Italy's Prime Minister Discusses Medical Workers Release With Gaddafi
In related news, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi on Monday during an African Union summit in Ethiopia met with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to discuss the release of the six medical workers, Reuters reports. Prodi said he approached Gaddafi in a "very heartfelt way because this is a problem that has been going on for eight years." Prodi added that Gaddafi said that there still are "problems of reparations and compensation" to the families of the HIV-positive children but that "he would reflect on what [Prodi] told him and [they] would talk about it again" (Reuters, 1/30). Libya earlier this week proposed a plan to release the medical workers, Seif al-Islam Gaddafi -- the son of Muammar Gaddafi and head of Gaddafi International Foundation for Charity Associations -- said in a statement to a Bulgarian newspaper. "We have proposed a road map with solutions (satisfying) all parties: the parents, the Libyan government, the Bulgarian side, the E.U.," Seif al-Islam Gaddafi said. He added that the plan calls for "substantial compensation for the families of those affected" and the release of Libyan officer Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, who is in a Scottish jail for the 1988 Lockerbie bombing. According to Seif al-Islam Gaddafi, he has discussed the proposal with the foreign ministers of Germany and France (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 1/30). The U.S. on Tuesday responded to Seif al-Islam Gaddafi's announcement. Sean McCormack, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said, "If, in fact, the Libyans do act on what this gentleman has said, certainly that would be welcome ... news on many, many fronts" (AFP/Yahoo News, 1/30).
"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
May 7, 2007
Bulgaria To Press Charges Against Libyan Police Officers In HIV Infection Case
Thai Health Ministry Takes 'Bold Step' In Breaking Patent, Issuing Compulsory License For Antiretroviral Kaletra, Editorial Says
"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
House Passes $463B Spending Bill That Would Allocate $1.3B Increase To Fund International HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria Programs
"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Microbicide Trials Halted In Africa, India Because Of Possible Increased Risk Of HIV Transmission
Reaction
According to researchers, the findings are surprising because 11 smaller trials involving more than 500 women conducted since 1999 have found that cellulose sulfate is safe and effective against HIV transmission in laboratory tests (New York Times, 2/1). "This development saddens everyone," Zeda Rosenberg, CEO of the International Partnership for Microbicides, said, adding, "We cannot let it paralyze us. Globally, 17.7 women are living with HIV, and thousands more are infected every day. Prevention is the only way out of this epidemic." Nick Hellmann, interim director of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis at the Gates Foundation, called the results a "disappointment" but said that drug development is a "long, tortuous road." He added that "we have to proceed, stay the course and learn more lessons about what is required for the optimum microbicide product" (Wall Street Journal, 2/1). Lori Heise, director of the Global Campaign for Microbicides, said that "we wish the results had been different, but learning what doesn't work can be just as important to progress as learning what does work." Mitchell Warren, director of the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, said, "Each trial result is a puzzle piece, and together they make up the complex picture that will show us how to develop successful new HIV prevention tools" (Global Campaign for Microbicides release, 1/31). Pedro Cahn, president of the International AIDS Society, said, "While extremely disappointing, this setback is also an opportunity to learn why some women who used Ushercell were found to be at increased risk of HIV infection. This will strengthen future microbicide research and increase our overall knowledge of how such compounds work" (IAS release, 2/1).
"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Red Cross Launches Appeal For $50M To Expand HIV/AIDS Programs In Southern Africa
"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
April 16, 2007
Medical Services International Moves Into Additional Countries In Africa
The distributors have indicated that this could result in the purchase of up to an additional 2,000,000 VScan test kits per year. The Company believes that by the end of 2007, it will be the largest supplier of HIV, TB, Dengue Fever and Malaria rapid test kits in the world.
About VScan
The VScan rapid test kit is a single use, disposable, accurate, cost effective, easy to use test for the screening of HIV 1&2, Hepatitis B&C, Tuberculosis (TB), Dengue Fever, West Nile, Syphilis, Malaria and Prostate cancer. The kits cannot be sold in Canada.
Medical Services International Inc trades in the United States on the NQB Pinksheets under the symbol "MSITF". For further information go to http://www.medicalservicesintl.com or http://www.minerva-biotech.com.
Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Act of 1995. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause results to differ materially. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include but are not limited to new economic conditions, risk in product development, market acceptance of new products and continuing product demand, level of competition and other factors described in Company reports an other filings with regulatory bodies.
Medical Services International Inc
http://www.medicalservicesintl.com
USP Publishes Standards For Medications For Neglected Diseases
"Public standards for such medicines are urgently needed to help ensure that patients in all parts of the world have access to good quality medications," said Roger L. Williams, M.D., USP executive vice president and CEO. "These international standards will make it easier for healthcare organizations in countries without sufficient regulatory and pharmacopeial resources of their own to ensure the quality and purity of medications."
The World Health Organization estimates that 1 billion people -- one sixth of the world's population -- suffer from neglected tropical diseases. Widespread counterfeiting and distribution of sub-standard drugs has worsened this situation.
The initial two drugs included in the International Standards program are used in the treatment of HIV-AIDS: Abacavir Sulfate, and Efavirenz. These monographs are posted in draft form, with a 90-day period for public comment that ends on April 30, 2007. Instructions for submitting comments are at http://www.usp.org/internationalStandards/. Monographs for drugs used to treat malaria will be added shortly as part of the ongoing program.
USP's standards are widely recognized internationally as authoritative, science-based, and credible. They are developed through a process that is transparent and open to public comment. As the world's only private pharmacopeia, USP has the unique ability to work across borders, giving it the ability to set voluntary standards for medicines used outside the United States.
The worldwide public health benefits of the International Standards initiative include:
-- Supporting the effort to provide quality drugs to patients with the greatest need;
-- Helping ensure that medicines for neglected infectious diseases in international commerce meet a high standard of quality;
-- Ensuring the availability of science-based public standards that help prevent counterfeit, sub-standard, or adulterated medicines; and
-- Assisting foreign regulatory bodies, customs officials, purchasing agents, and others by providing information for testing the quality of medicines within a country or in international commerce.
For more information on USP's international standards, visit http://www.usp.org/internationalStandards/.
USP -- Advancing Public Health Since 1820
The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) is a nonprofit, nongovernmental, standards-setting organization that advances public health and improves patient safety by ensuring good pharmaceutical care. USP standards, which are recognized worldwide, are developed through a unique process of public involvement by volunteers representing pharmacy, medicine, and other healthcare professions, as well as science, academia, government, the pharmaceutical industry, and consumer organizations. For more information about USP and its standards-setting activities, visit http://www.usp.org/aboutUSP/media.
United States Pharmacopeia
http://www.usp.org/internationalStandards/
Thai Health Minister To Break Patents, Issue Compulsory Licenses For Antiretroviral, Heart Disease Drugs
"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
Violence Against Women Fueling Spread Of HIV Worldwide, Undermining Prevention Efforts, Advocates Say
"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.
DANIDA, UNFPA, Radio Station Launch Program In Vietnam To Provide Youth With HIV/AIDS Education
"Reprinted with permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation . © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.