News
WHO approves world’s first malaria vaccine for children
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the first vaccine to treat malaria in children, a mosquito-borne disease that kills more than 260,000 children under the age of five annually in sub-Saharan Africa, in what public health officials have called a historic development. “The... Read More »
AstraZeneca requests FDA emergency use authorization for long-acting COVID-19 antibody combination
Although its COVID-19 vaccine was never authorized for use in the United States, AstraZeneca submitted a request with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week seeking emergency use authorization (EUA) for its long-acting antibody (LAAB) combination for use against symptomatic... Read More »
HHS tabs Emory University for disaster healthcare demonstration
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials said the agency has selected Emory University to lead the latest Regional Disaster Health Response System site. HHS noted Emory University is the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response's (ASPR) fourth site selected to... Read More »Johnson & Johnson requests FDA emergency use authorization for COVID-19 booster vaccine
Ending speculation, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) this week officially submitted data to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to request emergency use authorization (EUA) for a booster version of its COVID-19 vaccine among patients at least 18 years old. Recent data showed that the J&J... Read More »
Northam announces infrastructure upgrades to support nitrile glove project
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that his state’s pledge to invest $8.5 million in infrastructure upgrades to Progress Park was a catalyst for a manufacturing venture to commit to building an operating center in the area. The joint venture would build a manufacturing operation in... Read More »
Johns Hopkins recommends policy changes for masks, respirators
A newly released Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health report has detailed recommended federal policy changes regarding masks and respirators. The report, Masks and Respirators for the 21st Century: Policy Changes Needed to Save Lives and Prevent... Read More »
DHS completes vaccination campaign for Afghan evacuees
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) completed Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), a nationwide vaccination campaign focused on Afghan evacuees temporarily housed at eight domestic military installations. As part of the initiative, 49,000 evacuees have been immunized for measles, mumps, rubella... Read More »
FDA approves over-the-counter COVID-19 home test
The over-the-counter (OTC) ACON Laboratories Flowflex COVID-19 Home Test has received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emergency use authorization. FDA officials said the approval serves as testament to the agency's commitment to increasing the availability of accurate and reliable OTC tests to... Read More »
Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense warns of biological threats to critical U.S. infrastructure
In a new report issued this week, the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense warned that the United States needs to protect infrastructure, share and secure information, and maintain public works and services, or risk further devastation from biological threats like COVID-19. The report was titled... Read More »
Dynavax to develop adjuvant plague vaccine under $22 million DoD contract
The United States Department of Defense (DoD) awarded an agreement worth approximately $22 million to the biopharmaceutical developer Dynavax Technologies Corporation this week, giving it two and a half years to develop an adjuvanted recombinant plague vaccine. That vaccine will be adjuvanted with... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Portman release legislation bolstering federal cybersecurity
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) released the text of their legislation that would strengthen cybersecurity across the federal government. The legislation, the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2021, would update existing legislation which has not been updated... Read More »
FDA to meet on authorizing COVID-19 boosters, child vaccines
According to an announcement from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week, two upcoming meetings of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) will be held next week to address the newest COVID-19 vaccine data. These meetings will be... Read More »
DHS initiates air domain awareness demonstrations at northern border
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials said the agency is evaluating air domain awareness technologies as a means of protecting northern border airspace. S&T’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory recently spearheaded a test team that... Read More »
Biological Weapons Policy Act seeks crackdown on bioweapons, countries of concern
A bill introduced last week by U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), the Biological Weapons Policy Act (S. 2912), seeks to quash further bioweapons development through greater scrutiny of U.S. research collaborations, greater State Department oversight and use of United Nations tools. Specifically, the bill... Read More »
Senate Republicans introduce Afghanistan measure
U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Jim Risch (R-ID) have joined 21 Senate colleagues in introducing a measure they said addresses concerns regarding Afghanistan's leadership and accountability. The Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight, and Accountability Act would, among other provisions, form... Read More »
Lawmakers introduce bill to reduce violence from stolen firearms
U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) introduced legislation on Friday aimed at preventing theft from federally-licensed gun dealers, as a way to reduce gun violence. The Safety Enhancements for Communities Using Reasonable and Effective (SECURE) Firearm... Read More »
House passes bills sponsored by Homeland Security Committee Republicans
The House of Representatives advanced a trio of bills sponsored by Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee Republicans focused on air travel security, foreign manufactured drones and contract award transparency. Committee Ranking Member Rep. John Katko (R-NY) introduced the One-Stop Pilot... Read More »
