World-first Hendra treatment one step closer Queensland researchers are about to take a major step closer towards proving the safety of the only known effective treatment for preventing human disease with Hendra virus once a person has been exposed. Queensland Health Minister, Lawrence Springborg, Queensland Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Dr John McVeigh and New South Wales Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, recently announced a $1.2 million grant to fund a clinical trial of a human monoclonal antibody capable of neutralizing Hendra virus. “This world-first trial will test the monoclonal antibody in a small group of people for the first time to evaluate its safety, determine a safe dosage range and identify any side effects,” Mr Springborg said. “There are many organisations involved in Hendra virus research and treatment as it’s a problem that knows no borders. “This is a collaboration between groups in Queensland, NSW and the United States to develop a new medicine that could save lives in the event of a Hendra virus incident in Australia.” “Funding for the trial was drawn from $9 million provided for Hendra virus research from the Queensland, NSW and Commonwealth governments National Hendra Virus Research Program, which all contributed $3 million each for Hendra virus research. “The Commonwealth Government also provided a separate $400,000 National Health and Medical Research Council grant to the University of Queensland,” Mr Springborg said. The antibody for the trial was developed through a long-standing association between Queensland Health and the laboratories of Professor Christopher Broder of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Dr Dimiter Dimitrov of the National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health in the United States. They also worked with researchers at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) at the University of Queensland, and clinicians at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. Story below from The Courier Mail.
Posted on: Fri, 01 Nov 2013 08:03:08 +0000
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