Threats
Plans unveiled to improve BioWatch Program’s bioterrorism efforts
The BioWatch Program, established by Congress in 2003, transferred to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) office in 2018 with a whopping budget averaging $76 million per fiscal year from 2018 to 2020. According to BioWatch officials, the... Read More »
Sen. Rosen co-sponsors legislation to fund pandemic response, prevention program
U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) recently co-sponsored legislation to fund the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF), which includes programs aimed and preventing and responding to pandemics. The Public Health Funding Prevents Pandemics Act would ensure the PPHF, part of the Affordable Care Act,... Read More »
Valneva, Pfizer announce Phase 2 study for Lyme disease vaccine candidate
Valneva and Pfizer are getting set to launch a new Phase 2 study on VLA-15, their vaccine candidate for Lyme disease. The study, VLA15-221, builds on previous positive Phase 2 studies. It incorporates new dose regimens and is anticipated to be the final Phase 2 study before deciding to progress... Read More »
Measure addresses foreign government cyberattacks
A group of lawmakers recently introduced the Homeland and Cyber Threat (HACT) Act, which would hold foreign governments accountable for cyberattack damages. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), along with Colin Allred (D-TX), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and... Read More »
DHS targets network traffic security enhancement
Two research and development (R&D) awards have been earmarked by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the newly launched Secure and Resilient Mobile Network Infrastructure (SRMNI) project. The Agency's Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure... Read More »
CDC says antibiotic resistance from six pathogens costs US more than $4.6B annually
According to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the University of Utah, the costs of antibiotic resistance among diseases are growing, leading to billions of dollars in health care costs and increasing rates of infections. According to “National... Read More »
Baxter BioPharma Solutions to provide U.S. fill/finish manufacturing for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine
A new deal reached between Baxter BioPharma Solutions and Moderna, Inc. this week will see Baxter handle fill/finish services for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, ultimately providing between 60-90 million doses this year. Baxter’s Indiana facility will handle the... Read More »
NTI endeavor spurs pledges to advance global biosecurity strength
Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) officials indicated its recent Global Biosecurity Dialogue resulted in participants pledging to take 12 specific actions to advance global biosecurity along with eight jointly developed priority areas. More than 170 government officials, health and biosecurity... Read More »
Lawmakers establish Space & Aeronautics Caucus
U.S. Reps. Randy Weber (R-TX) and Charlie Crist (D-FL) are espousing the benefits of establishing the Space & Aeronautics Caucus for the 117th Congress, noting the effort seeks to explore several important matters of policy. Caucus endeavors would include domestic activities in low-Earth orbit... Read More »
CBP details Chicago airport counterfeit mask seizure
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the International Mail Facility (IMF) at Chicago's O’Hare International Airport recently seized suspicious 3M N95 type masks with a 3M trademark. Officers assigned to the Port of Chicago seized parcels arriving from Colombia. Personnel... Read More »
FDA authorizes Cue COVID-19 test as first molecular non-prescription, at-home diagnostic
A molecular test for COVID-19 can now be used at home without a prescription, following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) granting of emergency use authorization (EUA) to the Cue COVID-19 Test for Home and Over the Counter (OTC) Use. A molecular nucleic acid amplification test... Read More »
Merck, Ridgeback COVID-19 therapeutic quickly reduces COVID-19 virus in 2a trial
The preliminary results of a Phase 2a randomized, double-blind trial of the Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics-created oral antiviral for the treatment of COVID-19, molnupiravir, have shown the ability to quickly decrease the infectious virus among patients. While full results are pending, this... Read More »
STOP Act regulations fighting opioid smuggling to be published
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas signed an Interim Final Rule (IFR) to publicize regulations regarding the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act. The regulations will allow U.S. Customs and Border Protect (CPB) and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to strengthen... Read More »
WHO, others forge agreement with GSK for rotavirus vaccine for children
Through a deal between the World Health Organization and others with GSK, a rotavirus vaccine will be available to more children living in low-income nations facing humanitarian crises. The agreement makes use of the multi-partner Humanitarian Mechanism, launched in 2017, where manufacturers... Read More »
Bill seeks to address foreign influence
Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) recently reintroduced a measure they said is designed to address foreign influence. The Foreign Influence Transparency Act would require organizations such as the Chinese government-run Confucius Institutes... Read More »
Lockheed Martin details successful ER GMLRS test
Lockheed Martin is touting the successful testing of its next-generation Extended-Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (ER GMLRS) munition via an 80-kilometer flight demonstration at White Sands Missile Range. “Our new Extended-Range GMLRS significantly increases the range of the... Read More »
Washington University experiments conclude more antibodies needed to counter COVID-19 variants
New research from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis seemingly confirms scientists' and health experts' worst fear that all three of the prominent, fast-spreading variants of COVID-19 can resist vaccines and antibodies currently effective against their forebear. Published... Read More »
Novartis, CureVac reach initial manufacturing agreement for COVID-19 vaccine candidate
