Threats
Colorado State University to collaborate with BARDA in developing platform capable of inactivating SARS-CoV-2
A new platform, SolaVAX, aims to help inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus -- the virus which causes COVID-19 -- in patients, and its progress will be a joint project of its creators at Colorado State University and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). SolaVAX was... Read More »
Moderna taps Catalent to help with COVID-19 vaccine candidate
Pharma company Moderna will collaborate with Catalent – a company that develops technologies and manufacturing solutions for drugs and consumer health products – on Moderna’s mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Catalent will provide vial filling and packaging capacity, as well as... Read More »
CEPI reaches agreement with vial manufacturer for COVID-19 vaccines
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, or CEPI, signed an agreement with Stevanato Group to supply glass vials to hold vaccine for the COVID-19 virus once it is developed. Stevanato, based in Italy, will supply 100 million Type 1 Borosilicate glass vials to hold up to 2 billion... Read More »
Rep. McAdams backs bill to prohibit explosive nuclear testing
U.S. Rep. Ben McAdams (D-UT) announced his support for a bill that would prevent the Trump Administration from restarting explosive nuclear weapons testing. The Preserving Leadership Against Nuclear Explosives Testing (PLANET) Act (H.R. 7140) was introduced earlier this month by Reps. Dina... Read More »
TSA updates security, safeguard initiatives
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has published new guidance designed to aid in managing new global security risks while safeguarding all modes of transportation. Administrator’s Intent 2.0 targets tangible security threats across seven broad categories: insider risk, surface... Read More »
Partnership between Sanofi, Translate Bio expanded to produce mRNA vaccines for infectious diseases
An existing partnership between vaccine company Sanofi Pasteur and clinical-stage mRNA therapeutics company Translate Bio expanded this week to include development of mRNA vaccines for infectious diseases. The companies originally began collaborating in 2018. Now, their union will focus on... Read More »
Trump administration cuts funding to 13 community-based COVID-19 test sites
The Trump administration will end federal support for 13 community-based COVID-19 testing sites by the end of the month, as the White House looks to other means of financial support for ongoing efforts. This will particularly impact Texas, which has seen an explosion of cases in recent days,... Read More »
Clover begins Phase 1 trials on COVID-19 vaccine candidate
Clover Biopharmaceuticals began phase 1 clinical trials in Perth, Australia, on its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which is supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). CEPI has provided up to $3.5 million for Clover to support the preparation and initiation of a trial... Read More »
DHS S&T, Israel Ministry of Public Security seek proposals for BIRD Homeland Security initiative
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Israel Ministry of Public Security (MOPS) officials are touting the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation collaboration. The BIRD Foundation is soliciting collaborative project proposals... Read More »
Katko bill targeting cybersecurity enhancement introduced in Senate
Rep. John Katko (R-NY) is espousing the benefits of the recent introduction of Senate legislation serving as a companion measure to his bill to bolster cybersecurity protections. Sens. David Perdue (R-GA) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) have introduced the Cybersecurity Advisory Committee... Read More »
DoD awards $71M contract to INOVIO in scale up of delivery devices for potential COVID-19 vaccine
Both INOVIO’s CELLECTRA 3PSP smart device and CELLECTRA 2000 devices will benefit from a $71 million contract with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), in the hopes of scaling up DNA delivery devices for the company’s potential COVID-19 vaccine, INO-4800. Both devices deliver INO-4800... Read More »
BARDA, MBio Diagnostics push toward five-minute COVID-19 serology test
A public-private partnership between the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and MBio Diagnostics aims to create a COVID-19 serology test capable of providing results within five minutes. The test is a point-of-care diagnostic that tests for human anti-SARS-CoV-2... Read More »
Pandemic proves Strategic National Stockpile needs a revamp, say lawmakers, experts
The Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), which is tasked with supplementing state and local supplies of antibiotics, vaccines and other critical drugs and medical products, woefully needs a revamp to help the nation better prepare and respond to public health emergencies like the current COVID-19... Read More »
Reps. Pallone, DeGette question Trump officials on PPE oversight
U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) are seeking answers from Trump Administration officials on how the federal government is overseeing suppliers of personal protective equipment (PPE), testing supplies, and other medical supplies. The lawmakers cited recent reports... Read More »
Roundtable discussion assesses military toxic exposure actions
Lawmakers recently gathered to address toxic exposure related to military service and a bill regarding how veterans exposed to toxic substances receive Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care and benefits. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) led the bipartisan roundtable discussion hosted by Chairman of... Read More »
Bipartisan House bills target price-gouging, monopolies and transparency for taxpayer funded COVID-19 drugs
Reckoning with the possibility of bad actors taking advantage of a crisis, House members introduced two bills this week to protect patients from price-gouging on taxpayer funded COVID-19 drugs, avoid monopolies, and strengthen oversight of federally invested research and development funds. The... Read More »
Sandia partners with manufacturers to increase medical-grade mask output to local hospitals
Sandia National Laboratories recently announced that it was working with medical device manufacturers to test mask materials and with local hospitals to evaluate N95 mask cleaning methods to boost the availability of masks in the beleaguered United States healthcare system. This assistance is... Read More »
