Organization Announcements
Editor’s Note:
Careful readers will note that the number and range of organizations now monitored in our Announcements section below has grown as the impacts of the pandemic have spread across global economies, supply chains and programmatic activity of multilateral agencies and INGOs.
Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group [to 8 May 2021]
https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/frontiers-group/news-press/
News
Kathy Richmond | Science in Sixty
May 5, 2021
Kathryn Richmond, Senior Director of The Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group, is looking for the best ideas out there to change how we think about biology and accelerate discovery.
BARDA – U.S. Department of HHS [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.phe.gov/about/barda/Pages/default.aspx
News
No new digest content identified.
BMGF – Gates Foundation [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/media-center
Press Releases and Statements
No new digest content identified.
Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute [to 8 May 2021]
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 8 May 2021]
https://carb-x.org/
News
No new digest content identified.
Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy – GE2P2 Global Foundation [to 8 May 2021]
https://centerforvaccineethicsandpolicy.net/
News/Analysis/Statements
:: Past weekly editions and posting of all segments of Vaccines and Global Health: The Week in Review are available here.
:: [NEW] Informed Consent: A Monthly Review – May 2021 is now posted here
CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations [to 8 May 2021]
http://cepi.net/
Latest News
CEPI and Dynavax expand collaboration to increase supply of adjuvant for COVID-19 vaccines
7 May 2021, Oslo, Norway – CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, today announced an expanded agreement with Dynavax Technologies Corporation (Nasdaq: DVAX) to increase the supply of Dynavax’s CpG 1018 vaccine adjuvant available for CEPI-funded COVID-19 vaccine development programmes in 2021. This builds upon an initial agreement signed in January 2021 which provided Dynavax up to $99 million to advance the at-risk manufacture of CpG 1018.
Under the terms of the expanded agreement, CEPI will increase funding by $77 million to a total of $176 million which will increase the available volume of CpG 1018 in 2021. The funding is in the form of a forgivable loan which is repayable to CEPI upon adjuvant sales.
The adjuvant produced under this agreement will be first offered for purchase by CEPI’s vaccine development partners within price parameters agreed with CEPI, and represents a key strategic investment by CEPI to increase overall availability of vaccine doses in 2021 from CEPI’s COVID-19 R&D portfolio.
It is anticipated that vaccine developers benefiting from CpG 1018 produced under this agreement will make vaccine output – potentially hundreds of millions of doses in 2021 – available for procurement and allocation through COVAX. COVAX is the global initiative to ensure rapid and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries, regardless of income level.
DARPA – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency [to 8 May 2021
https://www.darpa.mil/news
News
5/3/2021
Creating AI-Enabled Cultural Interpreters to Aid Defense Operations
[See Week in Review above for detail]
Duke Global Health Innovation Center [to 8 May 2021]
https://dukeghic.org/
WEEKLY COVID VACCINE RESEARCH UPDATE
Last dated update: FRIDAY, April 16, 2021
EDCTP [to 8 May 2021]
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
04 May 2021
New support tools for TB vaccine R&D published
The Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI) has coordinated the development of several new tools to support future TB vaccine clinical trials. Experts in the field together with researchers from the ongoing EDCTP-funded TB vaccine projects developed templates and guidelines. These are to support preparations for a regulatory plan, a data management plan and clinical trial protocol synopses. Furthermore, a comprehensive registry of trial sites in sub-Saharan Africa with capacities to conduct TB vaccine studies has been made available online. EDCTP supported TBVI with an investment of €130,000…
Emory Vaccine Center [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.vaccines.emory.edu/
Vaccine Center News
No new digest content identified.
European Vaccine Initiative [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.euvaccine.eu/
Latest News
No new digest content identified.
