Research Roundup: New Hepatitis C vaccine design, WHO prequalifies first TB test, Malaria medicine recommended by WHO
Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC)
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TOP NEWS IN R&D
Broadly effective vaccine design offers new hope in the fight against hepatitis C MedicalXpress (12/6)
A research team was able to induce broadly neutralizing antibodies targeting hepatitis C virus (HCV) in laboratory models for the first time, providing a promising approach for a vaccine targeting the virus, which an estimated 58 million people globally are chronically infected with and which causes 290,000 deaths annually. HCV is identified as a globally prioritized pathogen for vaccine research and development by the World Health Organization, but developing a vaccine has been a challenge due to the high genetic diversity of the virus. This new approach, if proven successful in further studies, could not only bring us closer to an effective HCV vaccine that could help limit the spread of the virus but could also lay the foundation for a new generation of vaccines against other priority viruses.
WHO prequalifies rapid molecular TB test CIDRAP (12/5)
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it had granted prequalification to Cepheid’s Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra rapid diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB), the first TB diagnostic test to be prequalified by WHO. The designation will hopefully help ensure broader access to the product, allowing for accurate and early detection of TB, especially drug-resistant TB. Within hours, the test detects the genetic material of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples and identifies mutations associated with rifampicin resistance, a key indicator of multidrug-resistant TB. A recent report found that 8.2 million people—the highest number of cases recorded by WHO since it began global TB monitoring—were diagnosed with TB in 2023, underscoring the need for greater access to new and improved tools.
First single-dose medicine for P. vivax malaria prequalified by WHO and included in WHO Guidelines Medicines for Malaria Venture press release (12/4)
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it had granted prequalification to tafenoquine, the first single-dose medicine for the prevention of Plasmodium vivax malaria, and also included tafenoquine, co-administered with chloroquine, in the new WHO malaria guidelines for South America. P. vivax is the dominant malaria parasite in most countries outside of sub-Saharan Africa, with children under five and migrant populations at particular risk. The prequalification and inclusion of tafenoquine in the updated guidelines are aimed at improving access to the treatment, which is shorter and simpler than current treatment regimens.
NEWS FROM GHTC
Associated Press (12/8), features Public Citizen
IAVI Report blog post (12/5), features the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) press release (12/4), features PATH and the Gates Foundation
Devex (12/4), features the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and GHTC
Vox (12/3), features 1Day Sooner and the Gates Foundation
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEEK
NPR (12/5)
CIDRAP (12/5)
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance press release (12/4)
Nature (12/4)
BBC (12/4)
Africa News (12/3)
GEN News (12/3)
iMEdD (12/2)
Recommended by LinkedIn
BBC (12/2)
AVIAN FLU R&D ROUNDUP
STAT (12/6)
Science (12/5)
STAT (12/5)
CIDRAP (12/4)
CIDRAP (12/3)
MPOX R&D ROUNDUP
CIDRAP (12/5)
CIDRAP (12/2)
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December 11
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February 4-5
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Photo credit: PMI