Merck Plans to Up Production of Experimental Ebola Vaccine
In response to the current outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which began in August 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). There have been about 2,500 confirmed cases of Ebola in the DRC and at least 1,737 people have […]
Lyme Disease Vaccines: Past and Future
Story Highlights A new Lyme disease vaccine candidate approved by the FDA using the fast track process is currently in its second phase of clinical trials. In 1998, the FDA granted licensure for a Lyme disease vaccine called LYMErix. Following reports of severe adverse reactions to LYMErix, GlaxoSmithKline (formerly SmithKline Beecham) withdrew the vaccine from […]
Quest for Alzheimer’s Vaccine Hitting Roadblocks
Story Highlights Developing a vaccine for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been an elusive quest for pharmaceutical research companies for more than 20 years, generally focusing on preventing accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles, two of the most prevalent hallmarks of the disease. A highly anticipated experimental Alzheimer’s vaccine was pulled from pre-clinical testing when […]
FDA Approves 6 in 1 Combo Vaccine for Babies
Story Highlights On Dec. 21, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new combination hexavalent vaccine (Vaxelis) that includes antigens for six diseases to be given in three doses to infants and children between six weeks and four years of age. Manufacturers Sanofi Pasteur and Merck jointly developed Vaxelis, which combines diphtheria, […]
Vaccine for Bees Bypasses Lack of Antibodies
Story Highlights Bees and other pollinators face serious threats from disease, parasites, pesticides and habitat destruction, threatening the viability of crop farming worldwide, most well publicized by the critical danger posed to honeybees. Treatment of bee diseases has been hampered by the nature of the honeybee immune system: They do not produce targeted antibodies as […]
AFM Not Transmissible from Human to Human Says CDC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still does not know what is causing the growing number of cases of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in the United States, but it believes the polio-like illness is not contagious. In a recent interview with CBS, CDC director Robert Redfield, MD said, “The good news is that it […]
