News
BARDA, DARPA support AstraZeneca through phase 1 trial of COVID-19 therapeutic
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have reached an interagency agreement with AstraZeneca to support phase 1 clinical development of a monoclonal antibody combination therapy for use against COVID-19. This... Read More »
Sens. Machin, Udall introduce firefighter protections bill during COVID-19 pandemic
A new bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Tom Udall (D-NM), ranking members of the Committee of Energy and Natural Resources and Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies respectively, proposes to test and ensure workers’ compensation coverage for... Read More »
Reps. Williams, Heck introduce bill to move Secret Service back under Treasury Dept.
U.S. Reps. Roger Williams (R-TX) and Denny Heck (D-WA) introduced a bill that would move the Secret Service from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the Department of the Treasury, where it originally started. The U.S. Secret Service Mission Improvement and Realignment Act of 2020... Read More »
House bill would require foreign nations to improve reporting on disease outbreaks
U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Conor Lamb (D-PA) introduced legislation that would require foreign nations to implement systems for reporting and monitoring outbreaks of novel diseases. In addition, the Never Again International Outbreak Prevention Act (H.R. 7132) would sanction bad... Read More »
Largest study of its kind finds hydroxychloroquine not effective among young people to treat COVID-19
A highly anticipated University of Minnesota study examining the use of hydroxychloroquine among young health care workers found the drug does not prevent symptoms of COVID-19. The randomized trial primarily examined the use of the drug on 821 young participants with a median age of 40, who... Read More »
CEPI, CSL and University of Queensland partner on COVID-19 vaccine candidate
The University of Queensland (UQ) has partnered up with CSL and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) to accelerate development, manufacturing, and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate its researchers pioneered earlier this year. In an agreement formalized this week,... Read More »
Bavarian Nordic equine encephalitis vaccine candidate shows promise in phase 1 trial
Results are in from the phase 1 human trial of the Bavarian Nordic A/S vaccine candidate MVA-BN WEV, a prophylactic meant for use against three equine encephalitis viruses, and the data paints the picture of a well-tolerated vaccine capable of spurring immune responses. The vaccine is meant to... Read More »
Rep. Buchanan advocates military training reforms
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)is encouraging the Defense Department and his congressional colleagues to reform military training procedures in the wake of a Bradenton soldier’s death during a training exercise. Buchanan recently forwarded correspondence to the chairmen and ranking members of the... Read More »
FLIR software bolsters COVID-19 skin temperature screenings
FLIR Systems officials said the company has developed software for its T-Series, Exx-Series, and A-Series thermal imaging cameras to perform COVID-19 elevated skin temperature screenings in high-traffic areas. Officials said the process via FLIR Screen-EST can be conducted in two seconds or less... Read More »
Rep. Titus introduces bill to prevent explosive nuclear weapons testing
U.S. Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) introduced a bill that would prevent explosive nuclear weapons testing. According to a report by The Washington Post, senior Trump administration have recently discussed conducting an explosive nuclear test. The Preserving Leadership Against Nuclear Explosives... Read More »
Commission on biodefense backs Congressional efforts to improve nation’s biodefense
The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense supports efforts by Congress to improve the country’s biodefense following the COVID-19 pandemic. “This will not be the last biological crisis this nation faces,” commission members wrote to Congressional leaders. “In addition to the potential... Read More »
Tool aims to predict next COVID-19 outbreak
RAND Corp. recently developed an analytical tool that can be used to predict the regional risks of importing cases of COVID-19. The tool can be used by policymakers to mitigate the threat to public health. The COVID-19 Air Traffic Visualization tool uses International Air Transport... Read More »
Agencies collaborate for emergency harbor assessments
The Coast Guard recently joined three other agencies in signing an agreement they said is designed to assess Hawaii’s harbors following disasters such as severe weather events. The Coast Guard has agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric... Read More »
AbbVie, Harbour BioMed, Utrecht University and Erasmus Medical Center partner on COVID-19 therapeutic
A coalition of AbbVie, Harbour BioMed (HBM), Utrecht University (UU), and Erasmus Medical Center (EMC) have joined together to create a monoclonal antibody therapy that could hold the key to preventing and treating COVID-19, through its viral cause: SARS-CoV-2. The therapeutic is based on a... Read More »
BARDA offers Moderna opportunity to expand domestic manufacturing of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
As part of an expansion to their existing partnership, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and MODERNATX, Inc. will increase the domestic manufacturing capacity of the mRNA-1273 vaccine, a candidate to stop the spread of COVID-19. The relationship has been ongoing... Read More »
GAO makes recommendations on infectious disease modeling
A report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) examines how federal agencies use infectious disease modeling to fight outbreaks and what can be done to improve them. The report, titled “Infectious Disease Modeling: Opportunities to Improve Coordination and Ensure... Read More »
Funds earmarked for West Virginia law enforcement
