Whole Network Gene Therapy Microbiology Nanomedicine Stem Cells

 

Two New Vaccines Against Viral Diarrhea

Filed in archive Drugs, Vaccines and Therapeutics by ruth on January 9, 2006

Rotavirus: Methods & Protocols (Methods in Molecular Medicine)

According to the CDC, Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among children, resulting in the hospitalization of approximately 55,000 children each year in the United States and the death of over 600,000 children annually worldwide.

Although the US FDA approved the live oral live virus vaccine (Rotashield) for use in children in 1998, this vaccine is not recommended for infants due to a strong association between Rotashield and intussusception (bowellinks obstruction).

Clinical trials, however, indicate that two new oral vaccines, virtually eliminated the most severe cases of rotavirus, are safe and showed no adverse side effects such as intestinal blockage, or intussusception. Both are both live oral vaccines intended to be given to infants at the same time as their immunizations for diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus, but they differ in their approaches, strains, and formulations.

Rotarix, from GlaxoSmithKline:

  • monovalent

  • derived from the most common human rotavirus strain, G1P[8], that has been attenuated by serial passage

  • administered in two oral doses one to two months apart.



Rotateq, from Merck:

  • pentavalent

  • based on a bovine strain, WC3, naturally attenuated for humans

  • three oral doses are required, with at least a month between doses.



The results of both clinical trials are published in this week's New England Journal of Medicine. The Editorial compares the two clinical studies, and provide more in-depth analysis on The Promise of New Rotavirus Vaccines, urging the need for further trials:

...a number of issues remain to be faced before rotavirus vaccines can realize their full potential. For the developed world, issues of price, acceptability, public awareness, and fear of intussusception will need to be addressed before the effect of this vaccine will be fully felt. The key question for the global community will be to determine whether these vaccines work equally well among the poorest children in the developing world. Live oral vaccines must replicate and be processed in the infant's gut in order to induce a good immune response and be protective.


With the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, the World Health Organization, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation backing up these studies, safe, effective and affordable rotavirus vaccines may finally be within reach.

Sources: New England Journal of Medicine, East Virginia Medical School






Permalink: Two New Vaccines Against Viral Diarrhea
Tags: diarrhea  rotavirus  vaccines  biotech  against  against+viral  vaccines+against  viral+diarrhea 

Trackback: http://www.creative-weblogging.com/cgi-bin/mt-tb.pl/13491





RSSrss   | See all blog subscribe options
Google google   |   What is RSS?
Yahoo! yahoo
Addthis Subscribe using any feed reader!
Bloglines Bloglines
Newsletter
Grouptivity

Use the search to look for other interesting posts



 
  • Advertise with us

  • Learn more about our advertising options or email advertising - at - creative-weblogging.com or give us a call at +1 (650) 331 4900.


  • Testimonials

  • 'Very nice blog layout with great content. Are you interested in Star Trek props that are quickly becoming reality? Then this is the blog for you. Human medical scanners, nano technology and more great technological advancements.' -VirtualLoop Blog of the Week

    'I subscribe to your blog and have been enjoying your posts and perspective.'


  • Other blogs in the same channel in the Creative Weblogging Network







 

Tagcloud: Biotech Hubs and Facilities Biotech/Science Blogs Corporate and Industrial News Diagnostics, Methodologies and Instrumentation Drugs, Vaccines and Therapeutics Energy, Environment and Ecology Food and Agriculture Gene Therapy Genomics, Proteomics and Bioinformatics Meetings and Other Events Microbiology Nanomedicine Other Biotechnology News Patents and Intellectual Property Rights Sponsored Post Stem Cells