Threats
HHS to expand older adult COVID-19 vaccine access
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to expand older adult COVID-19 vaccine access. The initiative would provide nearly $100 million to assist with... Read More »
Singapore scientists create diagnostic to detect SARS-CoV-2, mutations
Faced with an already mutating SARS-CoV-2 virus, the world has found itself needing to adapt its countermeasures -- and a team of scientists from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore has responded with a new test capable of detecting even mutated strains. The VaNGuard test, as it is... Read More »
GSK, Vir Biotechnology submit COVID-19 antibody treatment for FDA emergency use authorization
Investigational SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody VIR-7831 was submitted for emergency use authorization (EUA) at the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week by developers GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) and Vir Biotechnology, Inc. Pitched as a treatment for mild to moderate cases of... Read More »
Senators urge VA to counter coronavirus vaccine misinformation spreading among veterans
A bipartisan group of senators, led by U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), wrote to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) last week with concerns about and calls to action against coronavirus vaccine misinformation being sown among veterans. While misinformation has been a... Read More »
Rep. Meeks, Sen. Durbin offer input on GAO Mexico firearms trafficking report
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) have offered thoughts regarding the Government Accountability Office's (GAO) update of its January 2016 report assessing firearms trafficking from the United States to Mexico. Meeks and Durbin provided input regarding how the report... Read More »
Bill seeks to empower immigration courts
Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) has introduced four bills designed to empower immigration courts and make offender aliens deportable. “The Biden administration’s reckless policies are openly inviting gangs and cartels to flock to the border, so it’s more urgent than ever that we ensure dangerous... Read More »
Galveston National Lab confirms combo antibody-remdesivir therapy protects against advanced Marburg virus
According to a new study from the Galveston National Laboratory, published last week in Nature Communications, combining monoclonal antibodies and the antiviral remdesivir can make for a potent defense against the lethal Marburg virus (MARV). Conducted at the University of Texas Medical Branch... Read More »
More than 300 Medical Reserve Corps units assisting U.S. COVID-19 vaccination efforts
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is playing a major role in the fight against COVID-19 in the United States, deploying more than 300 units to assist vaccination efforts in 43 states, plus Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. “MRC units started training for COVID-19... Read More »
DHS to provide $20M in grants for targeted violence, terrorism prevention
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Wednesday that they will be making available $20 million in grant funding through the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program to help communities develop programs to combat terrorism and targeted violence.... Read More »
GAO reemphasizes need for bolstered cybersecurity
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is reemphasizing the federal government needs to proceed with greater urgency to bolster cybersecurity initiatives across the board amid rapidly evolving threats. Per the GAO, the government needs to take 10 actions to address four major challenges... Read More »
Agencies warn of online vaccine scams
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and INTERPOL personnel said the agencies have partnered to issue public warnings concerning online COVID-19 vaccines and treatment purchases. “Counterfeit vaccines threaten the health of consumers who are duped by nefarious actors seeking to exploit the... Read More »
House Foreign Affairs Committee to consider SAFE Act efforts to involve United States in CEPI
A bill first introduced in the 116th Congress -- the Securing America from Epidemics (SAFE) Act (H.R. 2118) -- is making the rounds in the House of Representatives again, thanks to its reintroduction by U.S. Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA). Bera, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia,... Read More »
Primary analysis of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine candidate backs interim data, dismissing U.S. concerns
Moving quickly to tamp down concerns raised by the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) this week, AstraZeneca announced today that primary analysis of its AZD1222 COVID-19 vaccine’s phase three trial confirmed 76 percent efficacy against symptomatic cases. “The primary analysis... Read More »
Cipla Therapeutics, SIGA Technologies partner to fight biothreats
Cipla Therapeutics, and SIGA Technologies, Inc, announced Tuesday that they would be entering into a strategic partnership to deliver innovation and access to novel antibacterial drugs, particularly to fight biothreats. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), anti-microbial resistance... Read More »
Northrup Gruman, Lockheed Martin secure DOD agreements for Next Generation Interceptor program
Northrop Grumman Systems and Lockheed Martin have been awarded Department of Defense (DOD) contracts supporting the Next Generation Interceptor (NGI) program. NGI is an advanced interceptor designed to protect against intercontinental ballistic missile attacks. The DOD would ensure the overall... Read More »
Report calls for national priorities to address COVID-19 pandemic misinformation
A recently released Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health report is calling on the United States to address COVID-19 health misinformation and disinformation. The call for a national strategy stems from the findings in "National Priorities to Combat... Read More »
Regeneron COVID-19 antibody treatment offers 70 percent reduction in hospitalization and death in Phase 3 trial
Topline results from a phase three trial of the Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. COVID-19 antibody treatment, REGEN-COV, are in, demonstrating 70 percent reductions in hospitalization or death and shortened symptom durations. The results were not overly affected by dosage. Across three dosage... Read More »
