World's 1st dengue vaccine beats 3 virus strains in clinical trial

A man suffering from dengue fever, sits under a mosquito net while seeking treatment at the Services Hospital in Lahore, in this file picture taken on Sep 18, 2011. The world's first vaccine against dengue, developed by French drugmaker Sanofi, has shown the ability to protect against disease caused by three of four dengue virus strains in a keenly awaited clinical trial in Thailand. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

PARIS (REUTERS) - The world's first vaccine against dengue, developed by French drugmaker Sanofi, has shown the ability to protect against disease caused by three of four dengue virus strains in a keenly awaited clinical trial in Thailand.

Sanofi said on Wednesday the proof of efficacy was 'a key milestone' in the 70-year quest to develop a viable dengue shot, adding the results also confirmed the safety profile of the vaccine candidate.

World cancer cases to rise by 75% by 2030

PARIS (AFP) - Worldwide cases of cancer are likely to rise by nearly 75 per cent by 2030, driven by demographic and lifestyle factors, according to a study published on Friday in the journal The Lancet Oncology.

A team led by Freddie Bray of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France, said that in 2008 there were 12.7 million new cases of cancer, which would rise to 22.2 million by 2030, with 90 per cent of the rise occurring in the poorest countries.

In many countries, falls in cancers linked to infection have been offset by cancers of the colon, rectum, breast and prostate which are associated with a 'westernised' diet, they sid.

One in 10 babies are born premature each year: Study

This July 25, 2006, handout photo provided by the March of Dimes Foundation shows a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Albany Medical Centre. Fifteen million babies, or one in 10 around the world are born premature every year, and 1.1 million of those infants die, according to a United Nations (UN)-sponsored report released on Wednesday. -- PHOTO: AP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Fifteen million babies, or one in 10 around the world are born premature every year, and 1.1 million of those infants die, according to a United Nations (UN)-sponsored report released on Wednesday.