As expected, the EMA is recommending withdrawal of the mpox indication for Siga Technologies Inc.’s tecovirimat, whilst maintaining its approval as a treatment for smallpox, cowpox and adverse reactions to vaccinia vaccines.
Helmholtz Zentrum München Universität Hannover has disclosed new heterocyclic compounds designed for use in the treatment of cancer and viral infection.
Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay have reported the preclinical development of a new synthetic antimicrobial class incorporating organic metallophores, which yielded two optimized leads – VY-AD-4-11-6 and VY-AD-4-22-6 – from a 30-compound SAR series.
Researchers from GSK plc and collaborators described the identification of MMV-1581361, a PfATP4 inhibitor, and its efficacy in models of malaria. The compound originates from MMV-020136, following structure-activity relationship studies to optimize antimalarial activity.
CAR T-cell therapy can be applied to treat some chronic infectious diseases, particularly to provide a functional cure for HIV-1 in people living with HIV. However, the effectiveness of CAR T cells for persistent suppression of HIV still faces many constraints, including the high mutation rate of reverse transcriptase, which enables the emergence of immune escape viral variants.
Researchers from Chengdu Kanghua Biological Products Co. Ltd. recently published information on their novel varicella zoster virus (VZV) mRNA vaccine candidate (KH014). KH014 contains sequence-optimized mRNAs encoding full-length glycoprotein E encapsulated in ionizable lipid nanoparticles.
Chaos continues at the U.S. CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) with the resignation of ACIP member Robert Malone and the impending deadline for the president to nominate a new CDC director following the dramatic exit last year of Susan Monarez and months of acting directors.
A team at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University applied a drug repurposing strategy and screened a library of 2,528 small molecules targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and related signaling pathways for the ability to inhibit the growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Overall, results from the phase III Valor trial testing Lyme disease vaccine PF-07307405 “strengthen confidence” in the candidate, according to partners Pfizer Inc. and Valneva SE, with the big pharma now looking toward regulatory submissions. Investors, however, focused on the fact that the study, which demonstrated more than 70% efficacy in preventing Lyme disease in individuals, ages 5 and older, failed to hit the statistical criterion for the first prespecified analysis.
Tessera Therapeutics Inc. has received a grant from the Gates Foundation to support early-stage research exploring multiple genetic approaches aimed at developing a scalable cure for HIV. This research will evaluate several potential strategies leveraging Tessera’s Gene Writing platform to engineer immune cells in vivo.