Announcements

 

Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/frontiers-group/news-press/
News
No new digest content identified.

 

BMGF – Gates Foundation [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://www.gatesmri.org/
The Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute is a non-profit biotech organization. Our mission is to develop products to fight malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrheal diseases—three major causes of mortality, poverty, and inequality in developing countries. The world has unprecedented scientific tools at its disposal; now is the time to use them to save the lives of the world’s poorest people
No new digest content identified.

 

CARB-X [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://carb-x.org/
CARB-X is a non-profit public-private partnership dedicated to accelerating antibacterial research to tackle the global rising threat of drug-resistant bacteria.
No new digest content identified.

 

CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://cepi.net/
News
Ethiopia funds Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations to combat spread of epidemics
10 Feb 2020
Oslo, Norway; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Ethiopia has pledged USD$300,000 in funding as part of a commitment to join the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and support its mission to speed development of vaccines to combat emerging infectious diseases and prevent future epidemics…

 

Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc. (CHAI) [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://clintonhealthaccess.org/
News & Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

EDCTP [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.edctp.org/
The European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) aims to accelerate the development of new or improved drugs, vaccines, microbicides and diagnostics against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria as well as other poverty-related and neglected infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on phase II and III clinical trials
Latest news
No new digest content identified.

 

Emory Vaccine Center [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.vaccines.emory.edu/
No new digest content identified.

 

European Medicines Agency [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/
News & Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

European Vaccine Initiative [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.euvaccine.eu/news-events
No new digest content identified.

 

FDA [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/default.htm
Press Announcements
February 14, 2020 – FDA’s Actions in Response to 2019 Novel Coronavirus at Home and Abroad
The FDA is an active partner in the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) response, working closely …with our government and public health partners across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as with our international counterparts. Our work is multifaceted, focusing on actively facilitating efforts to diagnose, treat and prevent the disease; surveilling the medical product supply chain for potential shortages or disruptions and helping to mitigate such impacts, as necessary; and leveraging the full breadth of our public health tools as we oversee the safety and quality of FDA-regulated products for American patients and consumers…

 

Fondation Merieux [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/
News, Events
Mérieux Foundation co-organized event
5th Meeting of the GTFCC Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Working Group
Dar es Salam (Tanzania)

 

Gavi [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://www.gavi.org/
News
United States endorses Gavi with recommendation of US$ 1.16 billion, four-year commitment
:: The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced a commitment of US$ 1.16 billion in funding for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance for fiscal years 2020 to 2023
:: Gavi aims to immunise 300 million additional children, saving more than 7 million lives
:: Dr Seth Berkley: Gavi advances sustained country ownership and strengthens global health security
Washington, DC, 10 February 2020 – Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, welcomes the US Administration’s announcement to commit US$ 1.16 billion to the Alliance for the fiscal years 2020 to 2023, exceeding its previous pledge in 2015. The commitment appeared in the President’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget request today and is subject to Congressional approval.
“This announcement is an important vote of confidence for Gavi’s mission and model,” said Dr Seth Berkley, Gavi’s CEO. “It will go a long way to help us build on our successful efforts over the last 20 years to provide the poorest, most vulnerable children in the world with the essential vaccines they need to survive and thrive. US support will also allow us to continue helping countries take ownership of their immunisation systems and sustain them in the future, which is central to Gavi’s model.”…

 

GHIT Fund [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://www.ghitfund.org/newsroom/press
GHIT was set up in 2012 with the aim of developing new tools to tackle infectious diseases that No new digest content identified.

 

Global Fund [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/
News & Stories
No new digest content identified.

 

Hilleman Laboratories [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.hillemanlabs.org/
No new digest content identified.

 

Human Vaccines Project [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/media/press-releases/
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

IAVI [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://www.iavi.org/newsroom
No new digest content identified.

 

 

International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities [ICMRA]
http://www.icmra.info/drupal/en/news
Selected Statements, Press Releases, Research
No new digest content identified.

 

 

International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association [IGBA]
https://www.igbamedicines.org/
News
No new digest content identified.

 

 

IFFIm
http://www.iffim.org/
No new digest content identified.

