WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

Moderna's mRNA vaccine for mpox shows higher efficacy than Bavarian Nordics' Jynneos in preventing severe disease and reducing virus levels in monkeys, according to a study published in Cell. The vaccine also reduces viral replication and lesion formation, potentially limiting spread. Moderna is currently conducting a Phase I/II trial in the UK, with results expected in mid-2025.

Frankfurt University Hospital’s Department of Infectious Diseases is leading a study, RAPID_REVIVE, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), to treat post-COVID syndrome (PCS) with vidofludimus calcium. The phase 2, adaptive, randomized, placebo-controlled, and double-blind clinical trial aims to alleviate long-term COVID-19 effects like fatigue and cognitive impairment. The study, part of the German Network of University Medicine (NUM), will include 376 patients at eleven NAPKON locations and adjust treatment allocation based on interim evaluations.

A WHO-commissioned review finds no link between cellphone use and brain cancer, despite concerns raised in 2011. The analysis, published in 'Environmental International', included 63 studies showing no increased risk of brain cancer or leukemia from radio frequency exposure, even with prolonged cellphone use.

A brief online mental health training program for physician supervisors in Australia and New Zealand improved self-reported behaviors supporting resident physicians' mental health, suggesting potential for organizational-level interventions to enhance workplace mental health support.

George Medicines presents results from two Phase III trials of GMRx2, a novel, low-dose, triple combination pill for hypertension, showing significant BP reduction and improved control rates with good tolerability at ESC Congress 2024.

A study in Nigeria found a low-dose triple-drug combination pill safe and effective for hypertension control in Black Africans, with significant blood pressure reduction at 6 months compared to standard care, highlighting the need for long-term safety data and implementation science to improve hypertension control in sub-Saharan Africa.

Low-dose triple-pill protocol significantly reduced home systolic blood pressure by 5.8 mm Hg in a randomized trial in Nigeria among 300 Black African patients with uncontrolled hypertension, compared to standard-care protocol, with no increase in treatment discontinuation due to adverse events. This suggests that the triple-pill protocol can improve blood pressure lowering compared to standard care, potentially addressing the high burden of hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa.

Antibiotic overuse in nursing homes linked to 'superbugs', with doxycycline contributing significantly to antibiotic resistance, according to a study in the Journal of Infection.

Novavax's 2024-2025 Formula COVID-19 vaccine, NVX-CoV2705, receives EUA from FDA for use in individuals aged 12+ to prevent COVID-19. The vaccine targets JN.1, a 'parent strain' of currently circulating variants, and is available in pre-filled syringes at thousands of locations nationwide. The CDC recommends its use, and it includes Matrix-M adjuvant for enhanced immune response.

A promising mpox antiviral drug, tecovirimat (TPOXX), failed to improve symptoms in a trial in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases shared initial findings early due to the urgent need for evidence on its use, amid a global health emergency declared by the WHO.