News
FDA issues hand sanitizer manufacturing guidelines
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Friday two guidelines regarding the temporary manufacturing of certain alcohol-based hand sanitizer products in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are aware of significant supply disruptions for alcohol-based hand sanitizers,” FDA... Read More »
Bill targets expedited healthcare access, FDA approvals
A group of legislators introduced last week legislation designed to increase healthcare access while expediting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treatments approved in other countries. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Cornyn (R-TX), James Lankford (R-OK), and Mike Braun (R-IN)... Read More »
Georgia Department of Pathology efforts at novel coronavirus test yield two-hour turnaround
A new novel coronavirus test developed by the Georgia Esoteric and Molecular (GEM) Laboratory at the Georgia Department of Pathology promises diagnosis turnaround capabilities of just two hours. At this time, the test is meant for patients of the Augusta University Health System. That said, Dr.... Read More »
Experts plead for COVID-19 response to be led by public health officials
While the preparations for COVID-19’s rapid spread through the United States have been widely noted as lacking, public health experts now are calling for public health officials -- not healthcare providers or politicians -- to take charge of the crisis and guide both the response to it and... Read More »
Chloroquine, other drugs, being investigated for use against COVID-19
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the drug chloroquine to be tested as a potential COVID-19 treatment, as part of ongoing efforts to find countermeasures, but the data does not say whether it will work yet, experts warn. Chloroquine, a malaria, lupus and arthritis... Read More »
Washington state lawmakers seek Medicare, Medicaid COVID-19 waiver
A delegation of federal lawmakers representing the state of Washington is seeking a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMMS) national emergency waiver to aid in addressing COVID-19. The Senate and House of Representatives members have forwarded correspondence to CMMS Administrator Seema... Read More »
Air Force Chief of Staff addresses COVID-19 protections, mission fulfillment
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein recently provided insight into the branch’s COVID-19 protection efforts while also focusing on mission fulfillment and obligations. Goldfein indicated as of March 18, there have been seven confirmed coronavirus cases among active-duty personnel,... Read More »
BARDA provides $561,330 to Mesa Biotech for development of rapid COVID-19 diagnostic
In the expanding efforts to find a solution to testing efforts against COVID-19, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has provided $561,330 to Mesa Biotech, Inc. for development of a new diagnostic test. This funding -- along with technical expertise -- will help... Read More »
CEPI invests $620,000 into potential COVID-19 vaccine from University of Hong Kong
Expanding its efforts to bring COVID-19 vaccines to fruition, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) invested $620,000 into the development of a new vaccine candidate designed by the University of Hong Kong. “I'm thankful for the support from CEPI,” HKU President Xiang... Read More »
Naval ship deployed to New York Harbor to serve as floating hospital
The USNS Comfort, a U.S. Navy ship, will be deployed to New York harbor to serve as a 1,000-bed hospital ship that will be used to treat coronavirus patients. The ship, due to arrive in April, will also have 12 fully-equipped operating rooms and increase New York's hospital surge... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions teams up with Vaxart on oral coronavirus vaccine
Emergent BioSolutions has struck an agreement with Vaxart, a clinical-stage biotechnology company, to develop and manufacture Vaxart’s experimental oral vaccine candidate for the COVID-19 coronavirus. As part of the deal, Emergent will utilize its molecule-to-market contract development and... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions deploys long-standing expertise to combat current pandemic
Emergent BioSolutions Inc., world-renowned as a bioterrorism expert, is also utilizing its contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) status to help quash the coronavirus disease COVID-19. “For 22 years, Emergent has focused on products and services that address serious public... Read More »
World Bank, IFC approves $14B to help nations, companies respond to COVID-19
The World Bank and the International Finance Committee (IFC) approved a $14 billion financing package to assist companies and countries in their efforts to respond to the spread of COVID-19. About $8 billion of that is from IFC, which is a member of the World Bank Group. It will increase its... Read More »
IDSA endorses Trump administration’s effort to slow spread of COVID-19
The measures announced by the Trump administration to control the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus have been endorsed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and its HIV Medicine Association. IDSA officials said an “all-sector, all-society response” is essential to reducing... Read More »
Sen. Menendez advocates Defense Production Act be invoked
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is urging President Donald Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) as a means of accelerating COVID-19 national response, supply production and readiness. “In the midst of a pandemic, state and local governments should not be left on their own scrambling to... Read More »
Lawmakers seeking rural COVID-19 response coordination
Senate lawmakers are urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to galvanize Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of the Interior (DOI) efforts to enhance rural COVID-19 response coordination. Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) joined 22 other legislators in... Read More »
Sen. Peters proposes legislation to remedy coronavirus testing shortages
Looking for solutions to the nationwide shortages of coronavirus testing, despite the ongoing pandemic, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) proposed legislation this week that would make testing free and rapidly distributed both to communities and health care providers. Calling on both the Trump... Read More »
