Research Roundup: Zika vaccine trial, Next-gen COVID-19 vaccine trial, Malaria test approval
Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC)
Advancing innovation to save lives
TOP NEWS IN R&D
Valneva initiates Phase 1 trial of second-generation Zika vaccine candidate Valneva press release (3/26)
Last Tuesday, Valneva announced the launch of a Phase 1 clinical trial to investigate the safety and immunogenicity of a vaccine against the Zika virus, for which there are currently no available preventable vaccines or treatments. The second-generation adjuvanted inactivated vaccine candidate, VLA1601, will be tested in 150 adult participants in the United States, with the first topline data from the trial expected as soon as early next year. ?Numerous outbreaks of Zika have occurred around the world, but the virus is currently circulating in Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean region, and some areas of the continental United States.
Moderna's next-gen COVID vax surpasses approved version in phase 3 Fierce Biotech (3/26)
Moderna’s next-generation mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 elicited a higher immune response against most strains of omicron BA.4/BA.5 and the original virus than the company’s currently licensed vaccine and has a similar safety profile in Phase 3 trial. The vaccine candidate, mRNA-1283, demonstrated the highest benefits in patients over 65, who are at risk of more severe disease. The trial included over 11,000 patients from across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. These results also point to the future promise of the company’s combination mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 and influenza, which are also currently in development and previously demonstrated a similar immune response to the company’s vaccines for COVID-19.
Roche malaria test receives FDA approval 360Dx (3/25)
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced the approval of Roche’s Cobas malaria test for screening blood, organ, and tissue donors, which could help reduce the risk of transfusion-transmitted malaria. The test is designed to qualitatively detect in whole-blood samples?Plasmodium?DNA and RNA from the?five main species?of?Plasmodium?parasite species known to cause human infection:?P. falciparum, P. malariae,?P. vivax, P. ovale,?and?P. knowlesi.?Roche’s technology is now the first FDA-licensed test for screening blood donors for malaria.
NEWS FROM GHTC
March (budget) madness: Stagnant spending package and muted budget request point to uphill battle ahead GHTC's?Breakthroughs?blog (3/28)
Who loses when scientific research is locked behind paywalls? Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation article (3/27), features PATH
Eyes on Disease X: Ranking the next pandemic Think Global Health?(3/27), features the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations
New treatment for relapsing malaria, tafenoquine rolled out in Brazil starting with the Yanomami indigenous people Medicines for Malaria Venture press release (3/25)
New PeerLINC Knowledge Hub will leverage local expertise and experience to accelerate new, more effective TB cures around the world TB Alliance press release (3/25)
BD boosts US production as FDA warns against using plastic syringes from China Fierce Biotech (3/25), features BD
Long-lasting, injectable HIV prevention drug set for “aggressive” roll-out in Africa Science?(3/25), features AVAC and the Medicines Patent Pool
Australian government grants TB Alliance an award to help bolster clinical research and improve access to new treatments for drug-resistant TB TB Alliance press release (3/25)
Stigma, lack of awareness holding back use of HIV prevention pills, experts say Spotlight?(3/25), features AVAC
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK
HIV cure nearer with way to 'shock and kill' latent virus Newsweek?(3/27)
领英推荐
National Academies report says US not ready for intentional, accidental smallpox outbreak CIDRAP?(3/27)
To fight malaria parasite, researchers try tricking it with a time-travel strategy University of South Florida news article (3/25)
Report: Every dollar of NIH research funding doubles in economic returns Fierce Biotech?(3/25)
COVID-19 R&D ROUNDUP
Covid’s scientific silver lining: A chance to watch the human immune system respond in real time STAT?(3/28)
Invivyd's COVID prophylactic scores FDA emergency nod for people with weakened immune systems Fierce Pharma?(3/25)
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 5 Town Hall with Atul Gawande Virtual
May 27 25th anniversary event: "Diverse, equitable and inclusive innovation for a more secure, malaria-free world" Geneva, Switzerland
May 28 Launch event for report on ROI from R&D Geneva, Switzerland; Virtual
June 2 2024 Blue Knight Symposium San Diego, California
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.