Research Roundup: Marburg vaccine trial, generic HIV prevention shots, WHO recommends RSV prevention shots
Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC)
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TOP NEWS IN R&D
Rwanda will deploy Marburg vaccine under trial as death toll rises to 12 Associated Press (10/6), features Sabin Vaccine Institute
Amid the ongoing outbreak in Rwanda of the deadly Marburg virus, Rwandan health authorities announced Sunday that they will begin a clinical trial of a vaccine against the virus, for which there are no approved therapies or vaccines. The trial, which will deploy an investigational vaccine from the Sabin Vaccine Institute, will target health workers, emergency responders, and individuals who have been in contact with confirmed cases, according to the Health Ministry. The Rwanda Biomedical Centre will serve as the trial sponsor.
Gilead agrees to allow generic version of groundbreaking HIV shot in poor countries The New York Times (10/2), features AVAC
Last Wednesday, Gilead Sciences announced a plan to allow six generic pharmaceutical companies in India, Pakistan, and Egypt to produce and sell the twice-yearly HIV prevention injectable drug lenacapavir in 120 countries, including all those with the highest HIV rates globally. This news comes after results published earlier this year from two clinical trials showed that the drug was extremely effective at preventing HIV across key populations—cisgender women, gay men, and trans and nonbinary people, who were all represented in the trials. While the new plan aims to enable rapid and broad access to the drug in many countries, the deal excludes most middle- and high-income countries, which account for around 20 percent of new infections. In those countries, the originator drug will only be available at higher prices, making it potentially unaffordable and inaccessible to at-risk populations, particularly those in middle-income countries.
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued new recommendations encouraging vaccination of pregnant women and administration of antibody shots to newborn babies to protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is a leading cause of severe infection and death in babies, with a majority of RSV-related deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. There is only one vaccine, Abrysvo, for pregnant women and one antibody shot, Beyfortus, for infants and toddlers available in the United States and a handful of other countries. Supply of these products is limited and the cost, specifically of Beyfortus, is high, which could limit global access and affordability until lower-cost, more widely available existing products and new, innovative products enter the market.
NEWS FROM GHTC
GHTC welcomes new and returning steering committee members GHTC announcement (10/7)
A data-driven approach to sequencing HIV vaccine immunogens IAVI Report?blog post (10/4)
Europe should create vouchers for global health innovation, say experts—but not the ones you think DSW article (10/2), features the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative
FIND and US President’s Malaria Initiative strengthen partnership FIND press release (10/2)
Deadly Marburg virus: scientists race to test vaccines in outbreak Nature (10/1), features IAVI and Sabin Vaccine Institute
Largest-ever Lassa fever study launches in-depth look at disease symptoms CEPI press release (10/1)
Owlstone Medical, FDA to develop breath-based disease detection methods 360Dx?(9/30), features the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK
Houston Methodist researchers join national consortium to develop herpesvirus vaccine NewsMedical?(10/3)
Here's why B cells benefit from booster shots MedicalXpress?(10/3)
Malaria Co-infection Slowed Diagnosis of Marburg in Rwanda Health Policy Watch (10/3)
Officials probe fifth local dengue case in LA County CIDRAP (10/3)
领英推荐
WHO reports new MERS case in Saudi Arabia CIDRAP (10/2)
Nasal spray neutralizes army of respiratory diseases and protects mice from deadly influenza Fierce Biotech (10/2)
Uncovering the secrets of malaria parasite cell division NewsMedical (10/1)
Doxycycline PEP Reduces Bacterial STIs in MSM Physician's Weekly (10/1)
Unitaid calls for more rapid gonorrhea diagnostic tests CIDRAP (9/30)
AVIAN FLU R&D ROUNDUP
California reports likely H5N1 infection in dairy worker CIDRAP (10/3)
USDA confirms more H5N1 in Idaho dairy cows CIDRAP (10/2)
Was Missouri’s bird flu case a one-off or something more? Quest for answers faces testing delay STAT (10/2)
Four more US health workers show symptoms after contact with Missouri bird flu patient Reuters (9/30)
MPOX R&D ROUNDUP
The Democratic Republic of the Congo kicks off mpox vaccination WHO press release (10/5)
WHO approves Abbott molecular mpox assay 360Dx?(10/3)
Study demonstrates that mpox vaccine antibody responses wane within a year MedicalXpress?(10/3)
Ghana reports first mpox case but variant not yet clear Reuters (10/3)
The majority of mpox cases can't be tracked Devex (10/2)
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