Research Roundup: BARDA antimicrobial development award, Waning protection of Jynneos vaccine, New NIH pandemic preparedness network

TOP NEWS IN R&D

Basilea scores $268M BARDA funding deal to work on antifungals, antibiotics Fierce Biotech (9/19)

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has awarded an agreement worth up to $268 million over 12 years to Swiss company Basilea Pharmaceutica to support the development of novel, first-in-class antifungals and antibacterials in its portfolio. The initial funding will specifically serve the further development of fosmanogepix, which is expected to enter soon a Phase 3 trial for invasive yeast infections, and BAL2062, which has the potential to target the common mold Aspergillus and has most recently completed a Phase 1 safety study. The news comes as investment in new antimicrobials continues to wane and the threat of antimicrobial resistance continues to rise globally.

Amid new mpox outbreak, study suggests waning protection of Jynneos vaccine CIDRAP (9/19)

A recent study found that the protection offered by the Jynneos mpox vaccine greatly wanes 6 to 12 months after vaccination, raising concerns about the need for booster doses and the potential of breakthrough infections among vaccinated people amid the ongoing global mpox emergency fueled by the severe clade 1b of the virus. The Jynneos vaccine is meant to be given as two doses a month apart, but to offer protection to more people and to conserve a limited supply of doses, many were offered just one dose early on in the 2022 clade 2 mpox outbreak. The study found that after one year, the antibody levels in participants who had two doses were comparable or lower than the peak antibody responses in people who had received only one.

NIH establishes pandemic preparedness network, plans up to $100M in yearly funding for work on new treatments and vaccines Fierce Biotech (9/18)

The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced a new network that will research pathogens that currently lack effective treatments and vaccines to identify strategies to develop safe and effective medical countermeasures before a new pandemic threat arises. The network, which comes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the midst of ongoing emerging infectious disease outbreaks, will focus on developing tools that target viral families that are known to cause human disease, such as the families that include dengue and yellow fever, measles, polio, and chikungunya. The agency’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has committed up to $100 million annually to the network.

NEWS FROM GHTC

AMR takes center stage at UN assembly GHTC's?Breakthroughs Blog?(9/20)

WHO calls for strong, well-coordinated response to antimicrobial resistance CIDRAP?(9/19), features the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Bifurcated needles could be the key to mpox vaccination—but what are they? PATH article (9/18)

Facing stubborn manufacturing challenges IAVI Report?blog (9/16),?features the Gates Foundation

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK

Opinion:?Pandemic agreement may happen eventually ... but will the world be ready? Global Health Now?(9/20)

Superbug crisis could get worse, killing nearly 40 million people by 2050, study estimates CNN (9/20)

Rapid malaria tests tied to better fever control, more antibiotics in African children CIDRAP?(9/20)

Gilead taps Korea's Yuhan to supply HIV drug ingredients in $81M deal Fierce Pharma?(9/20)

FDA approves first at-home flu vaccine in U.S., a nasal spray STAT (9/20)

Bioneer AccuPower HIV test gets WHO prequalification 360Dx?(9/20)

New research points to raccoon dogs in Wuhan market as pandemic trigger. It's controversial NPR?(9/19)

New tool spots drug-resistant bacteria before treatment NewsMedical?(9/19)

FDA draft guidance paves way for more real-world, point-of-care clinical trials Regulatory Focus?(9/19)

Searching for a vaccine against an ancient scourge: Syphilis genetics study points to a potential target MedicalXpress?(9/19)

HIV detectability in PrEP and early ART affected by testing sensitivity Physician's Weekly?(9/19)

Early specificity testing crucial for antibody drug safety NewsMedical?(9/18)

Los Angeles area sees more dengue fever in people bitten by local mosquitoes Associated Press?(9/18)

Opinion: Tested in Africa, used in America STAT (9/18)

SwRI collaborates with UTSA to develop novel chemical process for synthesizing antibiotics NewsMedical?(9/17)

Evidence growing for COVID antivirals to cut poor outcomes, long COVID, experts say CIDRAP?(9/17)

This preventive drug could be a 'game changer' in ending the HIV epidemic NPR (9/17)

The BARDA Accelerator Network expands with three new hubs Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority news release?(9/17)

LJI breakthrough offers hope for universal antiviral against filoviruses NewsMedical?(9/17)

The plan to give WHO’s snake venom strategy more bite Devex (9/16)

T2 Biosystems Candida assay cleared by FDA for pediatric use 360Dx?(9/16)

Where did viruses come from? AlphaFold and other AIs are finding answers Nature (9/16)

New XEC Covid variant starting to spread BBC?(9/16)

AVIAN FLU R&D ROUNDUP

Could an old drug protect against a new pandemic? Undark?(9/23)

Minnesota reports 2 H3N2v flu infections in fairgoers CIDRAP?(9/20)

Missouri health worker who had contact with bird flu patient develops symptoms, US officials report Reuters?(9/20)

California confirms more avian flu in dairy herds, poultry CIDRAP?(9/20)

Q&A: The United States isn't ready for a bird flu epidemic Think Global?Health?(9/17)

Massachusetts wraps up avian flu testing of all licensed dairy farms CIDRAP (9/17)

Q&A: The U.S. can, and should, do more on H5N1 bird flu, a top WHO official says STAT (9/16)

MPOX R&D ROUNDUP

Bavarian says mpox vaccine approved by EU regulator for adolescents Reuters?(9/19)

Rwanda launches mpox vaccine campaign CIDRAP?(9/19)

Gavi signs agreement with Bavarian Nordic to rapidly secure 500,000 doses of mpox vaccines for Africa Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance press release (9/18)

NIH releases mpox research agenda National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases news release (9/17)

UNICEF appeal targets rising mpox cases in African kids CIDRAP (9/17)

Poor outcomes after Tpoxx mpox treatment mainly seen in those with weak immunity CIDRAP (9/16)

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 25 UNGA side event: “Racing against antimalarial resistance: Driving global action to support national response efforts” New York, New York

September 26 UNGA side event on gender-responsive climate policies for health equity New York, New York

September 26 CARB-X 2024 funding rounds webinar - session 1 New York, NY

September 27 CARB-X 2024 funding rounds webinar - session?2 New York, NY

October 7-10 2024 Clinical Virology Symposium Long Beach, California

October 8-10 Global Forum on TB Vaccines Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

October 16-19 IDWeek 2024 Los Angeles, California

October 17 Research in Action Awards New York, New York

October 22 North Carolina Global Health Conference Raleigh, North Carolina

November 13-17 ASTMH Annual Meeting New Orleans, Louisiana

November 18-21 2024 Global Health Landscape Symposium Virtual; Washington, DC

December 5 GHIT R&D Forum 2024 Tokyo, Japan

February 4-5 Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Conference 2025 Virtual

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