NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found that immunocompromised individuals aged 60+ respond less effectively to RSV vaccines than those with normal immunity. The study, published in JAMA, highlights variable antibody responses and suggests adjuvant-enhanced vaccines may improve immunity in this group.

Axcelead DDP partners with Astellas Pharma to discover new targeted protein degrader compounds using its DegLead Platform, aiming for breakthrough drug candidates.

The RH5.1/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, tested in a phase 2b trial on 361 children, shows safety, effectiveness, and high immunogenicity, potentially becoming the first blood-stage vaccine, complementing existing pre-erythrocytic vaccines.

RH5.1/Matrix-M, the first blood-stage malaria vaccine, is safe, effective, and could complement pre-erythrocytic vaccines, providing a second line of defence against malaria. The vaccine demonstrated 55% efficacy against clinical malaria and 80% against high parasite levels in a Phase IIb trial.

Moderna, Inc. announced the start of Phase 3 COVE study for its mRNA-1273 vaccine against COVID-19, in collaboration with NIH, NIAID, and BARDA. The study aims to enroll 30,000 participants in the U.S., focusing on preventing symptomatic COVID-19. Moderna plans to produce 500 million to 1 billion doses annually starting 2021, supported by partnerships with Lonza, Catalent, and ROVI.

First severe bird flu illness in the U.S. confirmed in Louisiana; California declares emergency due to dairy cattle infections. CDC reports low public risk, no person-to-person spread. Raw milk recall linked to bird flu in California.

Resonance Health acquired TrialsWest for A$8M, expanding into clinical trial operations. Outsourcing clinical trials enhances efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory compliance, benefiting companies by optimizing resources and focusing on core activities.

Resonance Health acquired TrialsWest for A$8M, expanding into clinical trials. The global Clinical Trial Outsourcing market was valued at USD 52.39B in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 111.01B by 2032, with a CAGR of 8.7%. Outsourcing offers cost-effectiveness, faster timelines, and regulatory compliance, but faces challenges like rising costs and undisclosed expenses.

The final month of the 2020 US presidential election saw Joe Biden leading in polls, President Trump recovering from COVID-19, and debates highlighting key issues. Trump's campaign faced challenges, including controversies over his health and the Supreme Court nomination of Amy Coney Barrett. Biden focused on COVID-19 response and healthcare. The election also featured third-party debates and predictions of a Biden victory.

NIH received approval to reallocate $147 million to the RECOVER Initiative, adding to the $515 million announced earlier, totaling $662 million. This funding supports ongoing research, including clinical trials, observational studies, and pathobiology studies, aiming to understand and treat long COVID. RECOVER-TLC, a new program, will focus on clinical trials, engaging with patients and researchers. Additional pathobiology studies will examine biological mechanisms of long COVID, building on previous research.