Research Roundup: New antibody platform, POC malaria test, Mpox test emergency approval
Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC)
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TOP NEWS IN R&D
New antibody platform targets evolving viruses NewsMedical?(10/23)
Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and research partners have developed an innovative antibody platform to tackle viruses like SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) that can rapidly evolve and render vaccines and treatments ineffective. The platform uses engineered nanobodies to simultaneously target multiple stable regions of the virus that are less likely to mutate, making it harder for resistance to develop. While most therapeutic antibodies target only a single viral site and can lose effectiveness within a year as viruses evolve, this platform has the potential to offer a more durable, resilient defense against these tricky viruses. It could also be potentially adapted to target other pathogens. In lab tests and experiments in mice, the platform was able to effectively target a range of variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and even the closely related SARS-CoV virus.
A new research project led by researchers at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health and Columbia University aims to develop a lateral flow test for diagnosing malaria at the point of care that would also enable health care workers to determine the severity of the disease and decide whether a course of treatment is necessary. While some patients with uncomplicated malaria can be treated at home, malaria can also rapidly progress and require more complicated treatment in a health care setting. Lateral flow tests for malaria diagnosis exist, but parasite counting using microscopy is needed to determine severity and that cannot be done at the point of care. The researchers, who hope to have a validated prototype by the fall of 2026, are looking to develop a portable, paper-based assay that uses a smartphone and can deliver results within minutes.
WHO approves Roche mpox assay 360Dx?(10/21)
Last Monday, Roche announced that its mpox assay, Cobas MPXV, has been listed under the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Emergency Use Listing procedure, a designation that aims to accelerate the availability of and access to the test during the current global mpox emergency. The automated real-time PCR-based test detects DNA from the virus that causes mpox using a dual-target approach and previously received Emergency Use Authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration in 2022. Earlier this month, Abbot’s mpox test was also listed on the Emergency Use Listing procedure following a call by WHO for manufacturers to submit expressions of interest back in August.
NEWS FROM GHTC
Medicines for Malaria Venture press release?(10/28)
Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations news release?(10/27)
The Brink?(Boston University)?(10/22),?features the Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership press release?(10/18)
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK
NewsMedical?(10/24)
CIDRAP?(10/24)
Independent?(10/24)
MedicalXpress?(10/24)
NewsMedical?(10/24)
360Dx?(10/23)
The Guardian?(10/23)
NewsMedical?(10/23)
The Independent?(10/23)
CIDRAP?(10/22)
领英推荐
CIDRAP?(10/22)
CIDRAP?(10/22)
NewsMedical?(10/22)
360Dx?(10/21)
Fierce Biotech?(10/21)
CIDRAP?(10/21)
AVIAN FLU R&D ROUNDUP
CIDRAP?(10/23)
360Dx?(10/23)
CIDRAP?(10/21)
MPOX R&D ROUNDUP
NewsMedical (10/22)
CIDRAP (10/22)
UPCOMING EVENTS
October 29 G20 side event: "Scaling the mpox response: A call to action for science & innovation" Virtual
October 30 Roundtable: "Closing the global gap in women's health: Canada's leadership in R&D and innovation" Virtual
November 13-17 ASTMH Annual Meeting New Orleans, LA
November 14 Webinar: "An Update on the STI R&D Pipeline and Investments" Virtual
November 19 High-level meeting on access and appropriate use of new antibacterial treatments in India Virtual
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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Photo credit: USAID IMPACT-MED