Research
With the acceptance of a biologics license application (BLA) from Emergent BioSolutions Inc. last week, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to review the potential of AV7909, an anthrax vaccine candidate.
“Over the last 20 years, Emergent has partnered with the U.S.... Read More »
At the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Machine Common Sense (MCS) program, researchers last week offered demonstrations of improvements to robotic system performance, showcasing advancements in intuitive physics, intentional actors, and spatial navigation.
Comparing the... Read More »
Late-stage biopharmaceutical company Soligenix, Inc. announced last week that it has created and tested a bivalent filovirus vaccine that offered 100 percent protection to non-human primate test subjects against the lethal Marburg and Ebola viruses.
"Filoviruses such as Zaire ebolavirus, Sudan... Read More »
A new partnership arranged between SC Johnson and the Global Fund this week will focus on resource development for malaria, one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases.
Together, the pair intend to push for social impact in some of the places malaria has proven most stubborn: Burundi, the... Read More »
Battelle officials have indicated the company has developed a proven solution to eliminate the source of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminated drinking water.
The PFAS ANNIHILATOR, which destroys the chemicals by preventing them from entering drinking water systems, stemmed... Read More »
Roche broke new ground with its cobas SARS-CoV-2 Duo, which this week received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization (EUA) to become the first PCR test capable of simultaneously detecting COVID-19 and quantitatively measuring viral load levels.
“The test’s... Read More »
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected three research teams to develop solutions for hybrid reef-mimicking structures research.
DARPA launched the Reefense program to target coastal flooding, erosion, and storm damage threatening civilian and Department of Defense... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is funding the development of a cloud-based capability aiding digital indoor mapping capability.
Collaboration with Waterloo, Ontario-based Mappedin Inc. yielded Mappedin Response, which enables first... Read More »
In two trials of a new Sanofi-GSK COVID-19 booster vaccine, strong immune responses were offered to previously vaccinated adults, and solid protection was offered against variants of concern, according to the company’s latest data.
This booster is modeled on the Beta variant antigen,... Read More »
Moderna, Inc. revealed clinical data on its Omicron-containing bivalent COVID booster candidate, mRNA-1273.214, this week, showing that one-month post-administration, a 50 µg dose of the booster provided a superior neutralizing antibody response compared to its predecessor... Read More »
Following a World Health Organization (WHO) global research consultation, more than 500 experts emphasized that expedited studies, strengthened collaboration from researchers in endemic countries, public health responses, and new clinical studies are needed to address monkeypox.
Monkeypox has... Read More »
FBI statistics for 2021 showed that 8,226 law enforcement agencies submitted use-of-force data to the National Use-of-Force Data Collection, managed by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program.
The agencies represent over 60 percent of federal, state, local, tribal, and... Read More »
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced last week that 61 active shooter incidents were reported last year, representing a 52.5 percent increase from 2020 reports.
Those numbers also led to 103 deaths and 140 injuries, not including the shooters. This gave 2021 a dubious distinction... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is seeking 2022 Biometric Technology Rally submissions.
DHS S&T indicated the agency is requesting industry personnel to submit applications to participate in the 2022 Rally slated for the Maryland Test... Read More »
Beginning with $20 million this year, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will commit up to $300 million to support antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infection research conducted through the Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) over... Read More »
Through awards amounting to approximately $577 million, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is working to create nine Antiviral Drug Discovery (AViDD) Centers for Pathogens of Pandemic Concern, working to develop innovative drugs.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has... Read More »
In an expansion of its efforts against COVID-19, AstraZeneca announced a new agreement this week with RQ Biotechnology Ltd. that will see it acquire the worldwide license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.
Developed by the U.K.-based RQ... Read More »
According to a peer-reviewed analysis from scientists at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and Ugandan colleagues, Uganda’s preparedness efforts during the 2018-2020 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreaks in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo showed the potential value of... Read More »
A vaccine candidate for eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV), and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) proved safe, well-tolerated, and robust in antibody response during a Phase 1 clinical trial reported in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
The... Read More »
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) backed efforts at developing a "variant-proof" COVID-19 vaccine this week, announcing that it will provide up to $19.3 million to an international consortium consisting of Bharat Biotech International Ltd., the University of Sydney and... Read More »
As part of a pandemic preparedness push, the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced this week that it chose Biobot Analytics to handle an expansion of the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS).
While not a household name, the NWSS works with public... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials detailed the recent interception of a rare pest discovered in a shipment of fresh fruit at the Pharr International Bridge in Pharr, Texas.
“Our agriculture specialists help protect American agriculture and contribute to the nation’s economic... Read More »
A group of legislators recently introduced legislation that would protect domestic technology research from being used by Chinese entities to benefit the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) led colleagues U.S. Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike... Read More »
During the last week in April, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) hosted the JamX 22 exercise to further resilience to signal jamming threats for federal and first responders.... Read More »
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, announced Tuesday it had partnered with a number of industry and academic organizations to advance next-gen diagnostics to detect respiratory viruses in a single test.... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL) recently issued a vehicle extrication tools request for information (RFI).
The agency is seeking commercially available vehicle extrication tools... Read More »
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is slated to evaluate a Biennial Radiological Emergency Preparedness Exercise, focusing on Pennsylvania and Maryland responses.
The assessment specifically involved communities around the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station. The effort calls for FEMA... Read More »
The U.S. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) celebrated the completion of the initial design and construction last week for a new ApiJect Technology Development Center that promises greater manufacturing capacity for prefilled injectors used to administer vaccines... Read More »
A global, Phase 3 trial of approximately 20,000 older adult volunteers for the Bavarian Nordic A/S MVA-BN RSV vaccine candidate began this week and is expected to produce results by mid-2023.
The randomized, double-blind test will gather those aged 60 years and older in both the United States... Read More »
New clinical data from Moderna, Inc. this week showed that a month after using a bivalent COVID-19 booster candidate, mRNA-1273.211, superior vaccination efficacy was maintained against all variants of concern, including Beta, Delta, and Omicron.
These results stemmed from 50 µg booster doses,... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) recently introduced the Improving Federal Investigations of Organized Retail Crime Act (H.R. 7499), a bipartisan bill to improve how law enforcement handles organized retail crime.
According to a 2019 report by the Retail Industry Leaders Association and Buy Safe... Read More »
Utilizing its synthetic, CD8+ T cell Adaptive Vaccine platform, Emergex Vaccines Holding Ltd. began preclinical development last week of a new medical countermeasure against tularemia.
Tularemia is caused by francisella tularensis, an exceptionally virulent intracellular bacterial pathogen. The... Read More »
Due to discussions between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. over pre-exposure prophylactic use, the FDA will extend the review of a Biologics License Application (BLA) for REGEN-COV as a COVID-19 treatment for three months.
Regeneron seeks to use... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced a bill this week to fund research on the COVID-19 impacts on mental health and brain function.
“The pandemic showed us the need to prioritize mental health and support those suffering,” Cassidy... Read More »
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently detailed the second successful flight test of the Lockheed Martin Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC).
"This Lockheed Martin HAWC flight test successfully demonstrated a second design that will allow our warfighters to... Read More »
