Congress proposes granting $40 million toward finding valley fever cure
Summary:
Full Story:
The federal government has proposed $40 million in research grants to test potential cures for valley fever, a disease that affects thousands of Arizonans each year.
Sponsored by Rep. Bill Thomas of California, the research grant program is part of a larger health-care package that Congress passed in mid-December, though not yet written into the federal budget.
The proposed increase in national funding has come at a critical time for Arizona. With approximately 5,000 confirmed cases, 2006 was the state's worst year on record for valley fever.
The ailment, also known as coccidioidomycosis, is an infection in the lungs caused by a fungus that grows in the soil in the Southwest. The disease spreads through the air when people breathe in fungal spores carried on the wind, making prevention extremely difficult.
Many cases of valley fever go unreported because of the disease's wide range of symptoms. Patients with valley fever may exhibit few or no symptoms, while others may develop prolonged pneumonia with severe fatigue.
In the most severe cases, valley fever can cause disability and death.
In April 2006, the FDA granted orphan-drug status to nikkomycin z, a drug acquired by University of Arizona in 2005 that shows promise for curing valley fever.
Under the 1983 Orphan Drug Act, the federal government can provide funding to researchers developing treatments for rare diseases.
The UA Valley Fever Center for Excellence has already landed $150,000 in federal funding to conduct trials with nikkomycin z, and hopes to receive another $1 million in grant money in 2007. In addition, a New York nonprofit, J.T. Tail & Co. Foundation, donated $300,000 this year.
Current funding will help pay for early trials of the drug, though more funding will be necessary to launch a full trial and drug development.
More information:
"Questions and answers on valley fever," Arizona Republic, 01/11/2007
"Find the funds, find a cure," Arizona Republic, 12/29/2006
"U.S. research grants to fight valley fever good news in Arizona," Arizona Daily Star, 12/20/2006
"Valley fever drug drives spin-out company at UA," Business Journal, 04/28/2006
BIO5 gains Orphan Drug status for promising valley fever drug, 04/13/2006