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Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection can lead to life-threatening disease in people with weakened immune systems. Research at the University of Glasgow has genetically characterised a strain of HCMV, known as `Merlin'. This research directly led to the adoption of this strain as the first diagnostic standard by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The standard has been distributed to 43 countries and is used in major commercial diagnostic test kits, including the first standardised test approved by the United States Food & Drug Administration. The standard provides consistency across healthcare centres in relation to the diagnosis of HCMV-associated disease and the clinical management of patients treated with HCMV antiviral drugs.
Basic and translational research undertaken since 1993 by UCL Virology has defined the natural history and pathogenesis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease. As a consequence of our work, rapid diagnosis and pre-emptive therapy are now available worldwide for this important infection. We have provided a national reference service for strains of CMV resistant to current antiviral drugs and for diagnosis of congenital CMV infection.
A new family of antiviral agents, bicyclic nucleoside analogues (BCNAs), discovered in Cardiff University has led to a highly potent anti-VZV (shingles) molecule, FV-100. On a worldwide basis more than two million patients are affected by shingles annually. FV-100 has successfully completed Phase II clinical trials, showing it is safe, potent and effective and with clinical advantages over the current standard of care. FV-100 has received more than $30 million in R&D investment, generating patents and creating highly skilled jobs in the UK and the USA, with the parent company currently valued at $397 million. It will enter registration trials in late 2013.