IFFIm: $1 billion to support global vaccine programmes
In October 2024 the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) priced a US$1 billion, 3-year fixed-rate bond to fund “critical vaccine research and immunisation programmes”. This is IFFIm’s largest single benchmark transaction in the primary market since...
Study: vaccinating children against mpox “most efficient”
A study in The Lancet Global Health sought to provide counterfactual scenarios to evaluate the short-term effects of different vaccination strategies on mpox cases and deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The researchers used a dynamic transmission...
Microneedle technology wins Gates grants of $6.6 million
The University of Connecticut (UConn) announced in October 2024 that associate Professor Thanh Nguyen’s research has received “significant”
UK begins Phase III trial of mRNA norovirus vaccine
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) announced in October 2024 that the first Phase III randomised trial of an investigational
WHO declares Egypt malaria-free after 100-year effort
In October 2024 WHO certified Egypt as malaria-free after a “nearly 100-year effort” by the government and people to end the disease. WHO described
Bacterial vectors for precision cancer vaccine development
Research in Nature in October 2024 leverages evidence that bacteria “naturally home in on tumours and modulate antitumour immunity” to explore
Global Polio Eradication Initiative faces challenges
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) announced the “difficult decision” to extend the timelines needed to achieve polio eradication.
The Vaccine Group and APHA secure animal vaccine grant
In October 2024 the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and The Vaccine Group (TVG) announced that Innovate UK has awarded them a Smart
Valneva and LimmaTech secure Shigella vaccine fast track
Valneva and LimmaTech Biologics announced in October 2024 that they have been granted Fast Track designation by the United States FDA for Shigella4V
THERAPEUTIC
Bacterial vectors for precision cancer vaccine development
Research in Nature in October 2024 leverages evidence that bacteria “naturally home in on tumours and modulate antitumour immunity” to explore
Transgene shares “disappointing” TG4001 study update
Transgene announced in October 2024 that the primary objective of its randomised Phase II study of TG4001 has not been met. The study was evaluating
Study: cancer vaccine could tackle lesions if used early
A study in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer finds that vaccination in a clinically relevant genetic cancer mouse model generated a population
Gritstone’s data “encouraging”, but are they enough?
Interim Phase II data from Gritstone bio’s study evaluating GRANITE in September 2024 are described as “encouraging” in a company statement.
DNA vaccines show promise against multiple myeloma
In an article for npj vaccines in October 2024, researchers present their investigation into the efficacy of a combination of DNA vaccine encoding mouse GPRC5D
TECHNOLOGY
Microneedle technology wins Gates grants of $6.6 million
The University of Connecticut (UConn) announced in October 2024 that associate Professor Thanh Nguyen’s research has received “significant”
UK begins Phase III trial of mRNA norovirus vaccine
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) announced in October 2024 that the first Phase III randomised trial of an investigational
The Vaccine Group and APHA secure animal vaccine grant
In October 2024 the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and The Vaccine Group (TVG) announced that Innovate UK has awarded them a Smart
Valneva and LimmaTech secure Shigella vaccine fast track
Valneva and LimmaTech Biologics announced in October 2024 that they have been granted Fast Track designation by the United States FDA for Shigella4V
CEPI and NRC work on safe protein antigens, faster
CEPI announced in October 2024 that it is working with experts at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) to bioengineer a “commonly
INFECTION
Three human cases of H5 bird flu reported in California
In October 2024, the United States CDC reported a third human case of H5 bird flu in the state of California. This announcement followed the identification
WHO mpox update: 14 countries in “active” outbreaks
A recent WHO situation report on the mpox PHEIC reveals that 14 countries on the continent have reported mpox cases in the last six weeks and are
As Rwanda’s Marburg outbreak worsens, Hamburg sounds alarm
After the announcement of an outbreak of Marburg virus in Rwanda in September 2024 and the initiation of response efforts, reports of suspected
Rwanda reports its first Marburg outbreak with six deaths
In September 2024 WHO’s Regional Office for Africa announced that Rwandan health authorities are “intensifying outbreak control efforts” after detecting Marburg
Chikungunya in India has a “notorious edge this year”
The Times of India reported in September 2024 that cases of chikungunya in children were symptomatic of a “shift” in epidemiology. Case numbers
GLOBAL HEALTH
IFFIm: $1 billion to support global vaccine programmes
In October 2024 the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm) priced a US$1 billion, 3-year fixed-rate bond to fund “critical vaccine
Study: vaccinating children against mpox “most efficient”
A study in The Lancet Global Health sought to provide counterfactual scenarios to evaluate the short-term effects of different vaccination strategies
WHO declares Egypt malaria-free after 100-year effort
In October 2024 WHO certified Egypt as malaria-free after a “nearly 100-year effort” by the government and people to end the disease. WHO described
Global Polio Eradication Initiative faces challenges
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) announced the “difficult decision” to extend the timelines needed to achieve polio eradication.
Modelling study: 100 Days Mission demands vaccine equity
A study in The Lancet Global Health estimates the impact that the 100 Days Mission could have had on the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors
