Ironically, one of the casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic is an overdue review and revision of U.S. dual use research of concern (DURC) policies, as well as the Department of Health and Human Services’ Potential Pandemic Pathogen Care and Oversight guidance. Consequently, several senators are asking the White House to halt all ongoing and new viral gain-of-function and DURC studies in the life sciences that involve enhanced pathogens of pandemic potential.
Ironically, one of the casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic is an overdue review and revision of U.S. dual use research of concern (DURC) policies, as well as the Department of Health and Human Services’ Potential Pandemic Pathogen Care and Oversight guidance. Consequently, several senators are asking the White House to halt all ongoing and new viral gain-of-function and DURC studies in the life sciences that involve enhanced pathogens of pandemic potential.
Kinimmune Inc. has received US$400,000 in funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for its phase I STTR application to advance the preclinical development of KIN-102, an immunostimulant for intratumoral injection that is designed to turn cold tumors hot for synergy with immuno-oncology drugs, such as checkpoint inhibitors.
Small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) play a crucial role in RNA splicing and cell functioning. The transcription of these RNAs is initiated by small nuclear RNA activation protein complex (SNAPc), and SNAPC4 is the subunit in charge of SNAPc-DNA binding. Previous studies have found that SNAPC4 deficiency led to decreased expression of these RNAs in animal models.
Navrogen Inc. has entered into a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with researchers at the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Under this CRADA, Navrogen will sponsor the clinical investigation of the experimental antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) NAV-001, under supervision of the NCI.
Vivasc Therapeutics Inc. has initiated work under a second National Institutes of Health (NIH) phase I STTR research grant, in conjunction with Georgetown University.
Virtici LLC has been granted a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance VTC-886, a first-in-class small molecule for the prevention of Porphyromonas gingivalis infection.
Intravacc BV has been awarded a contract by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), for the development of a prophylactic intranasal vaccine against Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), the cause of the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea.