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 29 May 2021]
https://alleninstitute.org/what-we-do/frontiers-group/news-press/
News
No new digest content identified.
BARDA – U.S. Department of HHS [to 29 May 2021]
https://www.phe.gov/about/barda/Pages/default.aspx
News
No new digest content identified.
BMGF – Gates Foundation [to 29 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 29 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 29 May 2021]
News
05.27.2021 |
CARB-X is funding SNIPR BIOME to develop a CRISPR-engineered drug to eradicate Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria in cancer patients to prevent deadly infections
CARB-X is awarding SNIPR BIOME ApS, a CRISPR- and microbiome-biotechnology company in Copenhagen, Denmark, up to US $3.9 million to develop an innovative new drug to prevent E. coli infections in cancer patients, which can be life-threatening. Under the award, SNIPR BIOME may be eligible for up to $6.3 million in additional funds from CARB-X if the project achieves certain milestones, subject to available funds.
Center for Vaccine Ethics and Policy – GE2P2 Global Foundation [to 29 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 29 May 2021]
http://cepi.net/
Latest News
COVAX Joint Statement: Call to action to equip COVAX to deliver 2 billion doses in 2021
Now more than ever, at the peak of the pandemic, we need ambitious, global solutions.
27 May 2021
[See COVID above for full text]
CEPI funds expansion of “mix and match” vaccine study, led by Oxford University
Expanded study will assess the use of mixed COVID-19 vaccine regimens, specifically to include the Moderna and Novavax vaccines
COVID-19
26 May 2021
CEPI and SK bioscience expand partnership to advance multiple COVID-19 variant vaccines and scale-up manufacturing
CEPI to provide up to US$173.4 million of additional funding to SK bioscience for its COVID-19 vaccine programme.
24 May 2021
DARPA – Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency [to 29 May 2021
https://www.darpa.mil/news
News
No new digest content identified.
Duke Global Health Innovation Center [to 29 May 2021]
WEEKLY COVID VACCINE RESEARCH UPDATE
Last dated update: FRIDAY, April 16, 2021
EDCTP [to 29 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
No new digest content identified.
Emory Vaccine Center [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.vaccines.emory.edu/
Vaccine Center News
No new digest content identified.
European Vaccine Initiative [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.euvaccine.eu/
Latest News
No new digest content identified.
FDA [to 29 May 2021]
https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/default.htm
Press Announcements /Selected Details
May 28, 2021 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: May 28, 2021
May 26, 2021 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Additional Monoclonal Antibody for Treatment of COVID-19
May 25, 2021 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: May 25, 2021
[See U.S. COVID Actions above for detail]
Fondation Merieux [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.fondation-merieux.org/
News, Events
Mérieux Foundation co-organized event
8th Annual meeting of the Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC)
June 8 – 10, 2021 – Virtual Event
Gavi [to 29 May 2021]
https://www.gavi.org/
News Releases
27 May 2021
Call to action to equip COVAX to deliver 2 billion doses in 2021
[See COVID above for full text]
GHIT Fund [to 29 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 29 May 2021]
https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/
News & Stories
No new digest content identified.
Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness [GloPID-R] [to 29 May 2021]
News
No new digest content identified.
Hilleman Laboratories [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.hillemanlabs.org/
Website not responding at inquiry
Human Vaccines Project [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.humanvaccinesproject.org/media/press-releases/
Less Antibody than Expected May be Enough To Knock Out SARS-CoV-2
Danny Altmann, Ph.D.
Professor of Immunology
Imperial College London
IAVI [to 29 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
No new digest content identified.
ICRC [to 29 May 2021]
https://www.icrc.org/en/whats-new
Selected News Releases, Statements, Reports
DR Congo: The population of Goma flees a volcano’s menace as a major humanitarian crisis looms
28-05-2021 | News release
5 years on, there has not been significant change: access to health care continues to be impeded
Speech given by Mr Peter Maurer, President of the ICRC, in the the Side Event on Protection of Health Care of the United Nations protection of civilians in armed conflict week.
