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Testing for Mpox Clade 1 in the United States

Wastewater Tests Can Detect Mpox Viruses

April 16, 2024

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The U.S. FDA has set February 14, 2025, as the action date for a GSK MenABCWY combination vaccine candidate that protects against the five most common groups of bacteria causing invasive meningococcal disease.

GSK’s 5-in-1 MenABCWY vaccine candidate combines the antigenic components of its two vaccines with demonstrated efficacy and safety profiles, Bexsero® (MenB-4C) and Menveo (Meningococcal [Groups A, C, Y, and W-135] Oligosaccharide Diphtheria CRM197 Conjugate Vaccine).

Combining the protection offered by these U.S. FDA-approved vaccines with fewer shots will reduce and simplify the number of injections.

In the U.S., while meningococcal vaccine recommendations for all five serogroups have been in place since 2015, annual immunization rates have remained low overall due in part to a complex vaccination schedule.

As of April 16, 2024, there are various approved meningococcal vaccines and candidates conducting clinical research.

Vaccine Treats:

Meningococcal

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by Liza Trinidad

Live Blog Update Author:

Don Hackett

Location Tags:

London

Vaccine:

Meningococcal Vaccines

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A global biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of transformative medicines based on messenger ribonucleic acid (“mRNA”) announced today a co-development and licensing agreement with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to develop novel mRNA-based cancer vaccines.

CureVac N.V. stated in a press release on April 16, 2024, that the collaboration creates strong synergies between its unique end-to-end capabilities for cancer antigen discovery, mRNA design, and manufacturing and MD Anderson’s expertise in cancer antigen discovery and validation, translational drug development, and clinical research.

The collaboration will focus on developing differentiated cancer vaccine candidates in selected hematological and solid tumor indications with high unmet medical need.

Following the selection of the most promising validated vaccine candidates and the completion of Investigational New Drug approvals, Houston, Texas-based MD Anderson will be responsible for conducting initial Phase 1/2 studies in appropriate clinical indications.

“We look forward to collaborating with the team at MD Anderson to push the boundaries of mRNA technology and develop impactful therapeutic options for patients in need,” commented Dr. Alexander Zehnder, Chief Executive Officer of CureVac.

“By combining our respective expertise, we believe we can go further and faster in developing novel, off-the-shelf, mRNA-based cancer vaccines that have the potential to improve patient outcomes significantly.”

Both parties will contribute to identifying differentiated cancer antigens based on whole genome sequencing, combined with long- and short-read RNA sequencing and cutting-edge bioinformatics.

Vaccine Treats:

Cancer

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UT MD Anderson Houston, Texas

Live Blog Update Author:

Don Hackett

Location Tags:

Houston

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Despite the expenditure of over $3 billion to fight malaria outbreaks since 2021, the world still witnessed an estimated 600,000 malaria deaths and 247 million clinical malaria cases.

To address malaria outbreaks in Africa, new vaccines have recently been deployed.

The Mosquirix™ RTS,S/AS01E malaria vaccine (RTS,S) was introduced in 2019 by national immunization programs in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi. Researchers aimed to address questions about feasibility and impact, as well as assess safety signals observed during the phase 3 clinical trial.

In a prospective evaluation published by The Lancet on April 4, 2024, the three primary doses were effectively deployed during the first two years of implementation of RTS,S.

There was no evidence of the safety signals that had been observed in the phase 3 trial, and the introduction of the vaccine was associated with substantial reductions in hospital admissions with severe malaria.

This evaluation continues to assess the impact of four doses of Mosquirix.

This study was funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and Unitaid. No industry conflicts were disclosed.

In addition to RTS,S, the R21/Matrix-M™ malaria vaccine, co-produced by scientists at the University of Oxford, Novavax AB, and Novavax Inc., has been offered in Africa in 2024.

As of April 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had not approved either malaria vaccine.

