Announcements
Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/frontiers-group/news-press/
News
News from The Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group: November 2020
November 5, 2020
Highlights include: new Allen Distinguished Investigators announced, a new podcast on SCANning for coronavirus, recent research on astrocytes, upcoming events, and more.
BARDA – U.S. Department of HHS [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.phe.gov/about/barda/Pages/default.aspx
BARDA News
No new digest content identified.
BMGF – Gates Foundation [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/Media-Center/Press-Releases
Press Releases and Statements
No new digest content identified.
Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute [to 05 Dec 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 05 Dec 2020]
https://carb-x.org/
News
12.01.2020 |
CARB-X is funding a German team of scientists to develop a new treatment for difficult-to-treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis patients
CARB-X is awarding up to US$1.75 million to the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) in Saarbrücken, Germany, to develop an innovative treatment for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis patients.
CEPI – Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://cepi.net/
Latest News
CEPI welcomes UK approval of Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine
UK’s temporary authorization of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine is a significant milestone in the global fight to control COVID-19
COVID-19 02 Dec 2020
Malaysia joins CEPI, donating US$3 million to advance vaccine R&D
The funding will allow the world to better prepare and respond to future outbreaks.
COVID-19 30 Nov 2020
EDCTP [to 05 Dec 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
01 December 2020
World AIDS Day 2020
Emory Vaccine Center [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.vaccines.emory.edu/
Vaccine Center News
No new digest content identified.
European Medicines Agency [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/
News & Press Releases
News: EMA starts rolling review of Janssen’s COVID-19 vaccine Ad26.COV2.S
Last updated: 01/12/2020
News: EMA receives application for conditional marketing authorisation of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine BNT162b2
Last updated: 01/12/2020
News: EMA receives application for conditional marketing authorisation of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
Last updated: 01/12/2020
European Vaccine Initiative [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.euvaccine.eu/
Latest News
Dec 1 2020
World AIDS Day 2020
FDA [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/default.htm
Press Announcements /Selected Details
December 4, 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes First COVID-19 and Flu Combination Test for use with home-collected samples
… “Today’s authorization for a COVID-19 plus flu test using samples collected at home is a significant step toward FDA’s nationwide response to COVID-19. With the authorization of this test, the FDA is helping to address the ongoing fight against COVID-19 while in the middle of the flu season, which is important for many, including the most vulnerable of Americans. This is another example of the FDA working with test developers to bring important diagnostics to Americans,” said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. “With just one swab or sample, combination tests that are authorized for use with home-collected samples can be used to get answers to Americans faster, in the comfort and relative safety of their home, which allows patients to continue to quarantine while awaiting results. This efficiency can go a long way to providing timely information for those sick with an unknown respiratory ailment.”…
December 4, 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: December 4, 2020
:: The FDA has added content to the question-and-answer appendix in its guidance titled, “Conduct of Clinical Trials of Medical Products During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.” The updated guidance includes a new question and answer regarding considerations for disposing unused investigational drug product when a study participant cannot return it to the study site.
:: PrecisionFDA has launched the COVID-19 Precision Immunology App-a-thon. The agency encourages the scientific and analytics community to develop innovative applications to explore the relationship between personalized immune repertoires and COVID-19 disease variables and associated factors.
December 3, 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: December 3, 2020
:: On Dec. 2, the FDA updated the SARS CoV-2 reference panel comparative data on our website to reflect the latest information. The FDA SARS-CoV-2 reference panel is an independent performance validation step for diagnostic tests of SARS-CoV-2 infection that are being used for clinical purposes.
