WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

2021 saw significant advances in gynecological cancer research, focusing on cervical, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Key developments included innovative therapies, improved screening and prevention strategies, and promising results from immunotherapy and antibody-drug conjugates. Despite COVID-19, research remained active, offering hope for future medical practice changes.

Drug safety monitoring spans from pre-clinical to post-marketing phases, addressing limitations of clinical trials. The COVID-19 pandemic underscored pharmacovigilance's importance, especially for off-label drug use and vaccine safety. Advanced methodologies like AI and distributed database networks enhance real-world drug safety assessment. Digital therapeutics and advanced therapy medicinal products require tailored pharmacovigilance strategies. Ecopharmacovigilance addresses environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals.

Obesity's rise is linked to genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors, with epigenetics playing a key role in energy metabolism. Modern lifestyles, including high-calorie diets and sedentary behavior, contribute significantly. Epigenetic changes, reversible and influenced by environment and lifestyle, offer therapeutic targets. Research highlights the importance of understanding these mechanisms for obesity management and prevention.

Research highlights global trends in obesity, underweight, and overweight from 1975-2016, emphasizing the health impacts of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) on obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality. Studies suggest reducing SSB intake can mitigate these risks, with policy interventions like taxes showing effectiveness in decreasing consumption.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted clinical trials, causing delays, increased costs, and a shift towards remote trials. Vaccine trials surged, with challenges in enrollment and logistics. Remote monitoring and digital transformation became essential, alongside precision dosing and expanded access programs. The industry focuses on overcoming bottlenecks, adopting radiomics, and shifting priorities towards nichebusters and precision medicine.

WHO-led trials on remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir, and interferon for Covid-19 showed no significant reduction in mortality, ventilation initiation, or hospital stay duration among 11,330 hospitalized patients across 30 countries.

NCI's SeroNet studies COVID-19 immune responses, finding neutralizing antibodies last months post-infection or vaccination. Research suggests booster shots may be needed, with ongoing studies to determine protective antibody levels. Cancer patients may have weaker vaccine responses. T cells also play a role in immunity. Vaccines offer some protection against variants, though less against Delta. Serology studies help understand pandemic spread and disparities. SeroNet also explores social science to address vaccine hesitancy.

NCCID Disease Debriefs offer updated info on infectious diseases for Canadian health practitioners, focusing on Francisella tularensis, the cause of tularemia. It details characteristics, transmission, symptoms, prevention, and treatment. Tularemia is rare in Canada, with increased risk during summer and winter. Prevention includes protective measures against ticks and deerflies, and proper handling of animals.

Drug shortages, a global issue affecting all income levels, stem from manufacturing, supply chain, and regulatory challenges. High-income countries face shortages across all drug classes, while low-middle income countries struggle with essential medicine availability. Strategies include improved reporting, regulatory changes, and international cooperation to mitigate impacts on healthcare systems and patient care.

Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) are emerging as effective vectors for long-term transgene expression, offering potential in combating infectious diseases like HIV, influenza, and malaria. Despite challenges such as pre-existing immunity and anti-drug antibodies, rAAVs show promise in delivering therapeutic antibodies and antigens, aiming for durable immunity and reduced disease severity.