FDA [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/default.htm
Press Announcements /Selected Details
May 7, 2021 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: May 7, 2021
May 5, 2021 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Outlines Inspection and Assessment Activities During Pandemic, Roadmap for Future State of Operations
May 4, 2021 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: May 4, 2021
Fondation Merieux [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/
News, Events
Mérieux Foundation co-organized event
Evidence to actions: countries and communities driving adaptive, evidence-informed approaches to end cholera
May 20, 2021 – Virtual Event
Gavi [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.gavi.org/
News Releases
6 May 2021
Gavi signs agreement with Novavax to secure doses on behalf of COVAX Facility
:: The signed advance purchase agreement (APA) is for a commitment to purchase 350 million doses of the Novavax vaccine candidate
:: Deliveries will commence in Q3 2021, upon regulatory approval
:: Doses supply self-financing participants of the COVAX Facility as well as lower-income economies eligible for donor-funded vaccines through the Gavi COVAX Advance market Commitment (AMC)
GHIT Fund [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.ghitfund.org/newsroom/press
GHIT was set up in 212 with the aim of developing new tools to tackle infectious diseases that
No new digest content identified.
Global Fund [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/
News & Stories
News
Global Fund Approves US$75 million for India’s COVID-19 Response
06 May 2021
The Global Fund has approved US$75 million in fast-track funding to support India’s response to the COVID-19 crisis that is devastating the country. This new funding will support India in purchasing oxygen concentrators and Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) oxygen plants to help meet the medium-term needs for medical oxygen.
Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness [GloPID-R] [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.glopid-r.org/news/
News
Global COVID-19 research agenda still missing the priorities of low- and middle-income countries
07/05/2021
An article published today in The Lancet calls for urgent collaboration and coordination for unmet, underfunded COVID-19 research priorities in low-resource settings.
Hilleman Laboratories [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.hillemanlabs.org/
Website not responding at inquiry
Human Vaccines Project [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/media/press-releases/
No new digest content identified.
[Website not fully loading at inquiry]
IAVI [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.iavi.org/newsroom
PRESS RELEASES/FEATURES
No new digest content identified.
International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities [ICMRA]
http://www.icmra.info/drupal/en/news
Selected Statements, Press Releases, Research
Joint Statement on transparency and data integrity – International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA) and the World Health Organization (WHO)
7 May 2021
[See Milestones above for detail]
ICRC [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.icrc.org/en/whats-new
Selected News Releases, Statements, Reports
International Humanitarian Law Bibliography
The ICRC International Humanitarian Law Bibliography lists references to English and French publications on international humanitarian law.
06-05-2021 | Article
Multilateralism plays an important role in alleviating suffering and creating conditions for peace
Statement by the International Committee of the Red Cross, delivered by Laetitia Courtois, Permanent Observer, to Interactive Dialogue to commemorate and promote the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace.
05-05-2021 | Statement
ICRC response to COVID-19: Near and Middle East
A YEAR OF LOSS, DISRUPTION, SOLIDARITY AND HOPE One year on since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, this newsletter provides an overview of the ICRC response across the Near and Middle East and illustrates how, despite many additional challenges
05-05-2021 | Report
International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association [IGBA]
https://www.igbamedicines.org/
News
No new digest content identified.
IFFIm
http://www.iffim.org/
Press Releases/Announcements
No new digest content identified.
IFRC [to 8 May 2021]
http://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/news/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan
South Asia: Urgent action needed to prevent further human catastrophe
Kuala Lumpur/Kathmandu/Delhi/Geneva, 5 May 2021 – Urgent international support is needed to prevent a worsening human catastrophe in countries across South Asia as India’s total COVID-19 infections soar past 20 million.
5 May 2021
Institut Pasteur [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.pasteur.fr/en/press-area
Press release
07.05.2021
Christine Petit co-recipient of the 2021 Gruber Neuroscience Prize
…The 2021 Gruber Neuroscience Prize is being awarded to neuroscientists Christine Petit, MD, PhD, of the Institut Pasteur (joint research unit Inserm), the French Academy of Sciences and Collège de France, and, and Christopher A. Walsh, MD, PhD, of Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital, for their groundbreaking work in revealing the genetic and molecular mechanisms behind the development of inherited neurodevelopmental disorders and with a profound impact on our understanding of how the brain functions, both in health and disease.
Christine Petit is receiving the award for her seminal contributions to the understanding of the mechanisms involved with hearing and hearing loss.