December 1, 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: December 1, 2020
November 30, 2020 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Announces Advisory Committee Meeting to Discuss Second COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate
FDA – COVID-19 Vaccines [to 05 Dec 2020]
www.fda.gov/covid19vaccines
Upcoming Events
12/17/2020: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting
12/10/2020: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee Meeting
[See Regulatory Calendar above for details]
Fondation Merieux [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/
News, Events
Mérieux Foundation co-organized event
7th Meeting of the GTFCC Working Group on Oral Cholera Vaccine Webinars
November 19 – December 10, 2020 – Webinars
Vaccine Acceptance Virtual Event Series – How to maintain and build trust in immunization
December 16, 2020 – 2:00pm – 4:30pm (CET) Virtual
An event to continue the dialogue and increase multi-sectoral efforts to promote vaccination acceptance and immunization programs resilience, now particularly challenged by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The erosion in vaccination trust and additional disruptions in routine immunization programs caused by the current pandemic is becoming an increasing threat to public health. How to tackle it?
To keep the momentum in this critical topic, we would like to bring together the vaccine acceptance public in this 2.5-hour webinar.
Gavi [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.gavi.org/
News releases
The COVID-19 vaccine race
Updated: 2 December 2020
Scientists around the world are working faster than ever to find vaccines that could stop the spread of COVID-19. Now, nearly a year on from the start of the pandemic, we have several promising vaccines on the brink of going through regulatory approval to be rolled out.
Here is a slightly more in-depth look at the candidate vaccines that are in phase 1 trials or beyond:
GHIT Fund [to 05 Dec 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 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/
News
Global Fund Board Appoints Tracy Staines as Inspector General
03 December 2020
The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has appointed Tracy Staines, a distinguished auditor and seasoned executive, as Inspector General. Staines brings over 20 years of multi-sectoral experience in audit and risk management, including eight years at the Global Fund.
Without Equity, We Cannot End COVID-19, HIV Or Any Other Pandemic
01 December 2020 by Peter Sands and Mark Vermeulen
While COVID-19 continues to accelerate around the world, the last few weeks have seen new optimism in the fight against the pandemic. Pfizer and Moderna have shared data showing their vaccines are more than 90% effective. People now dare to dream that 2021 will bring a semblance of normality to their lives. The vaccine news is proof of the power of science. Yet our optimism must be tempered with caution. Will the world deliver vaccines to all? Will we see the commitment to finish the fight against COVID-19 sustained once people in rich countries have been vaccinated and are safe from the virus?
The fight against HIV offers a sobering reality-check…
Sue Ackerly Appointed as Global Fund Ombudsperson
30 November 2020
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and Malaria today announced the appointment of Sue Ackerly as Ombudsperson, reinforcing its commitment to a strong and independent informal mechanism for staff and strengthening the Global Fund’s culture of diversity, inclusion and dignity.
Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness [GloPID-R] [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.glopid-r.org/news/
News
No new digest content identified.
Hilleman Laboratories [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.hillemanlabs.org/
No new digest content identified.
Human Vaccines Project [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/media/press-releases/
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
IAVI [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.iavi.org/newsroom
PRESS RELEASES/FEATURES
December 3, 2020
IAVI Announces Launch of EDCTP-funded Socio-behavioral Project on Accessible HIV Prevention Tools for African Women
Universally accessible HIV Prevention Technologies for African girls and young women through Knowledge applied from behavioral Economics (UPTAKE) presents a unique multidisciplinary collaboration of five leading research institutions in both Africa and Europe
AMSTERDAM – DECEMBER 03, 2020 – IAVI today announced the initiation of UPTAKE, an innovative behavioral science research project with support from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP). UPTAKE seeks to determine factors that facilitate future uptake of long-acting (LA) technologies to prevent HIV and unintended pregnancy in adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Kenya and Uganda. AGYW in sub-Saharan Africa aged 15-24 years are twice as likely to be living with HIV as men in the same age group.
Due to access and adherence issues, existing prevention products, such as condoms, voluntary medical male circumcision, Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and treatment as prevention (TasP), continue to fall short in curbing HIV infections among AGYW. LA antiretroviral-based technologies represent a promising avenue for HIV prevention, with recent results from the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) HPTN 083 study demonstrating LA injectable cabotegravir used as PrEP to be highly effective in preventing HIV acquisition in women in sub-Saharan Africa. Future LA antibody-based technologies are also being explored. This study will determine and test behavioral factors that facilitate adoption and use of future LA HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (LA-PrEP) alone or in combination with marketed LA contraceptives in Kenya and Uganda.