Study finds coronavirus can linger for days on surfaces
The virus responsible for COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, can remain stable for hours or even days in aerosols and on surfaces, according to a new study published by the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UCLA and Princeton University. Coronaviruses are known for... Read More »
Lawmakers urge USDA to ensure no disruptions to food supply during pandemic
Federal legislators are urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take all the necessary steps to ensure there are no disruptions to our nation’s food supply chain during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. “We encourage you to use all of your available authorities to... Read More »
Trump signs Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act into law
President Donald Trump signed into law the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, which is designed to help secure America’s telecommunications supply chain. The enactment of the bill was applauded by its sponsors, Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Greg Walden (R-OR), Doris Matsui... Read More »
Research firm offers assessment of Space Force
The research organization RAND Corporation recently offered an assessment of the Space Force’s role, determining most space activities in the Department of Defense should be moved into the new service. “Launching a Space Force offers the opportunity to increase U.S. military capability,... Read More »
Lawmakers advocate REAL ID Act implementation delay
Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Lou Correa (D-CA) are urging Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf to delay the Oct. 1, 2020, REAL ID Act implementation deadline. The three legislators encouraged the delayed action, citing the impact of COVID-19, the limited... Read More »
New York representatives rally for Families First Coronavirus Response Act as Senate decides to go on legislative recess
A Senate decision to go on recess amid the novel coronavirus outbreak has drawn the ire of House members, several of which have called on their legislative counterparts to immediately vote on the Families First Coronavirus Act (H.R. 6201). That act was voted through the House last week and has... Read More »
NIAID begins clinical trial of investigational COVID-19 vaccine in Seattle
The first participant in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-funded (NIAID), Phase 1 clinical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine received their first dose this week, officially beginning an approximately six-week program. The investigational vaccine, mRNA-1273, will be tested on... Read More »
CEPI puts out funding call for COVID-19 vaccine
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is looking to invest up to $2 billion to develop a COVID-19 vaccine. The $2 billion funding call will enable CEPI to expand the number of vaccine candidates to increase the chances of success and fund clinical trials for these... Read More »
HHS announces two tests in development to test coronavirus
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) announced that two tests to detect the COVID-19 coronavirus are in development. The tests would be able to produce results in approximately one hour. The Biomedical... Read More »
New COVID-19 response fund launched
World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Foundation officials said the newly launched (COVID-19) Solidarity Response Fund would raise funds from donors to aid countries responding to the pandemic. The endeavor, created by the WHO, the United Nations Foundation, and the Swiss... Read More »
Counterfeit COVID-19 test kits seized at Los Angeles Airport
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) - International Mail Facility (IMF) officers recently seized suspected counterfeit COVID-19 test kits from the United Kingdom. On March 12, officers discovered six plastic bags containing various vials... Read More »
Families First Coronavirus Response Act pledges swift COVID-19 action, but strict language raises alarms
Recently advanced by the House, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) has so far run the bipartisan gamut to ease the economic toll of the novel coronavirus outbreak, but health experts warn its proposed coverage leaves new developers and patients in the lurch. While the bill... Read More »
Emergency Use Authorization granted to Thermo Fisher for COVID-19 diagnostic test
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its fourth COVID-19 related diagnostic Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) this week, tapping Thermo Fisher for its TaqPath diagnostic test. The TaqPath Combo Kit contains both assays and controls necessary to detect RNA from the SARS-CoV-2 virus... Read More »
Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense receives $2.62M grant to continue biosecurity efforts
The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense received its largest grant to date from Open Philanthropy, the commission announced today. The $2.62 million grant from Open Philanthropy is the commission’s fifth grant from the philanthropic group, which has provided a total of $7.31 million in grants... Read More »
Democratic senators urge Trump to make disaster funds available through Stafford Act
Democratic U.S. senators made the request last week for President Donald Trump to immediately consider any disaster declarations invoked by governors under the Stafford Act. This action would grant states access to additional resources necessary to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.... Read More »
DHS names winner of Escape Respirator Prize Challenge
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced last week the grand prize winner of its Escape Respirator Prize Challenge. The contest was launched in December 2018, seeking proposals from innovators for a compact, discreetly-carried escape... Read More »
FirstNet Authority appoints new executive director
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Board has selected Edward Parkinson as the organization’s executive director. “After conducting a comprehensive and thorough search, we are pleased to announce the selection of Ed Parkinson to be the Executive Director of the... Read More »