The Gruber Neuroscience Prize, which includes a $500,000 award and a gold medal will be presented to Christine Petit and Christopher A. Walsh in November at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience.
IOM / International Organization for Migration [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.iom.int/press-room/press-releases
News
World Migration Report Launches Dynamic New Data Visualization Platform
2021-05-05 15:53
Geneva – The International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) flagship publication has launched a dynamic new webpage that connects fact-based narratives on migration with interactive data visualizations on…
800,000 South Sudanese May Face Reduced Access to Life-Saving Primary Health Care by June, IOM Warns
2021-05-04 14:21
Juba – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) warns that more than 800,000 people in South Sudan who rely on IOM for their health care may face reduced access to life-saving services by June if urgent calls for humanitarian funding are not met.
IRC International Rescue Committee [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.rescue.org/press-release-index
Media highlights [Selected]
Press Release
No new digest content identified.
IVAC [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html
Updates; Events
No new digest content identified.
IVI [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.ivi.int/
Selected IVI News, Announcements, Events
No new digest content identified.
JEE Alliance [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.jeealliance.org/
Selected News and Events
No new digest content identified.
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/news/center-news/
Center News
No new digest content identified.
MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.msf.org/
Latest [Selected Announcements
No new digest content identified.
National Academy of Medicine – USA [to 8 May 2021]
https://nam.edu/programs/
Selected News/Programs
Upcoming Events:
May 18 2021
International Workshop on COVID-19 Lessons to Inform Pandemic Influenza Response, Day 1: Global Coordination
Time: 7:00 AM
This global public workshop will convene international experts, thought-leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss the emerging evidence on these unprecedented actions related to COVID-19 that could inform and advance pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccine preparedness efforts and subsequent response.
May 21 2021
International Workshop on COVID-19 Lessons to Inform Pandemic Influenza Response, Day 2: Supply Chain Cascade
Time: 8:30 AM
This global public workshop will convene international experts, thought-leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss the emerging evidence on these unprecedented actions related to COVID-19 that could inform and advance pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccine preparedness efforts and subsequent response.
May 25 2021
International Workshop on COVID-19 Lessons to Inform Pandemic Influenza Response, Day 3: Lessons Learned Across Fields
Time: 8:30 AM
This global public workshop will convene international experts, thought-leaders, and other stakeholders to discuss the emerging evidence on these unprecedented actions related to COVID-19 that could inform and advance pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccine preparedness efforts and subsequent response.
National Vaccine Program Office – U.S. HHS [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.hhs.gov/vaccines/about/index.html
Upcoming Meetings/Latest Updates
No new digest content identified.
NIH [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases
News Releases
No new digest content identified.
UN OCHA Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.unocha.org/
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
PATH [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.path.org/media-center/
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
Sabin Vaccine Institute [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/pressreleases
Statements and Press Releases
Vaccine Science and Policy Experts Call for Transformation of Vaccine R&D Enterprise
Tuesday, May 4, 2021
[See Milestones above for detail]
UNAIDS [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.unaids.org/en
Selected Press Releases/Reports/Statements
7 May 2021
Pioneers of the harm reduction response in Uganda
6 May 2021
Specialized medical waste management equipment for Republic of Moldova’s harm reduction programme
5 May 2021
UNAIDS Executive Director visits projects in Namibia that empower adolescent girls and young women
5 May 2021
UNITY Platform publishes annual report on violence against sexual and gender minorities in Cameroon
4 May 2021
UNAIDS is saddened by the death of Patrick O’Connell, the founding director of Visual AIDS
4 May 2021
100% Life: 20 years of fighting
3 May 2021
Big drops in the cost of antiretroviral medicines, but COVID-19 threatens further reductions
UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter.html
Latest from News Centre
No new digest content identified.
