1. Pink Sheet
  2. >>Legislation

Califf Says US FDA Ready If Human Avian Flu Infections Jump

 
• By Derrick Gingery

The FDA commissioner said an H5N1 vaccine can be developed from the same mRNA platform used to create the COVID-19 vaccines, but funds are needed to ensure production can begin quickly if a human outbreak occurs.

Robert Califf
FDA Commissioner Robert Califf spoke to Senators about the FDA's avian flu response during a hearing on the agency's FY 2025 budget request. • Source: Screenshot of Senate broadcast

Should the ongoing outbreak of avian influenza in US dairy cattle become a more widespread threat to humans, the US Food and Drug Administration can facilitate countermeasure development.

A human case of H5N1 infection already has occurred but only caused conjunctivitis

Key Takeaways

  • Concerns are growing that H5N1 flu could spread to humans more widely.

  • Califf said FDA and other federal officials already are working on countermeasures

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Pink Sheet for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Legislation

House Budget Bill Includes Delayed Orphan Fix, Also Risks Downstream Cell and Gene Coverage

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

The first two classes of negotiated drugs under the Inflation Reduction Act would not benefit from a rare disease adjustment House Republicans included in their reconciliation package.

Trump’s Rx Pricing Order: The Best-Case And Worst-Case Scenarios

 
• By Derrick Gingery

US trade and tariff leverage might successfully push European and other countries to pay more for medicines, but if not, President Trump’s executive order includes potential US drug withdrawal and other options to entice industry to lower US prices.

EU Health Data Space May Speed Up R&D Through Access To Multi-Omics & Clinical Record Data

 
• By Eliza Slawther

The European Health Data Space framework will allow companies to accelerate R&D processes and identify new molecular targets faster by facilitating centralized access to certain types of high-quality data, Finland’s Orion Pharma says.

EU Wants Industry To Define ‘Trade Secrets’ Under Health Data Sharing Regulation

 
• By Eliza Slawther

The European Health Data Space Regulation is deliberately “vague” when it comes to defining trade secrets because the EU wants the pharma industry to make recommendations on safeguarding intellectual property, a policy officer for the European Commission says.

More from Pink Sheet

Austria To Fine Companies For Violating New Drug Stockpiling Rule

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

A new ordinance for addressing drug shortages in Austria requires drug companies distributing any of the hundreds of products listed in an accompanying annex to maintain adequate stock in the country to meet patient demand for four months.

EMA Explores Using AI Language Models To Refine Oncology Guidance

 
• By Vibha Sharma

The European Medicines Agency has for the first time explicitly stated it is considering the use of large language models as a tool to improve the readability of a scientific guideline.

Industry On Making England’s HTA Innovation Lab A Success

 
• By Eliza Slawther

England’s health technology assessment institute, NICE, must ensure that there is clarity for manufacturers on how its methods and processes might change following testing in its sandbox environment, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said.