Funded by a three-year €2.24 million grant from EDCTP and led by IAVI’s offices in Amsterdam and Nairobi, UPTAKE features a unique international consortium of five leading academic, public health, and product development organizations in Africa and Europe…
FEATURES
December 1, 2020
HIV Activist Winifred Ikilai: 5 Things to Know on World AIDS Day 2020
International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities [ICMRA]
http://www.icmra.info/drupal/en/news
Selected Statements, Press Releases, Research
Supply Chain Integrity
Recommendations on common technical denominators for track and trace systems to allow for interoperability: open for public consultation
November 27, 2020
The International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA) has developed a draft paper with recommendations on common technical denominators for track and trace (T&T) systems. It aims to facilitate the implementation of interoperable systems for medicines around the world.
In this paper, regulators emphasise that interoperability of T&T systems would help to protect public health by improving information sharing in case of quality defects, reducing shortages, contributing to the fight against falsified medicines and supporting pharmacovigilance activities.
The draft recommendations are available for public consultation until 28 February 2021:
Recommendations on common technical denominators for track and trace systems to allow for interoperability
Stakeholders can send their comments on the document via an online form to icmratrackandtrace@ema.europa.eu.
The draft recommendations were developed in consultation with the World Health Organisation (WHO), representatives from international medicines regulatory authorities and experts from the private sector.
ICMRA intends to publish the final document in 2021 after considering the responses to the public consultation…
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 05 Dec 2020]
http://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/news/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
Global
Red Cross and Red Crescent societies report massive surge in volunteer numbers in response to COVID-19
Geneva, 2 December 2020 – Hundreds of thousands of new volunteers worldwide have joined their National Red Cross and Red Crescent Society this year, providing vital support to their local communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2 December 2020
Global
IFRC: Success of COVID-19 vaccine relies on our ability to address “mistrust pandemic”
New York/Geneva, 30 November 2020 – The President of the world’s largest humanitarian organization has warned that efforts to roll out a potential COVID-19 vaccine could fail unless equally ambitious efforts to counteract rapidly rising levels of mistrust and misinformation are put in place.
Speaking ahead of a United Nations High-Level Special Session on the COVID-19 Pandemic taking place this week in New York, Mr Francesco Rocca, President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said:
“We welcome the news that a viable COVID-19 vaccine may be imminent. However, we caution that a vaccine in-and-of-itself will not be enough to end this pandemic.
“To beat COVID-19, we also need to defeat the parallel pandemic of mistrust that has consistently hindered our collective response to this disease, and that could undermine our shared ability to vaccinate against it.”…
Institut Pasteur [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.pasteur.fr/en/press-area
Press documents
No new digest content identified.
IRC International Rescue Committee [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.rescue.org/press-release-index
Media highlights [Selected]
Press Release
IRC calls for truly global COVID-19 action and global ceasefire ahead of UN General Assembly Session on Covid-19
December 3, 2020
Press Release
New UN data shows 40% increase in people in need; IRC calls on world leaders to step up and fund frontline response
December 1, 2020
IVAC [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html
Updates; Events
No new digest content identified.
IVI [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.ivi.int/
Selected IVI News, Announcements, Events
EuBiologics partners up with IVI in COVID-19 vaccine development
December 3, 2020, SEOUL, South Korea – The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) and EuBiologics exchanged an MOU to cooperate in clinical development of the COVID-19 vaccine the company is currently developing. The signing ceremony at IVI headquarters on December 2 was attended by Dr. Jerome Kim, Director General, and Dr. Manki Song, Deputy Director General of Science from IVI, co-CEO Dr. Yeong Ok Baik co-CEO Seuk-Keun Choi from EuBiologics…
How to take action on AMR during the COVID-19 pandemic, a webinar co-hosted by IVI, ICARS, and the Embassy of Denmark in Korea
December 1, 2020
Free webinar, Evidence to Action: Advancing the Antimicrobial Resistance Agenda during a Pandemic, will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 9:00 Central European Time (17:00 Korean Standard Time). Registration available at ivi.int/evidence-to-action/
JEE Alliance [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.jeealliance.org/
Selected News and Events
No new digest content identified.
MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.msf.org/
Latest [Selected Announcements]
Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic
Responding to COVID-19: Global Accountability Report 2 – June to August 2020
Report 2 Dec 2020
…From June to August, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) continued to respond to the pandemic through its existing programmes, as well as dedicated COVID-19 interventions in more than 250 projects in 63 countries….
HIV/AIDS
HIV is in a state of silent crisis in Central African Republic
Project Update 30 Nov 2020
HIV/AIDS
Bending the HIV curve in Kenya’s Ndhiwa sub-county
Project Update 30 Nov 2020
National Vaccine Program Office – U.S. HHS [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.hhs.gov/vaccines/about/index.html
Upcoming Meetings/Latest Updates
No new digest content identified.
NIH [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases
News Releases
High-dose influenza vaccine shows no additional benefit for heart disease patients
December 4, 2020 — NIH-funded study finds higher dose is not more effective at reducing serious flu complications in this high-risk group.
NIH Statement on World AIDS Day 2020
December 1, 2020 — We reflect both on the remarkable progress that has been made against HIV as well as the considerable challenges that remain.
NIH announces restructured HIV clinical trials networks
November 30, 2020 —
Grant awards set stage for next seven years of science-driven HIV clinical research.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, today announced the clinical investigators and institutions that will lead four NIH HIV clinical trials networks over the next seven years to conduct the innovative, efficient clinical research needed to accelerate progress against the HIV pandemic. NIAID also awarded grants to 35 U.S. and international institutions selected as HIV clinical trials units (CTUs). NIAID and co-funding NIH Institutes intend to provide approximately $375.3 million in the first year to support the networks…
Experimental Vaccine for Deadly Tickborne Virus Effective in Cynomolgus Macaques
November 30, 2020 — Monkeys protected against CCHFV, which infects thousands of people annually.
PATH [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.path.org/media-center/
Press Release
PATH’s statement on the World Health Organization’s World Malaria Report, 2020
November 30, 2020 by PATH
Country-led, data-centered approaches are saving millions of lives in the fight against malaria. However, we have more work to do.
A statement from PATH’s Director of Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, Center for Malaria Control and Elimination, Kammerle Schneider:
“This week, the World Health Organization (WHO) released the 2020 World Malaria Report, its annual update on global malaria control and elimination. This year’s report reflects on 20 years of collaboration and progress against malaria and calls on the global community to maintain essential malaria services to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.
“PATH is proud of the progress the global community has made in reducing the burden of malaria over the past two decades—1.5 billion cases and 7.6 million deaths have been averted because of sustained political commitment and increased investment in the development and scale-up of effective tools and approaches. Further, we are on track to achieve two milestones laid out in the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016-2030: Ten countries where malaria was endemic in 2015 are now on track for elimination and WHO-certified malaria-free countries continue to maintain no local transmission.
“However, progress against malaria has plateaued over the past four years—global malaria case incidence declined by 27% between 2000 and 2015, as compared to less than 2% from 2015 to 2019…
Sabin Vaccine Institute [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/pressreleases
Statements and Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
UNAIDS [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.unaids.org/en
Selected Press Releases/Reports/Statements
4 December 2020
Dakar addiction centre reaches out to women
3 December 2020
Snapshots on how UNAIDS is supporting the HIV response during COVID-19
2 December 2020
HIV community activists tackle COVID-19 in Lesotho
1 December 2020
In South Africa, young women leading HIV and violence prevention say men’s involvement is key
UNICEF [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.unicef.org/media/press-releases
Selected Press releases, Statements
Press release
12/03/2020
UNICEF issues record US$6.4 billion emergency funding appeal to reach more than 190 million children impacted by humanitarian crises and the COVID-19 pandemic
Funds will support essential programs for children and families in need across 149 countries and territories through 2021
Press release
12/01/2020
Norway commits more than $163 million to UNICEF education, health and inclusivity programmes for children
Unitaid [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://unitaid.org/
Featured News
03 December 2020
Republic of Korea contributes US$1 million to increase access to COVID-19 diagnostics
Geneva – Unitaid is pleased to announce that the Republic of Korea has contributed a US$1 million to support the Diagnostic Partnership of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A). This extra funding comes in addition to the core financial support provided by the Republic of Korea to Unitaid.
