in poor areas of Latin America NEW YORK, May 19 (Reuters) - Abbott Laboratories Inc has received U.S. approval to market its diagnostic test for a parasite spread by a bug that causes Chagas disease, a potentially fatal condition found only i
Morocco resists Islamist calls to ban Elton John: Reuters NewMedia - May 17, 2010; Lamine Ghanmi; RABAT (Reuters) - Elton John will headline Morocco s biggest music festival this week despite calls by religious conservatives for the gay singer to be turned away, the event s organizer said. Allowing the British singer and songwriter to perform at the Mawazine World Rhythms festival in the capital Rabat would tarnish
HIV among gay, bisexual men at alarming highs in Asia: Reuters NewMedia - May 17, 2010; Tan Ee Lyn; HONG KONG, May 17 (Reuters) - HIV prevalence among gay and bisexual men has hit alarming levels in Asia and most of them do not have access to services and care due to punitive laws which drive them underground, a U.N.-backed report said on Monday. The situation may worsen if countries fail to reverse laws that crimina
Immune system could be used to test for TB: Reuters NewMedia - May 16, 2010; Julie Steenhuysen; * Two molecules helped sort between active/latent TB * Findings could be used for rapid TB test CHICAGO, May 16 (Reuters) - Two immune system molecules could form the basis of a new test to quickly detect whether tuberculosis is dormant or active and infectious, U.S. researchers said on Sunday. A rapid test that could
Heikki Kovalainen bids big at Monaco charity auction: Reuters NewMedia - May 15, 2010; MONACO (Reuters) - Lotus Formula One driver Heikki Kovalainen was the biggest bidder at a Monaco Grand Prix charity auction, shelling out 300,000 euros ($381,100) toward an AIDS project in Cambodia . The auctioneer did not name the Finn but the former McLaren driver told Reuters after the
India, Brazil challenge EU at WTO over drugs: Reuters NewMedia - May 12, 2010; Jonathan Lynn; * Exports of generic drugs at centre of dispute * Intellectual property rights versus access to medicine * EU ready to clarify rules to ensure access GENEVA, May 12 (Reuters) - India and Brazil launched a trade dispute against the European Union and the Netherlands on Wednesday
HIV epidemic may be imminent in the Philippines - report: Reuters NewMedia - May 11, 2010; HONG KONG, May 11 (Reuters) - Low condom use, needle sharing and a rise in casual sex and prostitution may unleash an HIV epidemic in the Philippines , according to a new study. The report, published in the Journal of the International AIDS Society, said young adults, gay and bisexual men, prostitutes, injecting drug u
South African police bust HIV/AIDS pyramid scheme: Reuters NewMedia - May 11, 2010; * Authorities bust HIV/AIDS treatment pyramid scheme * HIV/AIDS infection rates high in South Africa * Company says it is not subject of investigation JOHANNESBURG, May 11 (Reuters) - South African authorities busted a pyramid investment scheme on Tuesday involving a company offering HIV/AIDS treatments in a country wi
WHO sees good progress on UN health goals for poor: Reuters NewMedia - May 10, 2010; Kate Kelland; * Fewer children dying, access to clean water improving * Percentage of underweight children falls to 16 from 25 LONDON, May 10 (Reuters) - Far fewer children are dying and rates of malnutrition, HIV and tuberculosis are declining thanks to good progress on health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the World
S.Africa taps patent pool for neglected diseases: Reuters NewMedia - May 5, 2010; Julie Steenhuysen; * Government is first to use industry-backed patent pool * Aim is to develop low cost drugs for TB, malaria CHICAGO, May 5 (Reuters) - South Africa will use a new patent pool to work on new drugs for tuberculosis and malaria, making it the first government to take advantage of the industry-led idea. The pool aims t
Zambia accuses Netherlands of funding opposition: Reuters NewMedia - May 5, 2010; * Ruling party says donors funding opposition * Netherlands denies allegations * Tension rising ahead of 2011 presidential vote LUSAKA, May 5 (Reuters) - Zambia s ruling party has accused the Netherlands of financing the main opposition party, a charge that threatens to raise tensions with donors who froze funding for
FDA probes risks of HIV, prostate, other drugs: Reuters NewMedia - May 3, 2010; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Regulators are investigating potential risks from Abbott Laboratories Inc s HIV drug Kaletra , GlaxoSmithKline Plc s prostate drug Avodart and other medicines. The Food and Drug Administration said on Monday it was probing reports of liver toxicity with patie
WHO, UNICEF call for closing gap in child medicines: Reuters NewMedia - April 30, 2010; Kate Kelland; LONDON (Reuters) - U.N. health bodies called on Friday for more research and clinical trials to close gaps in the market for children s medicines that cost millions lives in developing countries each year. The U.N. children s fund UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) published a list of medicines designed for
China ends entry ban for foreigners with HIV/AIDS: Reuters NewMedia - April 28, 2010; Chris Buckley; BEIJING, April 28 (Reuters) - China has revoked a ban on people with HIV/AIDS entering the country, softening a decades-old policy that drew sharp criticism this year when an Australian writer was blocked after declaring himself HIV-positive. Until now, China s regulations formally banned foreigners entering the countr
Zambia prison conditions spreading HIV, TB -report: Reuters NewMedia - April 27, 2010; Chris Mfula; * 14 healthcare workers serving 15,300 inmates * Condom ban undermining fight against HIV spread LUSAKA, Apr 27 (Reuters) - Poor living conditions and lack of proper medical care in Zambian prisons are encouraging the spread of HIV and tuberculosis among inmates, a study showed on Tuesday. The report by three human rig
Scientists say recession may spark Baltic TB surge: Reuters NewMedia - April 27, 2010; Kate Kelland; LONDON (Reuters) - The Baltic States risk seeing an upsurge in tuberculosis (TB) cases because of the recession brought about by the financial crisis, scientists said on Wednesday, and Latvia is particularly vulnerable. Researchers who studied the effects of recession on rates of the highly infectious disease during th
"Harm reduction" needed to cut drug-user AIDS risk: Reuters NewMedia - April 26, 2010; Kate Kelland; LONDON (Reuters) - Barely a twentieth of the estimated $3.2 billion needed is put into preventing drug users spreading the AIDS virus, experts said on Monday, and the shortfall is fuelling HIV epidemics in parts of Europe and Asia. In a report on the use of harm reduction measures like clean needle exchanges and safer
Cutting AIDS funds risks "death sentence": report: Reuters NewMedia - April 26, 2010; Kate Kelland; LONDON (Reuters) - A global pullback from AIDS funding may mean HIV could again become a death sentence for people in the developing world, according to a report released on Monday. The International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) found patients are being turned away from treatment programmes and AIDS drug sto
S.Africa's Zuma is HIV negative: Reuters NewMedia - April 25, 2010; JOHANNESBURG, April 25 (Reuters) - South Africa s President Jacob Zuma, who has faced criticism that his love life is undermining safe sex campaigns, revealed test results on Sunday showing he was HIV negative. Zuma, who has three wives, has generated controversy by fathering a child out of wedlock and admitting to hav
Interview - Drug users must be helped to halt AIDS spread-UN: Reuters NewMedia - April 23, 2010; Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent; * Drug users in east Europe, central Asia pose high HIV risk * UN AIDS chief says evidence is there, authorities must act * Harm reduction policies most cost-effective approach LONDON, April 23 (Reuters) - Countries in eastern Europe and central Asia face spiralling AIDS epidemics if they fail to help people who inject
HIV's link to salmonella offers vaccine clues: Reuters NewMedia - April 22, 2010; Ben Hirschler; LONDON (Reuters) - Research into a deadly link between salmonella and HIV shows that the AIDS virus damages the immune system in ways doctors did not previously understand, providing new clues for vaccine development. Salmonella often causes fatal bloodstream infections in people with HIV, particularly in Africa. But a
Experimental compound potent against hepatitis C: Reuters NewMedia - April 21, 2010; Julie Steenhuysen; CHICAGO (Reuters) - An experimental Bristol-Myers Squibb compound called BMS-790052 is proving to be the most potent yet at treating hepatitis C, an infection poorly treated with existing drugs, company researchers said on Wednesday. An early, phase I safety study of the compound found it was highly effective at blocki
Gilead cuts 2010 sales outlook, shares fall: Reuters NewMedia - April 20, 2010; Deena Beasley; * Q1 adjusted EPS was 99 cents vs Street view 96 cents * Revenue rises 36 percent to $2.09 billion * Lowers 2010 sales outlook, citing U.S. healthcare reform * Shares fall 3.3 percent after-hours (Adds company comment, analyst comment, background) LOS ANGELES, April 20 (Reuters) - Gilead Sciences Inc
Bieber, Elton in "Idol Gives Back": Reuters NewMedia - April 16, 2010; Jill Serjeant; LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Canadian teen idol Justin Bieber and Sir Elton John will take part in a TV charity fund-raiser next week organized by American Idol but the event will be scaled down in a nod to hard economic times, organizers said on Thursday. Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, the Black Eyed Peas, Annie Lennox and
BioAlliance wins US OK for miconazole Lauriad: Reuters NewMedia - April 16, 2010; * Oral anti-fungal tablet is BioAlliance s first U.S. drug * miconazole Lauriad to be branded Oravig in U.S. * BioAlliance says has enough cash for about two years PARIS, April 16 (Reuters) - BioAlliance Pharma has won U.S. marketing approval for its oral anti-fungal tablet miconazole Lauriad, making it the first treat
Elton John to perform on "Idol Gives Back" special: Reuters NewMedia - April 15, 2010; LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sir Elton John will headline a star-studded TV charity fund-raiser next week organized by American Idol to benefit U.S. and international charities aimed mostly at helping children. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has also joined the Idol Gives Back special as a not-for-profit partner in t
Report says HIV inmate segregation in two U.S. states: Reuters NewMedia - April 14, 2010; MIAMI (Reuters) - Alabama and South Carolina are subjecting HIV-positive prisoners to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by segregating them in violation of international law, two leading U.S. rights groups said on Wednesday. Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project said in
S. Africa to buy cheaper AIDS drugs despite opposition: Reuters NewMedia - April 13, 2010; Wendell Roelf; * S.Africa wants to purchase ARV drugs at lowest prices * Country paying too much for drugs, cannot afford it * Looking at foreign suppliers CAPE TOWN, April 13 (Reuters) - South Africa intends buying antiretroviral (ARV) drugs at the lowest prices, even from foreign companies, despite opposition from local drugmakers,
Maternal deaths down in poor countries - study: Reuters NewMedia - April 12, 2010; * Rates down the most in Egypt , Bolivia , Maldives * Maternal death rates in Canada , U.S., Norway a surprise * Successes can point to policy changes WASHINGTON, April 12 (R
Six charged in $13 million Miami healthcare fraud: Reuters NewMedia - April 7, 2010; * Scheme involved therapy for HIV and AIDS patients * Medicare beneficiaries alleged to receive Kickbacks MIAMI, April 7 (Reuters) - Six Miami-area residents have been charged for their alleged role in a healthcare fraud scheme that cheated the government out of more than $13 million, authorities said on Wednesday.
U.S. FDA warns Gilead, Biogen over drug promotions: Reuters NewMedia - April 7, 2010; * Letters target Gilead s Truvada , Biogen s Tysabri * FDA objects to print ad, Web video WASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators warned Gilead Sciences , Biogen Idec and other drugmakers on Wednesday over misleading promotions for various product
Catholic bishop "understands arguments for condoms": Reuters NewMedia - April 1, 2010; Avril Ormsby; LONDON (Reuters) - The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has said he understands the attraction of arguments for the use of contraception in the developing world, in an apparent softening of the Church s line. But Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols went on to say it was not the Church s ro
Interview - Haiti quake may undo years of progress on HIV/AIDS: Reuters NewMedia - March 31, 2010; Tom Pfeiffer; * Infection rate had been declining among the young * Women and girls in camps need more protection RABAT, March 31 (Reuters) - The earthquake that devastated Haiti in January has endangered years of progress in fighting the spread of AIDS in the Caribbean country, a senior U.N. health official said on Wednesday. H
Economic crisis could worsen HIV/AIDS epidemic: U.N.: Reuters NewMedia - March 29, 2010; Thin Lei Win; BANGKOK (Reuters) - Economic crisis and climate change concerns could affect the fight against the AIDS virus and lead to a universal nightmare, the head of the United Nations agency for HIV/AIDS said on Sunday. The global economic downturn has brought about greater inequality and could increase vulnerability and fuel
ANALYSIS - S.Africa's new AIDS plan no windfall for drugmakers: Reuters NewMedia - March 24, 2010; Tiisetso Motsoeneng; * New AIDS policy hopes to double people on treatment * Govt to invest near $1 bln on ARVs by 2013 * Analysts say profit margins on AIDS drugs volumes thin * S.African drugmakers may miss out on global pharma M&A JOHANNESBURG, March 24 (Reuters) - Thin margins mean South Africa s 7-billion-rand ($952.6 million) pla
Medicare to pay for "fillers" in HIV patients: Reuters NewMedia - March 23, 2010; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Medicare program will pay for the use of facial filling treatments in certain HIV patients with sunken cheeks and other similar problems who are also depressed, the government said on Tuesday. The move impacts dermal fillers such as BioForm Medical s Radiesse and Sanofi-Aventis SA s Scul
Acupuncture can spread serious diseases - experts: Reuters NewMedia - March 19, 2010; HONG KONG, March 19 (Reuters) - Bacterial infections, hepatitis B and C, and possibly even HIV are being transmitted via acupuncture through the use of contaminated needles, cotton swabs and hot packs, experts warned on Friday. In an editorial published in the British Medical Journal, microbiologists at the University
Insurer targeted HIV patients to drop coverage: Reuters NewMedia - March 17, 2010; Murray Waas; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In May, 2002, Jerome Mitchell, a 17-year old college freshman from rural South Carolina, learned he had contracted HIV. The news, of course, was devastating, but Mitchell believed that he had one thing going for him: On his own initiative, in anticipation of his first year in college, he had purc
EU/India trade pact could limit cheap drugs - MSF: Reuters NewMedia - March 12, 2010; Jonathan Lynn; * Free trade pact could cut access to generic drugs * AIDS sufferers protest, in Delhi * EU says deal will not affect access to cheap medicine GENEVA, March 12 (Reuters) - Poor people in India and other developing countries may lose access to affordable generic drugs as part of free-trade negotiations between India and
Australian authors protest China visa refusal: Reuters NewMedia - March 11, 2010; CANBERRA, March 11 (Reuters) - More than 90 Australian authors signed a letter on Thursday decrying China s refusal to grant a visa to one of the country s most celebrated writers because he was HIV-positive, a move that Beijing defended. Robert Dessaix, whose 1996 novel Night Letters dealt with the European travels of
Malaria, AIDS, TB in retreat - Global Fund: Reuters NewMedia - March 8, 2010; Jonathan Lynn; * Killer diseases retreating in face of health financing * Global Fund seeks more billions to fight AIDS, TB, malaria GENEVA, March 8 (Reuters) - Malaria could be eliminated as a public health problem within a decade in most countries where it is now endemic, an international organisation that funds the treatment and p
AIDS Rise May Force India to Spend More: World Bank: Reuters NewMedia - March 7, 2010; NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India will have to scale up prevention of HIV to avoid having to spend an increasing share of its health budget on treatment of AIDS patients, the World Bank and other agencies said Sunday. New Delhi spends about 5 percent of its $5.4 billion (3.5 billion pound) healthcare budget on treating AIDS
Philippines HIV cases spike to record in January: Reuters NewMedia - March 4, 2010; MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines diagnosed 143 people with HIV in January -- a national high -- and the country s health secretary said on Thursday she would seek more public funds to distribute condoms among high-risk groups. The number of people diagnosed with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is the highest reporte
Pfizer pneumonia shot helps HIV-infected patients: Reuters NewMedia - March 3, 2010; Kate Kelland; LONDON (Reuters) – Results of a trial of Pfizer s Prevnar 7 vaccine against a major cause of pneumonia and meningitis showed on Wednesday that it can prevent three out of four cases of re-infection in HIV-infected adults in Africa. British researchers who tested the shot in Malawi found it stopped 74 percent of recu
Scientists urge rethink on "narrow" health goals: Reuters NewMedia - March 2, 2010; Kate Kelland; * Narrow focus on a few diseases hampers health progress * Study says combining efforts would improve results * Poor nations should consider overall health picture LONDON, March 2 (Reuters) - Families in some poor nations are trapped in cycles of illness and poverty as authorities fail to tackle chronic health problems
Failure to aid drug users drives HIV spread - study: Reuters NewMedia - March 1, 2010; Kate Kelland; * Most injecting drug users have little or no protection * Experts say governments need better grasp of drug science * Critical problem in Russia , China , Malaysia , Thailand LONDON, March 1 (Reuters) - More than 90 percent of the world s 16 million injec
U.S. FDA warns of heart problem with HIV drug combo: Reuters NewMedia - February 23, 2010; * Warns about Invirase and Norvir used in combination * Says may cause heart rhythm abnormality * Says data preliminary, still being reviewed NEW YORK, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday that HIV drugs Invirase and Norvir might lead to an abnormal heart rhythm when u
Experts recommend finetuning of HIV treatment: Reuters NewMedia - February 23, 2010; HONG KONG, Feb 23 (Reuters) - How quickly an HIV patient s immune system deteriorates may not affect the outcome of the illness, a study has found, and this could help change current guidelines for treatment of the disease. There is no cure for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS, but combinations o
Future of AIDS gels may lie in drugs, experts say: Reuters NewMedia - February 19, 2010; Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor; * Pfizer s Selzentry works in monkey experiment * Gels without HIV drugs may not work WASHINGTON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The quest for a cream or gel to prevent AIDS infection has narrowed to using powerful HIV pills that are already on the market, scientists say. AIDS experts have long been searching for a microbicide --
AIDS vaccine effects may wear off, researchers say: Reuters NewMedia - February 18, 2010; Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor; * All hands on deck to find out how vaccine may work * Testing in higher-risk groups may yield better data WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - An AIDS vaccine that appears to have worked at least partly in Thailand may only temporarily protect patients, with the effects starting to wane after a year or so, researchers repor
U.S. company Virxsys says using AIDS to fight AIDS: Reuters NewMedia - February 18, 2010; Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor; * Vaccine lowered virus levels in monkeys * Company seeking human trials * Gene therapy approach may let some skip drugs WASHINGTON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - A company using genetically engineered versions of the AIDS virus says its unusual approach is getting some results, both for treating and perhaps as a vaccine against
British police arrest BBC man over ex-lover's death: Reuters NewMedia - February 17, 2010; LONDON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - British police on Wednesday arrested a BBC journalist on suspicion of murder after he admitted killing a former lover who was dying from AIDS. Broadcaster and gay rights campaigner Ray Gosling, 70, said he smothered an ex-boyfriend with a pillow in hospital to fulfil a pact they had made in c
Gilead Quad HIV pill succeeds in midstage study: Reuters NewMedia - February 17, 2010; * Says Quad achieves noninferiority to Atripla * To begin Phase III clinical trials this year * Shares rise 3.9 percent (Adds analyst comment; updates share price) NEW YORK, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Gilead Sciences Inc said its closely watched four-medicine combination HIV pill known as Quad had succeeded in a midstage clini
HIV drugs prevent infection in African study: Reuters NewMedia - February 17, 2010; Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor; WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People across Africa who took AIDS drugs were far less likely to infect their partners with the virus, researchers said on Wednesday. The study, presented at a meeting of AIDS experts, is one of the first to show so clearly that the drugs can prevent infection as well as keep patients healthy.
FACTBOX - Twenty years of freedom for Nelson Mandela: Reuters NewMedia - February 11, 2010; Feb 11 (Reuters) - Former South African President Nelson Mandela celebrates the 20th anniversary of his release from prison on Thursday, with the country a strong democracy but still plagued by inequality, poverty and unemployment. Here is a short summary of his life: * EARLY LIFE - Born July 18, 1918, son of a counsel
Desperate Somalis Turn to Prostitution In Yemen: Reuters NewMedia - February 10, 2010; ADEN, Yemen (Reuters) - Somali refugee Saada hates what she does but can see no other way to feed her six children -- working as a prostitute in the southern Yemeni city of Aden. My life is rubbish, but what can I do? I have to work and make some money, said the woman in her 30s, sitting with other Somali women in Aden
S.Africa's ANC cools to Zuma's steamy sex life: Reuters NewMedia - February 8, 2010; Peroshni Govender; * Zuma s affairs hitting ANC image * In private, ANC heavyweights want Zuma out JOHANNESBURG, Feb 8 (Reuters) - South African President Jacob Zuma s fathering of an illegitimate child has hit his chances of running for a second term, with some ANC heavyweights saying his sex life is damaging the party s image. Zuma
INTERVIEW - Millions at risk if AIDS focus fades, says expert: Reuters NewMedia - February 5, 2010; Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent; * HIV/AIDS epidemic far from defeated, says expert * Attention must be on prevention in hyper-endemic nations * Experts fear public interest, political focus is fading LONDON, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Global attention is turning away from the AIDS epidemic at just the wrong time and means a fresh wave of the disease could inf
Experts say 40 percent of cancers could be prevented: Reuters NewMedia - February 2, 2010; Kate Kelland; * Protection, prevention could avert 40 percent of cancers * Experts see cancer rates up 45 percent from 2007 to 2030 * Expert says tragedy that knowledge we have is not used LONDON, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Forty percent of the 12 million people diagnosed with cancer worldwide each year could avert the killer disease by prot
Obama budget boosts funds for tropical diseases: Reuters NewMedia - February 2, 2010; Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor; * Extraordinary impact for low cost * Diseases affect strategically important countries WASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama s budget proposes a unique new initiative -- battling some tropical diseases not just to improve health but as a national security strategy. Funding to fight diseases includi
Scientists Say Crack HIV / AIDS Puzzle For Drugs: Reuters NewMedia - February 1, 2010; LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists say they have solved a crucial puzzle about the AIDS virus after 20 years of research and that their findings could lead to better treatments for HIV. British and U.S. researchers said they had grown a crystal that enabled them to see the structure of an enzyme called integrase, which is f
Health spending a winner in Obama budget: Reuters NewMedia - February 1, 2010; Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor; * Budget focuses on taking basic research to patients * Analyzing DNA for new treatments gets priority * Building foreign health systems get a nod WASHINGTON, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Health research is a potential winner in the new U.S. budget proposed on Monday, with the National Institutes of Health in line for an extra $1
Zuma Told 20th Child Harms S.Africa Safe Sex Drive: Reuters NewMedia - February 1, 2010; JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South African opposition parties accused President Jacob Zuma on Monday of a cavalier attitude to safe sex that is hurting the HIV/AIDS campaign after news that a woman not one of his wives had had his 20th child. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, said Zuma, 68, was sending th
Gilead profit beats Street, shares up 6 pct: Reuters NewMedia - January 26, 2010; Deena Beasley; * Adjusted EPS $0.93 beats Street view of $0.85 * Revenue increases 42 pct to $2.03 billion * Shares rise 6 percent LOS ANGELES, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Gilead Sciences Inc said on Tuesday its quarterly profit rose a better-than-expected 43 percent on higher sales of its core HIV drugs and royalties on sales of the flu drug
Opium Cultivation Jumps In Northern Myanmar: Reuters NewMedia - January 26, 2010; BANGKOK (Reuters) - Opium poppy cultivation in Myanmar s northern Shan state has surged in areas controlled by the military-ruled government, a report said on Tuesday, adding to signs of an opium revival in the so-called Golden Triangle. The amount of land used in the Shan state to grow opium -- a paste from the poppy
