Doctors are making big strides against an age-old killer: 'We are excited'
News Medical Life Sciences reported on Sanaria's PfSPZ-LARC2 vaccine, which uses genetically weakened parasites that replicate in the liver but halt progression before reaching the blood stage to ensure that vaccinated individuals do not experience malaria-related symptoms.
Clinical trials of PfSPZ are scheduled to start this year in the U.S., Germany, and Burkina Faso, with hopes for global deployment in the next three years.
When you're choosing health and beauty products, which of these factors is most important to you?
Cost
Brand name
Ingredients
Packaging
Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.
The vaccine comes at a critical moment. Scientists say warming global temperatures are creating the perfect conditions for mosquito populations to thrive and expand, increasing the risk of vector-borne diseases such as malaria, Zika, and dengue.
For instance, malaria risk zones have reached higher elevations in the Ethiopian Highlands due to rising temperatures, according to Climate.gov. Meanwhile, a recent study predicted that several mosquito species' populations will expand their ranges in North and South America in the coming years thanks to warming weather trends.
Though considered a breakthrough, the new malaria vaccine isn't the first. A pilot program testing a GSK-produced vaccine in Africa resulted in a 13% decrease in deaths due to this disease among young children over a four-year period. In early 2024, Cameroon became the first nation to launch a mass vaccination campaign against malaria.
Sanaria CEO Stephen L. Hoffman said the company's new PfSPZ-LARC2 vaccine is "expected to be our flagship going forward," according to News Medical Life Sciences
Professor Sodiomon Sirima of Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé, who is the principal investigator on the upcoming Burkina Faso trial, added, "We are excited about assessing PfSPZ-LARC2 Vaccine in Burkina Faso, as it is the only malaria vaccine in development that has the potential of achieving the WHO goal of at least 90% protection against Pf infection." Pf, or Plasmodium falciparum, is the deadliest malaria parasite.
Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business Wire
Endeavor BioMedicines Receives Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Commission for Taladegib (ENV-101) for the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Endeavor BioMedicines ('Endeavor'), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing medicines with the potential to deliver transformational clinical benefits to patients with life-threatening diseases, today announced that both the European Commission (EC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have granted Orphan Drug Designation to its investigational therapy, taladegib (ENV-101), for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Endeavor is currently enrolling patients in the Phase 2b WHISTLE-PF (Wound-remodeling Hedgehog-Inhibitor ILD Study Testing Lung Function Endpoints-PF) clinical trial of taladegib in IPF, a chronic, progressive lung disease with limited treatment options. Enrollment in the WHISTLE-PF trial is on track and expected to be completed in 2026. 'Receiving Orphan Drug Designation for taladegib in both the United States and European Union underscores the significant unmet medical need for patients with IPF,' said Lisa Lancaster, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Endeavor BioMedicines. 'We are encouraged by the potential of taladegib to reverse the course of disease across multiple measures of IPF, which is a major step forward from current standard-of-care. I am very proud of our team, which is executing the Phase 2b WHISTLE-PF trial with a remarkable sense of purpose, driven by our mission to push the boundaries of what is possible and restore hope to patients and their families.' Orphan Drug Designation in the European Union (EU) is granted by the EC based on a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products. It is intended to encourage the development of drugs that may provide significant benefit to patients suffering from rare, life-threatening diseases with a prevalence of not more than five in 10,000 in the EU. The designation provides special incentives for sponsors, including eligibility for protocol assistance and exemptions or reductions in certain regulatory fees, as well as 10 years of marketing exclusivity if the product is approved for the designated use. The FDA grants Orphan Drug Designation to drugs and biologics intended for the treatment, diagnosis or prevention of rare diseases or conditions affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. Orphan Drug Designation provides sponsors certain benefits, including financial incentives to support clinical development and the potential for up to seven years of market exclusivity for the drug for the designated orphan indication in the U.S. if the drug is ultimately approved for that use. About the WHISTLE-PF Trial The Phase 2b WHISTLE-PF clinical trial is a global, randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluating the therapeutic potential of taladegib in individuals with IPF (NCT06422884). The WHISTLE-PF trial will evaluate the efficacy of a range of taladegib doses through 24 weeks of treatment, characterize the investigational compound's safety and tolerability, assess its effect on patient reported outcomes and its effects on lung function, lung capacity and lung fibrosis as measured by chest high-resolution computed tomography. About Taladegib Endeavor's investigational drug taladegib is a Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway inhibitor. By binding to and inhibiting a key receptor in the Hh pathway, taladegib stops the abnormal accumulation of myofibroblasts that cause fibrosis. This may resolve the excessive wound-healing process seen in pulmonary fibrosis, improving lung volume and function. About Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis IPF is a chronic, progressive lung disease that affects more than 150,000 adults in the United States. Although the exact cause of IPF is unknown, various environmental factors can deliver repeated injuries to lung cells that trigger abnormal wound-healing processes and life-threatening lung scarring. IPF is a chronic disease with limited treatment options and a very poor prognosis. The average life expectancy is three to five years after diagnosis. About Endeavor BioMedicines Endeavor BioMedicines is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing medicines with the potential to deliver transformational clinical benefits to patients with life-threatening diseases. Endeavor's lead candidate, taladegib (ENV-101), is an inhibitor of the Hedgehog signaling pathway in development for fibrotic lung diseases, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). More information is available at and on LinkedIn or X.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Yahoo
Explainer-How extreme heat tests public health and safety
(Reuters) -As tens of thousands of people braced for more extreme heat on Tuesday, authorities and public health experts in the United States issued heat warnings to help keep people safe. Cities of the U.S. Midwest and East Coast were seeing temperatures in the 90s Fahrenheit (32-38 degrees Celsius) this week, as was much of southern Europe. WHAT ARE THE HEALTH RISKS FROM EXTREME HEAT? Heat can affect health in various ways. With heat exhaustion, a person can feel dizzy, shaky, thirsty or develop a headache. It is not usually serious unless the person is unable to cool down within 30 minutes. When people are unable to cool down, they can develop heatstroke - a medical emergency defined as the body's core temperature, usually close to 36.8 Celsius (98.2 F), going above 40.6 Celsius (105 Fahrenheit). A person with heatstroke may have symptoms including rapid breathing, confusion, seizures, or nausea. Without medical attention, heatstroke can lead to long-term organ damage and death. High temperatures are especially dangerous when combined with high humidity, which makes it harder for people to cool down by sweating. Both are expected to rise with climate change, as warmer air can hold more moisture. WHO IS AT RISK? Extreme heat can be harmful to anyone, but some populations are more vulnerable than others. Experts are most concerned about older people, young babies, and people who are socially isolated. They also worry about outdoor laborers and people struggling economically. People with pre-existing health conditions, such as lung disease, heart problems or diabetes, should also be extra cautious. Experts say more deaths occur earlier in the summer when people's bodies have not had a chance to acclimatize. Statistics on heat-related deaths are often considered to underestimate the impact of extreme heat because many countries do not record heat as a specific cause of death. LESS OBVIOUS RISKS OF EXTREME HEAT Apart from testing a body's ability to regulate its own temperature, extreme heat can pose a host of secondary risks. Warmer temperatures encourage the growth of bacteria and algae. So heatwaves can raise the risk of water being contaminated with diseases such as cholera, or of lakes and rivers becoming choked with toxic algae. Heat can also damage crops or buckle roads and disrupt transport systems. Wildfires fueled by dried-out trees or shrubs can lead to dangerous levels of air pollution. Heat stress, including the sleep disruption caused by heat, can also contribute to poorer mental health. Medical experts expect that certain diseases will expand their ranges as climate change enables disease-carrying insects to move into new areas. For example, we could see more of the deadly, tick-borne Powassan virus, while scientists also have mapped the expanding habitat of Aedes mosquitoes, which carry dengue, Zika virus and chikungunya. In California's Central Valley, desert-loving fungal spores that cause Valley fever could do well as temperatures climb. WHAT YOU CAN DO Public health advisories across the United States urge people to stay cool, stay hydrated, and avoid over-exertion. Many cities have set up public cooling centers or are providing free access to air-conditioned public transport. Employers should ensure workers have adequate breaks and hydration, and that they are not working outdoors when the heat is dangerous.
