How parasite resistance could derail a lifesaving malaria treatment
Devex (4/27), features Medicines for Malaria Venture
In June, South Sudan is expecting to begin the rollout of the preventive malaria intervention seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC), although there are concerns that high parasite resistance in eastern and southern African countries will limit its long-term efficacy. In June 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its recommendations that previously restricted SMC’s use to the Sahel region, where malaria transmission is highly seasonal, to encourage its use in other regions after pilot studies showed positive results in countries with high resistance, including South Sudan. Experts have emphasized the need for rigorous monitoring and evaluation to assess SMC’s efficacy in areas of high resistance and to detect any parasite resistance in the Sahel, as well as the development of alternative tools and drugs for malaria chemoprevention.
GSK's RSV vaccine first to get EU regulator's nod
Reuters (4/26)
Last week, the European Medicines Agency recommended authorization of GSK’s Arezvy vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in adults 60 years of age and older, which if approved, will be the world’s first available vaccine for RSV. Regulatory agencies in the United Kingdom and United States are expected to make decisions on GSK’s vaccine in the coming months. Pfizer and Moderna are also developing vaccines for the virus, with Pfizer’s candidate already having gained the backing of a panel of US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisors earlier this year.
Mpox outbreak was wake-up call for smallpox preparation, vaccine maker Bavarian Nordic says
CNBC (4/25)
Bavarian Nordic, the maker of the Jynneos vaccine, which is approved by the FDA to protect against both smallpox and mpox, is planning to dramatically scale up production capacity for their vaccine. The company’s CEO connected the move to the rapid spread of mpox last year, which highlighted the need to be able to manufacture at a much greater scale than currently available: from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of doses. Bavarian Nordic plans to simplify its production process to facilitate partnerships with other manufacturers in order to have adequate production capacity for stockpiling and in case of a future emergency.
