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Biotech Firm Launches Lassa Vaccine Trial in West Africa

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Lassa Fever

Biotech Firm Launches Lassa Vaccine Trial in West Africa

A biotechnology company, INOVIO, says the first participant in Lassa vaccine trial has been dosed in a Phase 1B clinical trial for INO-4500, its DNA vaccine candidate for Lassa fever.

The clinical trial is being done in Ghana, the firm says, adding that INOVIO is focused on bringing to market precisely-designed DNA medicines to treat and protect people from infectious diseases and cancer.

The Phase 1B clinical trial (LSV-002), ongoing at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Accra, Ghana, is the first vaccine clinical trial for Lassa Fever to be conducted in West Africa, where the infection is endemic.

The lead clinical Principal Investigator for LSV-002 is Professor Dr. Kwadwo A. Koram, an expert and specialist in tropical medicines and epidemiologist with more than 20 years of research experience, including malaria vaccines.

INO-4500 was also the first vaccine candidate for Lassa fever to enter human trials, PUNCH Healthwise reports.

Already, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, has tweeted his commendation.

Said Ihekweazu, “Fantastic news. The urgency of now. A vaccine for Lassa fever. We have worked very hard with WHO, CEPI vaccines, ACEGID, BNITM_de and many others to put this on the global health agenda. We will keep pushing.”

According to a press release by the biotechnology company, INOVIO is advancing INO-4500 with full funding from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a global partnership that leverages funding from public, private, philanthropic and civil society organisations to support research projects to develop vaccines against emerging infectious diseases.

INOVIO previously received a $56m grant from CEPI in 2018, under which the company is developing vaccine candidates for Lassa Fever and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

“INOVIO and CEPI are committed to making a vaccine available as soon as possible for emergency use as a stockpile product post-Phase 2 testing,” the press release stated.

The statement notes that INOVIO’s Phase 1B clinical trial, LSV-002, will enroll approximately 220 adult participants who are 18 – 50 years old, with the primary endpoints of evaluating safety and immunogenicity in an African population.

The dosing regimen involves two vaccinations at zero and 28 days with either 1.0 mg or 2.0 mg dosing levels. In addition to providing valuable insights on the INO-4500 safety and immunogenicity profile, this trial will inform dose selection for subsequent Phase 2 studies in West Africa.

Lassa fever is an animal-borne, acute hemorrhagic viral illness primarily observed in parts of West Africa.

Infection is spread through contact with infected rodents, as well as person-to-person transmission via bodily fluids (primarily in health care settings).

The disease can cause a range of outcomes, including fever, vomiting, and swelling of the face, pain in the chest, back and abdomen, bleeding of various parts of the body including the eyes and nose and death.

Lassa virus infection in West Africa is estimated to affect 100,000 to 300,000 people annually, and is responsible for 10 – 16 percent of hospital admissions in the region. The virus is responsible for approximately 5,000 deaths annually.

Because of difficulties in diagnosing Lassa fever, the lack of standardised surveillance assays, and the remote nature of many of the areas in West Africa where outbreaks typically occur, the numbers of reported cases and deaths are very likely significantly lower than the actual numbers of cases and deaths.

Though the majority (about 80 percent) of Lassa virus-infected persons are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, the infection can be quite serious to fatal in others. The case-fatality among patients hospitalized for Lassa fever is about 15 – 20 percent and, in some epidemics, case-fatality has reached 50 percent in hospitalized patients.

Up until now, there are no licensed vaccines or treatments specifically for Lassa fever.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Madica Empowers African Startups with $200,000 Investments Each

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Madica, a structured investment program dedicated to nurturing pre-seed stage startups in Africa, has announced its inaugural investments in three innovative ventures.

Each of these startups is set to receive up to $200,000 in funding from Madica and will participate in the program’s comprehensive 18-month company-building support initiative.

The investment program provides a personalized curriculum, hands-on mentorship, founder immersion trips, executive coaching, and access to Madica’s extensive global network of investors for follow-on funding.

The primary objective of this support is to drive growth and ensure the long-term success of the startups.

Emmanuel Adegboye, Head of Madica, expressed his excitement regarding the investments, highlighting the abundant talent and innovation present in the African tech ecosystem.

He said Madica is committed to supporting African founders who often face challenges in accessing necessary support due to perceptions of risk among global investors.

Madica employs an open application process, collaborating closely with local ecosystem players such as incubators, accelerators, and angel networks to identify and support promising entrepreneurs.

The selection process remains rigorous, with investments made on a rolling basis throughout the year.

