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A new week, and a new alliance of pharmaceutical companies dedicated to preparing for the next pandemic—we have details. Speaking of potential pandemics, we look at new warnings about bird flu. (524 words, 2 minutes, 37 seconds) |
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INTREPID Alliance will help prepare for the next pandemic—before it’s here |
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Seven major pharmaceutical companies last week announced the formation of the INTREPID Alliance, a collaboration to develop new antivirals for future pandemics.
The collaborators: Abbvie, Amgen, Gilead, Johnson & Johnson, Novartis, Roche, and Takeda.
The goal: 25 antivirals for diseases with pandemic potential ready for phase 2/3 clinical trials by 2026—in line with the 100 Days Mission to be prepared to produce diagnostics and treatments within 100 days of the declaration of a pandemic.
Why it matters: With the understanding that viruses pose an ever-greater risk of causing new global health crises, INTREPID enables early cross-sector collaboration and data sharing to further antiviral research.
Why antivirals: Vaccines alone may not be sufficient for the next pandemic. Small-molecule antivirals are easy to produce and can work even as viruses mutate. In a pandemic we will need treatments to reduce the number of deaths and speed our recovery.
The first steps: INTREPID members plan to compile a list of promising small-molecule antiviral compounds to help identify ones that can be developed quickly.
The context: While Congress works on legislation aimed at supporting initiatives to counter pandemics and health emergencies, members of the pharmaceutical industry are taking it upon themselves to press on with preparation. More Health News: CNBC: Sanofi expects infant RSV shot to roll out before respiratory virus season this fall
“The Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved Beyfortus, a monoclonal antibody that is administered as a single dose to infants before or during their first respiratory syncytial virus season.” |
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Why humans need to worry about bird flu |
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As the avian flu increasingly jumps species to infect mammals, international organizations warn of a growing risk to humans.
The bird toll: In 2022, avian flu A (H5N1) was reported in 67 countries, killing wild and domestic birds. More than 131 million domestic poultry were lost to disease or preventative culling, says a July 12 statement from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The human toll (so far): Since 2003, 876 humans worldwide have been infected with H5N1, and 458 have died, WHO says. Most people infected worked closely with birds, and there has been no human-to-human spread.
The mammal toll: Since 2022, 10 countries have reported H5N1 in mammals, including minks in Spain, seals in the United States, and sea lions in Peru and Chile, says the World Organisation for Animal Health.
The virus is mutating: Reports in April show H5N1 already made one genetic jump that could facilitate spread in mammals—and eventually humans. While the threat to humans remains low, we need to watch future mutations, WHO warns.
Why it matters: COVID-19 was a zoonotic virus–and there are concerns avian flu could cause the next pandemic.
What we can do: WHO calls for greater scientific collaboration and virus data sharing. Biotech is helping, such as by using gene editing to develop birds resistant to the flu.
Policy can help, too—and BIO has long called for government agencies to establish an improved, coordinated framework for oversight of animal biotechnology that is efficient, transparent, predictable, and risk proportionate. |
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