 

IFRC [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/news/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
Asia Pacific, China, Global
IFRC to majorly ramp up coronavirus programmes across the globe
Geneva/Kuala Lumpur, 11 February 2020 – With the novel coronavirus steadily spreading beyond China and rising death toll, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is expanding its novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) response and preparedness programmes.
A 32 million Swiss franc global emergency appeal will support community-based health activities, access to basic services, and the management of misinformation and stigma – all equally crucial to control the spread of the virus. In the past two weeks the IFRC has been on the ground, supporting National Societies in countries where the outbreak is spreading, mainly in the Asia Pacific region. Through this emergency appeal, the IFRC hopes to invest in preparedness activities in other countries, with a focus on those whose health systems are already under pressure…
11 February 2020

 

IVAC [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html
Updates
No new digest content identified.

 

IVI [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.ivi.int/
Selected IVI News & Announcements
No new digest content identified.

 

JEE Alliance [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://www.jeealliance.org/
Selected News and Events
No new digest content identified.

 

MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.msf.org/
Latest [Selected Announcements]
Epidemics and pandemics
Supporting preparedness efforts to fend off coronavirus
Voices from the Field 14 Feb 2020

Epidemics and pandemics
Providing materials, engaging communities in the COVID-19 coron…
Project Update 14 Feb 2020
Specialised medical protective equipment from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is on its way to Wuhan Jinyintan hospital in the capital city of Hubei province, China, the epicentre of the current coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.
“As of 14 February, there are more than 64,000 COVID-19 cases, 99 per cent of which are in China,” says Gert Verdonck, MSF’s Emergency Coordinator for COVID-19. “Medical protective equipment is key. So, we want to contribute to supporting frontline health workers with the specialised protection they need to work safely in an outbreak of this magnitude.”…

Iraq
Extending a helping hand in Iraqi health facilities
Project Update 14 Feb 2020

Epidemics and pandemics
MSF update on COVID-2019 coronavirus outbreak
Project Update 14 Feb 2020

 

National Vaccine Program Office – U.S. HHS [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://www.hhs.gov/vaccines/about/index.html
NVAC 2020 Meetings
June 9-10, 2020 NVAC Meeting
September 23-24, 2020 Meeting (Virtual)

 

NIH [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases
Selected News Releases
Remdesivir prevents MERS coronavirus disease in monkeys
February 13, 2020 — Results support testing antiviral against 2019 novel coronavirus.

Recent advances in addressing tuberculosis give hope for future
February 11, 2020 — NIH officials describe “banner year”.

Less than a quarter of at-risk adolescent boys ever get tested for HIV
February 11, 2020 — Study stresses promoting patient-clinician communication about sexual behavior to encourage HIV testing in teenagers.

 

PATH [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://www.path.org/media-center/
Selected Announcements
Statement on the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Request
February 11, 2020 by PATH
The following is a statement from Heather Ignatius, PATH’s Director for Policy and Advocacy, on the release of the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Request.
“For the fourth year in a row, the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget request includes extensive cuts to global health programs—totaling more than $3 billion—at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the State Department, and at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
These cuts would hamper U.S. efforts to combat diseases such as HIV/AIDS, polio, and measles. They also impact the ability of our partners like the Global Fund and the World Health Organization (WHO) to work alongside us, putting additional lives at risk and reducing America’s own security and standing in the world.
However, the request is not all bad. One positive inclusion that we applaud is the strong signal of support for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and for USAID and CDC’s global health security programs. These investments are necessary to help some of the poorest countries afford live-saving vaccines, and at the same time help these countries become better prepared to stop deadly or debilitating infectious diseases before they spread to our borders.
The best way to keep our nation safe and promote America’s interests around the world is not by scaling back the very investments that ensure our safety and security. We urge Members of Congress to continue the decades of bipartisan support for these critical investments, and fully fund global health and development programs.”

 

Sabin Vaccine Institute [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/pressreleases
Statements and Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

UNAIDS [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.unaids.org/en
Selected Press Releases/Reports/Statements
13 February 2020
New Investment Book highlights investment opportunities
The Investment Book, an online tool for UNAIDS donors that capitalizes on the unique value of UNAIDS, has been launched. Highlighting the opportunities that are available for partnership and donor investment, the Investment Book shows the impact of investment opportunities at the global, regional and country levels.