26-05-2021 | Statement
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 29 May 2021]
http://media.ifrc.org/ifrc/news/press-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Announcements
Americas
Pandemic not over, as transmission increases and health systems are at risk of collapsing in the Americas, IFRC warns
Panama City/Geneva, 28 May – The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies (IFRC) is warning that the pandemic is far from over in the Americas as cases continue to surge. The region has the highest incidence of COVID-19 cases pe …
29 May 2021
Bangladesh, India
India/Bangladesh: Millions threatened as cyclone spells double trouble
Kuala Lumpur/Delhi/Dhaka, 25 May – Red Cross and Red Crescent teams are helping people stay safe in India and Bangladesh as a major cyclone threatens millions of people and devastating COVID-19 surges continue in both countries. While India has been fa …
25 May 2021
Global
No-one is safe until everyone is safe – why we need a global response to COVID-19
Equitable vaccine distribution is a humanitarian imperative. There is a choice. The world of the next 10 years can be one of greater justice, abundance and dignity. Or it can be one of conflict, insecurity and poverty. We are at a turning point. …
24 May 2021
Institut Pasteur [to 29 May 2021]
https://www.pasteur.fr/en/press-area
Press Info
No new digest content identified.
IOM / International Organization for Migration [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.iom.int/press-room/press-releases
News
COVID-19 Behind Unprecedented Changes in the Number of Migrants Moving Across East and Horn of Africa: IOM Report
2021-05-25 15:35
Nairobi – At least 300,000 migrants across the East and Horn of Africa have been affected by COVID-19 in 2020, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM)’s annual flagship report on migration trends and population movements in the region, released this week… The highest concentration of displaced persons is in Shire, where 575,115 IDPs are residing in overcrowded collective shelters, including schools, within the host community and in open spaces. The majority are from Western and Northwestern Tigray. Other urban areas with high displacement concentrations included Adwa (188,910), Sheraro (165,223), and Mekele Zone (200,909)…
IRC International Rescue Committee [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.rescue.org/press-release-index
Media highlights [Selected]
No new digest content identified.
IVAC [to 29 May 2021]
https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/ivac/index.html
Updates; Events
No new digest content identified.
IVI [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.ivi.int/
Selected IVI News, Announcements, Events
No new digest content identified.
JEE Alliance [to 29 May 2021]
https://www.jeealliance.org/
Selected News and Events
No new digest content identified.
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security [to 29 May 2021]
https://www.centerforhealthsecurity.org/news/center-news/
Center News
New Report: School Ventilation: A Vital Tool to Reduce COVID-19 Spread
May 26, 2021
Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security receives a grant from The Rockefeller Foundation to deliver COVID-19 Response Research as part of the Exemplars in Global Health program
May 25, 2021
MSF/Médecins Sans Frontières [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.msf.org/
Latest [Selected Announcements
Myanmar
All parties must ensure unimpeded access to healthcare in Myanmar
Press Release 28 May 2021
Attacks on medical care
Trauma continues long after the bombing stops in Gaza
Project Update 28 May 2021
National Academy of Medicine – USA [to 29 May 2021]
Selected News/Programs
News
Expert Papers from the National Academy of Medicine Identify Lessons Learned and Compelling Needs for Health Care Payers and Clinicians and Professional Societies after COVID-19
May 26, 2021
WASHINGTON – In response to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the American health system, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) has convened experts in 9 sectors of health, health care, and biomedical research to review how each sector responded to COVID-19, identify challenges encountered in combating the pandemic, and outline what opportunities exist to […]
National Vaccine Program Office – U.S. HHS [to 29 May 2021]
https://www.hhs.gov/vaccines/about/index.html
Upcoming Meetings/Latest Updates
No new digest content identified.
NIH [to 29 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 29 May 2021]
https://www.unocha.org/
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
PATH [to 29 May 2021]
https://www.path.org/media-center/
Press Releases
STANDARD G6PD Test receives regulatory approval by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration
May 25, 2021 by PATH
Point-of-care test critical to improving the treatment and elimination of relapsing malaria receives regulatory approval.
PATH congratulates SD BIOSENSOR for the regulatory approval by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) on April 21, 2021, of their STANDARD™ G6PD Test. The STANDARD G6PD Test is the first point-of-care test for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency that can support safe access to the currently available drugs that treat Plasmodium vivax malaria in both men and women. The recent approval by the TGA certifies that the test is appropriate for use in point-of-care settings and meets rigorous quality standards…
Sabin Vaccine Institute [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.sabin.org/updates/pressreleases
Statements and Press Releases
Sabin Vaccine Institute Names Richard Adegbola and Yacine Djibo to Board of Trustees
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Washington, D.C. – The Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin) announced that Professor Richard Adegbola and Yacine Djibo have been elected to the Board of Trustees. Professor Adegbola is a microbiologist, public health advocate and professor in Lagos, Nigeria. Ms. Djibo is founder and executive director of Speak Up Africa, a policy and advocacy action tank promoting public health and development based in Dakar, Senegal…
UNAIDS [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.unaids.org/en
Selected Press Releases/Reports/Statements
25 May 2021
UNAIDS supports the Partnership for Accelerated COVID-19 Testing in Ghana
25 May 2021
How the LGBTI community is surviving the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
UNDP United Nations Development Programme [to 29 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 29 May 2021]
http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/media-centre.htmlS
Selected News Releases, Announcements
Older refugees at heightened risk of exclusion as COVID-19 continues to strike the Americas
26 May 2021
Statement: No-one is safe until everyone is safe – why we need a global response to COVID-19
24 May 2021
[See COVID above for detail]
UNICEF [to 29 May 2021]
https://www.unicef.org/media/press-releases
Selected Press Releases, Statements
Statement 05/27/2021
COVAX Joint Statement: Call to action to equip COVAX to deliver 2 billion doses in 2021
[See COVID above for detail]
News note 05/27/2021
UNICEF signs supply agreement for Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine
[See COVID above for detail]
News note 05/25/2021
Geneva Palais Briefing Note on COVID-19 in South Asia
[See COVID above for detail]
Statement 05/24/2021
No-one is safe until everyone is safe – why we need a global response to COVID-19
[See COVID above for detail]
Unitaid [to 29 May 2021]
Featured News
No new digest content identified.
Vaccination Acceptance & Demand Initiative [Sabin) [to 29 May 2021]
https://vaccineacceptance.org/
Announcements
No new digest content identified.
Vaccine Confidence Project [to 29 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 29 May 2021]
http://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center
News
Vaccine Update for Providers
May 25, 2021
Announcements: Updated and new COVID-19 resources; essay contest deadline approaching
Wellcome Trust [to 29 May 2021]
https://wellcome.ac.uk/news
News and reports
No new digest content identified.
The Wistar Institute [to 29 May 2021]
https://www.wistar.org/news/press-releases
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
WFPHA: World Federation of Public Health Associations [to 29 May 2021]
Latest News
WFPHA at WHA74: WFPHA Diplomats of the Global Charter for the Public’s Health: A Call for Pandemic Preparedness
May 28, 2021
WFPHA at WHA74: A Pandemic Treaty to Fight Inequalities & Health Emergencies
May 26, 2021
World Bank [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/all
Selected News, Announcements
Jordan: The World Bank Group Adapts its Strategy to Support COVID-19 Response, Inclusive and Resilient Recovery, and Continued Reforms
The World Bank Group Board of Executive Directors Approves the Performance and Learning Review of the Country Partnership Framework for the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan AMMAN, May 29, 2021 – Approved today…
Date: May 29, 2021 Type: Press Release
New $30 million Grant to Support Palestinian Reforms in Digital Economy, Governance and Pandemic resilience
WASHINGTON, May 28, 2021 –The World Bank approved today a US$30 million Development Policy Grant (DPG) to support the digital foundations of the Palestinian economy, strengthen recovery and resilience…
Date: May 28, 2021 Type: Press Release
World Customs Organization – WCO [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.wcoomd.org/
Latest News – Selected Items
28 May 2021
The WCO Secretariat Note on the cross-border movement of vaccines enhanced with further guidance and good practices
[See COVID above for detail]
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) [to 29 May 2021]
https://www.oie.int/en/for-the-media/press-releases/2021/
Press Releases
News
New official disease status recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
27 May 2021
Two countries were the first to receive the endorsement of their dog-mediated rabies control programmes and 13 new official disease status were recognised by OIE Delegates… Having gathered evidence that their official control programmes comply with OIE international Standards, Namibia and the Philippines will be able to advocate for support from their governments to progressively prevent and control the disease. The ultimate objective will be to eventually eliminate the disease from their territories and self-declare its freedom, thus contributing to the ‘Zero by 30’ global goal to eliminate human deaths from dog-mediated rabies…
News
A new strategy propels international community to improve aquatic animal health and welfare worldwide
26 May 2021
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is a leader in animal disease reporting. The recent innovation of the World Animal Health Information System (OIE-WAHIS) system is a testimony to the OIE’s progressive evolution of its digital services. The platform provides Members with a new tool for animal disease surveillance for strengthened risk analysis and the monitoring during disease emergencies…
Striving for One Health resilience
25 May 2021
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is using lessons learned to re-envision its role, and that of its Members, on wildlife health, emergency management and sustainable laboratories. A specific Resolution addressing global vulnerabilities identified before and during the COVID-19 era in these domains will be proposed for adoption with the aim to better prepare against future health threats.
