Coronavirus Breaking News

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services Office of Public Health recently reported one measles case in Philadelphia and potential virus exposures in Montgomery County, PA.

On May 20, 2024, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) reported one confirmed case of measles, which includes exposures at CVS Pharmacy, 10901C Bustleton Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19116, and Holy Redeemer Hospital Emergency Department, 1648 Huntingdon Pike, Strauss Emergency Pavilion, Meadowbrook, PA 19046.

Currently, there are no confirmed cases in Montgomery County.

"We believe there is no threat to the general public associated with this case of measles," said Pennsylvania Department of Health Acting Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen in a press release.

"Many countries, including travel destinations, are experiencing measles outbreaks, so the potential for travel-related measles cases and subsequent outbreaks in the United States has increased."

"We strongly encourage parents to follow the CDC's immunization schedule and get their children fully vaccinated as soon as they are able."

Previously, the PDPH declared the December 2023 - January 2024 measles outbreak to be over in February. Eight Philadelphians and one person outside Philadelphia tested positive for measles during this outbreak.

The outbreak did not spread further because 93% of Philadelphians are up-to-date on their MMR vaccine.

As of May 16, 2024, 21 U.S. jurisdictions had reported 139 measles cases. Throughout 2024, the City of Chicago confirmed the most measles cases (66) in the U.S.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported a significant increase in dengue disease cases in the U.S. Almost half of the world's population, about 4 billion people, live in areas at risk for dengue outbreaks in 2024.

On May 13, 2024, the CDC confirmed 1,495 dengue cases reported from 39 U.S. jurisdictions. Last year, 2,932 dengue cases were confirmed in the U.S.

Over the past 13 years, most dengue cases have been reported during week #33, which is in August.

While the Dengvaxia® vaccine is U.S. FDA-approved, the CDC says it is not approved for use in U.S. travelers who are visiting but not living in an area where dengue is common.

Globally, dengue vaccines are available under specific criteria. 

CSL and Arcturus Therapeutics today announce the journal Nature Communications has published results from an integrated phase 1/2/3a/3b study evaluating the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of ARCT-154, a novel self-amplifying (sa-mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine.

ARCT-154 is the world's first approved sa-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine for use in Japan.

The joint study's results demonstrate that two 5 μg doses of ARCT-154, sa-mRNA vaccine, were well-tolerated, immunogenic, and provided significant protection against multiple strains of COVID-19.

The efficacy of ARCT-154 against severe COVID-19 was 100% in healthy persons aged 18-59 and more than 90% in persons at risk of severe consequences of the disease due to co-morbidities or older age.

"The results published in Nature Communications demonstrate the efficacy and tolerability of ARCT-154 and add to a growing body of evidence that our sa-mRNA vaccine has the potential to provide significant protection against the pervasive virus, reinforcing our promise to protect public health," said Jon Edelman, M.D., Senior Vice President, Vaccines Innovation Unit, CSL, in a press release on May 20, 2024.

Unlike standard mRNA vaccines, sa-mRNA vaccines instruct the body to make more mRNA and protein to boost the immune response.

CSL is a global biotechnology company with a portfolio of medicines and vaccines.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a critical shortage of Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV), which is affecting cholera outbreak responses.

As of May 16, 2024, the WHO's External Situation Report #14 classified the global resurgence of Cholera as a grade 3 emergency, its highest internal level for emergencies, due to the increasing number of outbreaks and their geographic spread, as well as the shortage of vaccines and other resources, 

Since January 2023, OCV requests have surged, with 15 countries requesting 82 million doses, nearly double the 46 million doses produced during this period.

As of early May 2024, the OCV vaccine stockpile had 3.2 million doses, below the global target of five million.   

From January 2024 to April 2024, a cumulative total of 145,900 cholera cases and 1,766 deaths were reported from 24 countries across five WHO regions.

No cholera outbreaks were reported in the United States.

