Public health

This is the latest episode of the free narrated DDW podcast, “Is genomic data the new frontier in drug discovery?” It covers two articles written for Volume 23, Issue 1 – Winter 2021/22 of DDW. They are called “Genomics boosts understanding of Covid-19 severity and susceptibility” and “Rare variant contribution to human disease”. The Covid-19 […]

Dr Andrew Garrett, Executive Vice President of Scientific Operations at ICON, explores the benefits of integrating some of the validation and standardisation practices already developed for PIs into the practices around NPIs and public health data; outlines some of the practices that can be implemented in order to do this; and highlights the need for […]

Recently, DDW reported on how over three million people have been invited to join Our Future Health. Andrew Roddam, CEO of Our Future Health, shares the impact research programmes such as this will have on drug discovery.  Millions of people in the UK and around the world spend many years of their later life in […]

A new study led by Medical Research Council-funded researchers from UCL has found that tailoring the analysis of whole genome sequencing to individual patients could double the diagnostic rates of rare diseases.  Context   In 2018, the UK’s department of health announced an NHS Genomic Medicine Service, which allows patients with rare diseases to have their […]

Genomic healthcare data is critical to identify disease risk, ancestry, traits and response to medicines and aids in the development of new targeted therapies – precision medicines. DDW’s Megan Thomas observes developments of accessibility in this sector and the potential impact.  The origins  One might argue that this all started getting exciting with the launch […]

A study by the Qatar Genome Research Consortium, led by Dr Lotfi Chouchane from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, has reported the first landscape of cancer germline mutations – hereditary mutations – in the Qatari population.  Since then, scientists at Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Qatar Genome Programme (QGP) have teamed up with clinicians at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) […]

Allison August, M.D., Vice President, Clinical Development, Infectious Diseases at Moderna examines the data on cytomegalovirus (CMV), why attempts at vaccines for CMV have so far proved elusive and the emerging options to address this unmet need.  Although cytomegalovirus (CMV) is almost ubiquitous in the adult population globally, it is an under-recognised infectious cause of […]

Business and profitability remain unquestionably important in the drug discovery community. However, the industry’s overarching goal of public health and the betterment of society have never been more apparent than in the aftermath of the pandemic and when observing the heights scientists reached through determination and collaboration in the fight against Covid-19. If anything, this […]

For the last seven years, the LSX World Congress has bought together biotech, medtech and healthtech executives to connect with the capital, intelligence, innovation, and partners they need to grow their businesses. Back in-person for 2022, the 8th Congress takes place 10-11 May at 133 Houndsditch in London.   The event gathers the founders and CEOs of innovative […]

As we celebrate World Health Day, Lu Rahman looks at some of the key drug discovery and development successes over the last year that have significantly helped improved the health and wellbeing of the global population.   Malaria breakthroughs  According to The World Health Organization (WHO) more than a million people in Africa die from malaria every year, including 3,000 children […]

Following the launch of Protas, an organisation which was launched on January 24, 2022, DDW Editorial Assistant Megan Thomas interviews Protas Chief Executive, Professor Sir Martin Landray, an epidemiologist and physician who has over 20 years’ experience of leading large, randomised clinical trials and has most recently been leading the landmark RECOVERY clinical trial into […]

For the last seven years, the LSX World Congress has bought together biotech, medtech and healthtech executives to connect with the capital, intelligence, innovation, and partners they need to grow their businesses. Back in-person for 2022, the 8th Congress takes place 10-11 May at 133 Houndsditch in London.   DDW exclusive discount  There is a 15% discount for […]

In January 2022, European Clinical Research Alliance for Infectious Diseases (Ecraid) became a legal entity and is now fully operational to advance knowledge in the field of infectious diseases. This is Ecraid’s initial step as it evolves into a self-sustaining, not-for-profit organisation conducting clinical research for both public and private sponsors.  Context  The expertise required […]

DDW’s Megan Thomas looks at three regions and their approach to digitalisation. 1. United Kingdom  A report published by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has identified the skills and training conditions needed for the future success of UK life sciences. George Freeman, Minister for Science, Research, and Innovation at the Department for […]

News round-up by DDW’s Megan Thomas for 14-18 February, 2022  This week, DDW rounds up updates, approvals, research and trials which will enable scientists to make life-saving developments in the drug discovery industry.  1. Trial launched of HIV vaccine antigens delivered through mRNA technology  IAVI and Moderna have dosed the first patients in a clinical […]

Open Orphan has released the results from its Covid-19 characterisation study, which was a partnership between hVIVO, Imperial College London, the Vaccine Taskforce and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. The results from this study show that a SARS-CoV-2 human challenge is safe in healthy young […]