Last week, the 2024 meeting of the International AIDS Society (IAS) was wrapping up as the 2024 Olympic Games were about to begin. That timing was probably what prompted the use of multiple sports analogies at Thursday’s plenary session on HIV prevention strategies. Given the decades-long attempts at developing an HIV vaccine, Peter Piot, past IAS president and director emeritus and professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said in his introduction: “This is clearly a marathon. But marathons also finish.”

Researchers from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention detailed the discovery of novel aromatic heterocycle substituted aminamidine derivatives (AADs) for the treatment of Necator americanus infection (hookworms).

Half of the individuals with genital herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection experience several recurrence episodes per year, especially if the causative agent is HSV type 2 (HSV-2). Standard-of-care viral DNA polymerase inhibitors are not fully effective in preventing recurrences and managing symptoms.

Triastek Inc., of Nanjing, China, scored a potential $1.2 billion collaboration and platform technology license deal with Biontech SE to manufacture oral RNA therapeutics with 3D printing technology.

Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTI) under a once-daily oral schedule are the standard-of-care treatment for HIV. Longer-acting oral and injectable formulations to facilitate adherence to treatment regimens are needed.

Triastek Inc., of Nanjing, China, scored a potential $1.2 billion collaboration and platform technology license deal with Biontech SE to manufacture oral RNA therapeutics with 3D printing technology.

Many respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease vaccines are for older adults but Merck & Co. Inc.’s monoclonal antibody, MK-1654 (clesrovimab), which just produced positive top-line phase IIb/III data, aims at a far smaller and younger market. Data for protecting healthy preterm and full-term infants from RSV disease show the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial hit all its primary efficacy and safety endpoints, including the incidence of RSV-associated medically attended lower respiratory infection for 150 days compared to placebo.

Researchers from CONICET and affiliated organizations presented the discovery of novel llama-derived single-chain antibody fragments (VHHs) specific for type A influenza virus.