Effective and rapid testing strategies are crucial to ensure the COVID-19 pandemic is brought to an end. The ACT-A has identified that an estimated 500 million COVID-19 diagnostic tests will be needed in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) by mid-2021…
01 December 2020
Unitaid reaffirms its commitment to the fight against HIV in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
This World AIDS Day 2020, Unitaid reaffirms its commitment to the fight against HIV, while calling for innovative solutions to overcome stagnating progress towards global targets and challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite significant gains achieved in the fight against HIV, global targets for 2020 have been missed.
:: In 2019, there were 1.7 million new infections, with key populations accounting for 62% of new infections globally, and young women and girls accounting for 48% in sub-Saharan Africa.
:: Of the 38 million people living with HIV in 2019, 12 million individuals did not have access to treatment.
Global efforts to meet international targets were already off-track in 2019, and progress has been further derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic…
01 December 2020
Groundbreaking Agreement Reduces by 75% the Cost of HIV Treatment for Children in Low-and Middle-Income Countries
New formulation is dispersible and strawberry-flavoured, enabling the youngest children living with HIV to be treated with the best available medication
New price agreement with Viatris and Macleods will significantly lower cost for yearly paediatric HIV treatment from over $480 per child to under $120 per child[1]
Innovative partnership has accelerated development of first generic paediatric dispersible formulation of dolutegravir (DTG), the recommended first-line HIV treatment
A long-awaited HIV treatment designed specifically for children will now be available in low-and middle-income countries, thanks to a landmark agreement from Unitaid and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)…
Vaccination Acceptance Research Network (VARN) [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://vaccineacceptance.org/news.html#header1-2r
Announcements
No new digest content identified.
Vaccine Confidence Project [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.vaccineconfidence.org/
Research and Reports
No new digest content identified.
Vaccine Education Center – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
News
No new digest content identified.
Wellcome Trust [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news
Explainer | 2 December 2020
Seven vital questions about RNA Covid-19 vaccines
The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines are more than 90% effective, as reported in phase III clinical trials – and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the first Covid-19 vaccine to be licensed. This is a historic moment and the result of a global, collaborative research effort.
Opinion | 3 December 2020
Why we’re launching a new round of PhD funding for health professionals
Sara Marshall, Head of Clinical and Physiological Sciences, Wellcome
When research and healthcare come together, everyone benefits. That’s why we’re announcing a new call for PhD programmes to support health professionals in their research careers.
The Wistar Institute [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.wistar.org/news/press-releases
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
WFPHA: World Federation of Public Health Associations [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.wfpha.org/
Latest News
WFPHA Supports the Proposal for the Temporary Suspension of Intellectual Property Rights for Necessary Products to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic!
The World Federation of Public Health Associations (WFPHA) has sent an open letter to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Secretary-General of the United Nations (SG-UN) to support the proposal for the temporary suspension of Intellectual Property Rights for necessary products to address the COVID-19 pandemic.
On December 9, a session of the TRIPS Council of the WTO will be held. The main discussion issue will be the proposal submitted by South Africa and India and co-sponsored by Kenya and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) to adopt a “waiver”, a temporary suspension of intellectual property rights of applicable knowledge to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Such a waiver would be subject to the protections available through patents, copyrights, undisclosed information projection, integrated circuits and enforcement, as provided in WTO agreements for exceptional situations such as the COVID-19 public health pandemic.
