After more than three years of discussion, the World Health Organization’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) has agreed on a proposal to prevent, prepare and respond to a pandemic. The plan is born, the INB proposal said, out of inequities around the world that slowed timely and equitable access to health products to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the recent European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) meeting in Vienna, Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics LLC presented data on the neutralizing antibody responses of LHNVD-202, an unconjugated composite peptide vaccine.

Biohaven Pharmaceuticals Inc. has presented preclinical data on their novel bispecific degrader BHV-1310 for the potential treatment of autoimmune disorders. To date, about 10% of the global population is affected by autoimmune diseases. IgG-lowering agents have suboptimal pharmacology and pharmacodynamic effects and have safety and tolerability challenges.

Researchers from Tridem Bioscience GmbH & Co. KG provided details on the development of TRB-001, an anti-α-synuclein construct consisting of a B-cell epitope derived from human α-synuclein (SNCA), conjugated to CRM197 and C-type lectin (CLEC) β-glucan.

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co KG and Cue Biopharma Inc. have signed a strategic research collaboration and license agreement to develop and commercialize Cue Biopharma’s CUE-501, a differentiated B-cell depletion therapy for autoimmune diseases.

Nipah virus, which circulates in fruit bats and other animals primarily in Asia and the South Pacific, causes severe neurological respiratory disease in humans and leads to death in 40%-75% of cases. The virus is endemic in Bangladesh and India, where outbreaks have occurred nearly annually since 2001.

When an autoimmune disease disrupted the life of someone close to scientist Dario Gutierrez, an idea emerged for a new company called Merida Biosciences focused on removing misdirected antibodies and their negative effects using Fc biotherapeutics.

Orexo AB has announced promising in vivo proof-of-concept data for a powder-based intranasal vaccine candidate based on Abera Bioscience AB’s BERA vaccine platform and formulated with Orexo’s Amorphox technology.

Lyme disease is a multisystemic zoonotic infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria transmitted by ticks. Lyme disease is a public health problem because of its high incidence in North America and Europe and its increasing presence due to the impacts of climate change on vector distribution. Novel, effective vaccines to prevent the disease are, therefore, urgently needed.