Pfizer begins Phase 1 study of oral antiviral therapeutic for use against SARS-CoV-2
Encouraged by its success against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses in test-tube studies, Pfizer Inc. has launched a phase one study of healthy adults to determine if multiple ascending doses of an oral antiviral therapeutic could be effective against COVID-19. PF-07321332 is a protease... Read More »
Congress eyes domestic terrorism law
Lawmakers began laying the groundwork for domestic terrorism legislation that would explicitly bar certain violent and/or hate groups and acts occurring in the United States, much the way that current legislation bars international acts of terrorism and violence. “As we sit here today, we are... Read More »
Sen. Capito visits Customs and Border Protection training facilities
U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V), ranking member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, visited the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) training facilities in West Virginia Monday. Capito visited the training facilities in Summit Point, W.V, and the Advanced... Read More »
DOD advances nuclear microreactor prototype design process
Department of Defense (DOD) officials have proceeded with transportable advanced nuclear microreactor prototype design initiatives through two contract options. Teams led by BWXT Advanced Technologies, LLC, of Lynchburg, Va., and X-energy, LLC, of Greenbelt, Md., were selected from a preliminary... Read More »
House Republicans outline plan to counter China threat to United States
Rep. John Katko (R-NY), lead Republican of the House Homeland Security Committee, recently highlighted the great powers’ competition between the United States and China and how the homeland security mission plays a heightened critical role. House Republicans maintain China will be the chief... Read More »
DHS taps University of Washington to create criteria for COVID-19 digital contact tracing app testing
The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded $959,305 to the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Laboratory this week to create testing criteria for a COVID-19 digital contact tracing app. The award was granted through the Silicon... Read More »
CARB-X funders release plan development guide to tackle threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
A Stewardship and Access Plan Development Guide for countering the spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs was developed and released this week by CARB-X, some of its leading funders and major antibacterial researchers. The Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator... Read More »
Independent board questions AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine data
AstraZeneca, already racked with setbacks in the European Union, faced another crisis in its COVID-19 vaccine efforts on Tuesday when the U.S. Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) expressed concerns that recent trial data released by the company is outdated. The focus of concern is AZD1222,... Read More »
President Biden expresses support for COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) commended President Joe Biden for his statement of support for the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. The legislation seeks to combat ongoing anti-Asian racism and violence and all other types of hate related to the coronavirus. Meng introduced the bill, with U.S. Senator... Read More »
Sens. Smith, Young introduce One Health legislation to combat disease outbreaks
U.S. Sens. Tina Smith (D-MN) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced a bill that would improve coordination among government agencies when studying animal and human health to prevent disease outbreaks. Specifically, the Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act would require the... Read More »
TSA aids Connecticut drone detection testing
U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel recently joined Connecticut and New York law enforcement and police departments in aiding the Connecticut State Police (CSP) with drone detection testing. “If you want to fully neutralize the threat from a drone, you need to locate... Read More »
Rep. Luetkemeyer introduces bill to permanently crackdown on illicit fentanyl
A new bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) last week, the Stopping Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act, seeks to permanently schedule all illicit fentanyl and remove concerns surrounding the pending expiration of a temporary Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) effort. “One of... Read More »
AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine 79 percent effective against symptomatic COVID-19 in U.S. study
As the debate over AstraZeneca’s AZD1222 COVID-19 vaccine rages in Europe, the results of a phase three trial in the United States have shown the vaccine to be 79 percent effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and 100 percent effective at preventing severe cases and hospitalization. The... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee advances seven bills
The House Committee on Homeland Security advanced seven pieces of legislation this week, including bills that would secure critical infrastructure networks, enhance air travel safety during COVID-19 and future pandemics, improve information sharing, and support first responders. One of the bills... Read More »
Session targets biological threats reduction
Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and Munich Security Conference (MSC) personnel recently collaborated to convene 19 current and former global leaders and experts to address reducing high-consequence biological threats. The endeavor was offered in conjunction with the MSC’s “Beyond... Read More »
Researchers: Vaccines alone may not control pandemic
Two Georgetown University infectious disease experts maintain vaccines alone may not be enough to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Angela L. Rasmussen and Saskia V. Popescu, faculty affiliates of the university's Center for Global Health Science and Security, noted that protecting against the... Read More »
Republicans on House E&C Committee urge NIH to join investigation into COVID-19 origins
Pointing the finger firmly at China in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, Republican leaders on the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee have written to the National Institutes of Health, urging its experts to join them in an independent investigation of the disease’s origins. As the... Read More »