Under a new agreement, Novartis will manufacture the mRNA and bulk drug product for CureVac’s CVnCoV vaccine candidate for COVID-19, with a goal of up to 50 million doses by the end of 2021. “I am very pleased that with Novartis, we have found another highly experienced partner to support... Read More »
Research pinpoints viral outbreaks by looking at sewage
Research from Battelle shows that wastewater analysis can pinpoint neighborhoods that are hotspots for viral outbreaks of COVID-19. A preliminary report was preprinted on Feb. 20 in the MedRxIv found that by testing wastewater for the presence of SARS-COV-2 and other pathogens, they were able... Read More »
Sens. Young and Kaine introduce bill to formerly end authorizations for Gulf, Iraq wars
Legislation that would formally end the authorizations for the Gulf and Iraq wars was introduced in the U.S. Senate this week. Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) reintroduced their bipartisan legislation to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against... Read More »
Homeland Security Republicans highlight border humanitarian, public health concerns
Homeland Security Republicans have released a fact sheet highlighting how the border humanitarian and public health circumstance has intensified under the Biden administration. Rep. John Katko (R-NY), ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and colleagues indicated Homeland... Read More »
DHS funds to aid maritime object tracking initiatives
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has awarded $153,000 to Morcom International, Inc. to develop maritime object tracking technology. The funding allotment earmarked for the Chantilly, Virginia-based firm was made via S&T’s Silicon Valley... Read More »
Soligenix COVID-19 vaccine delivers broad immune response in pre-clinical testing
In a new study published on bioRxiv, Soligenix, Inc. reported that its CiVax COVID-19 vaccine demonstrated rapid, broad-spectrum, neutralizing antibody and immunity onset in preclinical studies. The head stable vaccine used full-length Spike protein antigens to do its work, and at least in... Read More »
BARDA partners with Hologic to advance development of Panther Fusion test for SARS-CoV-2, more
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Hologic, Inc. are working together to develop the Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2/Flu/RSV assay, intended to be able to simultaneously detect and differentiate a variety of viruses from a single sample. While SARS-CoV-2 is a major... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security awards funds for new video tools at TSA Checkpoints
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) announced Tuesday that it would be awarding $196,880 to fund a video analytics program for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The funding was... Read More »
AstraZeneca initiates COVID-19 vaccine global rollout
The biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said it has initiated steps to provide broad and equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine, noting doses have begun arriving globally in low and middle-income countries. “These first steps towards fulfilling our broad, equitable, and no-profit emergency... Read More »
Rep. Dean reintroduces legislation targeting potentially undetectable firearms
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) recently reintroduced the Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act as a means of addressing recent technological developments given rise to undetectable plastic guns. The original law was enacted in 1988, with the public concerned about guns with frames and grips made... Read More »
START report examines QAnon extremist activity
A Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) report examining extremism has determined QAnon escalated from an obscure fringe group to a mainstream movement, but few have committed crimes. START researchers at the University of Maryland compiled QAnon supporter data regarding those... Read More »
DARPA awards up to $41 million to multi-disciplinary team to hasten vaccine manufacture and distribution
A team, including GE Research, the Broad Institute, DNA Script, MEDInstill, Molecular Assemblies, and the University of Washington, has been awarded a five-year, up to $41 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to create a new, quicker vaccine production... Read More »
IDSA lauds House advancement of $1.9 billion COVID-19 relief bill for immediate potential impacts
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit a critical stage, according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and as such, the $1.9 billion American Rescue Plan touted by the Biden Administration and advanced by the House last week represents a welcome boost. “This legislation represents... Read More »
Johnson & Johnson CEO: COVID-19 vaccine shipments may exceed 100M doses thanks to Merck deal
In what Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky called a great example for the larger pharmaceutical industry, the company has reached a deal with fellow pharmaceutical giant and oft-rival Merck that will unite the pair’s resources to produce Johnson & Johnson’s new COVID-19 vaccine. Faced... Read More »
Biden administration fosters collaboration between Merck, J&J to enhance COVID-19 vaccine production
The Biden administration helped forge a deal between Merck and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to expand production of J&J’s COVID-19 vaccine, which is expected to help the company deliver 100 million doses by the end of May instead of its previous June goal. The collaboration between the... Read More »
CARB-X awards up to $18M to GSK for two vaccines
Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) awarded up to $18 million to GSK Biologicals and its affiliate GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH) to develop new vaccines for two different illnesses. One is a vaccine for Group A streptococcus... Read More »
Sens. Hassan, Lee introduce bipartisan counterterrorism bill
U.S. Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced legislation Monday aimed at examining terrorist attacks to prevent future ones. The Reporting Efficiently to Proper Officials in Response to Terrorism (REPORT) Act would require federal agencies to report to Congress after a... Read More »