Contagion Editorial Team

A newly identified SARS-CoV-2 variant, BA32, is spreading globally with mutations that may reduce vaccine and prior infection protection, underscoring the continued importance of genomic surveillance.

New research from UC San Francisco (UCSF) suggests hepatitis C cure may be reliably confirmed as early as four weeks after treatment, potentially improving care access for underserved populations.

A phase 3 trial of an investigational Lyme disease vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and Valneva SE demonstrated more than 70% efficacy, signaling potential progress toward the first approved human vaccine for the disease. Pfizer is planning to move forward with regulatory submissions for potential approval.

A new meta-analysis finds alarming increases in colistin resistance among Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa across Africa, threatening the effectiveness of one of the last-resort antibiotics.

This week, read about the DOTs trial, the latest measles numbers, the World Health Organization's new targets for antibiotic development, and more.

Advocates are pushing for federal action to ensure copay assistance counts toward patient deductibles, as insurers’ use of accumulator programs continues to drive up out-of-pocket costs. Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, offers commentary to this unresolved issue.

In this month's column, we look at the leadership change at CDC, an amicus brief supporting the AAP's lawsuit against HHS changes to the pediatric vaccine schedule, and potential clinical repercussions around the reports the federal government is considering removing the COVID-19 vaccine from the market.

A new bipartisan bill aims to eliminate cost barriers and expand access to PrEP by mandating comprehensive coverage and launching a national program for uninsured populations.

A district court judge has ruled against the current administration's vaccine policies and throws into jeopardy this week’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meetings that were scheduled to discuss COVID-19 vaccines.

The World Health Organization has released 3 new target product profiles aimed at guiding the development of urgently needed antibiotics for severe drug-resistant infections, including multidrug-resistant gram-negative infections, resistant gram-positive infections in vulnerable patients, and bacterial meningitis.

A phase 3 clinical trial found the Butantan-DV tetravalent dengue vaccine provided 80.5% protection against severe dengue with warning signs over 5 years and prevented hospitalizations among vaccinated participants.

This week, read about tapering vancomycin for 2 weeks after a 2-week standard dose treatment of Clostridioides difficile, phage-antibiotic combinations, another episode from our vaccine roundtable, and more.

Peptilogics has enrolled the first patient in its RETAIN trial evaluating PLG0206, a first-in-class anti-biofilm therapy designed to treat prosthetic joint infections.

A phase 2 trial published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases found that the investigational antibiotic CRS3123 achieved high clinical cure rates comparable to vancomycin while significantly reducing recurrence and preserving the gut microbiome in patients with Clostridioides difficile infection.

This week, read about the latest measles numbers, a risk assessment and antibiotic treatment of GAS pharyngitis, an analysis of ceftolozane-tazobactam over aminoglycosides/polymyxins for resistant P aeruginosa, and more.

By launching during the Super Bowl pregame and the Grammy Awards, Gilead’s One2PrEP campaign used music, mainstream media, and bold visibility to normalize conversations about HIV prevention and expand awareness of evolving PrEP options.

Moderna has cleared a major regulatory milestone in Europe after the EMA’s CHMP recommended approval of mRNA-1083 (mCOMBRIAX), the world’s first combined influenza and COVID-19 vaccine for adults aged 50 and older.

This week, read about the newest measles update, a clinician's insights on treating the respiratory disease, as well as the latest HIV therapeutic data coming from the CROI conference.

Phase 1 data show that the long-acting HIV-1 capsid inhibitor VH-499 is well tolerated as a single intramuscular or subcutaneous injection and demonstrates pharmacokinetics supportive of long-acting dosing intervals.

New in vitro data presented at CROI show that Atea Pharmaceuticals’ oral nucleotide analogue AT-587 demonstrates markedly superior potency against hepatitis E virus compared with existing off-label options, supporting plans to advance the candidate into phase 1 clinical development in 2026.

Amy Colson, MD, MPH, discusses data from the MK-8591A-052 trial that showed that switching to doravirine/islatravir maintained durable virologic suppression with efficacy and safety comparable to continuing bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide.

New 96-week subgroup data from the PASO-DOBLE study show that adults with virologically suppressed HIV who switched to dolutegravir/lamivudine experienced significantly lower rates of steatotic liver disease than those who switched to bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide, particularly among individuals with clinically meaningful weight gain.

In the phase 3 ARTISTRY-2 trial, switching people with virologically suppressed HIV from B/F/TAF to a once-daily bictegravir/lenacapavir single-tablet regimen maintained viral suppression through week 48 with comparable safety and tolerability.

In a phase 3 study of virologically suppressed adults with HIV, switching to once-daily doravirine/islatravir (DOR/ISL 100/0.25 mg) maintained high rates of viral suppression through 96 weeks, with no emergent resistance and a favorable safety profile.

Traws Pharma announced positive phase 2 results showing its investigational COVID-19 antiviral ratutrelvir as a possible alternative to Paxlovid, including for ineligible patients, while advancing tivoxavir marboxil as a once-monthly oral prophylactic for seasonal influenza.

This week, read about the changes to the pediatric vaccine schedule, RSV protection, the FDA reversing course on Moderna's influenza vaccine, and more.

In this month's column, we look at the recommendation changes made by the CDC to the pediatric vaccine schedule, as well as the American Academy of Pediatrics' response with its own vaccine schedule.

New phase 3 data show that Merck’s clesrovimab (Enflonsia) maintained a favorable safety profile and supportive pharmacokinetics in high-risk children under 2 years of age during a second RSV season. The company plans to file for expanded regulatory approval.

The federal agency is bringing over NIH Director Jayanta "Jay" Bhattacharya, MD, PhD, to fill the position.

Invivyd has aligned with the FDA on the design of a phase 3 trial evaluating the safety and immunology of the company's monoclonal antibody, VYD2311, vs mRNA COVID vaccines and in co-administration.