UNHCR Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/media-centre.htmlS
Selected News Releases, Announcements
Pandemic threatens progress on refugee admissions through family, work, study permits
5 May 2021
A new study released today shows that 1.5 million people from nations driving major refugee movements were admitted by 35 OECD countries and Brazil on family, work and study permits in the decade just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The latest report by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the OECD, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development , titled “Safe Pathways for Refugees II”, examines admissions from 2010 to 2019 of people from seven countries propelling displacement: Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Syria and Venezuela…
UNICEF [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.unicef.org/media/press-releases
Selected Press Releases, Statements
Press release
05/07/2021
Geneva Palais briefing note on the impact of the deadly COVID-19 surge on children in India, and increasingly in the region
This is a summary of what was said by UNICEF representative Dr Yasmin Ali Haque – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at today’s press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
… “UNICEF is very concerned about this deadly daily surge in new cases. This wave is almost four times the size of the first wave and the virus is spreading much faster. On an average there were more than four new cases every second and more than two deaths every minute in last 24 hours. With the surge in cases, the virus is also affecting more people across age groups including children and infants.
“What is happening in India should raise alarm bells for all of us. The pandemic is far from over. COVID-19 cases are rising at an alarming rate across South Asia, especially in Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Entire health systems could collapse, leading to more tragic loss of life. Very low levels of vaccination in most South Asian countries (less than 10% in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal) is adding to concern of the virus spiraling even further. Besides South Asia, we are also seeing alarming situations in other parts of the world.
“Along with the increase in COVID-19 cases, the impact on children being affected by the virus has also increased. And of course the impact of the outbreak and public health and social measures on children is likely to be aggravated following the second wave. They are living through a tragedy…
Press release
05/05/2021
United States renews longstanding commitment to UNICEF with $300 million pledge for improving the lives of mothers and children
News note
05/05/2021
Canada becomes first country to support COVID-19 therapeutics via new UNICEF fund
Low- and middle-income countries set to benefit from Canadian contribution in support of global equitable access to lifesaving COVID-19 medical supplies
News note
05/04/2021
UNICEF, with support from DP World, sends critical supplies to help fight COVID-19 surge in India
Statement
05/04/2021
Deadly new surge in South Asia threatens to reverse global gains against the COVID-19 pandemic and have disproportionate impact on children
Statement by George Laryea-Adjei, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia
Unitaid [to 8 May 2021]
https://unitaid.org/
Featured News
06 May 2021
Unitaid statement on US support for IP waiver for COVID-19 vaccines
[See COVID – TRIPS – IP above for detail]
Vaccination Acceptance Research Network (VARN) [to 8 May 2021]
https://vaccineacceptance.org/news.html#header1-2r
Announcements
No new digest content identified.
Vaccine Confidence Project [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.vaccineconfidence.org/
News, Research and Reports
Coronavirus global impact
Launched April 2, 2020 and recurring every 3 days, Premise Data is utilizing its global network of Contributors to assess economic, social, and health sentiment surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Vaccine Education Center – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
News
No new digest content identified.
Wellcome Trust [to 8 May 2021]
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news
News and reports
Explainer
What are human infection studies and why do we need them?
5 May 2021
Human infection studies (also known as human challenge trials and controlled human infection models) have the power to rapidly accelerate the development of much-needed vaccines and treatments, including for Covid-19.
The Wistar Institute [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.wistar.org/news/press-releases
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
WFPHA: World Federation of Public Health Associations [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.wfpha.org/
Latest News
Public Health Leadership Coalition: Global Launch
News May 7, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined how a focused and organised public health effort is imperative to fight global crises effectively.
The Public Health Leadership Coalition is taking the responsibility of being a strong, independent and accountable voice of public health workforce, communities, civil societies, and scientific experts to make governments and organizations accountable for their choices.
Coalition leaders will provide scientific advice and effective solutions to enable decision-makers to implement the best evidence-based policies in public health and to make the right choice for the health and wealth of each country.
On 12 May, join the official launch of the Public Health Leadership Coalition to learn more about the Coalition’s values and aims. Save your spot by clicking on the link below.
Register Here
World Bank [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
Selected News, Announcements
Key Facts: World Bank Group Vaccine Announcement
COVID-19 vaccines, alongside widespread testing, improved treatment and strong health systems are critical to save lives and strengthen the global economic recovery. To provide relief for vulnerable populations…
Date: May 03, 2021 Type: Factsheet
World Customs Organization – WCO [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.wcoomd.org/
Latest News – Selected Items
No new digest content identified.
