PARIS, November 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
The Partnering for Cure faculty of experts today
announced the four recipients of awards for research proposals that
will help to provide insights into the pathophysiology of viral
diseases and the potential development of cure strategies in HIV,
hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV). As part of Bristol-Myers
Squibb's ongoing commitment in virology, these awards provide an
opportunity for European researchers, particularly junior faculty
and young investigators, to accelerate novel solutions that could
lead to cures in chronic viral infections.
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The recipients of the 2014 Partnering for Cure research
awards include:
- Elisa De Crignis (the
Netherlands) - Human liver organoids: a novel technology to
unravel Determinants of HBV infection and persistence
- Salim Khakoo (UK) -
Predictive factors to define candidates for stopping antiviral
therapy with Nucleos(t)ides analogues in chronic HBeAg-negative
hepatitis B
- Pedro Borrego
(Portugal) - Gene therapy for HIV
cure using RNA replicons targeting HIV entry and latency
- Godelieve de Bree
(the Netherlands) - The properties
of the lymphoid viral reservoir and the HIV specific CD8+ T cell
response in early treatment of acute HIV infection
Bristol-Myers Squibb will
allocate over €300,000 to support the four research projects.
The announcement follows a year of intense activity for the
programme, reflecting the rapidly evolving arena of HIV and
hepatitis cure research. Events bringing together leading
physicians and researchers across Europe have focused on topics ranging from the
treatment challenges in the management of patients with HIV
infection to unresolved cure challenges in HBV and HCV.
Professor Jürgen Rockstroh, Chair of the Partnering for
Cure Faculty, commented, "We are delighted to announce this
year's research winners. Since the programme was founded last year,
Partnering for Cure has enabled novel research into viral
diseases to progress, while also facilitating the exchange of
knowledge among industry-leading virology experts. These activities
are vital in helping to discover future cures for diseases such as
hepatitis and HIV."
The announcement follows two major scientific conferences held
this year that emphasised the still largely unmet medical needs of
patients with viral diseases. The 20th International
AIDS Conference, held in July, explored progress towards HIV cure
and the current scientific and social challenges still faced by
researchers, as well as healthcare providers. More recently, this
month the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
(AASLD) hosted the annual Liver Meeting which examined recent
progress in HCV cure and the treatment options that are now
available to patients.
George Hanna MD, Vice President,
Virology Development at Bristol-Myers Squibb, remarked,
"Bristol-Myers Squibb has a long-standing commitment to the fight
against viral diseases. Through the Partnering for Cure
programme and this latest round of awards, we are pledging our
continued commitment to virology education, treatment and
research."
About Partnering for Cure
Partnering for Cure is a European medical education
programme developed as part of Bristol-Myers Squibb's ongoing
commitment to virology research, education and transforming
clinical outcomes for patients with chronic viral diseases. The
programme focuses on recent and ongoing cure research in HIV, HBV
and HCV.
The objectives of the programme are to:
- Provide medical education to physicians interested in virology
cure research
- Provide support to researchers active in virology cure
research
- Provide a forum for physicians and researchers to discuss
advances in virology cure
The Partnering for Cure initiative reinforces
Bristol-Myers Squibb's commitment in virology, which is rooted in
the company's legacy in virology and ongoing research in HIV and
viral hepatitis. Chronic viral infections make a substantial
contribution to the burden of chronic diseases and premature
mortality worldwide. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated
that in 2013, more than 1.5 million people died as a result of
HIV-related causes.[1] WHO also attributes over one
million deaths to viral hepatitis infection each
year.[2] Infections with hepatitis B and C viruses also
cause an estimated 57 percent of cases of liver cirrhosis and 78
percent of cases of primary liver cancer annually.[3]
Whilst important advances have been made over the last decade,
significant unmet needs and the opportunity for cure
remains, particularly in HIV.
Bristol-Myers Squibb's
Commitment to Virology
For over 20 years, Bristol-Myers Squibb has worked
collaboratively with the virology community to help meet the needs
of patients living with HIV, HBV and HCV - by providing and
developing medicines such as Zerit®,
Videx®, Sustiva®,
Atripla®*, Reyataz®,
Baraclude®, Daklinza®,
supporting clinical research on new innovative compounds,
supporting disease education efforts, and improving access to
medicines in the developing world.
Bristol-Myers Squibb supports a
number of scientific and educational programs within the virology
community around the world that encompass disease education,
disease awareness and sharing of best practices. In addition to
Partnering for Cure these include
SHE®
(Strong, HIV
positive, Empowered
Women/Strong, HIV
positive Women Educational
Programme), a comprehensive and innovative programme for women
living with HIV and their healthcare providers, PATH
B® (Patients and
professionals acting together
for hepatitis B),
a joint initiative between hepatitis patient groups and
hepatologists to provide comprehensive information and support for
patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Additionally, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation's philanthropic
and educational programmes, such as Secure the
Future® and Delivering Hope®, aim
to support people living with HIV in Africa and with viral hepatitis in
Asia, through numerous
private-public partnerships and community based projects.
* Atripla® is a trademark of Bristol-Myers
Squibb Co. and Gilead Sciences, Inc.
1. World Health Organization. HIV/AIDS statistics. 2014.
Available at: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs360/en/ .
Last accessed: September 2014
2. World Health Organization. Global Alert and Response (GAR):
Hepatitis. 2014. Available at:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/hepatitis/world_hepatitis_day/question_answer/en/.
Last accessed: September 2014.
3. WHO and WHA, Global Policy Report on the Prevention and
Control of Viral Hepatitis, 2013,
http://global-report.worldhepatitisalliance.org/en/home.html
Video:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/72762592-bristol-myers-squibb-cure-programme/
Mercury ID: VIRUK14NP09803-01
Date of preparation: November
2014