WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

Apple introduces new health features for Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 2, including sleep apnea notifications and an over-the-counter Hearing Aid feature, aiming to support conditions affecting billions globally.

China's first domestically developed mpox vaccine, based on Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA), entered clinical trials. The vaccine, developed by the Shanghai Institute of Biological Products, has shown safety and efficacy in preclinical studies. Over 100,000 mpox cases and 220 deaths have been reported globally, prompting WHO to declare a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. China remains vigilant but sees low risk of rapid mpox spread.

T2 Biosystems plans to launch direct-from-blood diagnostics for antimicrobial resistance, pediatric Candida infections, Lyme disease, and Candida auris within 15 months. The company is finalizing 510(k) applications for the T2Resistance Panel, expanding the T2Candida Panel for pediatric use, and pursuing non-dilutive funding for Candida auris detection. T2Lyme Panel will be launched as a Laboratory Developed Test, with plans to build or buy its own laboratory.

Sinopharm's domestic monkeypox vaccine candidate cleared for clinical trials, marking China's first. Developed by Shanghai Institute of Biological Products, it's a replication-deficient MVA vaccine, similar to Jynneos. Preclinical studies show good immune protection in nonhuman primates. No approved monkeypox vaccine exists in China yet.

TNX-801, a synthetic horsepox vaccine, shows efficacy against mpox and improved tolerability in immunocompromised animals, with no spread to blood or tissues. Selected by NIH’s Project NextGen for clinical testing, it aims to provide single-dose protection and long-term immunity, addressing the need for simpler vaccine distribution.

Studies show increasing US emergency department visits for mental health conditions from 1992 to 2020, with machine learning models predicting mental health crises from electronic health records and enhancing prediction when combining clinical notes with structured records.

Stratipath collaborates with Roche to distribute Stratipath Breast, an AI-based solution for breast cancer risk stratification, integrated with Roche’s navify® Digital Pathology software, offering faster, cost-effective alternatives to traditional molecular tests.

Bavarian Nordic A/S faces pressure to lower its mpox vaccine price for Africa, currently at $100-$141 per dose, as talks with agencies like Unicef aim to secure 12 million doses by 2025. Critics argue the high cost is prohibitive for African nations dealing with multiple health crises, urging discounts or generic production. Bavarian Nordic acknowledges pricing challenges but seeks a balance to ensure vaccine availability.