Travel Vaccine Breaking News

Valneva SE announced today it would host a roundtable on Zika virus vaccines at the 23rd World Vaccine Congress in Washington, D.C.

On April 4, 2023, Valneva’s Chief Medical Officer, Juan Carlos Jaramillo, MD, will host a roundtable discussion on the opportunities and challenges of a Zika vaccine.

Valneva successfully developed an inactivated whole-virus Zika vaccine candidate VLA1601 through a Phase 1 clinical trial, which was last updated on July 5, 2019.

The company is evaluating re-entry into clinical development later in 2023 or 2024.

VLA1601 is a purified, inactivated, whole Zika virus vaccine candidate adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide.

As of March 30, 2023, no approved Zika vaccines are available in the U.S.

Vaccitech plc today announced positive topline final data from a Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of VTP-300 in people with chronic Hepatitis B (HBV) infection.

VTP-300 is the first antigen-specific immunotherapy shown to induce sustained reductions in Hepatitis B surface antigen. 

"The safety data and HBsAg reductions in the HBV002 study are very encouraging, and we look forward to sharing the full data set, including immune responses, at the EASL conference," said Bill Enright, CEO of Vaccitech, in a press release on March 28, 2023.

"Less than 10% of people with chronic HBV reach a functional cure with current therapies."

"We believe VTP-300 has the potential to be a critical component of a functional cure for HBV, potentially eliminating the need for chronic treatment."

"Our ongoing trials are exploring dosing, including an additional booster, and combination approaches with readouts expected towards the end of the year."

And VTP-300 is a heterologous immunotherapy candidate consisting of an initial dose using the ChAdOx platform and a second dose(s) using MVA encoding multiple hepatitis B antigens, including full-length surface, modified polymerase, and core antigens.

The full announcement and study results are posted at this link.

While the annual flu season in the United States has subsided, India's government reports an unusual influenza surge.

PTI reported today Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar informed the Rajya Sabha that 1,317 cases of H3N2 have been confirmed from January to March 21, 2023.

According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, of 510 H3N2 cases reported in the last two months, 19 patients required ICU admission, Pawar wrote to PTI on March 28, 2023.

The H3N2 virus spreads from an infected person through droplets in the air or direct contact with virus-laden surfaces, says the U.S. CDC.

The severity of human illness caused by H3N2 is similar to seasonal flu, which can become severe if complications like pneumonia develop.

Another influenza version is called 'swine flu.'

H3N2v is a non-human influenza virus that normally circulates in pigs. Viruses that normally circulate in pigs are "swine influenza viruses." When these viruses infect humans, they are termed "variant" viruses, says the CDC. Furthermore, the seasonal flu shot does not protect against H3N2v. 

The CDC's FluView Interactive Novel Flu A digital tool displays the most current case counts for variant virus infections reported in the U.S.

Previously, India's government confirmed that young children and old persons with co-morbidities are the most vulnerable groups in seasonal influenza.

Seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses that circulate in all parts of the world, and the cases are seen to increase during certain months globally.

The cases arising from seasonal influenza in India are expected to decline by the end of March 2023.

The World Health Organization published Influenza Update N° 401 on March 20, 2023, stating most indicators of influenza activity in the Northern Hemisphere decreased to levels similar to or below levels typically observed this time of year.

In the U.S., annual flu shots remain available at many clinics and community pharmacies.

Osivax today announced that it had received a pneumonia and pandemic preparedness grant of over USD 1 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support additional research and development of its lead, broad-spectrum influenza vaccine candidate, OVX836.

Osivax confirmed it would use the grant to evaluate the breadth and the duration of protection provided by OVX836 against a wider range of seasonal and highly pathogenic influenza strains.

And this research will assess the potential of OVX836 to provide long-term protection against emerging and circulating strains of influenza, thus informing its potential as a standalone influenza vaccine administered less frequently than annually. 

Alexandre Le Vert, CEO and Co-Founder of Osivax commented in a press release on March 28, 2023, "The support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will allow us to widen the scope of OVX863 development and bring us one step closer to providing much needed, universal protection against both seasonal and pandemic influenza strains, which continue posing a significant global health threat."

OVX836 has shown promising safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy data across preclinical and clinical trials (Phase 1 and 2a) and continues to be evaluated in additional studies.

As of March 4, 2023, about 173.37 influenza vaccines were distributed in the U.S. during the 2022-2023 flu season.

Global biotechnology leader CSL today announced the official opening of the company's new state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) center in Waltham, Massachusetts.

CSL's global R&D organization has over 2,000 employees in ten countries, contributing to a robust and promising pipeline of novel therapeutic candidates.

The custom-built facility west of Boston will serve as CSL's central hub for current and future vaccine designs, such as cell-based flu shots.

"CSL's growing R&D presence in Waltham is the latest example of our investment in our future – which includes advancing our growing capabilities in disruptive technologies like next-generation mRNA," said Jon Edelman, Senior Vice President of the CSL Vaccines Innovation Unit, in a press release on March 27, 2023.

In addition to Waltham, Massachusetts, the company has an R&D presence helping create an integrated global organization that can conveniently collaborate with institutions everywhere, offer access to professional development opportunities, and enhance external innovation.

"The Waltham site's location and our investment in this world-class facility will provide our talented people with the ideal environment to deliver the breakthroughs that CSL aims to achieve," added Ethan Settembre, Ph.D., Vice President, Research, CSL Vaccines Innovation Unit and site head for this facility.

"We are also excited that this location provides an opportunity for our scientists to collaborate closely with industry and academic partners, allowing greater access to ongoing innovation and talent."

CSL already produces world-class vaccines, such as Flucelvax® Quadrivalent, a cell culture-based flu vaccine, and bird flu vaccines, such as Audenz™ monovalent, adjuvanted, cell-based inactivated influenza (H5N1) subunit vaccine.

Note: This news article is not paid content.

As Spring Break 2023 became unruly in southern Florida, one city took action to reduce risks for everyone.

On March 22, 2023, Alina T. Hudak, the City Manager for the City of Miami Beach, determined that there is reason to believe that there exists a continuing clear and present danger of the general public disorder, widespread disobedience of the law, and substantial injury to persons or property, all of which constitute an imminent threat to public peace or order, and to the general welfare of the City of Miami Beach.

Accordingly, 'I hereby declare a State of Emergency in the City until March 27, 2023.'

Mayor Dan Gelber told the Guardian on March 25, 2023, that "enhanced safety measures" would be in effect, including sobriety checkpoints and mobile license plate readers in the Miami Beach area.

BioNTech SE today reported financial results as of December 31, 2022, and provided an update on its corporate progress.

In December 2022, BioNTech and Pfizer announced that approximately 2 billion doses of COMIRNATY®  were invoiced globally in 2022 between the two companies.

This includes approximately 550 million doses of the Original/Omicron BA.4-5-adapted bivalent COVID-19 vaccine as of mid-December 2022.

And as part of BioNTech's and Pfizer's 2-billion-doses-pledge to support equitable access to medicines, the companies have delivered approximately 1.7 billion doses of COMIRNATY to low- and middle-income countries in line with demand.

The deliveries include the Original/Omicron BA.4-5-adapted bivalent COVID-19 vaccine and the original COVID-19 vaccine. 

"Our COVID-19 vaccine revenues, driven by the delivery of our Omicron-adapted bivalent vaccines, have ensured another strong financial performance in 2022," said Jens Holstein, CFO of BioNTech, in a press release on March 27, 2023.

"We believe that the Company's financial success in 2022 will provide a springboard to accelerate and build upon our diversified clinical pipeline and fuel our research and development in the coming years. 

The complete press release is posted at this link.