NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Administering a costimulatory antibody 4 days after mRNA vaccination enhances immune responses and vaccine efficacy in mice, suggesting a strategy to improve mRNA vaccines for HIV, coronaviruses, and cancer.

RedHill Biopharma selected to present opaganib's potential at JPEO-CBRND's 'Host Directed Therapeutics Industry Day' on October 29-30, 2024, in Alexandria, VA, based on its demonstrated capability in prophylaxis, post-exposure prophylaxis, and treatment of exposure to viruses, bacteria, and toxins.

Susan Ellenberg, a biostatistics professor, recounts her journey from solving a childhood math puzzle to becoming a prominent researcher in statistics and clinical trials, highlighting her experiences at the University of Pennsylvania, NIH, NIAID, and FDA, and her work with AIDS activists and vaccine safety.

The global WHIM syndrome management market is projected to grow to $17.91 million by 2033, driven by research and targeted therapies. North America leads, while Asia-Pacific is expected to grow due to improved healthcare. Challenges include high treatment costs and a small patient population. Key players include X4 Pharmaceuticals, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and others.

The MVA-BN mpox vaccine showed robust immune responses and safety in adolescents, with higher geometric mean titers than adults. The interim analysis of a phase II trial suggests the vaccine is safe and effective for older children, potentially opening the door for studies in younger age groups, especially in areas like the DRC where mpox is endemic.

NIH clinical trial shows Bavarian Nordic's mpox vaccine induces equivalent antibody response in adolescents and adults, supporting extended use in under-18s. EMA approved MVA-BN for adolescents in Sept, while FDA granted EUA for adolescents during 2022-2023 outbreak. NIH study found no significant adverse events, though dizziness was more common in adolescents. Bavarian Nordic plans Phase II trial for children aged 2-12, aiming to extend vaccine indication to younger populations.

BARDA selected opaganib for joint development & funding as a medical countermeasure to treat Ebola virus disease. Opaganib showed a statistically significant increase in survival in an in vivo EBOV model, advancing on the FDA Animal Rule pathway. The 10th anniversary of the West Africa Ebola epidemic highlights the urgent need for effective therapies, with EBOV proving fatal in around half of all cases. Opaganib, a novel host-directed drug, has shown mutation-resistant antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity, representing an alternative therapeutic strategy for biodefense and global health preparedness.

HIVR4P 2024 conference highlights safety of dapivirine vaginal ring during early pregnancy, no interactions between long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) PrEP and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), early-stage HIV vaccine findings showing potential to generate broadly neutralizing antibodies, discovery of monocytes expressing IL1B associated with smaller HIV reservoirs, and a novel refillable controlled-release antiretroviral drug implant for PrEP and ART.