Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Reduces Post-Acute Mortality in Immunocompromised COVID-19 Patients
Marc Ka-Chun Chong, PhD Image credits: CCRB A recent study analyzing the impact of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) in immunocompromised patients hospitalized with COVID-19 found that the antiviral therapy was associated with a significantly reduced risk of post-acute inpatient death. Conducted using electronic health records from the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and the Hong Kong Department of […]
Measles Outbreak Grows to 5 States
Captured on the 5th day of this illness, this photograph depicted a posterior view of the back of a patient with a case of measles, highlighting the characteristic erythematous rash that had manifested, and spread over this region. Note how the rash appeared to be a raised crop of irregularly shaped coalescing spots. Image credit: […]
Rising Mucormycosis Cases Drive Efforts for Spotlight on Treatment Research
Researchers are advancing the development of a novel immunotherapy for mucormycosis, a rare and often fatal fungal infection primarily affecting immunocompromised individuals. Ashraf S. Ibrahim, PhD, senior investigator at the Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, discussed ongoing research efforts to establish the safety and efficacy of this potential treatment. “What we’re […]
Investigational Phage Therapy Shows Positive Topline Results for Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis
Phage 3D imageImage credit: Victor Padilla-Sanchez, PhD Yesterday, an Israeli-based company, BiomX, announced results from its phase 2 trial studying its investigational phage therapy, BX211, which was found to be safe, well-tolerated, and demonstrated a clinical benefit for treatment of diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO) associated with Staphylococcus aureus.1 Specifically, BX211 produced a sustained and statistically significant […]
Infectious Disease Treatments on FDA’s Watchlist for Q2 2025
As we enter the second quarter of 2025, the FDA is reviewing treatments in infectious disease. Novavax is seeking full approval for its COVID-19 vaccine, Merck’s monoclonal antibody for RSV prevention is under review, and Innoviva has applied an oral antibiotic for gonorrhea. Here is what to expect in the coming months. Novavax COVID-19 VaccinePDUFA […]
WHO Issues First Reports on Diagnostics, Therapies For Fungal Infections
Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced it had published 2 reports regarding therapies and diagnostics for fungal diseases. The reports were designed to address the gaps in testing and treatments, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). “Invasive fungal infections threaten the lives of the most vulnerable but countries lack the treatments needed to […]
Humanizing Monoclonal Antibodies for Mucormycosis Treatment
Researchers have developed VX-01, a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to target mucormycosis, a severe fungal infection predominantly affecting immunocompromised individuals. VX-01 enhances the host’s immune response and prevents fungal angioinvasion, offering a promising adjunctive treatment for this often fatal disease. Mucormycosis, caused by Mucorales fungi, poses significant risks, especially to those with weakened immune systems. […]
VX-01 Monoclonal Antibody Targets Mucormycosis by Blocking Angioinvasion
Researchers have developed VX-01, a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to target mucormycosis, a severe fungal infection predominantly affecting immunocompromised individuals. VX-01 enhances the host’s immune response and prevents fungal angioinvasion, offering a promising adjunctive treatment for this often fatal disease. Mucormycosis, caused by Mucorales fungi, poses significant risks, especially to those with weakened immune systems. […]
With HHS Layoffs, What Becomes of Public Health?
This is the second in a series looking at the reduction and restructuring of federal health services and how that will affect public health and infectious disease clinical care. This past Friday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it was going to reduce its workforce by laying off 10,000 full-time employees, and […]
Collaborative HCV Care with Pharmacists Could Address System-Level Treatment Barriers
Meghan Morris, PhD, MPH Credit: UCSF This news was originally posed on our sister site, HCPLive.com New research is shedding light on the importance of collaborative care for facilitating community-based point-of-diagnosis hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment initiation among high-risk, marginalized patient populations.1 In the No One Waits (NOW) trial, a longitudinal partnership with a specialized, […]
