Threats
FDA continues operating without a Senate-confirmed, permanent leader
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) remains without permanent leadership during the nation’s ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. “It's of top concern that President Biden still has not nominated someone to serve as permanent FDA commissioner,” a House Energy and Commerce... Read More »
Munitions export oversight amendment passes U.S. House as part of NDAA
Lawmakers are touting the benefits of the U.S. House of Representatives recently advancing the Oversight of Munitions Exports amendment in conjunction with the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). U.S. Reps. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Katie Porter (D-CA) said the measure... Read More »
U.S. House passes new CISA reporting requirements, public-private security partnerships and DHS improvements
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 last week with a number of homeland security-related amendments, including measures that would strengthen the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and Department of Homeland... Read More »
WHO endorses Regeneron drug as COVID-19 countermeasure, but calls for lower prices
The World Health Organization (WHO) approved Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’ drug cocktail of casirivimab and imdevimab for use on COVID-19 patients last week, but that endorsement came with a caveat: it urged lower prices, patent releases and equitable distribution. The Regeneron antibody... Read More »
Senate Republicans want details on Biden administration’s COVID-19 plan
Several Senate Republican leaders recently expressed “growing concern” over the nation’s stalled progress in fighting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and requested details on how the Biden administration plans to move forward during the coming months. U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch... Read More »
HHS awards $73 million to strengthen public health IT, boost workforce
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $73 million in cooperative agreements to 10 academic institutions last week through its Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to foster more public health information technology... Read More »Global leaders reiterate efforts to ensure equitable COVID-19 vaccines access worldwide
At the United States-hosted Global COVID-19 Summit last week, world leaders recommitted to guaranteeing equitable vaccine access for all countries through COVAX, and pledged a mix of funds, doses and supply chain aid to ensure it. “Science has made huge progress in the fight to save lives,... Read More »
Hearing examines actions to strengthen infrastructure cybersecurity
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, convened a hearing Thursday to examine the Biden Administration’s actions to beef up the nation’s cybersecurity defenses. Peters and witnesses discussed what the federal government needs in... Read More »
IAEA and PREZODE to collaborate in fight against zoonotic diseases
A cooperative effort was enacted against zoonotic diseases this week, with an agreement reached between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and France’s Preventing Zoonotic Disease Emergence (PREZODE) initiative. Members of the IAEA’s Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC)... Read More »
INOVIO approved to begin Phase 3 efficacy trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate in Mexico
The Mexican government approved biotechnology company INOVIO to begin a Phase 3 efficacy trial of its COVID-19 DNA vaccine candidate, INO-4800, this week alongside its partner Advaccine Biopharmaceuticals Suzhou Co., Ltd. This Mexican trial is part of a larger, worldwide Phase 2/3 trial known as... Read More »
IDSA, HIVSA call for U.S. leadership in global vaccine equity
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and its HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) announced that it supports the Biden Administration’s movements in making the COVID-19 vaccines accessible around the world, but said more could be done to achieve vaccine equity. In a letter to the... Read More »FDA authorizes emergency use of Pfizer-BioNTech booster COVID-19 vaccines for vulnerable populations
While falling short of the full authorization Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE have clamored for, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended existing emergency use authorization (EUA) for the companies’ COVID-19 vaccine to allow a single booster dose for certain... Read More »
Hearing examines evolution of post 9/11 threats
Lawmakers examined the nationwide evolution of post 9/11 threats during a recent Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing. "This hearing is timely," Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said. "A... Read More »
Democratic lawmakers urge White House to expand U.S. vaccine production, distribution globally
In a letter drafted in advance of the COVID-19 international summit being hosted by President Joe Biden, a group of United States senators and representatives pressed the president this week to commit resources to advancing vaccination efforts worldwide. The urging from members of Biden’s own... Read More »
Bill advocates rejecting Taliban government recognition
A group of lawmakers have introduced a bill preventing the Biden Administration from recognizing Afghanistan's Taliban-controlled government in international organizations. Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) joined Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) in detailing the... Read More »
NTI commends Biden for hosting global COVID-19 summit
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) commended President Joe Biden for hosting a Global COVID-19 Summit and encouraged those participating in the summit to commit to stemming the impacts of the pandemic around the world. NTI -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan global security organization focused on... Read More »US, Pfizer and BioNTech agree to provide extra 500 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to developing world
Tacking onto President Joe Biden’s call to make the United States an arsenal of vaccines for the world, Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE agreed to expand an arrangement with the U.S. government and provide another 500 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccine for low and lower-middle-income... Read More »
Manufacturers push for PPE made in the U.S. amid changing legal landscape, Chinese industry dominance
As the CEO of American PAPR, a Brooklyn-based company that manufactures American-made personal protective equipment, Giles Kyser has hired lobbyists to make the case that the federal government should procure medical equipment whose raw materials are sourced and assembled in the United States.... Read More »
Sen. Peters presses social media CEOs over efforts to monitor, remove extremist and conspiracy content
In letters to the CEOs of three of the top social media sites -- Facebook, Twitter and Youtube -- United States Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) pressed for information this week on respective policies for monitoring and removing both extremist and conspiratorial content posted online. “Online... Read More »Data shows J&J COVID-19 booster shot 94 percent effective 2 months after first dose
As more vaccine developers consider the potential of COVID-19 boosters, Johnson & Johnson announced this week that the latest data shows its own booster shot provides 94 percent protection when given two months after a first dose. That represents a major improvement, providing as much as a... Read More »
CBP initiates facial biometric pilot in Texas
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agency has initiated a facial biometric pilot in select vehicle lanes at the Anzalduas International Bridge Port of Entry (POE), Texas. Simplified Arrival uses facial biometrics to automate manual document checking procedures required for... Read More »
Lawmakers advocate for U.S.-Canada border reopening
A group of lawmakers have forwarded correspondence to President Joe Biden, encouraging efforts allowing vaccinated Canadians to travel to the U.S. through land ports of entry. "As Senators who represent states along the northern border, our communities have been deeply affected by the... Read More »
Over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits focus of $647 million in DoD contracts
Working in concert with the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Defense (DoD) last week awarded four contracts valued at a total of $647 million for the purchase of over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits. Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, these... Read More »
Sens. Collins, Shaheen introduce legislation to tackle “Havana Syndrome”
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced legislation Friday that would tackle the federal government’s response to suspected directed energy attacks, also known as “Havana Syndrome”. The legislation, the Directed Energy Threat Emergency Response Act, would... Read More »CDC to provide $2.1 billion from American Rescue Plan to strengthen infection preparation
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to invest $2.1 billion to improve infection prevention and control activities at the state, local and territorial levels, and better improve national capabilities to prepare for emerging infectious diseases. These funds... Read More »
Florida lawmakers urge HHS to reverse decision on monoclonal antibody drug rationing
A group of lawmakers from Florida are encouraging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reverse its decision to ration monoclonal antibody (mAb) drugs for COVID-19 outpatient treatment. The lawmakers said the HHS decision would result in Florida facing a deficit of doses. Sen.... Read More »
Bill targets essential medicines ingredients stockpile
A pair of lawmakers have introduced a bill they said seeks to create an emergency supply of key ingredients used in essential generic medicines. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) maintain the bipartisan Promoting Readiness and Ensuring Proper Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient... Read More »
COVID-19 Global Vaccination Caucus sees $2 billion for vaccine manufacturing as mere starting point
While buoyed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s advancement of the Build Back Better Act, and the offerings therein, the United States COVID-19 Global Vaccination Caucus chimed in last week to note that its offers for vaccine manufacturing are just a beginning. The caucus consists of... Read More »
International organizations, vaccine manufacturers agree to intensify vaccine delivery
Leaders of several international organizations including the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization met with the CEOs of leading vaccine manufacturing companies to discuss way to improve low- and lower-middle income countries’... Read More »
Rubio introduces legislation designating Taliban as terrorist organization
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) joined forces in introducing legislation directing the U.S. Secretary of State to designate the Afghan Taliban as a terrorist organization. The... Read More »
BARDA Transatlantic Taskforce launches fourth phase to counter antimicrobial resistance
The fourth implementation phase of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority’s (BARDA) Transatlantic Taskforce for Antimicrobial Resistance (TATFAR) began this week, opening a new round of efforts to mobilize investment to fight growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). To... Read More »
New clinical data shows Moderna COVID-19 vaccine still highly effective against variants
According to new data from clinical trials highlighted by Moderna, Inc. this week, its debut COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273, continues to be highly effective against COVID-19, providing 96 percent efficacy against hospitalization and 87 percent against infection. The data -- from a study at Kaiser... Read More »
DOD funds earmarked for additional monoclonal antibodies doses
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company have secured Department of Defense (DOD) contracts to produce additional doses of monoclonal antibodies to block the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2. Authorities indicated the $3.2 billion total allotment is in coordination with the Department... Read More »
NTI research identifies lack of political will, attention to nuclear security
In a new paper, researchers from the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) found that nuclear security now exists in something of a patchwork: from individual states’ domestic regulations and policies, to informal groups of countries working on aspects of security and more formal binding... Read More »