Public health experts urge lawmakers to focus on future pandemics
A panel of public health experts called on Congress to focus on creating a mechanism that would help create vaccines for future pandemics, even as the world is working to cope with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. “This pandemic is a harbinger of things to come,” Julie Gerberding, former... Read More »
Bill targets research, intellectual property protections
Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Chris Coons (D-DE) joined 13 colleagues last week to introduce legislation designed to prevent foreign governments from stealing research and intellectual property domestically developed at colleges and universities. The Safeguarding American Innovation Act gives... Read More »
Corning, BARDA seek rapid production of glass tubing, vials to strengthen domestic supply chain
In an effort to reduce shortages and the reliance on foreign medical supply chains, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Department of Defense (DoD) have teamed up with Corning, Inc. to produce more glass tubing and vials quicker. In particular, the federal... Read More »
BARDA strikes up partnership with Empatica to create COVID-19 early warning platform
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) initiated a partnership with digital health developer Empatica last week that focuses on developing a wearable system and algorithm that can detect early signs of COVID-19 infection in individuals. That system, known as Aura,... Read More »
DHS develops do-it-yourself method to decontaminate personal protective equipment
Researchers at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) have developed a way for people to decontaminate personal protective equipment (PPE) at home. DHS’s S&T researchers have found that programmable multicookers can be used to decontaminate masks,... Read More »
Rep. Crow introduces bill to protect military bases
U.S. Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) introduced two bills designed to protect and strengthen military bases from threats related to climate change and energy dependency. One of the bills is the DOD Water Assessment and Testing Enhanced Reporting (WATER) Act, introduced by Crow, along with Reps. Xochitl... Read More »
Initiative expedites vial manufacturing capacity
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DOD) officials said the agencies have partnered to expedite vial manufacturing capacity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Through Operation Warp Speed, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under the... Read More »
GAO report on National Disaster Medical System sparks calls for improved preparedness efforts
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) last week that called for efforts by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to guarantee it has enough responders for emergencies and can evaluate training properly, a call echoed... Read More »
Johns Hopkins report calls for national strategy for performing SARS-CoV-2 antibody studies
The lack of a cohesive national plan for dealing with COVID-19 was once more brought to the fore last week with the release of a report from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, which laid out a series of recommendations surrounding antibody studies. These antibody studies --... Read More »
Rep. Underwood sponsors bill to curtail disinformation during crises
U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) introduced legislation to combat the threat of disinformation during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. The increased use of deepfakes, manipulated media, and online bots to spread disinformation has become an emerging homeland security threat. The Protecting... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions invests $75M in viral vector, gene therapy capabilities
Emergent BioSolutions revealed this week plans to expand its viral vector and gene therapy capabilities. The company announced it will invest $75 million in its Canton, Mass., facility, which is focused on the contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) of drug substances for live viral... Read More »
Sens. Rubio, Kaine resolution to support GAVI advances through Senate
The Senate voted to support GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, this week through a resolution introduced by U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Time Kaine (D-VA). The resolution commends and reaffirms support for GAVI. It also puts the nation’s money where its mouth is, so to speak, pledging U.S.... Read More »
Ortho Clinical Diagnostics’ automated antibody tests for COVID-19 selected for development by BARDA
A pair of automated antibody tests created by Ortho Clinical Diagnostics to track down COVID-19 will be further developed thanks to a new partnership between the company and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). The tests are known as VITROS Anti-SARS-COV-2 Total... Read More »
US, Canada, and Mexico work together to combat COVID-19 spread
The U.S. government has reached agreements with both Canada and Mexico to limit all non-essential travel across borders to limit the further spread of coronavirus. The Department of Homeland Security is a crucial part of this North American approach to stop the spread of the virus, as will the... Read More »
Commission on biodefense urges Americans to be vigilant in COVID-19 fight
The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense is calling for a renewed commitment to fighting COVID-19, urging Americans to protect each other. “We formed the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense six years ago because we suspected and subsequently confirmed that our Nation was vulnerable to biological... Read More »
University of Maryland researchers gain $3.6M in DARPA funding to investigate drugs for COVID-19 repurposing
In exchange for rapidly testing drugs for potential repurposing as COVID-19 treatments, University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) researchers will receive up to $3.6 million from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) over the next year. All of the drugs to be tested are... Read More »
Trial shows dexamethasone reduces death in patients with severe complications of COVID-19
Results from a University of Oxford study found that the low-cost, low-dose steroid dexamethasone was revealed this week to have reduced COVID-19 deaths by up to one third in patients hospitalized with the disease. This is the first time a therapy has demonstrated any ability to improve survival... Read More »