The proposal seeks to resolve the restrictions by low, lower-middle, and higher-middle income countries (as defined by The World Bank) to have timely affordable access under competitive market conditions to COVID-19 diagnostic kits, medical devices such as respirators and particularly vaccines and medicines to combat the virus. A pandemic cannot be resolved in a small number of countries.
The widest possible access internationally is required to bring the COVID-19 pandemic to an end.
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.oie.int/en/for-the-media/press-releases/2020/
No new digest content identified.
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ARM [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine] [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://alliancerm.org/
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
BIO [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://www.bio.org/press-releases
Press Releases
New Website Will Combat Vaccine Myths, Boost Public Confidence, Increase Acceptance
December 4, 2020
Public opinion polls show there is significant mistrust among the American public in the safety and efficacy of vaccines. So today, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) announced the launch of COVIDVaccineFacts.org. As a subsidiary website of BIO, COVIDVaccineFacts.org is an educational tool that links healthcare providers and the public to scientific and evidenced-based information related to the vaccine development process. Vaccine safety, efficacy, availability, and affordability are among the topics covered on the website.
On the website, which is translated in English and Spanish, users will find answers to a number of “frequently asked questions” related to vaccine development, including:
:: What is a vaccine?
:: How are vaccines developed?
:: How is everyone moving so quickly to develop a vaccine for Covid-19?
: How will we know a Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective?
:: When will my family and I receive a vaccine for Covid-19?
BIO will continue to update the website and add new questions in the coming months.
The text on this website has been independently reviewed by health experts. It also incorporates several visual elements to help explain concepts like herd immunity, emergency use authorization, and more…
… Click here to visit the site.
Editor’s Note:
We took a moment to use the search function on this new site and explored the following keywords: consent, mandate, refusal, hesitancy, ethics, equity, access, and allocation. There were no results.
DCVMN – Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers Network [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.dcvmn.org/
News; Upcoming events
No new digest content identified.
ICBA – International Council of Biotechnology Associations [to 05 Dec 2020]
https://internationalbiotech.org/news/
News
No new digest content identified.
IFPMA [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.ifpma.org/resources/news-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Publications
No new digest content identified.
PhRMA [to 05 Dec 2020]
http://www.phrma.org/
Selected Press Releases, Statements
PhRMA Statement on ACIP Recommendations for COVID-19 Allocation
December 3, 2020
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America president and CEO, Stephen J. Ubl issued the following statement on ACIP Recommendations for COVID-19 Allocation:
…“As states and territories prepare for the arrival of critically needed COVID-19 vaccines and seek to address key issues regarding priority of vaccine distribution, PhRMA supports ACIP’s prioritization of essential health care, public health industry workers and those most at risk as part of their allocation decisions.
“As we continue to fight COVID-19, we are committed to ensuring that the highest of standards of research, clinical testing and manufacturing are upheld throughout the vaccine research and development process. Our companies have further pledged ‘to make the safety and well-being of vaccinated individuals the top priority in development of the first Covid-19 vaccines.’ This commitment to safety isn’t new — it’s what the industry does day in and day out.
Guest Post: Bringing our best to the fight against COVID-19
Guest Contributor | December 3, 2020
…A guest post by Michel Pairet, a member of the Board of Managing Directors in charge of Innovation at Boehringer Ingelheim and Clive R. Wood, Global Head of Discovery Research:
As the world grapples with the challenge of another potentially more deadly upsurge in COVID-19 infections, we at Boehringer Ingelheim, along with the rest of the global scientific community, are digging deep into our knowledge and pipeline to find new options to combat this disease. Every statistic has a human story associated with it and it is this, together with our scientists’ deep commitment to rapidly find effective treatments to fight this devastating disease, that compels us to do everything we can to help patients who are suffering and relieve pressure on health care systems around the world…
vaccines and global health :: ethics and policy 