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.oie.int/en/for-the-media/press-releases/2021/
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
WTO – World Trade Organisation [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm
WTO News and Events
Webinar to explore links between TRIPS and health technology dissemination
7 May 2021
A panel of leading experts will explore on 12 May the impact of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) on health technology diffusion over the past 25 years and its role in the broader ecosystem that is required to support innovation and equitable access to medical technologies. The webinar “Trade and Public Health: Dissemination of Health Technologies” forms part of a series of events to mark the 25th anniversary of the TRIPS Agreement.
The webinar is an integral part of the “Virtual Course on Trade and Public Health with a Special Focus on the COVID-19 Pandemic” and is open to the public. It will take place on 12 May 2021, from 14:00 to 16:30 (CET).
Registration for the webinar is available here.
The full programme of the event is available here.
The event will be live streamed through the WTO YouTube channel.
Statement of Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on USTR Tai’s statement on the TRIPS waiver
6 May 2021
“I read with interest the statement made yesterday by USTR Katherine Tai and I warmly welcome her willingness to engage with proponents of a temporary waiver of the TRIPS Agreement to help in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. As I told the General Council yesterday, we need to respond urgently to COVID-19 because the world is watching and people are dying. I am pleased that the proponents are preparing a revision to their proposal and I urge them to put this on the table as soon as possible so that text-based negotiations can commence. It is only by sitting down together that we will find a pragmatic way forward — acceptable to all members — which enhances developing countries’ access to vaccines while protecting and sustaining the research and innovation so vital to the production of these life-saving vaccines.”
General Council – Remarks by DG Okonjo-Iweala on the IP waiver
5 May 2021
Speech
::::::
ARM [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine] [to 8 May 2021]
Press Releases – Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (alliancerm.org)
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
BIO [to 8 May 2021]
https://www.bio.org/press-releases
Press Releases
Support of “TRIPS” Waiver Sets Dangerous Precedent
May 5, 2021
Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), released the following statement in response to the White House’s support of waiving critical intellectual property rights for COVID-19…
…”Handing needy countries a recipe book without the ingredients, safeguards, and sizable workforce needed will not help people waiting for the vaccine. Handing them the blueprint to construct a kitchen that – in optimal conditions – can take a year to build will not help us stop the emergence of dangerous new COVID variants. The better alternative would have been to follow through on the President’s pledge just last week to make the United States the world’s “arsenal of vaccines”. This policy leads in the opposite direction….
DCVMN – Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers Network [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.dcvmn.org/
News; Upcoming events
No new digest content identified.
ICBA – International Council of Biotechnology Associations [to 8 May 2021]
https://internationalbiotech.org/news/
News
No new digest content identified.
IFPMA [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.ifpma.org/resources/news-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Publications
IFPMA Response on Joint Statement on transparency and data integrity by International Coalition of Medicines
Geneva, 7 May 2021
[See Milestones above for detail]
IFPMA Statement on WTO TRIPS Intellectual Property Waiver
05 May 2021
[See COVID – TRIPS – IP above for detail]
PhRMA [to 8 May 2021]
http://www.phrma.org/
Selected Press Releases, Statements
PhRMA CAREs Grant request for proposals: Addressing inequities in access to COVID-19 testing, therapeutics and vaccines
May 6, 2021
PhRMA CAREs Grant request for proposals: Addressing inequities in access to COVID-19 testing, therapeutics, and vaccines
Blog Post
PhRMA Statement on WTO TRIPS Intellectual Property Waiver
May 5, 2021
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) president and CEO Stephen J. Ubl made the following statement after the United States Trade Representative expressed support for a proposal to waive patent protections for COVID-19 medicines.
Press release
[See COVID – TRIPS – IP above for detail]
A conversation with Ron Busby, Sr., President and CEO of the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. on improving vaccine confidence in communities of color
May 5, 2021
A conversation with Ron Busby, Sr., President and CEO of the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. on improving vaccine confidence in communities of color
Blog Post
vaccines and global health :: ethics and policy 