UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

Kelly Chibale's vision for an African drug discovery network, initiated 20 years ago, has materialized into the Grand Challenges African Drug Discovery Accelerator (GC-ADDA), supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and LifeArc. The network focuses on four flagship projects across Africa, addressing malaria, TB, drug metabolism, and natural product research, aiming to combat antimicrobial resistance and support local API manufacturing.

GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide and tirzepatide have expanded uses beyond diabetes and weight loss, potentially treating cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, anxiety, depression, and substance use disorder. CRISPR drugs Casgevy for sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia entered the market, though uptake is slow due to complex treatment processes. Protein-folding algorithms by Baker, Hassabis, and Jumper revolutionized biochemical research and pharmaceutical applications. ADCs received significant investment, with firms exploring new linker chemistries. Amylyx Pharmaceuticals pulled an ALS drug after trial failure, continuing research for other uses. Kelly Chibale called for recognizing African scientific potential. Virologists monitored H5N1, mpox, and Marburg outbreaks, with ongoing research and emergency measures. Radiopharmaceuticals saw increased investment and market growth. Evidence suggests vaccines like shingles and flu jabs may protect against dementia.

Kenyan journalists commit to accurate biotech reporting at the Kenya Editors Guild convention, focusing on GMOs and food security. A Handbook on Biotechnology, supported by the guild and AATF, aims to guide media coverage. Collaboration between scientists and journalists is crucial for debunking myths and ensuring informed public discourse.

Pregnant women are often excluded from TB drug trials, leading to lack of safety data. A recent South African study, BEAT Tuberculosis, included pregnant women, resulting in 10 healthy babies and successful treatment for 9 out of 10 women. This inclusion aims to provide evidence-based treatment guidelines and reduce risks for both mothers and babies.

Authors from various institutions collaborated on study conception, data collection, analysis, and manuscript drafting, focusing on tuberculosis research.

INTREPID Alliance forms Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to accelerate antiviral therapy development for future pandemics, with experts guiding research priorities and strategy.

A new HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, shows 100% efficacy in clinical trials when injected every six months, with no infections reported among women in Uganda and South Africa. Initial results from a separate trial show 99% protection rates among men who have sex with men, transgender, and non-binary people. Gilead Sciences, the manufacturer, is under pressure to lower the current $42,000 annual treatment price and has signed licensing agreements with generic manufacturers to increase global access.

A new HIV prevention drug, lenacapavir, shows 100% efficacy in clinical trials when injected every six months, with no infections reported among women participants. Developed by Gilead Sciences, lenacapavir is currently priced at $42,000 per year for treatment but is not yet approved for prevention. Gilead has signed licensing agreements with generic drug manufacturers to produce low-cost versions for 120 countries and plans to seek regulatory approval by 2024.

The TRIPOD+AI update provides harmonised guidance for reporting prediction model studies, superseding TRIPOD 2015, to accommodate AI and machine learning methods. The new 27-item checklist aims for complete, accurate, and transparent reporting, facilitating study appraisal and model implementation.

Kelly Chibale, from a Zambian village to Cambridge and Scripps, founded the Holistic Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) at the University of Cape Town in 2010. H3D, supported by research and funding partners, focuses on malaria, tuberculosis, and antibiotic-resistant diseases, developing MMV390048, the first small-molecule clinical candidate discovered by an Africa-led team. Chibale emphasizes the need for global recognition and collaboration with African scientists to address diverse health challenges and foster innovation.