11 February 2020
How are babies becoming infected with HIV in Africa?

10 February 2020
Advocacy toolkit for African first ladies launched

 

UNICEF [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://www.unicef.org/media/press-releases
Selected Statements, Press Releases, Reports
Press release
Critical support for former child soldiers in South Sudan at risk from lack of funding
900 children on verge of release could be left in limbo unless new funds are secured
11/02/2020

Press release
Geneva Palais briefing note on the situation of children in Madagascar
This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF Madagascar Deputy Representative Jean Benoit Manhes – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva
11/02/2020

 

Vaccination Acceptance Research Network (VARN) [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://vaccineacceptance.org/news.html#header1-2r
No new digest content identified.

 

Vaccine Confidence Project [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.vaccineconfidence.org/
No new digest content identified.

 

Vaccine Education Center – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
No new digest content identified.

 

Wellcome Trust [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news
News | 13 February 2020
Wellcome pledges £10 million to tackle novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic
Wellcome is making a pledge of up to £10 million to accelerate research and support global efforts to tackle the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic.

News | 11 February 2020
Jim Smith to resume his role as Wellcome’s Director of Science in May 2020
Jim Smith, who has been leading Wellcome’s Science Review since January 2019, is returning to his role as Director of Science as the review is almost complete.

 

The Wistar Institute [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://www.wistar.org/news/press-releases
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://www.oie.int/en/for-the-media/press-releases/2020/
Press Releases
Lunar New Year: travel responsibly to avoid carrying ASF virus
On the eve of a new lunar year, the risk of disease spread increases due to the massive movements of people travelling to celebrate. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) launches the second phase of its awareness campaign focusing on the role of travellers as carriers of African swine fever, a deadly pig disease, and how they can avoid spreading it.

Paris, 24 January 2020 – Tomorrow marks the start of the Year of the Rat. The largest annual human movement in the world is underway: people travelling home to celebrate the Lunar New Year, particularly to and from countries in Asia. With this, higher risk of travellers spreading infectious diseases such as African swine fever (ASF) or even the newly identified 2019novel-Coronavirus, poses a major threat to both animal and human populations, worldwide.

ASF affects domestic and wild pigs, and it has been causing detrimental impacts at different levels of society in over 50 countries across Sub Saharan Africa, Asia and Europe since 2018. ASF is not a danger to human health, however, it poses a major threat to pig health and welfare and, therefore, to pig production systems. Considering that pigs have become a main source of animal protein among a growing human population, ASF not only impacts the livelihoods of small and large-scale pig producers, but also threatens global food security. To date, more than 6 million animal losses have been reported in Asia and the Pacific, the biggest pork producing region in the world.

Given that there is no effective vaccine or treatment against ASF yet, prevention remains essential to stop its spread. It is important that key actors in the transmission of the disease acknowledge their role in preventing it and human carelessness is one of the main drivers of ASF spread…

 

 

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ARM [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine] [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://alliancerm.org/press-releases/
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

BIO [to 15 Feb 2020]
https://www.bio.org/press-releases
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.

 

DCVMN – Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers Network [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.dcvmn.org/
News
Advanced Pharmacovigilance workshop and WG meeting
16 March 2020 to 19 March 2020, Shanghai / China

 

IFPMA [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.ifpma.org/resources/news-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Publications
IFPMA and WHO Global Research and Innovation Forum
Published on: 12 February 2020
IFPMA as the body representing the innovator biopharmaceutical industry in official relations with the UN, together with a number of its member companies were invited to the WHO Global Research and Innovation Forum on COVID-19 which took place on 11 and 12 February 2020 in Geneva.

IFPMA views on the meeting and the roadmap going forwards:
Geneva, 12 February 2020 – Global health security, and the public health emergency that COVID-19 represents, is everyone’s responsibility, it requires solidarity, collaboration, and innovative efforts from various stakeholders – i.e. industry, academia, regulators, governments, and WHO, to harness the power of science.

Innovative biopharmaceutical member companies of IFPMA are ready to help and are taking practical steps to see where it makes the most sense to engage. Those companies with potentially relevant knowhow have teams of scientists checking their libraries of potential assets that could fight coronaviruses. Our priority as industry is to help develop countermeasures, be it vaccines, therapies, or diagnostics, and if and when successful, make them immediately available to those in need.