The U.S. CDC says Cholera is an infection of the intestines caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. You can get Cholera from drinking water or eating food containing cholera bacteria.

Most people who get Cholera don't get sick. However, Cholera can cause life-threatening watery diarrhea and vomiting.

As of May 2024, there are various OCVs available.

Two doses of OCV protect against Cholera for at least three years. Since October 2022, only one dose of vaccine has been used in outbreak response, offering protection for about a year.

In the U.S., cholera vaccines are generally available at travel clinics and certified pharmacies.

Eisai Co., Ltd. and Biogen Inc. recently announced the initiation of a rolling submission of a Biologics License Application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for LEQEMBI® subcutaneous autoinjector for weekly maintenance dosing. 

According to the company's press release on May 14, 2024, the injection process requires less time than the intravenous (IV) formulation.

If approved by the FDA, the LEQEMBI autoinjector could be used to administer LEQEMBI at home or medical facilities.

LEQEMBI (lecanemab-irmb) is a humanized immunoglobulin gamma 1 monoclonal antibody. It is indicated for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment or mild dementia stage of disease.

LEQEMBI is now approved in the U.S., Japan, and China, and applications have been submitted for review in the European Union, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Great Britain, India, Israel, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Switzerland.

Previously, Eisai submitted a Supplemental BLA for monthly LEQEMBI IV maintenance dosing to the FDA in March 2024.

According to the Alzheimer's Association's Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures, an estimated 6.5 million Americans aged 65 and older live with dementia due to AD.

As of May 16, 2024, the FDA has not approved a vaccine that prevents AD.

An analysis published in the journal Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease revealed that 86% of travelers diagnosed with chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection over two years experienced joint pain, significantly impacting their quality of life.

Furthermore, 42.6% of patients with chronic arthralgia reported a recurrence of symptoms once they felt they had disappeared. 

Published on May 15, 2024, this study underscores the need for comprehensive pre-travel advice and the effective management of patients enhancing outcomes.

Additionally, an in-depth knowledge of this disease is essential for early identification, particularly in non-endemic areas with competent mosquito vectors for virus transmission. 

The World Health Organization says CHIKV was identified in nearly 115 countries in 2024, primarily in the Region of the Americas. In 2024, over 160,000 CHIKV cases and 50 deaths have been reported worldwide.

In the United States, the U.S. FDA-approved IXCHIQ® single-dose chikungunya vaccine is awaiting a commercial release in 2024.

Blackstone today announced the launch of the Blackstone Life Sciences portfolio company Uniquity Bio, a clinical-stage drug development company focused on immunology and inflammation.

Uniquity Bio launches with the U.S. FDA's acceptance of its Phase 2 investigational new drug application for solrikitug, a monoclonal antibody targeting TSLP.

Solrikitug is a highly potent anti-TSLP monoclonal antibody that prevents the binding of TSLP to its receptors. Given TSLP's position as the "master switch" cytokine at the top of the inflammatory cascade, solrikitug could have potential utility in various immunology and inflammation programs.

Solrikitug was in-licensed from Merck & Co., Inc.

Up to $300 million in capital from Blackstone will advance Solrikitug in multiple indications.

"Our investment in Uniquity Bio illustrates Blackstone Life Sciences' commitment to finding, developing, and delivering potentially transformative medicines to patients around the world," said Nicholas Galakatos, Ph.D., Global Head of Blackstone Life Sciences, in a press release on May 15, 2024.

"We are proud to partner with Uniquity's team of veteran industry leaders as they advance solrikitug and expand their immunology and inflammation pipeline with additional programs in the near future."

The company aims to deliver best-in-class efficacy with solrikitug across several critical respiratory and GI indications with significant unmet needs. In the next month, Uniquity Bio will launch Phase 2 clinical trials in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — the third leading cause of death worldwide, according to the World Health Organization — and asthma, which the WHO estimates affects more than 260 million people across the globe.