4 new innovations to know

Today, we’re looking at a flurry of new approvals and announcements—signs of the potential of biotech to solve our greatest health challenges, if policy doesn’t thwart the progress. Plus, valley fever is looking bad in California—rain and a fungus are to blame. (507 words, 2 minutes, 32 seconds)

4 new biotech innovations to know

A flurry of recent approvals and announcements showcase the potential of biotech innovation (if policy doesn’t thwart it).

What’s new: In the last few days, Bio.News has covered Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals of a post-partum depression pill and a solution to reverse the impact of blood thinners; the inclusion of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) preventive in routine infant immunizations; and, promising results from a pneumococcal vaccine clinical trial.

Treating post-partum depression: Zurzuvae, developed by Biogen and Sage Therapeutics, works faster than antidepressants—and it’s the first pill that can be taken at home to treat a potentially debilitating condition often neglected in the past.

Countering blood thinners: Blood thinners like Warfarin prevent clotting but can be dangerous if patients need urgent surgery. The FDA recently approved Balfaxar, which can rapidly counter the impact. 

Protecting infants from RSV: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) added Beyfortus, the first RSV preventive approved for infants, to the recommended immunizations for infants facing their first RSV season. 

A new candidate for preventing pneumonia: Merck announced promising Phase 3 results for a vaccine targeting several varieties of bacteria that cause pneumococcal pneumonia—including varieties not covered by other vaccines.

The context: These announcements are exciting and show the promise of biotech—but, of course, we can’t forget that policies like impending drug price controls could thwart future medical innovation.  

Why the spread of valley fever is a symptom of climate change

Recent weather events—combined with long-term climate trends—are leading to booming growth in California of a fungus that causes valley fever.

What is valley fever? A lung infection caused by the coccidioides fungus, found in soil in certain parts of the country. The infection can be serious and require antifungal treatment, explains the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

By the numbers: 20,003 cases were reported in 2019, but they’re probably undercounted because valley fever is often misdiagnosed, says the CDC. Still, the reported number represents rapid growth.

Where is it found? The fungus is known to live in the soil in the southwestern U.S. and parts of Mexico and Central and South America, but it already ranges farther than originally thought.

Climate change seems to be extending the range of valley fever fungus—and one report projects the drying climate will double its area, impacting 17 states instead of 12, by 2100.

See California: The state expects a bad season because the fungus is particularly active when a very rainy season follows drought, reports the Los Angeles Times.

There are two FDA-approved treatments—though nothing new since 1981, and FDA has encouraged development in this area.The bipartisan PASTEUR Act is key, as the policy would revitalize R&D for antifungals to treat serious and life-threatening fungal infections.  In addition, long-term climate solutions—like sustainable aviation fuel and reducing carbon emissions in agriculture and manufacturing—are needed to help ward off climate change.

President Biden’s Tuesday: Visiting Arizona to declare a national monument next to the Grand Canyon as a means of preventing uranium mining there, per The New York Times. He’s also scheduled to tour the Grand Canyon before going to New Mexico for a campaign reception.

What's Happening on Capitol Hill: The House and Senate are in recess through Labor Day.