Research Roundup: Updated COVID-19 vaccines, HIV prevention injection trials, Cholera vaccine research

TOP NEWS IN R&D

FDA advisers urge targeting JN.1 strain in recipe for fall’s COVID vaccines Associated Press (6/5)

Last Wednesday, US Food and Drug Administration advisers recommended that next fall’s updated COVID-19 vaccine target the lineage of the JN.1 variant, which became dominant in the United States last winter. There was some debate among experts on whether the vaccine should target the KP.2 subtype of the variant that is now most common in the United States or other offshoot subtypes that may become more dominant over the summer, ultimately deciding to target JN.1 itself, with the hope that the vaccine would offer some cross-protection against other subvariants that might emerge. Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax say they could have JN.1.-specific shots ready by the fall.

U.S. clinical trials begin for twice-yearly HIV prevention injection Science Blog (6/5)

Two clinical trials have been launched to test a new, long-acting form of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, in cisgender women and people who inject drugs, two populations that have been largely underrepresented in HIV clinical trials. The mid-stage studies, sponsored and funded by Gilead and implemented through the HIV Prevention Trials Network, will test lenacapavir, an injectable antiretroviral drug administered every six months, which is already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for HIV treatment in combination with other antiretroviral therapy for heavily treatment-experienced individuals and is the first in the capsid inhibitors class of drugs to be FDA approved for HIV treatment. The researchers hope these studies will provide critical data on the use of lenacapavir as HIV PrEP.

Sabin Vaccine Institute to partner with Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) on critical cholera vaccine research Sabin Vaccine Institute news release (6/3)

Last week, the Sabin Vaccine Institute announced a new research project with the Kenya Medical Research Institute aimed at optimizing the use of the oral cholera vaccine in the face of a global resurgence in cholera and acute vaccine shortages, hopefully improving the impact of the vaccine and saving lives. The shortage of the oral cholera vaccine in 2022 led the World Health Organization (WHO) to temporarily modify the two-dose vaccine regimen and recommend a single dose during outbreaks, underscoring the urgent need for research to optimize vaccine use. WHO currently recommends two doses of oral cholera vaccine two weeks apart. The new research will test strategies to extend the time between doses to ensure that more people can receive protection.

NEWS FROM GHTC

Multilateral momentum: World Health Assembly yields progress on key global priorities but falters on pandemic accord GHTC's?Breakthroughs?blog (6/7)

‘Out of control’: Why the discovery of H5N1 bird flu in mice is so alarming The Telegraph?(6/5), features the Infectious Diseases Society of America

This is the world’s best investment Vox?(6/4), features Policy Cures Research

World Health Organization, FIND strengthen diagnostics access partnership 360Dx?(6/4), features FIND

No hormones, no problem: YourChoice’s first-of-its-kind male birth control is safe for men, so far Fierce Biotech?(6/3), features Population Council

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK

NIH researchers never said there is no risk of CWD spillover to humans CIDRAP?(6/6)

A little-known virus on the rise in South America could overwhelm health systems Science?(6/5)

Is the fight against antimicrobial resistance finally gaining traction? Devex?(6/5)

Previous Zika infection tied to increased risk of infection with some dengue virus subtypes CIDRAP?(6/5)

‘Super gonorrhea’ is evolving as a greater treatment challenge Contagion Live?(6/4)

Why it's so challenging to develop vaccines for parasitic diseases BBC?(6/4)

A new program to introduce a new method of pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV infection has been launched in Ukraine APH press release?(6/4)

Zambia is the first country in Africa to roll out long-acting, injectable HIV prevention drug Gavi article (6/3)

H5N1 R&D ROUNDUP

Mexico death linked to bird flu not previously seen in humans Axios?(6/5)

Highly pathogenic H7 bird flu found on fourth poultry farm in Australia Reuters?(6/5)

Finland to offer bird flu vaccine to select groups of people, a possible global first Reuters?(6/5)

U.S. will make millions of bird flu vaccines this summer HealthDay?(6/3)

UPCOMING EVENTS

June 12 Webinar: Integrating the Good Participatory Practice Guidelines in TB research Virtual

June 13 Webinar: "Mapping routes to success in HIV vaccine development" Virtual

June 13-17 ASM Microbe Atlanta, Georgia

June 27 Webinar: "Progressing an antibacterial drug discovery project - an SME perspective" Virtual

June 27 Webinar: Developing a body of evidence for the Good Participatory Practice Guidlines Virtual

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