Vaccine Treats:

Malaria

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BMC Journal Malaria map

Live Blog Update Author:

Don Hackett

Location Tags:

Africa

Vaccine:

Mosquirix Malaria Vaccine

AI Technologies Correctly Curtail Vaccine Misconceptions

ChatGPT's responses offered factual responses regarding vaccine hesitancy

April 15, 2024

Fact checked by Robert Carlson, MD

Smallpox's Return Would Cause Global Concerns

JYNNEOS vaccination protects people from mpox and smallpox

April 15, 2024

Fact checked by Robert Carlson, MD

Why Was the Maternal RSV Vaccine Study Stopped

RSVPreF3-Mat RSV prefusion F protein-based maternal vaccine development discontinued

April 15, 2024

Fact checked by Robert Carlson, MD

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Soligenix, Inc. announced today that the Office of Orphan Products Development of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted orphan drug designation to the active ingredient in MarVax™, the subunit protein vaccine of recombinantly expressed Marburg marburgvirus (MARV) glycoprotein, for "the prevention and post-exposure prophylaxis against MARV infection."

MARV is a member of the Filoviridae family, which also includes Sudan and Zaire ebolaviruses. MARV outbreaks were first recognized in 1967 In Germany and Serbia, and continue in 2024.

MarVax was developed with Dr. Axel Lehrer at the University of Hawaiʽi at Mānoa.

In addition to providing a seven-year term of market exclusivity upon final FDA approval, orphan drug designation also positions Soligenix to be able to leverage a wide range of financial and regulatory benefits, including government grants for conducting clinical trials, waiver of expensive FDA user fees for the potential submission of a Biologics License Application, and certain tax credits.

The U.S. Orphan Drug Act assists companies in developing safe and effective therapies for treating rare diseases and disorders that affect fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S.

Christopher J. Schaber, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Soligenix, commented in a press release on April 15, 2024, "Elements of this subunit vaccine platform... indicate its broad applicability."

"We have also demonstrated the ability to package more than one vaccine antigen in a single vaccine, particularly against MARV and Sudan ebolavirus where there are currently no available vaccines."

"The FDA's decision to grant orphan drug designation to both the MARV and Sudan ebolavirus vaccine candidates signifies an important step for Soligenix as we continue to advance the program and adds significantly to the existing patent estate surrounding this novel technology and the filovirus program."

As of April 2024, several MARV vaccine candidates are conducting early-stage clinical studies.

Vaccine Treats:

Marburg Virus

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WHO Marburg disease case map 2024

Live Blog Update Author:

Don Hackett

Location Tags:

PRINCETON

Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection Vaccine Referral

The Uromune™ MV140 vaccine experimental Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection (rUTI) inactivated oral spray vaccine is approved for use by adults in various countries. Uromune initially became available in Spain and is now available in 26 countries, including England, Europe, and Mexico.

Please complete the form below to receive a rUTI vaccine referral. Please note that as of 2025, Uromune is not available in the United States. This means that to become immunized against rUTIs, you would need to travel internationally.

This self-administered rUTI vaccine contains four whole-cell inactivated bacteria suspended in water. Uromine vaccination has been found in research studies to reduce the number of UTIs and increase the time to the next UTI from 48 days to 275 days.

Travel Vaccination Services 2025

While traveling abroad in 2025, various health agencies recommend travel vaccines when visiting disease-endemic areas.

1 min read

Last Reviewed:

Monday, March 3, 2025 - 14:10

Description:

UTI oral spray Uromune MV140 vaccine is offered in various countries in 2025.

Condition:

Urinary Track Infection(UTI)

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According to the latest weekly update by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), Afghanistan reported its second wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case of 2024.

This polio patient is from Nuristan province in the eastern part of the country.

Five WPV1-positive environmental samples were reported: four in Nangarhar and one in Kandahar.

As of April 14, 2024, Afghanistan is one of the two countries in the Middle East where WPV1 is still endemic.

The total number of WPV1 cases reported in 2023 remains six.

During 2024, various countries deployed the type 2 novel oral polio (nOPV2) vaccine produced by Indonesia's Biofarma.

This oral polio vaccine (OPV) has been 'triple-locked' using genetic engineering to prevent it from becoming harmful and producing a gut reaction. As a result, nOPV2 is reported to be more genetically stable than approved OPVs, with a lower risk of reversion to neurovirulence and less likely to mutate and cause paralysis.

Over the past two years, about 1.1. billion nOPV2 vaccines have been administrated worldwide. The GPEI says international travelers should speak with a healthcare provider about their polio vaccine options, including booster doses.

The inactivated polio vaccine is offered in the United States at various clinics and pharmacies.

Vaccine Treats:

Polio

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GPEI polio case map April 2024

Live Blog Update Author:

Karen McClorey Hackett

Location Tags:

Afghanistan

Vaccine:

nOPV2 Polio Vaccine