WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

WHO announced MVA-BN vaccine as the first mpox vaccine on its prequalification list, aiming to facilitate timely access and reduce transmission. The vaccine, administered in two doses four weeks apart, can be stored at 2-8°C for up to eight weeks. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for urgent scale-up in procurement and rollout for equitable access.

Bavarian Nordic's IMVANEX® (MVA-BN®) becomes the first mpox vaccine to receive WHO prequalification, facilitating broader access across African countries. The vaccine, indicated for adults, may be used 'off-label' in vulnerable groups during outbreaks. MVA-BN has also received provisional consent from New Zealand and full approval from Mexico.

GSK reports positive interim Phase II trial results for its mRNA-based multivalent influenza vaccine candidate, GSK4382276A, meeting pre-defined success criteria in both younger and older adult groups. The vaccine, encoding antigens matched to WHO-recommended influenza strains, showed potential for improved immune responses compared to current vaccines, prompting GSK to advance the programme into late-stage clinical development.

WHO has prequalified the MVA-BN vaccine as the first mpox vaccine, facilitating increased access to reduce transmission. The vaccine is administered in two doses to those over 18, with a single-dose option in supply-constrained situations. WHO emphasizes the need for further data on vaccine safety and effectiveness, especially in outbreak settings.

Two patients in the Phase 1/2a trial of troculeucel, an NK cell therapy for Alzheimer's disease, improved from moderate to mild AD after three months at the highest dose of 6 billion cells per treatment. The first Phase 2 patient was dosed at the same high dose, marking progress in the trial.

Neurocrine Biosciences announced that its ERUDITE Phase 2 study of luvadaxistat failed to meet its primary endpoint for improving cognitive impairment in schizophrenia patients, leading to the halt of further development for the compound.

IDSA and ESCMID urge world leaders to adopt a UN political declaration with bold targets and practical steps to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), aiming to reduce AMR-related deaths by 10% by 2030. Key recommendations include increasing use of Access antibiotics globally to 70%, reducing agri-food system antibiotic use by 30%, expanding immunization services, and improving infection control and global AMR surveillance.

Article references on antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in cancer therapy, including comprehensive reviews, clinical trials, and analyses of toxicity and mechanisms.

The mpox outbreak has prompted a global research effort, leveraging lessons from Covid-19 to accelerate vaccine and treatment development. Challenges include vaccine availability and treatment access, particularly in Africa. Adaptive trial designs and streamlined regulatory processes from Covid-19 are aiding mpox research, but financing and infrastructure remain barriers, especially in affected regions.

The FDA authorized Apple's hearing aid software for second-gen AirPods Pro, making it the first OTC hearing aid software. A clinical study showed self-fitting achieved similar benefits as professional fitting. New features include Hearing Protection mode and a Hearing Test for personalized audio profiles. This could reduce stigma and costs for hearing loss protection, impacting 1.5 billion people globally.