With plans to invest in up to 10 additional startups this year, Madica aims to expand the reach of venture capital and founder mentorship across Africa, addressing the existing imbalances in funding availability.

The announcement of these investments marks a significant milestone for the selected startups, providing them with vital financial support as well as access to invaluable resources and networks to propel their growth and success in the competitive landscape of the African startup ecosystem.

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Meta’s Revenue Woes Shake Tech Industry Confidence

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The tech industry faced a wave of uncertainty as Meta Platforms Inc., formerly known as Facebook, delivered a disappointing earnings report that sent shockwaves through the market and dented investor confidence.

Meta’s forecast of weaker-than-expected sales for the current quarter, coupled with plans for higher capital expenditures, rattled investors who were eagerly anticipating robust results.

Shares of Meta plummeted by as much as 19% in after-hours trading to trigger a cascade effect across the tech sector.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 Index experienced a decline of up to 1%, reflecting broader concerns about the health of the industry.

Analysts and investors alike expressed dismay at Meta’s inability to meet revenue expectations, citing uncertainties surrounding the company’s adoption and monetization of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

Jack Ablin, Chief Investment Officer at Cresset Wealth Advisors, highlighted the disappointment on the revenue front, overshadowing any optimism about AI adoption.

Questions lingered regarding the efficacy of AI investments and their potential benefits to users, leading to increased skepticism among stakeholders.

The repercussions of Meta’s earnings miss extended beyond its own stock, impacting other tech giants slated to report earnings in the coming days.

Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., and social media companies like Snap Inc. and Pinterest Inc. all witnessed notable declines, signaling a broader sentiment shift within the industry.

The fallout from Meta’s revenue woes reverberated across the tech landscape, affecting chipmakers, server manufacturers, and software firms. Nvidia Corp., Micron Technology Inc., and International Business Machines Corp. were among the companies affected, as investor concerns over AI investment and revenue growth cast a shadow over the sector’s outlook.

As the tech industry grapples with Meta’s disappointing results, stakeholders are left to ponder the implications for future investments and strategic decisions.

The episode serves as a stark reminder of the inherent volatility and uncertainty within the tech sector, underscoring the importance of diligent risk management and strategic foresight in navigating turbulent markets.

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TikTok Vows Legal Battle Amid Threat of US Ban

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As the specter of a US ban looms large over TikTok, the popular social media platform has declared its intention to wage a legal battle against potential legislation that could force its Chinese-owned parent company, ByteDance Ltd., to divest its ownership stake in the app.

In what amounts to a fight for its very existence in one of its most crucial markets, TikTok is gearing up for a high-stakes showdown in the courts.

The alarm bells were sounded within TikTok’s ranks as Michael Beckerman, the company’s head of public policy for the Americas, issued a rallying cry to its US staff.

In a memo obtained by Bloomberg News, Beckerman characterized the proposed legislation as an “unprecedented deal” brokered between Republican Speaker and President Biden, signaling TikTok’s readiness to challenge it legally once signed into law.

“This is an unprecedented deal worked out between the Republican Speaker and President Biden,” Beckerman stated in the memo. “At the stage that the bill is signed, we will move to the courts for a legal challenge.”

The urgency of TikTok’s response stems from recent developments in the US Congress, where lawmakers have fast-tracked legislation mandating ByteDance’s divestment from TikTok.

The bill, intricately linked to a vital aid package for Ukraine and Israel, has garnered significant bipartisan support and is expected to swiftly pass through the Senate before landing on President Biden’s desk.

Beckerman minced no words in his critique of the proposed legislation, labeling it a “clear violation” of TikTok users’ First Amendment rights and warning of “devastating consequences” for the millions of small businesses that rely on the platform for their livelihoods.

TikTok’s defiant stance reflects the gravity of the situation facing the tech giant, which has spent years grappling with concerns from US officials regarding potential national security risks associated with its Chinese ownership.

Despite extensive lobbying efforts led by TikTok CEO Shou Chew to allay these fears, the company now finds itself at a critical juncture, where legal action appears to be its last line of defense.

ByteDance, TikTok’s Beijing-based parent company, has also signaled its intent to challenge any US ban in court, signaling a united front in the face of mounting pressure.

However, navigating the legal landscape will not be without its challenges, as ByteDance must contend with both US legislative measures and potential obstacles posed by the Chinese government, which has reiterated its opposition to a forced sale of TikTok.

As TikTok prepares to embark on what promises to be a protracted legal battle, the outcome remains uncertain.

For the millions of users and businesses that call TikTok home, the stakes have never been higher, as the platform fights to preserve its presence in the fiercely competitive landscape of social media.

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