The U.K. is launching a coordinated national program of research into the unprecedented outbreak of monkeypox that has spread across Europe and North America – regions where the disease is not endemic – over the past six months. Taking a lead from the SARS-CoV-2 playbook, there will be work to sequence the viral genome and to study how it is evolving, linking this to changes in the transmission and pathology of the virus.
The U.K. is launching a coordinated national program of research into the unprecedented outbreak of monkeypox that has spread across Europe and North America – regions where the disease is not endemic – over the past six months. Taking a lead from the SARS-CoV-2 playbook, there will be work to sequence the viral genome and to study how it is evolving, linking this to changes in the transmission and pathology of the virus.
The U.S. FDA’s device center recently advised companies that make tests for the COVID-19 pandemic that the emergency use authorization program for tests is winding down, albeit with a few exceptions.
Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Abbott, Alivecor, Cap Medical, Concept Medical, Cresilon, Dignio, Dispatchhealth, Illumina, J&J, Long Island Pathology, Metamark Laboratories, Orasure, P4 Clinical, P4 Diagnostix, Pathnostics, Pierian, Reva Medical, Visualdx.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Insulet, Medtronic, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Predicine, Stryker, Zimmer Biomet.
From the beginning of the monkeypox outbreak in the U.S. in May, the federal government has bungled the response, according to both Democratic and Republican members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
The first randomized placebo-controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of the antiviral drug Tpoxx (tecovirimat) in treating monkeypox has begun in the U.K., with the first patients enrolled on Aug. 21.
Blue Water Vaccines Inc. is ready to try its hand at developing a monkeypox vaccine. The company is launching an exploratory program to develop a vaccine attempting to present antigens within its norovirus shell and protrusion virus-like particle (VLP) platform.
