Data published in the New England Journal of Medicine support use of raxibacumab (ABthrax) for the treatment of inhalation anthraxJuly 10, 2009Biologics License Application pending for first-in-class treatment for inhalation anthrax; HGS has delivered 20,000 doses of raxibacumab to the US Strategic National Stockpile for emergency use under a contract with BARDA ROCKVILLE, Maryland - Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) today announced publication by the New England Journal of Medicine of the results of two pivotal animal efficacy studies, which showed the life-saving potential of the Company's human monoclonal antibody drug raxibacumab (ABthrax™), as well as the results of human safety studies, which supported the use of raxibacumab in the event of life-threatening inhalation anthrax disease. "The results published today showed that a single dose of raxibacumab was highly effective as a treatment for inhalation anthrax in both rabbits and monkeys," said Sally D. Bolmer, Ph.D., R.A.C, lead author and Senior Vice President, Development and Regulatory Affairs, HGS. "Raxibacumab acted quickly to provide a significant survival benefit to animals showing clinical signs of disease caused by exposure to a dose of aerosolized anthrax spores that was approximately 200 times the median lethal dose. We also note that the safety profile shown in healthy human volunteers provides support for use of raxibacumab in the clinical setting of immediately life-threatening inhalation anthrax disease." Raxibacumab represents a new way to address the anthrax threat. While antibiotics can kill the anthrax bacteria, they are not effective against the deadly toxins that the bacteria produce. Raxibacumab targets anthrax toxins after they are released by the bacteria into the blood and tissues. In an inhalation anthrax attack, people may not know they are infected with anthrax until the toxins already are circulating in their blood, and it may be too late for antibiotics alone to be effective. "We are very proud that the importance of these data and the rigor and high quality of our scientists' work have led to publication in The New England Journal of Medicine," said David C. Stump, M.D., Executive Vice President, Research and Development, HGS. "Based on these results, we believe raxibacumab has the potential to be a significant step forward in the treatment of inhalation anthrax." Edelman Public Relations |
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| Related Anthrax Current Events and Anthrax News Articles Milestone biodefense publication by Elsevier journal Vaccine Last week during the 'Vaccines for Biothreats and Emerging and Neglected Diseases Symposium' in Galveston TX, USA, the Elsevier journal Vaccine released a supplement dedicated to vaccines for biodefense. Cigarettes Harbor Many Bacteria Harmful to Human Health Cigarettes are "widely contaminated" with bacteria, including some known to cause disease in people, concludes a new international study conducted by a University of Maryland environmental health researcher and microbial ecologists at the Ecole Centrale de Lyon in France. New explanation for nature's hardiest life form Got food poisoning? The cause might be bacterial spores, en extremely hardy survival form of bacteria, a nightmare for health care and the food industry and an enigma for scientists. Better immune defense against anthrax Scientists discover a gene in anthrax-causing bacteria may help defend against this form of bio-warfare. Argonne researchers develop method that aims to stabilize antibodies Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory have developed a systematic method to improve the stability of antibodies. Early detection and quick response are key to defense against anthrax attack A large attack on a major metropolitan area with airborne anthrax could affect more than a million people, necessitating their treatment with powerful antibiotics. One secret to how TB sticks with you Mycobacterium tuberculosis is arguably the world's most successful infectious agent because it knows how to avoid elimination by slowing its own growth to a crawl. Unexpected discovery can open a new chapter in the fight against tuberculosis A close relative of the microorganism that causes tuberculosis in humans has been found to form spores. Genetic switch potential key to new class of antibiotics Researchers have determined the structure of a key genetic mechanism at work in bacteria, including some that are deadly to humans, in an important step toward the design of a new class of antibiotics. UI chemists' DNA biosynthesis discovery could lead to better antibiotics Combating several human pathogens, including some biological warfare agents, may one day become a bit easier thanks to research reported by a University of Iowa chemist and his colleagues in the April 16 issue of the journal Nature. More Anthrax Current Events and Anthrax News Articles |
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