"Seqirus Media Monitoring" 2nd May 2019
Seqirus mentions
Seqirus warns of pandemic
Referencing the potent H7N9 strain of influenza, CSL vaccine offshoot Seqirus has
alerted investors to the possibility of another influenza pandemic. Presenting at the Macquarie Australia Equities Conference, Seqirus President, Gordon Naylor, said that the world has had four influenza pandemics in the last century. He stressed that the next pandemic is “a question of ‘when’ not ‘if’”. Seqirus’ Flucelvax and Fluad were main growth drivers identified and supported by effectiveness data. The company is “well-placed to deliver further growth” with its “proprietary marketed
technologies of cell-culture and MF59”, and commitment “to ongoing innovation to deliver sustainable growth,” Naylor said.
Industry News
GSK dumps universal flu vaccine after interim data readout
GlaxoSmithKline has dumped a universal flu vaccine after getting a look at interim phase 1 data. The clinical data and other results persuaded GSK to stop development of the candidate once it finishes the ongoing study. The study is assessing the effects of delivering one or two primary doses, plus a booster shot one year after the initial vaccination, and will continue to do so through its previously targeted 2020 completion date. But beyond that, GSK will stop development and feed the lessons it learned from the trial back into its discovery programs. ISMMS will continue to develop cHA “in a variety of research platforms,” a spokesperson for GSK said.
GSK axes a third of its pipeline as shingles and HIV treatments boost profits
GSK has ditched nearly a third of the assets in its pipeline since Emma Walmsley took over as chief executive in 2017 to focus on drugs with a better chance of success. Ms Walmsley said the company had stopped developing two vaccines in the first quarter alone – one for flu and another for pneumonia - and would continue to be “aggressive” in deciding which drugs to invest in.
Cidara Tackles Anti-Fungal Therapies, Takes Aim at Universal Flu Treatment
Cidara Therapeutics is developing an antiviral conjugate called CB-012, part of its Cloudbreak program, that CEO Jeff Stein said could be a transformational approach. It’s not a vaccine or traditional drug. CB-012 borrows from bispecific immunotherapy treatment being used in cancer patients. Cidara’s therapy attack influenza through a dual mechanism: The antiviral agent neutralizes the influenza virus directly, while the human antibody fragment engages a patient’s immune system to accelerate elimination of the pathogen. The approach is designed to improve on, and combine, the preventive effects of vaccination with an antiviral drug’s capability to treat flu illness: it’s a drug with a single subcutaneous injection for universal treatment of the flu. Stein said CB-012 could be “the holy grail” of flu treatment.
Pandemic Influenza News
Changing climate may affect animal-to-human disease transfer
Climate change could affect occurrences of diseases like bird-flu and Ebola, with environmental factors playing a larger role than previously understood in animal-to-human disease transfer. Researchers from The University of Queensland and Swansea University have been looking at how different environments provide opportunities for animal-to-human diseases to interact with and infect new host species, including humans. Dr Nicholas Clark, from UQ's School of Veterinary Science, said this was a new line of thinking in this area, changing how we understand, and tackle, emerging zoonotic diseases.
Academic studies
Stanford researchers have taken us one step closer to a universal flu vaccine
Researchers from Stanford University have thrown their hat in the ring with a brand-new approach to flu vaccination, which has already proven successful in lab animal tests. “It could be important for coming up with a universal flu vaccine that would protect against pandemic flu,” renowned biochemist Peter Kim, who led the work, said. The pioneering approach involves getting the body to recognize a portion of the virus which stays the same, despite the virus’ continuing mutations. While there is still more work to be done before this can move on to human trials, or potential commercialization, it’s an exciting breakthrough which could be applied to a number of different infectious agents.
New technology could keep flu viruses from mutating during vaccine production
A joint research project between American and Japanese interests has yielded a new technology that could ease development of H3N2 flu vaccines, by attacking one of their most common causes of concern: mutation during the development process. “The NIH (National Institutes of Health) is interested in using this new cell line to make H3N2 human challenge strains since these recent H3N2 viruses do not grow well in existing cell lines,” Kawaoka, a professor of pathobiological sciences at the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, said.
Aptamers for influenza: SERS sensor
An aptasensor based on surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy can detect very low levels of proteins found in the influenza viruses, offering an important way to study and perhaps control the disease they cause.
Small study finds no clear imprinting effect on flu vaccination based on 'first flu'
In a small study, researchers did not see a strong imprinting effect on influenza vaccination based on when participants were born, according to data presented at the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases’ Annual Conference on Vaccinology Research. Amy Sherman, MD, an infectious disease fellow at Emory University, and colleagues studied 20 total participants in two cohorts: those born between 1948 and 1957, and those born between 1968 and 1977.