DEA seizes historic amount of fentanyl-laced pills
On Thursday, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced it had seized more than 1.8 million fake fentanyl-laced pills and arrested 810 suspects in a two-month organized nationwide law enforcement effort. U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram... Read More »
Report shows reduction in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths among users of Merck antiviral
Results of an interim analysis for the Phase 3 trial of molnupiravir, an investigational oral antiviral for COVID-19 produced by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, showed the drug capable of cutting hospitalization or death risk approximately in half. For the purposes of the trial, over the... Read More »
Senators urge Biden to reduce trade barriers amidst COVID-19 pandemic
Leaders of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness wrote to President Joe Biden this week requesting more work to remove medical trade barriers and bolster distribution to better combat the global spread of COVID-19. U.S. Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE)... Read More »
Bill addresses national security powers
A group of lawmakers have introduced a measure they said seeks to reassert congressional power regarding national security matters. House Rules Committee Chairman Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI), ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight,... Read More »
DHS addresses law enforcement best practices
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said the agency has formed the Law Enforcement Coordination Council (LECC) to assess varied law enforcement matters -- including its law enforcement policies and training. “Law enforcement is a noble profession," DHS Secretary Alejandro N.... Read More »
Lawrence Livermore scientists develop antidote to treat sarin exposure, research other nerve agents
Nerve agent poisoning can result in a quick death, causing the central and peripheral nervous systems to shut down. For those fortunate enough to receive medical care and survive exposure, long-lasting side effects are probable, including seizures, extreme muscle spasms, and diminished mental... Read More »
Bill helps law enforcement with drug detection
A group of lawmakers introduced the Providing Officers with Electronic Resources (POWER) Act, which they said would provide state and local law enforcement with drug detection devices. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) said the measure would establish a new grant program via the Department of Justice... Read More »
Phase 3 trial for Regeneron COVID-19 treatment shows 70 percent reductions in hospitalization or death
Safe and effective: this was the verdict of Phase 3 trial results for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.’s REGEN-COV COVID-19 treatment, as published in the New England Journal of Medicine earlier this week. That trial reportedly met both its primary and secondary endpoints, inducing... Read More »BARDA, Clarivate partner on therapeutics to treat chlorine and sulfur mustard injuries
An ages-old issue may be on the road to modern solutions, thanks to a new collaboration between the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Clarivate that will use advanced computer methods to find therapeutics for use on chlorine and sulfur mustard-caused... Read More »Sen. Peters convenes natural disaster emergency management hearing
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, convened a hearing Wednesday to examine the country’s preparedness to deal with worsening natural disasters like floods, severe storms and wildfires. Witnesses, and committee members discussed... Read More »
Reps. request information on COVID-19 breakthrough infections
U.S. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader; Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Subcommittee on Health Republican Leader; and Morgan Griffith (R-VA) Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Republican Leader, have asked information on breakthrough cases of... Read More »
Bill addresses critical infrastructure cyber attack reporting
A pair of lawmakers have introduced a bill they said requires critical infrastructure owners and operators to report cyber attacks to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Officials said the Cyber Incident Reporting Act, presented by Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob... Read More »
NIAID awards $36.3 million for three pandemic-causing coronavirus vaccine research efforts
Reckoning with the dangers of further viruses like SARS-CoV-2, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) this week awarded approximately $36.3 million to three academic institutions to help research into vaccines for coronaviruses and their variants. The end goal is to... Read More »Rep. Swallwell introduces bills to improve intelligence gathering and response for biological threats
With a pair of new bills this week, United States Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) sought to improve the federal government’s capabilities to investigate the origins of diseases and respond accordingly, as well as to guarantee analysis and action from its intelligence community. “Knowledge is power... Read More »DHS funds target passenger self-screening solution
A Federal Way, Wash.-based firm has secured two Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Screening at Speed Program contracts to develop a passenger self-screening solution. Micro-X, Inc., would receive $1,311,682 to design a screening solution utilizing the... Read More »
Raytheon, Northrop Grumman tout hypersonic weapon test
Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Northrop Grumman personnel are touting the successful completion of the first flight test of a scramjet-powered Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC). The companies are slated to produce a prototype to the Department of Defense for the Defense... Read More »
Raytheon, Northrop Grumman tout hypersonic weapon test
Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Northrop Grumman personnel are touting the successful completion of the first flight test of a scramjet-powered Hypersonic Air-breathing Weapon Concept (HAWC). Authorities indicated the firm's are slated to produce a prototype to the Department of Defense for the... Read More »