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MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY REDUCES ASTHMA ATTACKS IN URBAN YOUTH
A monoclonal antibody, mepolizumab, decreased asthma attacks by 27% in Black and Hispanic children and adolescents who have a form of severe asthma, are prone to asthma attacks and live in low-income urban neighborhoods (this population has been underrepresented in previous clinical trials of asthma therapeutics). The findings also identify potential future targets for further reducing asthma attacks among these children and adolescents. Importantly, by clearly illustrating how a variety of gene networks associated with airway inflammation play a role in asthma attacks in low-income urban youth.
Full Access: NIH
LYME DISEASE VACCINE CANDIDATE ENTERS PHASE 3 TRIAL
Pfizer and Valneva announced the start of a phase 3 trial that will study the safety and efficacy of their Lyme disease vaccine candidate, VLA15. The randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study called VALOR will enroll approximately 6,000 participants aged 5 years or older at up to 50 sites in areas where Lyme disease is highly endemic, including Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and the United States.
Full Access: Helio
UPDATE ON THE MONKEYPOX OUTBREAK
As of August 9, 2022, nearly 32 000 confirmed cases of monkeypox had been reported across 82 nonendemic countries. Given the rapid pace with which cases are being diagnosed, a coordinated international response is essential. In the US, as of August 9, 2022, nearly 9500 confirmed cases have been reported. On August 4, 2022, the Biden administration declared monkeypox a public health emergency, giving federal agencies the ability to quickly direct funds toward vaccines, therapeutics, and other immediate needs.
Full Access: JAMA
COVID-19 AND ACUTE NEUROLOGIC COMPLICATIONS IN CHILDREN
A cross-sectional study of children 2 months to <18 years with COVID-19 discharged from 52 children’s hospitals assessed neurologic complications (encephalopathy, encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, febrile seizure, non-febrile seizure, brain abscess and bacterial meningitis, Reye’s syndrome, and cerebral infarction), length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, 30-day readmissions, deaths, and hospital costs. Of 15,137 children hospitalized with COVID-19, 1060 (7.0%) had a concurrent diagnosis of a neurologic complication. The most frequent neurologic complications were febrile seizures (3.9%), non-febrile seizures (2.3%) and encephalopathy (2.2%).
Full Access: AAP