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By Category: Countermeasures

‘Left-handed iron corkscrews’ point the way to new weapon in battle against superbugs like MRSA

(University of Warwick) Scientists at the University of Warwick have taken inspiration from corkscrew structures found in nature to develop a new weapon in the fight against infections like E-coli and MRSA. Researchers have created a new synthetic class of helix-shaped molecules which they believe could be a key tool in the worldwide battle against Read More »

November 29, 2011
| Filed under North America, Biotechnology, Countermeasures, Public Health, and Research
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Senate Democrat Seeks Investigation of Obama’s No-Bid Contract for Smallpox Drug

(ABC News) A top Senate Democrat has requested an investigation into the Obama administration’s awarding a $433 million no-bid contract to the maker of an experimental smallpox vaccine. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., says the five-year contract from the Department …

November 28, 2011
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, and Policy & Initiatives
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Federal review of $433-million contract for smallpox drug requested

(Los Angeles Times) A Senate subcommittee chairwoman is calling for a federal review of the Obama administration’s award of a $433-million sole-source contract for an experimental smallpox drug. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), in a news release issued Wednesday by her subcommittee, said that she has asked the inspector general of the Department of Health and Read More »

November 25, 2011
| Filed under North America, Countermeasures, Policy & Initiatives, and Public Health
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Portland Updates Bioterrorism Response Plan

(GSN Daily News)Authorities in Portland, Ore., have adopted a blueprint for delivering medical treatments directly to locals in a bioterrorism incident, Emergency Management reported on Friday (see GSN, Feb. 12, 2009). The city would previously have asked individuals to retrieve such drugs from a central location, but specialists said that plan might have limited the Read More »

November 23, 2011
| Filed under Bioterrorism, Countermeasures, and Public Health
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Australia Could Support Bioweapon Vaccine Development

(GSN Daily News) The United States has requested support from the government operator of a newly opened biological defense laboratory in Australia to develop vaccines for potential bioterrorism agents, the Melbourne Herald Sun reported last week (see GSN, Sept. 18, 2009). The new $5 million portion of the Australian Animal Health Laboratory is expected to Read More »