September 2, 2010
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BARDA Funds Development of New Way to Treat Illness from Acute Radiation (HHS News Release) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) today awarded a $153 million contract to Cellerant Therapeutics, Inc. of San Carlos, Calif., to continue developing a new way to treat an illness caused by exposure to high levels of ionizing radiation which can damage the body’s cells – the type of radiation that would come from a nuclear blast.
Some Donated Malaria Drugs Being Stolen in Africa (AP/Google News) Millions of free malaria drugs are sent to Africa every year by international donors. New research is now providing evidence for what health workers have long suspected: some of the donated medication is being stolen and resold on commercial markets.
Dr Sambo Proposes Establishment of a U.S.$100 Million African Public Health Emergency Fund (WHO Media Centre) WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, has proposed the establishment of a U.S.$100 million African Public Health Emergency Fund (APHEF) to be financed from agreed appropriations and voluntary contributions from Member States. The purpose of the proposed Fund is to mobilize, manage and disburse additional resources from countries for strengthening national and regional capacities and systems to identify, verify, notify and respond rapidly and effectively to epidemic and pandemic-prone diseases.
U.S. Non-committal on Resuming NKorea Nuclear Talks (AFP/Google News) The United States said Wednesday it planned more consultations with its partners after hearing China's perspective on reviving stalled six-party nuclear disarmament talks with North Korea.
The Antibiotics Market (Nature) The antibiotics market generated sales of US$42 billion in 2009 globally, representing 46% of sales of anti-infective agents (which also include antiviral drugs and vaccines) and 5% of the global pharmaceutical market1. However, the antibiotics market is maturing; it showed an average annual growth of 4% over the past 5 years, compared with a growth of 16.7% and of 16.4% for antiviral drugs and vaccines, respectively1.
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