BioCryst Pharmaceuticals (BCRX) BCX4430, a Hope in the Battle
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As the United States continues a new era of civilian biodefense research, it is also clear that USAMRIID plays a critical role in the status of the U.S.' preparedness for biological terrorism and biological warfare. While USAMRIID's primary mission is to protect the warfighter, its research benefits civilians as well.
Filoviruses, such as Ebola virus and Marburg virus, are extremely virulent. These pathogens are classified as Category A Bioterrorism Agents by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Marburg virus is a member of the family Filoviridae, along with Ravn virus, Ebola virus, Sudan virus and Bundibugyo virus, all of which cause severe viral hemorrhagic fevers in humans.
Ebola virus disease, formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans, characterized by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes.
Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. Ebola then spreads in the community through human-to-human transmission, with infection resulting from direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids.
More than 120 people have died from the latest Ebola outbreak in West Africa. With no cure or vaccine, it is one of the most deadly of viruses, killing between 60% to 90% of those infected.
Health officials do not expect the virus to go global and stress that Ebola is not easy to catch, requiring direct contact with an infected victim’s bodily fluids.
BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BCRX) recently reported the online publication in the journal Nature of extensive laboratory and nonclinical characterizations of BCX4430, including efficacy results in animal models of infection with Marburg virus and Ebola virus, two highly virulent pathogens responsible for viral hemorrhagic fever diseases.
The Nature online publication, "Protection against filovirus diseases by a novel broad-spectrum nucleoside analogue BCX4430," (http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature13027.html) represents the first report of protection of non-human primates from filovirus disease by a small molecule drug, and describes efficacy results generated from an ongoing collaboration between scientists at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) and BCRX.
Developed by BCRX, BCX4430 has demonstrated antiviral activity in testing conducted at BCRX Utah State University/NIAID and USAMRIID. BCX4430 has been shown to be active against more than 20 RNA viruses in nine different families, including filoviruses, togaviruses, bunyaviruses, arenaviruses, paramyxoviruses, coronaviruses and flaviviruses.
In tests conducted at USAMRIID, BCX4430 protected animals against parenteral exposures to Marburg, Ebola and Rift Valley Fever viruses and from exposures to aerosolized Marburg virus, an experimental condition designed to mimic an exposure scenario that could result during a bioterrorist attack.
BCX4430, a viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) inhibitor, is being developed as a countermeasure against human filovirus diseases and other viral diseases representing major public health threats. In September 2013, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) contracted with BCRX for the development of BCX4430 as a treatment for Marburg virus disease. In 2013, NIAID awarded funding of $7.5 million to BCRX, and total funding of up to $22.0 million, if all contract options are exercised. The goals of this contract are to file investigational new drug (IND) applications for intravenous and intramuscular BCX4430 for the treatment of Marburg virus disease, and to conduct Phase 1 human clinical trials.
BCRX designs, optimizes and develops novel small molecule drugs that block key enzymes involved in infectious and rare diseases, with the goal of addressing unmet medical needs of patients and physicians.
More about BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (BCRX) at www.BioCryst.com .
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Crown Equity Holdings Inc. (CRWE) is currently developing its CRWE Network (CRWE-PR.com), a social networking service compatible with both, the mobile and desktop web platform, that is designed to target all the communities in the U.S. and Canada.
Update: The CRWE Network, which business model is based on selling advertising to local businesses, has reached the 433th community website in the U.S., associated with 1894 ZIP Codes, and includes coverage of the greater state of California, Northern and Southern Nevada, Wellington in Florida and 9 provinces in Canada
The CRWE Network also is in the process of building an online medical marijuana informational and directory search platform. (http://medicalmarijuana.crwe-pr.com) The purpose of the site is to connect people with information in reference to the industry and patients to a network of physicians, dispensaries and more in reference to States with approved Medical Marijuana usage.
The addition of having CRWE-PR’s online medical marijuana news, information and directory is based on the momentum the industry has taken in positioning itself for additional grow in the future.
CRWE provides marketing solutions that boost customer awareness and merchant visibility on the Internet.
More about Crown Equity Holdings Inc. (CRWE) at www.crownequityholdings.com
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Keep a close eye on Dejour Energy Inc. (DEJ) . The company reported that gross daily production at its Woodrush project in NE British Columbia is currently 540 boepd (380 net), an increase of 60% over average gross daily production during the fourth 2013 of 316 boepd (237 net).
Recently, DEJ closed the purchase of certain natural gas producing assets and related processing facilities adjacent to its Woodrush oilfield 120 km. north of Ft. St. John, B.C.
The assets acquired include a 54% working interest in a currently producing Halfway formation well and a 74% working interest in 3 shut-in Halfway natural gas wells. One of those wells has now been reactivated and is producing an additional ~1mmcf/d into DEJ’s sales line at Woodrush.
DEJ is analyzing the best procedure for reactivating the remaining wells. Proven Developed Producing reserve additions are now being calculated.
In 2013, DEJ generated $9.3 million in gross revenues, a 35% increase over 2012, and positive cash flow from operations of $521,000 compared with a cash deficiency from operations of $2.2 million in 2012.
DEJ is an independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company operating projects in North America’s Piceance Basin (approximately 71,500 net acres) and Peace River Arch regions (approximately 17,000 net acres).
More about Dejour Energy Inc. (DEJ) at www.dejour.com
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