Research Roundup: Promising HIV vaccines, Speedier mRNA vaccine development, HIV prevention methods safe in pregnancy
Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC)
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TOP NEWS IN R&D
After decades of failures, researchers have renewed hopes for an effective HIV vaccine NBC News (3/6), features the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, IAVI, and AVAC
Last week at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, researchers presented exciting results from two different HIV vaccine studies that they hope will lead to an effective vaccine that can provide long-term immunity against the virus and greatly reduce the almost million new HIV infections yearly. One study found that a modification to the simian version of HIV drove monkeys to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies against HIV, and the other showed promising results in encouraging the immune system’s B cells to produce broadly neutralizing antibodies. Over the past four decades of HIV vaccine research, there have many failed and halted trials, thus, all current research into HIV vaccines in now in preclinical development, animal studies, or very early human trials. Nonetheless, HIV vaccine science has consistently driven innovation and science that benefits other infectious disease efforts and global health in general, such as mRNA vaccine technology. With maintained funding and global collaboration, researchers hope to see human trials for an HIV vaccine candidate resume as soon as the 2030s.
New research to investigate next generation ‘trans-amplifying’ mRNA vaccines CEPI news release (3/6)
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is providing up to $1 million in funding to Amplitude Therapeutics to test a new vaccine approach that could address some of the challenges associated with current mRNA vaccine designs and cut down vaccine development times in future pandemics to as little 100 days. The trans-amplifying mRNA vaccine approach could serve as an advantageous alternative to the currently used self-amplifying method and works by separating the RNA fragment that contains the genetic instructions for the body’s cells to make the antigen that induces the body's immune response and the fragment that teaches the body how to replicate more mRNA. The trans-amplifying approach simplifies production and saves time and resources by extending antigen supply and allowing for key components of the vaccine to be developed ahead of time, underlining its ability to speed vaccine development in future pandemics.
Vaginal ring and pral pre-exposure prophylaxis found safe for HIV prevention throughout pregnancy NIAID news release (3/5)
The results from a large clinical study presented last week at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections demonstrated that the monthly dapivirine vaginal ring and daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine were safe HIV prevention methods among pregnant people, who are an estimated three times more likely to acquire HIV through sexual intercourse than similarly aged non-pregnant people. The study, which was carried out in Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, and Zimbabwe by the Microbicide Trials Network, found that both methods were safe among cisgender women who started using one of them in their second trimester of pregnancy. These results fill data gaps for these two technologies, offering additional prevention options for this population.
NEWS FROM GHTC
Repurposing drugs in dengue fight The Star?(3/11), features the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative
Opinion: Malaria clinical research must include pregnant women Devex?(3/8), written by Medicines for Malaria Venture
Long-acting HIV treatment benefits adults with barriers to daily pill taking and adolescents with suppressed HIV NIAID news release (3/6), features Johnson & Johnson
IAVI and partners kick-start CELEBRATE study to explore acceptability and feasibility of bnAbs for infant HIV prevention IAVI press release (3/5)
CARB-X funds 100th project target antibiotic resistance Combating Antibiotic-Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) press release (3/5)
A new asset in the malaria prevention toolkit Jhpiego blog article (3/4)
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK
What makes a pathogen antibiotic-resistant? EurekAlert! (3/7)
领英推荐
Merck-Gilead's weekly HIV combo maintains viral suppression, but it's early days for primary endpoint Fierce Biotech?(3/6)
Special insecticide paint may help curb Zika and dengue fever outbreaks MedicalXpress?(3/5)
WHO warns of growing resistance to GSK's HIV drug Reuters?(3/5)
Striving for equity in global health research collaborations at NIH Fogarty International Center blog post (3/5)
European Parliament challenged to enable non-EU countries to benefit from medical products made under compulsory licences Health Policy Watch (3/5)
ARPA-H behind on efforts to prevent duplicative research, GAO says Fierce Biotech?(3/4)
COVID-19 R&D ROUNDUP
Sekisui Diagnostics gets FDA Emergency Use Authorizations for point-of-care COVID, flu combo tests 360Dx?(3/4)
BA.2.87.1 COVID variant detected in Southeast Asia CIDRAP?(3/4)
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 21 & 22 Webinars on new CARB-X funding round Virtual
March 26 Decolonizing global public health webinar Virtual
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