Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
MRNA Boosters More Effective Against Delta Than Omicron
Waning of vaccine protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) and the emergence of the omicron (or B.1.1.529) variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have led to expedited efforts to scale up booster vaccination. Protection conferred by booster doses of the BNT162b2 (Pfizer–BioNTech) and mRNA-1273 (Moderna) vaccines in Qatar, as compared with protection conferred by the two-dose primary series, is unclear. (Abu-Raddad, Ph.D., et al, 3/9)
A new analysis of a randomized trial for an experimental respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine suggests there is potential for RSV vaccines to reduce antimicrobial prescribing in infants. (Dall, 3/15)
Every two weeks, a nurse visits 43-year-old Marty Reiswig in Denver, Colorado, and injects him with an experimental drug called gantenerumab. Every month, Reiswig drives into town for a brain scan to make sure the drug has not caused any bleeds. And every year he flies to St Louis, Missouri, for four days of brain scans, spinal taps, blood analyses and exhaustive tests of his memory and reasoning capacity. (Abbott, 3/9)
Two thirds of children with tuberculosis have nonsevere disease, which may be treatable with a shorter regimen than the current 6-month regimen. (Turkova, M.R.C.P.C.H., et al, 3/10)
Pathogens don't always work against drug treatments. Sometimes, they can strengthen them, according to a new University of Maine study. (University of Maine, 3/15)
Researchers say senolytic drugs can boost a key protein in the body that protects older people against aspects of aging and a range of diseases. Their findings demonstrate this in mice and human studies. (Mayo Clinic, 3/15)
Venatorx Pharmaceuticals of Malvern, Pennsylvania, yesterday released promising data from a phase 3 trial of its investigational new drug for patients with complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs). The drug, cefepime-taniborbactam, combines a fourth-generation cephalosporin antibiotic with a beta-lactamase inhibitor and targets difficult-to-treat drug-resistant gram-negative bacteria, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It's been granted Qualified Infectious Disease Product and Fast Track designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (3/11)
