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BLUE BELL, Pa., Jan. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE MKT: INO) and its development partner VGX International, Inc. (KSE:011000) will move Inovio's hepatitis C (HCV) DNA vaccine into a phase I/IIa clinical trial by the end of 2013. This advancement is based on outstanding results of a preclinical study which demonstrated for the first time that a multi-antigen SynCon HCV vaccine can generate robust T-cell responses not only in the blood but, more importantly, in the liver, an organ known to supress T-cell activity. VGX International is funding all preclinical and clinical development.

In preparation for entering clinical trials with its HCV vaccine (INO-8000), Inovio has completed manufacturing of its multi-antigen HCV vaccine and is performing IND (Investigational New Drug application)-enabling toxicity testing in animals. INO-8000 is a SynCon HCV therapeutic vaccine targeting NS3/4A, NS4B, and NS5A proteins of HCV. INO-8000 was designed with Inovio's SynCon process to broadly cover HCV genotypes 1a and 1b, the types that have been most difficult to treat with drug therapies.

It is estimated that more than 5 million people in the United States are infected with hepatitis C, and perhaps as many as 200 million around the world. This makes HCV one of the greatest public health threats of this century.

HCV vaccine research to date has mostly focused on one area of the virus (the NS3/4A proteins) to induce T-cell responses; however, there has been little research aimed at elucidating whether vaccines targeting proteins other than NS3/4A can induce potent T-cell responses within the liver. In this study, Inovio and its collaborators developed SynCon antigen constructs that targeted three other areas of the HCV virus (NS4B, NS5A and NS5B) and then demonstrated that each vaccine construct expressed its respective protein and that all three constructs induced potent HCV-specific T-cells in mice.

Prior research has also identified that a successful HCV vaccine must be able to induce not only strong HCV-specific T-cell responses that target several components of the virus but that these cells must migrate to the liver and remain activated. In this study, Inovio researchers observed in the liver not only NS4B-, NS5A- and NS5B-specific CD4+ and CD8+ (or killer T-cell) responses, but also a large pool of vaccine-specific T-cells. This pool of vaccine-specific T-cells was shown to be fully functional in an environment in which T-cell activity is usually suppressed. In fact, using a transient HCV infection model in mice, therapeutic immunization with INO-8000 was able to clear HCV antigens from the liver, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of this vaccine.

The pioneering preclinical research appears in the peer-reviewed journal Plos One in an article entitled: "Induction of Intrahepatic HCV NS4B, NS5A and NS5B Specific Cellular Immune Responses following Peripheral Immunization."

In addition to moving forward with INO-8000, Inovio has a long-standing partnership with ChronTech Pharma, which is developing its NS3/4A-based HCV DNA vaccine using Inovio's proprietary delivery technology. Interim results of ChronTech's open-label, randomized phase II trial are expected later in the first quarter of this year.

Dr. J. Joseph Kim, Inovio's President and CEO, said, "Inovio is a leader in developing therapeutic vaccines for HCV and HBV. The major hurdle to developing therapeutic vaccines for these ailments has been the inability to generate a functional T-cell response in the liver. The fact that our preclinical model demonstrated functional T-cells in the liver in this published study suggests that INO-8000 has the capacity to clear that hurdle. There have been important recent drug therapy advances for HCV; however, a safe and effective therapeutic vaccine could play a vital role in enhancing the potency of HCV treatments, especially for genotype 1, while achieving the desired goal of eliminating the use of interferon/ribavirin and their undesirable side effects."

About Hepatitis C and Inovio's SynCon Vaccines

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting primarily the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to liver failure or liver cancer. Approximately 80% of people who become infected with hepatitis C virus develop chronic infection.

Originally posted here:
Inovio Pharmaceuticals to Initiate Clinical Trial for its Hepatitis C Therapeutic Vaccine (INO-8000) Later this Year

Tremendous progress has been made in controlling the pandemic of hepatitis C virus. This virus, which affects about 180 million people globally and up to 5 million Americans, has been difficult to treat, using drugs with only modest potency and significant side effects resulting in cure rates of only about 50 percent.

However, two new drugs were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2011, and several additional agents are in late stages of clinical testing. Cure rates now are in the 65 percent to 85 percent range, depending on the stage of the disease and which strain of the virus is involved. And within the next few years, cure rates are expected to rise even more dramatically.

HCV has been called a silent killer, because the majority of infected individuals are unaware of their disease and have minimal symptoms. However, it is now recognized most infected people will develop chronic liver disease. The effects begin to show up decades after the initial infection; HCV is now the leading cause of end-stage liver disease (cirrhosis) and liver cancer.

Who is at risk for HCV, and who should be tested? HCV is a virus transmitted person to person by exchanging blood or blood-tainted body fluids. The virus is not transmitted casually, and you will not be infected by engaging in normal social activities with infected individuals. Before developing a test to check for HCV in 1992 for blood donors, approximately

10 percent of all units of blood were contaminated. So anyone who received a transfusion before then is potentially at risk.

The majority of new infections occur in people who engage in activities such as injectable drug use with needle sharing, getting a piercing or tattoo in any setting other than a licensed establishment that strictly follows health department regulations, intranasal cocaine use with sharing of straws or other paraphernalia, and sexual intercourse. Mother-to-child transmission also occurs occasionally.