WTO – World Trade Organisation [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news_e.htm
WTO News and Events
Webinar to explore role of regulatory cooperation in easing access to medical technologies
28 May 2021
On 2 June 2021, a panel of experts will discuss regulatory cooperation and its role in facilitating access to medical technologies, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Goods barometer reveals strength of trade recovery, depth of COVID-19 shock
28 May 2021
Global merchandise trade is continuing to recover in 2021 following a steep but brief pandemic-induced drop in the second quarter of last year, according to the latest WTO Goods Trade Barometer released on 28 May.
::::::
ARM [Alliance for Regenerative Medicine] [to 29 May 2021]
Press Releases – Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (alliancerm.org)
Selected Press Releases
Alliance for Regenerative Medicine, European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, and European Association for Bioindustries Call for Advanced Therapies to be Exempt from EU GMO Legislation
May 25, 2021
BIO [to 29 May 2021]
https://www.bio.org/press-releases
Press Releases
No new digest content identified.
DCVMN – Developing Country Vaccine Manufacturers Network [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.dcvmn.org/
News; Upcoming events
No new digest content identified.
ICBA – International Council of Biotechnology Associations [to 29 May 2021]
https://internationalbiotech.org/news/
News
EU Healthcare Biotech Policy Priorities for SMEs
3 JUN. 2021 — 03 Jun. 2021
Join the EuropaBio Healthcare Biotechnology Team for a dive into EU policies that impact your current operations and will shape your future strategies. With EU-level strategies within Pharmaceuticals, Intellectual Property, Orphan Medicines and the proposed ‘European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA)’…
IFPMA [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.ifpma.org/resources/news-releases/
Selected Press Releases, Statements, Publications
Global biopharmaceutical industry sees upcoming World Health Assembly as a critical milestone to take stock
24 May 2021, Geneva – The 74th World Health Assembly, taking place in extraordinary circumstances, represents a critical milestone in analyzing the world’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Member States will engage in conversations on improving current systems for pandemic surveillance and response, against the backdrop of having multiple effective, safe and quality COVID-19 vaccines available.
Since the last World Health Assembly, innovative vaccine manufacturers and biotech companies – from both developed and developing countries – have broken records in drug innovation and collaboration.
In a matter of months, they have developed multiple COVID-19 vaccines, and have forged collaborations in order to ramp up production.
With nearly 300 partnerships and collaborations among manufacturers worldwide, production has increased, in just a few months from zero to 2.2 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses by the end of May, with an astounding estimate of 11 billion doses by the end of 2021[1].
Critically, however, COVID-19 vaccines currently are not equally reaching all priority populations worldwide. Innovative vaccine manufacturers and biotech companies committed last week to a five-step plan that will deliver results in the short-term…
PhRMA [to 29 May 2021]
http://www.phrma.org/
Selected Press Releases, Statements
A year later: Reflections on the meaning of equity
May 25, 2021
Over the past year, we have committed ourselves to this work, anew, through our Equity Initiative.
Courtney Christian is a Senior Director of Policy and Research at PhRMA/
vaccines and global health :: ethics and policy 