Merck HIV drug from Schering merger fails trials: Reuters NewMedia - January 20, 2010; Ransdell Pierson; * Merck says will not seek drug approval at this time * HIV drug proves ineffective in two late-stage studies * Trial involved patients previously treated for HIV * Studies continue among previously untreated HIV patients NEW YORK, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Merck & Co on Wednesday said its experimental HIV treatment vicri
"Silent pandemic" will force drug price rethink: Reuters New Media - January 20, 2010; Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent; * Chronic disease pandemic looms over poorer nations * Success on infectious diseases means populations ageing * Experts say drug firms will be forced to rethink prices LONDON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - A silent pandemic of chronic disease is creeping up on poor countries and will force pharmaceutical firms to take a more tie
Circumcising Babies Could Help Africa AIDS Fight: Reuters New Media - January 19, 2010; LONDON (Reuters) - Circumcising newborn boys to stop them becoming infected with the AIDS virus in later life is more cost-effective than circumcising adult men, Rwandan health experts said on Tuesday. A study by Agnes Binagwaho and colleagues at Rwanda s health ministry found that the operation, which has been shown t
Canadian drug-injection site allowed to stay open: Reuters NewMedia - January 15, 2010; Allan Dowd; * Court rejects federal bid to close Insite facility * Local officials say Insite helps addicts, saves lives * Critics say facility condones illegal drug use. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The Canadian government must allow Vancouver s Insite facility, North America s only sanctioned drug-injection si
Gilead Sciences' HIV drug regimen meets mid-stage goal: Reuters NewMedia - January 6, 2010; * Says regimen of drugs not inferior to Atripla * Says discontinuations comparable in both study arms * Shares up as much as 4 pct BANGALORE, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Gilead Sciences Inc said top-line results of a mid-stage study showed that its experimental drug regimen to treat HIV infection met the main goal, sending its s
Amnesty Urges Release Of Detained Gay Malawi Couple: Reuters NewMedia - January 6, 2010; LILONGWE (Reuters) - Amnesty International urged Malawi on Wednesday to release two men arrested last week after becoming the first gay couple to wed in the conservative southern African state, which bars homosexuality. A Malawi court on Monday denied bail to Steve Mojeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga following their arrest
China fights growing problem of tuberculosis: Reuters NewMedia - January 6, 2010; Tan Ee Lyn; GUANGZHOU, China, Jan 6 (Reuters) - China, saddled with the world s second largest tuberculosis burden after India , is fighting an uphill battle against drug-resistant forms of the disease which will only drain the country s health budget. Drug-resistant TB, far more expensive to treat, emerges when patients fail to f
FACTBOX - Tuberculosis: A leading killer disease: Reuters NewMedia - January 6, 2010; HONG KONG, Jan 6 (Reuters) - More than 2 billion people, or a third of the world s total population, are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is the world s seventh-leading cause of death. It killed 1.8 million people worldwide last year, up from 1.77 million in
INTERVIEW - U.S. AIDS chief sees new goals in global battle: Reuters NewMedia - January 5, 2010; Andrew Quinn; * New AIDS focus will be on sustained healthcare programs * Governments, not NGOs, seen as main beneficiaries * AIDS drug treatment will expand but more slowly WASHINGTON, Jan 5 (Reuters) - The United States is retooling its global multibillion-dollar fight against HIV/AIDS to transform healthcare in some of the world
India's Cipla in drug supply talks with GSK, Teva: Reuters NewMedia - January 4, 2010; Farah Master; * Also confirms in negotiations with Boehringer Ingelheim * To launch 50-100 new products this year * Patent pool scheme making no headway HONG KONG, Jan 4 (Reuters) - Indian drug maker Cipla Ltd is in talks with drug companies including GlaxoSmithKline and Israel s Te
S.Africa's President Zuma marries for fifth time: Reuters NewMedia - January 4, 2010; Siphiwe Sibeko; * Zulu tradionalist Zuma now has three wives * Polygamy legal in S.Africa, marriage was Zuma s fifth NKANDLA, South Africa , Jan 4 (Reuters) - South African President Jacob Zuma married for the fifth time on Monday, giving the Zulu traditionalist his third current wife, witnesses and family members said. Multiple m

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