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Yahoo
Zika cases detected in Woodlands: What you need to know about the virus
SINGAPORE - Two Zika cases have been confirmed in Woodlands Street 11 and Street 32 on June 19. The National Environment Agency (NEA) said enhanced surveillance has revealed persistent Zika virus signals in the area, which suggest it is an area with likely Zika transmission. The Zika virus has been found in wastewater or mosquito samples collected in the vicinity of the reported cases. A check on the NEA website shows that as at June 18, there are no Zika clusters in Singapore. Here's what you need to know about the virus: Zika is a viral infection spread mainly through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito, which also carries the dengue and chikungunya viruses. It can be transmitted through sex, transfusion of blood and blood products, or from mother to foetus during pregnancy. There is no noticeable pattern as to when Zika cases tend to peak. The symptoms of Zika and dengue are similar. The viruses can be differentiated by virological tests. Only one in five people infected with the virus displays symptoms. The most common symptoms are fever, rash, headache, joint and muscle pain, and red eyes. The symptoms usually develop between three and 12 days after the mosquito bite and often lasts between four and seven days. Nausea and vomiting may also occur. Individuals who suspect they have contracted Zika should see a doctor quickly, advised NEA. A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test uses blood and urine tests to determine the infection. Zika infection in blood can be detected between five and seven days of the onset of symptoms, and in urine within 14 days of the first appearance of symptoms. Unborn babies are at greatest risk should their mother get infected with the Zika virus. Between 1 per cent and 10 per cent of women infected during pregnancy give birth to babies with birth defects. The most common defect is microcephaly where the baby is born with a much smaller head and often a smaller brain that might not have developed properly. Other birth defects include difficulty swallowing, hearing loss, and vision problems and seizures. Not all babies born with congenital Zika virus will have all of these conditions. Some babies develop long-term health problems later on in their life. There is no known cure for the Zika virus, but symptoms of the infection can be treated. To avoid getting infected, people are advised to use mosquito repellant and wear clothing that covers the body, arms and legs. NEA also advises the public to prevent mosquito breeding by removing stagnant water at home and surrounding areas. Stagnant water in potted plants should also be emptied regularly. Sleeping under mosquito nets and in rooms with wire-mesh screens can also help keep out mosquitoes. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the first notable outbreak of the virus was in 1952. It was first identified in monkeys in Uganda in 1947. WHO declared the virus a public health emergency in 2016. The first imported case of the virus in Singapore was in May 2016. The first local cluster was detected in August 2016 in the Aljunied area, with a total of 298 cases. The outbreak was contained in four weeks. According to NEA's website, about 72,000 gravitraps are currently deployed across Singapore. There have been a total of seven laboratory-confirmed Zika cases in Singapore as at June 12, 2025. There were 13 recorded cases in 2024. There is currently no evidence that suggests pregnant women are more vulnerable to the Zika virus. However, the effects of the infection are more severe should a pregnant woman contract it. The unborn child can develop a range of birth defects such as microcephaly and other issues later in life. Zika-associated birth defects are more common in infants born to women with exposure to the virus early in the pregnancy. The highest risk of Zika-associated birth defects is with infections that occur during the first and second trimesters of the pregnancy. If a non-pregnant woman contracts the virus, future pregnancies are unlikely to be at risk. The RT-PCR test, which looks for genetic material of the virus in blood or urine, can be used to determine if a pregnant woman is infected. If a pregnant woman is tested positive or inconclusive for Zika, she will be referred to a maternal foetal medicine specialist for counselling and management. She will be closely monitored and offered regular foetal ultrasounds. The healthcare professional may suggest amniotic fluid testing. She should take strict precautions against mosquito bites. There is no need to see a doctor if she is well. If she has symptoms of a possible Zika virus infection, she should seek medical attention immediately and consult an obstetrics and gynaecology doctor. SOURCES: World Health Organisation, National Environment Agency, Communicable Diseases Agency Singapore, US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