West Virginia officials are espousing the benefits of a $2.5 million Department of Justice (DOJ) funding allotment to aid several local police departments. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) said the $2,564,147 in funding allows law enforcement agencies to hire additional... Read More »
Bell forms Team Invictus for project
Bell Textron Inc., has reached agreements with nine aerospace industry firms to form Team Invictus, which will produce the Bell 360 Invictus prototype for the U.S. Army. “Team Invictus is working together to show how cutting-edge technology will give soldiers the ability to confidently operate... Read More »
FDA reveals COVID-19 antibody test kit performance data to public
As part of a validation study, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publicly posted test performance data from four antibody test kits this week. This independent performance validation effort is being undertaken alongside the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute... Read More »
CEPI invests $383M for 300 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) announced it would bring $383 million to a new partnership with AstraZeneca this week to guarantee 300 million globally accessible doses of the company’s AZD1222 vaccine candidate for COVID-19. That vaccine still has to be proven safe... Read More »
Sen. Durbin offers resolution to spur US involvement on COVID-19 response
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) is seeking unanimous consent on a resolution that encourages U.S. engagement with the international community on the COVID-19 response. The resolution is in response to the Trump Administration’s failure to participate in global summits related to the research and... Read More »
START developing tools to identify potential CBRN threats
The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) is creating a process to identify potential chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) threats from non-state actors. The project, called Advancing U.S. CWMD/CWMT Capabilities in Support of the... Read More »
IVI, Bharat Biotech consortium net up to $14.1M from CEPI to develop Chikungunya vaccine
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has partnered with Bharat Biotech (BBIL) and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) to develop a Chikungunya vaccine, providing as much as $14.1 million for manufacturing and clinical development. On the line is a two-dose,... Read More »
BARDA, Evidation Health process wearable device data in search for COVID-19 early warning algorithm
First responders and healthcare workers stand to benefit from a new partnership between the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Evidation Health, which are sifting through data from wearable devices to create an early warning algorithm for COVID-19 symptoms. This... Read More »
Unapproved COVID-19 treatment capsules, tests seized
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officials said Baltimore special agents seized over 14,000 unapproved COVID-19 capsules and several COVID-19 test kits via Operation Stolen Promise. Operation Stolen Promise is a national operation that includes... Read More »
DoD targets increased ventilator, respirator production
Hollingsworth & Vose has secured a $2.2 million Department of Defense (DoD) contract to increase domestic ventilator and respirator production. The effort involves producing 27.5 million N95 filters, and 3.1 million N95 respirators per monthly, beginning in August. The endeavor is in support of... Read More »
Texas A&M researchers developing device to identify antibodies to fight COVID-19
Scientists and engineers at Texas A&M University are developing a device that can rapidly identify antibodies that can neutralize infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. "The difficulty of developing therapeutics and vaccines against emerging viral threats can also be obviously... Read More »
BARDA to work with Quidel on COVID-19 test
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is working with Quidel Corp. to develop to detect COVID-19 and three additional respiratory viruses. The two will work together to develop a rapid multi-analyte diagnostic test for use on the Sofia 2 assay system to detect the... Read More »
HHS ASPR offers additional $250M to bolster US healthcare systems’ COVID-19 response
As authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (HHS ASPR) has released an additional $250 million for aid health care systems treating COVID-19... Read More »
BARDA partners with Siemens Healthineers on COVID-19 automated total antibody test
The latest addition to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority’s (BARDA) COVID-19 countermeasure portfolio is an automated total antibody test being developed in partnership with Siemens Healthineers. The serological, lab-based test proposes to detect two items in human... Read More »
Pentagon initiates COVID-19 screening initiative
Pentagon officials said FLIR Systems has installed its EST screening system at the Visitor Center in Washington, D.C., to screen visitors for potential COVID-19 symptoms. “For more than 40 years, FLIR has provided advanced thermal imaging technology to America’s military — on its aircraft,... Read More »
GAO notes drug manufacturing inspection void
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently delivered testimony maintaining the lack of foreign drug manufacturer inspections removes critical information about the quality of drugs manufactured for markets here. The GAO said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began postponing almost... Read More »
Rep. Lynch meets with FBI, CISA and DOJ to examine cybersecurity during pandemic
U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) met with officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to examine cyberattacks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The attacks have been targeting federal... Read More »
Reps. DeGette, Bucshon introduce bills to boost COVID-19 testing
U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Larry Bucshon (R-IN) introduced two bills designed to boost COVID-19 diagnostic testing. Together, the two pieces of legislation would provide $750 million of grants for public health laboratories, hospitals, and other health providers. “In order to save... Read More »