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.
A member of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), physician and biochemist Robert Malone, who a judge earlier this week suggested lacked vaccine-related experience, wrote March 19 on X that the committee “has been disbanded.” Nearly six hours later, he followed up, saying it was a “miscommunication.”
Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. has discovered new lanosterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of Candidal infection and aspergillosis.
KSP-1007 is a new bicyclic boronate-based broad-spectrum β-lactamase inhibitor that, in combination with meropenem, is under development for the treatment of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria that produce serine- and metallo-type carbapenemases.
In one fell swoop March 16, a U.S. federal judge stayed the CDC’s January memo revising the childhood vaccine schedule and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) as reconstituted by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, along with everything that committee has done since early June.
Aptar Pharma, part of Aptargroup Inc., has established a technical collaboration with Covirix Medical Pty Ltd. under a letter of intent to develop inhaled antiviral treatments.