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       Following aborting the terrorist plot in London, then the cessation of hostilities in the Middle East, the market seems to smile today. The NASDAQ, which is the exchange of most biotech stocks is edging up until further notice. Specific news about biotech accomplishments usually disappear in the weekends, except for some bad news, if any, and of news coming from conferences. Some good news expected to be further elaborated on at XVI International AIDS Conference include:

MONOGRAM BIOSCIENSES (MGRM): This firm reported that four studies demonstrating the utility and clinical significance of its Trofile™ co-receptor tropism in directly and accurately determining whether a patient's virus is able to gain entry into cells via the CCR5 or CXCR4 co-receptor, or a combination of the two. The Trofile assay has been used for patient selection in Pfizer's phase III trial of maraviroc, its investigational CCR5 antagonist, and Monogram is collaborating with Pfizer Inc. to make its co-receptor tropism assay available for patient use on a global basis in anticipation of FDA and EMEA approval.

 "Drug resistance continues to be a major problem in HIV management, and patients are in need of new classes of drugs, including CCR5 antagonists," said Monogram CEO Bill Young. "Despite advances in treatment options for HIV-infected patients, we know that not every drug candidate is appropriate for every patient. Our assays help screen patients to identify those most likely to respond to these new classes of drugs based on the tropism of the infecting virus."

 

This is good news for this small firm, whose stock is trading under $1.5  

READ MORE: Four Studies Affirm Significance of Monogram's Trofile (TM) HIV Co-Receptor Tropism Assay

VERTEX IVRTX): Updated treatment guidelines by the International AIDS Society-USA (IAS-USA) are issued to now include the HIV protease inhibitor LEXIVA® boosted with ritonavir as a recommended option for protease inhibitor-based regimens in the initial treatment of adults with HIV infection. These guidelines were presented today at the International AIDS Conference (IAC) in Toronto, Canada. LEXIVA is a protease inhibitor that was co-discovered by GlaxoSmithKline and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX).

LEXIVA is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV infection in adults. LEXIVA was approved by the FDA for use in the US in 2003.  

This is good news for Vertex.

READ MORE: Updated HIV Treatment Guidelines Now Include LEXIVA(R) (fosamprenavir calcium)/r for Initial Antiretroviral Treatment Regimens

 

   



 

 
   

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