Research Roundup: mRNA pandemic flu vaccine funding, New HIV lab test, Nasal COVID vaccine trial
Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC)
Advancing innovation to save lives
TOP NEWS IN R&D
The US will pay Moderna $176 million to develop an mRNA pandemic flu vaccine Associated Press (7/2)
The US Department of Health and Human Services, through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, has awarded $176 million to Moderna to support the continued development of a pandemic influenza vaccine that could be used to treat bird flu in people, as concerns about the spread of bird flu cases in dairy cows across the United States continue to rise. Moderna's bird flu vaccine candidate is in very early-stage testing and uses the same mRNA technology as its COVID-19 vaccine. The new funding could support a late-stage trial of the vaccine candidate as early as next year if early study results continue to be positive. The vaccine could also be quickly redirected to target another form of influenza if a different threat emerges.
New lab test to detect persistent HIV strains in Africa may aid search for cure Weill Cornell Medicine news article (7/2)
A research team has developed a test that will help measure the persistence of HIV in people affected by viral strains found predominantly in Africa, which are greatly understudied, helping to fill a major gap in HIV research. Most HIV studies have focused on the strains circulating in Western countries, predominantly by men who have sex with men affected by subtype B, with much fewer studies examining strains circulating in Africa, where women are disproportionately affected. The new laboratory test allows researchers to determine whether following antiretroviral treatment there is any intact viral DNA capable of producing new viruses if antiretroviral treatment is interrupted. The test is already being used to study long-term viral persistence in Uganda and could be a vital tool in the search for an HIV cure that could target and eliminate this intact DNA reservoir.
Last week, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced the launch of a Phase 1 trial testing a nasal vaccine against COVID-19, the first trial conducted by NIH’s National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases as part of Project NextGen, a US government initiative designed to advance the development of next-generation COVID-19 vaccines. In preclinical nonhuman primate studies, the candidate, MPV/S-2P, elicited a strong systemic immune response, as well as mucosal immunity, which plays an important role in controlling respiratory virus replication. Next-generation vaccines, including nasal vaccines, are a key tool needed to reduce COVID-19 infections and transmission as new variants of the virus continue to emerge.
NEWS FROM GHTC
Brazil and Thailand become first malaria-endemic countries to launch new single-dose radical cure medicine to prevent the relapse of Plasmodium vivax malaria Medicines for Malaria Venture press release (7/5), features PATH
An innovative test to diagnose Chagas disease in newborns MedicalXpress?(7/3), features FIND
New human trials for novel antibody offer hope for immediate protection against deadly Nipah Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations press release (7/2)
R21 vaccine is cost-effective compared to popular malaria preventions 1Day Sooner press release (7/1)
Princeton, Broad Institute researchers develop rapid CRISPR-based flu tests 360Dx?(7/1), features the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Valneva receives marketing authorization in Europe for the world’s first chikungunya vaccine, IXCHIQ? Valneva press release (7/1)
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK
Boys born with higher natural resistance to HIV, study finds SciDevNet?(7/5)
GSK pays CureVac $430M for mRNA vaccines against flu and COVID—as partner lays off 30% Fierce Biotech?(7/3)
Opinion:?WHO emergency listing urgent for DRC mpox outbreak SciDevNet?(7/3)
FDA clears its first fingerstick hepatitis C diagnostic, enabling test-to-treat approach Fierce Biotech?(7/2)
Emergent BioSolutions bags $250M in contract modifications to help boost US supply of medical countermeasures Fierce Pharma?(7/2)
FDA draft guidances detail plans for enforcement discretion during public health emergencies 360Dx?(7/2)
领英推荐
FDA drafts guidance on essential outputs for drug delivery devices Regulatory Focus?(7/1)
Degradation of cell wall key in the spread of antibiotic resistance ScienceDaily (7/1)
AVIAN FLU R&D ROUNDUP
How does bird flu spread in cows? Experiment yields some ‘good news.’ The New York Times?(7/1)
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 23 Webinar: "The value of surveillance data in defining the medical need for new antimicrobials" Virtual
July 29-30 Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit 2024 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
July 30 Congressional briefing: "Understanding the power and possibility of clinical trials" Washington, DC
October 8-10 Global Forum on TB Vaccines Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
December 5 GHIT R&D Forum 2024 Tokyo, Japan
Interested in more global health innovation news? Every week GHTC scours media reports worldwide to deliver essential global health R&D news and content to your inbox.?Subscribe to receive our weekly?R&D News Roundup.