What’s in a Name?  Would ‘Carbavance’ Still Smell as Sweet?

Since the publication of a series of posters at ICAAC 2014, we finally know what’s hidden behind the ‘Carbavance’ name.  ‘Carbavance’ stands for the combination of meropenem with the B-lactamase inhibitor RPX7009 which The Medicines Company (TMC) inlicensed from Rempex Pharmaceuticals a few years ago.  This is the ‘Carbavance’ which Continue reading What’s in a Name?  Would ‘Carbavance’ Still Smell as Sweet?

Perusing the Literature

Inhibitor of the NDM Enzyme Aspergillomarasmine (AMA) was identified as an inhibitor of the New Delhi metallo-betalactamase (NDM) enzyme. This substance, when combined with meropenem, restored antibiotic activity against an NDM lab strain.   AMA is a substance which was already tested in the past in humans.  Concerns about interference with human metalloenzymes proved Continue reading Perusing the Literature

African Swine Fever Epidemics in Russia

You are excused if “Pig Progress” or “The Pig Site” are not journals on your regular reading list.  So, you may not have heard about the massive recent culling of swine in Russia in response to outbreaks of ASF (African swine fever).  ASF is a severe hemorrhagic disease associated with mortality Continue reading African Swine Fever Epidemics in Russia