Category: us

FDA Accepts NDA for Zoliflodacin, Oral Antibiotic For Uncomplicated Gonorrhea

Innoviva Image credits: Innoviva The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) for zoliflodacin, a novel, first-in-class oral antibiotic developed for the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older. The announcement was made jointly by Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics, Inc, and the Global Antibiotic […]

MAD-ID 2025 Highlights Fidaxomicin’s Role in Reducing C difficile Recurrence

C diff spores Image credits: Unsplash At MAD-ID 2025, a clear theme emerged showing fidaxomicin as the preferred treatment for Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in patients at risk of recurrence. Studies demonstrated fidaxomicin reduces recurrence rates compared to vancomycin in groups including older adults, immunocompromised patients, transplant recipients, and those undergoing chemotherapy. Although the initial […]

HHS Secretary Kennedy Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee

HHS logo Image credits: HHS Today, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a significant reorganization of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the federal panel that provides evidence-based vaccine recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Under the leadership of HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, all […]

Merck’s Clesrovimab Receives FDA Approval to Protect Infants from RSV During First Season

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Merck’s clesrovimab (MK-1654), a long-acting monoclonal antibody designed to provide passive immunization against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for infants during their first RSV season. This single-dose, weight-independent treatment demonstrated strong efficacy in pivotal Phase IIb/III trials, reducing medically attended RSV lower respiratory infections by 60.4% and […]

Phytocannabinoids Demonstrate Fungicidal Activity And Inhibit Fungal Virulence Factors

Amy Cain Image credits: LinkedIn Fungal infections present a significant global health threat due to rising antifungal resistance, yet few new antifungal drugs are in clinical development. This study evaluated five phytocannabinoids for antifungal activity against key fungal pathogens, focusing on the priority pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabidivarin (CBDV) demonstrated broad fungicidal activity […]

Fidaxomicin Tied to Lower C difficile Recurrence in Immunocompromised Patients

At MAD-ID 2025, Natt Patimavirujh, PharmD, PGY-2 infectious diseases pharmacy resident at Tampa General Hospital, presented a single-center retrospective study demonstrating that fidaxomicin was associated with significantly lower recurrence rates of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) compared to oral vancomycin in immunocompromised patients, including solid organ transplant recipients and patients undergoing active chemotherapy. The study included […]

Barriers That Reduce Pneumococcal Vaccine Uptake Among Seniors

Image credit: RFBSIP – stock.adobe.com Although most health care providers are knowledgeable about pneumococcal vaccination and have a positive attitude toward it, there are several common barriers preventing uptake among older adult patients. Investigators of a recent study published in Vaccine said prioritizing global immunization efforts among this cohort will be critical as the aging […]

Top 5 Infectious Disease News stories Week of May 31-June 7

FDA Approves Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine The FDA has approved Moderna’s new COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1283 (mNEXSPIKE), marking the first authorization under updated federal guidelines that prioritize vaccination for adults 65 and older and individuals aged 12–64 with CDC-defined risk factors. In a Phase 3 trial of over 11,000 participants, mRNA-1283 demonstrated a 9.3% higher relative vaccine […]

‘Tis the Season: Addressing Tick-Borne Illnesses

With the warm weather brings the return of people being outside and the possibility of contracting tick-borne diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 89,000 cases of Lyme disease were reported in 2023 by state health departments and the District of Columbia. However, these numbers come from routine national […]

Impact of Obesity on Antibiotic Treatment Outcomes

Presented at MAD-ID 2025 by Mohammed Al Musawi, PharmD, BCIDP, this multicenter retrospective study examined clinical outcomes of imipenem-cilastatin-relebactam (IMI-REL) in obese versus non-obese patients. Conducted across multiple sites from July 2019 to July 2024, the study evaluated 151 patients with a focus on how body mass index (BMI) may influence antibiotic effectiveness. When asked […]