Anyone who fits into the above categories is encouraged to be tested. Additionally, in 2012 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that anyone born between 1945 and 1965 be tested. These baby boomers account for about 2 million of those infected the vast majority of whom are unaware if they are infected.

There are important reasons to be tested. The first is to prevent transmission of the virus to others by modifying ones behavior. Secondly, because of dramatic therapeutic advances, the disease frequently can be cured, either with current drugs or with ones that will become available soon. There is no latent or dormant state. Once your physician tells you the virus is gone, it stays gone (unless you are exposed again). Finally, it has been shown that advanced liver disease will improve once the virus is eliminated.

We have significant optimism that we can get ahead of the HCV epidemic.

In conclusion, all baby boomers, anyone who received a transfusion of blood or blood products before 1992, anyone who has engaged in activities involving exposure to the blood of other individuals, or anyone who has been sexually active with several partners may harbor hepatitis C.

The rest is here:
Nurse’s notes: Hep C virus is treatable

Novel Coronavirus made its appearance in 2012, a new strain of the Coronavirus which causes a number of infections to humans and animals, the most common of which is the common cold but also more pathogenic diseases such as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). After a period of alarm, the chatter has gone quiet...before the storm?

WHO Report: Background and summary of Novel Coronavirus infection - as of December 2012. A comment: From SARS to SARI.

In this column I have, on numerous occasions, criticized the World Health Organization and the international response to Swine Flu, or Influenza A H1N1, which swept the world in 2009; the response was basically to sit back and watch as the flu virus spread, informing the world as to how quickly it was passing from Phase 1 to Phase 6 and then looking on as vaccines were hastily put together and administered. Meanwhile some grew rich with the sale of millions of doses of drugs.

So pardon the alarm when the Novel Coronavirus appeared in 2012 and pardon my skepticism when the World Health Organization states that there have been nine reported cases of Novel Coronavirus infection, occasioning SARI (Severe Acute Respiratory Infection, kidney failure, pericarditis and disseminated intravascular coagulation, depending on the case.

While the WHO concentrates on its findings in Jordan, there have been numerous reports of a cluster of cases in Norway and what the WHO itself refers to as "unconfirmed probable cases", in the plural. The WHO admits 2 cases in Qatar, 5 in Saudi Arabia and 2 in Jordan. Five of these nine severely ill patients have died.

However, how are these things documented? The WHO has claimed that there were two initial cases in Saudi Arabia, one of whom died, and they were unrelated since the victims came from different parts of the country. Then there was a cluster of three cases in the same family (2 died) but another family member living in the same house who developed similar symptoms does not count because he tested negative by Polymerase Chain reaction tests.

I repeat: He had similar symptoms, but does not count.

Both cases in Jordan died, the two from Qatar survived. But what about, in the WHO's own report, "the number of health care workers with pneumonia associated with the cases...now considered probable case(s)"?

They don't count either. And those in Norway?

Then we have the expression "There was no history of travel or contact with animals among confirmed or probable cases". We now know that these are hard to document since the original line of "nine cases" appears to be much more and if animals are not involved, then we have either an unknown source of transmission or else human-to-human transmission.

Read more here:
Coronavirus: What happened to the new killer?

A DISTRAUGHT dog lover is urging other pet owners not to scrimp on vaccinations after her daughters beloved Chihuahua died from a killer disease.

Patricia McAlpine said she felt terrible for not getting little Tyra, inset, vaccinated against parvovirus after her death ruined Christmas for the Eaglescliffe family.

The family has four puppies from Tyra which may now have the virus, but are too young to be vaccinated.

Canine parvovirus type 2 is highly contagious and is spread from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their faeces.

Vaccines can prevent the infection, but mortality can reach 91% in untreated cases.

When Patricia bought Tyra as a present for her 10-year-old daughter Ashton, she took the decision not to have the dog vaccinated.

I thought shed get all the exercise she needed in the garden, so didnt think she was at risk, she said. But apparently it can be carried into the house on shoes.

Once the Chihuahua contracted the virus her condition deteriorated rapidly, said Patricia.

On Christmas Eve she went from being as bright as a button to being put to sleep within 24 hours. Thats how quick it was. It was horrendous.

She just started vomiting and foaming at the mouth. I thought she had rabies.

Read more here:
Eaglescliffe dog lover's warning after beloved Chihuahua dies from parvovirus

4 January 2013 Last updated at 19:45 ET By Martin Vennard BBC World Service

After a summer of record-high temperatures in the US in 2012, health officials are still dealing with the repercussions of mosquito-borne diseases. Could genetically-modified insects halt their spread?

The year 2012 ended with an ignoble distinction. According to the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), it was the worst year for West Nile virus since 2003.

The CDCP says record-high temperatures could well have helped the mosquitoes that transmit the disease to thrive.

At the same time, new outbreaks of dengue fever on the Mexican side of the Texas-Mexico border had US officials worried that the virus would slowly spread north.

And experts fear that in 2013, it's only going to get worse.

A British company, Oxitec, has come up with a plan to control the bugs and combat dengue fever. Its scientists have designed genetically modified mosquitoes that have one mission - to kill off the rest of their species.

But is the plan too radical for its own good?

The World Health Organization says dengue ranks as the most important mosquito-borne viral disease in the world. In the last 50 years, incidence has increased 30-fold.

It is now endemic in Puerto Rico and in many popular tourist destinations in Latin America and South East Asia.

Original post:
Can genetically modified mosquitoes prevent disease in the US?