WHO & Regionals [to 1 November 2014]
:: Global Alert and Response (GAR) – Disease outbreak news
– Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) – Qatar 31 October 2014
– Human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9) virus – China 29 October 2014
European Medicines Agency Watch [to 1 November 2014]
http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/

:: Revised framework for development of influenza vaccines
EMA releases third and final module for public consultation
30/10/2014 The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has released the third module of a new overarching guideline on influenza vaccines for a three-month public consultation. With this publication, the EMA is now close to finalising the establishment of a revised regulatory framework which aims to facilitate the prompt assessment of new influenza vaccines.

:: EMA advises on development plan for GSK Ebola vaccine 29/10/2014
Developers encouraged to request accelerated procedure for scientific advice
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has given scientific advice to GSK on its development plan for an Ebola vaccine. This is the first time in the current Ebola outbreak that EMA has given ‘rapid scientific advice’ using an accelerated procedure. EMA established this procedure to contribute to the global response against Ebola and to help companies speed up the development of Ebola vaccines and treatments.
Through rapid scientific advice, developers can receive EMA’s expert opinion and advice for example on clinical trial design, manufacturing-related questions as well as safety monitoring of medicines.
EMA encourages companies to request rapid scientific advice for their development plans. This will help them to generate the robust data and information needed to assess that treatments and vaccines against Ebola actually work, are acceptably safe and of high quality…
GAVI Watch [to 1 November 2014]
http://www.gavialliance.org/library/news/press-releases/

:: Pentavalent vaccine introductions represent historic milestone for immunisation in India
01 November 2014
Rollouts in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan start two-phase process which will add 5-in-1 vaccine to routine immunisation programmes in every Indian state.
PATH Watch [to 1 November 2014]
http://www.path.org/news/

:: Positive clinical results indicate vaccine candidate is highly efficacious against bacterial diarrhea
Press release | October 27, 2014
Vaccine/adjuvant combination against a leading cause of bacterial diarrhea shows great promise for saving children’s lives
IVI Watch [to 1 November 2014]
http://www.ivi.org/web/www/home
:: Transitions in D&D Management [Undated]
Dr. Thomas F. Wierzba, Deputy Director General of Development & Delivery (D&D), will be leaving IVI in December 2014. He will be moving on to PATH’s Enteric Vaccine Initiative (EVI). Dr. Wierzba has been with IVI for four years and oversees a large team that manages IVI’s clinical and field research. He has been instrumental in many of our major cholera, typhoid and hepatitis E studies that include the five-year phase 3 trial of the oral cholera vaccine (OCV) (published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases) and the single-dose OCV trial in Bangladesh, which is currently ongoing…
IVI is pleased to announce that his successor will be Dr. Laura Digilio who will join IVI as Interim Director of Development & Delivery, effective January 1, 2015. Dr. Digilio brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in various vaccines and clinical development. Her most recent position was Senior Director, Clinical Development and HIV and Polio Vaccine Programs Clinical Leader at Crucell (now Janssen Vaccines) in Leiden, The Netherlands…
Dr. Digilio will visit IVI between now and the end of the year to work with Dr. Wierzba and the D&D team on the transition.
Aeras Launches New Campaign to Protect Healthcare Workers from TB
October 31, 2014 – Aeras said it launched TB Unmasked, “a new campaign to raise awareness about the risks healthcare workers face on the front lines of the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic.” The campaign features a five-part film that profiles the personal and moving experiences of healthcare workers around the world as they risk their lives caring for others. Healthcare workers in countries with a high-burden of TB face an increased risk of developing this deadly disease, from two to 12 times higher than the general population, according to years of scientific research, including new data presented at the Union World Conference.
The campaign website, TBunmasked.org, will feature the film, resources for healthcare workers about best practices for protection, and a platform for sharing individual experiences working amidst the global TB crisis.
Thomas G. Evans, M.D., Aeras President and CEO, said, “The ebola epidemic has focused public attention on the risks that healthcare workers face every day. The TB epidemic threatens healthcare workers with one of the most deadly infectious diseases in the world, responsible for approximately 4,100 deaths every day. Healthcare workers can protect themselves by following best practices for infection control procedures and personal protection, but a vaccine is urgently needed to protect healthcare workers and patients from this epidemic.”
Global Fund Watch [to 1 November 2014]
http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/mediacenter/announcements/

Johannes Hunger Appointed as Head of Strategic Information
31 October 2014
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria announced the appointment of Johannes Hunger, an expert on strategic and policy planning in global health, as Head of Strategic Information.
Mr. Hunger now leads the Global Fund team that coordinates reporting and analysis of results, and provides strategic direction on impact modelling and assessment, cost-effectiveness, and demand forecast. In his new position, starting 27 October, Mr. Hunger also oversees monitoring of the Global Fund’s key performance indicators related to impact…