Having a delegation present the WHO consultation these past two days has been helpful in that regard.

The WHO should be congratulated for managing to mobilize so many of the key players whose experience will be critical to stem the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic.

The very collegiate and science-focused manner in which the consultation took place bodes well for further the collaboration and positive engagement needed across the board if we are going to use the science at our disposal to minimise the public health impact of COVID-19 and potentially further coronavirus outbreaks.

The industry is fully supportive of efforts that will ensure the scientific community can respond quickly to the challenges this epidemic presents. The Forum resulted in many commendable ideas. Congratulations to WHO for getting so many stakeholders together at short notice. We would however comment that pragmatic implementation of the forthcoming WHO Roadmap is critical moving forward.

Going forwards, it will be crucial that the WHO continue to involve researchers, government, industry and coordinate efforts to help make informed decisions on how best to prioritize and collaborate on a shared research agenda for this virus. Speed and coordination, evidence-based response, involvement of those who already have the knowledge and expertise (in particular scientists on the front line in China), avoiding duplication, are all going to be paramount to ensure that lives will be saved and the spread of virus would stemmed and if possible be stopped.

The longer term research agenda should not detract taking the necessary immediate steps to contain the COVID-19 outbreak and support first-line responders while vaccines are being developed & therapeutics are researched. This includes streamlining the use of existing networks to improve response, such as Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data / GISAID Initiative, sharing data & clinical trials outcomes.

The above can be attributed to Thomas Cueni, Director General of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA)

 

PhRMA [to 15 Feb 2020]
http://www.phrma.org/
Selected Press Releases, Statements
R&D Focus: New report shows nearly 600 medicines in development for pediatric patients
February 13, 2020, Andrew Powaleny
America’s biopharmaceutical researchers are committed to studying, developing and testing medicines to meet the unique needs of pediatric patients. New treatment options for infants, children and adolescents can be complex and often require different clinical approaches than adult treatment pathways. According to a new report released today, there are nearly 600 pediatric medicines currently in development.

Here is a closer look at a few exciting developments in pediatric medicines:
There are more than 2,100 industry-sponsored pediatric clinical trials underway, testing 580 investigational medicines and involving more than 1.2 million pediatric patients across a variety of therapeutic areas, including diseases where there is significant unmet medical need. Medicines in development include:
:: A gene-edited cell therapy that could potentially be a one-time treatment for sickle cell disease
:: A monoclonal antibody approved to treat asthma in adults and children ages 12 years and older being tested in children ages 6 to 11
:: The first DDP-4 inhibitor approved for adults with type 2 diabetes in the United States being tested in children ages 10 to 17

Researchers are also testing medicines approved for use in adults to determine safe and effective dosage levels for children. Current investigations include:
:: 125 treatments for genetic diseases including medicines for cystic fibrosis, which affects more than 30,000 American children and adults
:: 86 treatments for cancer which, despite significant progress, is still a leading cause of death by disease among American children ages 1 to 19
:: 75 medicines for infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, ear infections, pneumonia and hepatitis
:: 55 medicines for skin disorders, including atopic dermatitis, a chronic condition which affects about 20% of children in the United States…

Press Release
Statement on Biopharmaceutical Industry Efforts to Address the Coronavirus Public Health Emergency
Washington, D.C. (Tuesday, February 11, 2020) — PhRMA member companies’ global research and development leaders issued the following statement on the biopharmaceutical industry’s efforts to address the novel coronavirus public health emergency:
“For the past several weeks, the world has watched with growing concern as more information has become available on the rapidly evolving coronavirus outbreak.
“As leaders of global R&D organizations within the biopharmaceutical industry and as scientists, physicians and public health professionals, we share the concern over this serious global public health threat. We stand in solidarity with patients and medical colleagues in China and around the world as we race to understand and contain this new outbreak.
“The global biopharmaceutical industry is devoting our expertise, resources and capabilities to identify science-based solutions and medical treatments to combat this threat. For example, several companies have begun or accelerated development of vaccines and antiviral therapies. Members of the biopharmaceutical ecosystem, along with government and academic experts and charitable organizations, are all working around the clock to identify and develop new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat this deadly infectious disease. Further details will be communicated soon.”