Pediatric influenza news
Mother whose son died of the flu says she’s become a target of anti-vaccine groups on Facebook
A Canadian who became a vaccination advocate after the death of her son says she has been subjected to hundreds of online attacks in recent days from an anti-vaccination Facebook group, highlighting what she says is the social-media giant’s failure to curb false and dangerous information about immunization. Jill Promoli started the advocacy group For Jude, For Everyone after her two-year-old son Jude died as a result of the flu in 2016.
Over 65’s influenza news
No News Recorded
General Influenza News
One million-plus in NSW have had flu shot
Pregnant women and pensioners have been urged to follow in the footsteps of more than one million people in NSW and get the influenza vaccine. More than one million shots have been delivered in NSW ahead of the launch of the state's winter influenza campaign on Wednesday. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the vaccine was safe, does not give the recipient the flu and is free for young children, pregnant women and the elderly.
'It can cause deaths': state on alert ahead of flu season
In Australia, NSW residents are being urged to get a flu vaccination before winter hits in preparation for the annual flu season. NSW chief medical officer Dr Kerry Chant warned the flu could be deadly, and said the vaccine was now available from GPs. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said free vaccines were available for pregnant women, those aged over 65, children aged between 6 months and five years, and anyone with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.
Influenza warning
Influenza “literally is a killer for pregnant women", says Hauora Tairawhiti chairman Jim Green, who is urging people to get immunised. Some people had already been hospitalised with “virulent’’ influenza, Mr Green told his board yesterday. ‘‘We are very concerned about pregnant women in our community,” he said.
Hunter hospital workers receive flu vaccines ahead of Winter flu season to protect patients and themselves
In Australia, front line medical staff have joined other workers and volunteers in the local health district for a shot in the arm before the Winter flu wave hits the Hunter. May 1 is "V-Day" - or vaccine day - for doctors, nurses and other health professionals working within the Hunter New England Health District, with flu shots administered to hospital staff in a bid to protect both themselves, and patients. It comes after an "unusual" Summer flu season in which there was more than 600 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza in the Hunter - almost triple the number from 2018.
Spring flu? Common cold? Public health says it could be both
In Canada, just like the chilly weather, flu season is still holding on in Waterloo Region and it could be the reason why it seems like half of your office is home sick lately. Public health has so far recorded 318 cases tested and confirmed of the flu this season. Kristy Wright, manager of infectious disease for the region's Public Health Services, said those numbers are on par with what they have seen in the past and other respiratory illnesses, like the common cold, could also be contributing to the number of people who are sick.
Docs and pollies get pharmacy flu shots
In Australia, the Federal Treasurer is the latest politician to get his flu vaccine in pharmacy, and some doctors are doing the same. Josh Frydenberg visited the Scott McLaren pharmacy to be vaccinated against influenza by proprietor and former AFL umpire Scott McLaren. Meanwhile, some doctors are reportedly doing the same, thanks to delays in access to their free shots. The Adelaide Advertiser reports that doctors are worried enough about giving their patients the flu that they are paying for the vaccine in pharmacies.
Euclid woman says MetroHealth wouldn’t hire her because her religion prohibits flu shots
In Ohio, a Euclid woman says MetroHealth discriminated against her by rescinding a job offer after she requested an exemption from getting a flu shot due to her religious beliefs. She was told that the job required a flu vaccination. However, her faith prohibits her from doing so, the lawsuit states. Pouge is a member of the Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland and “has a sincerely held religious belief against flu vaccinations,” according to the lawsuit.
Dr. Myint Tun advice on Flu vaccination for this year
Dr Myint Tun explained the standard flu vaccine for people from the age of six months to 65 and the high-dose vaccine and adjuvanted vaccines for people aged 65 and over. He said this year; the Australian government is offering the adjuvanted vaccine for free for over-65s and the standard vaccine is available for free for some groups under age 65.
Which vaccines should you get as an adult?
Even if you were vaccinated as a child, doctors recommend several vaccines for adults - an annual flu shot, a Tdap vaccine if you haven't already received it, and a TD Booster every ten years to protect against tetanus and diphtheria. Then a shingles vaccine at age 50 and at 65, one for pneumonia. At least 30,000 people die each year from complications from diseases that could have been prevented with a vaccine.
Burden of disease
Fremont County Woman Who Died From Flu Was 56 Years Old
In the U.S., a Fremont County woman who died of flu-related complications in March was 56 years old. The Ranger reports that the Fremont County Coroner identified the victim as Natalie F. St. Clair and the cause of death as a heart attack that resulted from bronchopneumonia due to influenza A. Coroner Mark Stratmoen says the initiating illness was the flu.
Flu Surveillance in Animals
No News Recorded