Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent global public health threat, killing at least 1.27 million people worldwide and associated with nearly 5 million deaths in 2019. It can affect people at any stage of life and may also have significant impacts on the healthcare, veterinary, and agriculture industries. These factors make it one of the world’s most urgent public health problems.
The eradication of infectious diseases is one of the key objectives of WHO. Unfortunately, despite several decades of intense efforts, today we can claim we eradicated only smallpox.
The next disease candidate to global eradication is polio: the past 3 years have seen remarkable developments in this effort. In 2019, global eradication of type 3 poliovirus was declared. In 2020, Africa was classified as free from endemic polio. Wild poliovirus was confined to pockets of Afghanistan and Pakistan. But optimism is receding. Polio has returned to many parts of the world, and the upcoming replenishment to fund the eradication initiative comes amid geopolitical crises and global economic difficulties. The final stages of eradication have long been stuttering. Will 2022 be the year it finally slips away?
Since its arrival on the market, the Sputnik vaccine was met with some suspicion. The Phase III study published in the Lancet had several mistakes which were then highlighted in letters to the editors. However, the publication was never retracted, and the Sputnik vaccine was widely distributed in Latin America, Asia, and Africa.
We continue with our Professional Identity and Medicines Development series. We are excited to share the perspectives of our students and alumni. Below is an essay written by Dr. Rachel Lawson. The Academy extends its sincerest thanks to Dr. Lawson for her contributions to our community.
EMA’s Patients’ and Consumers’ Working Party (PCWP) has elected Marilena Vrana of the European Heart Network (EHN) as new co-chair. The Healthcare Professionals’ Working Party (HCPWP) has elected Rosa Giuliani of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) as new co-chair. Together with Juan Garcia Burgos, Head of Public Engagement at EMA, they will co-chair the meetings of their respective working parties for the next three years. The vote took place during the September 2022 meeting of both working parties.
HPV vaccinations are recommended as the best way to prevent cervical cancer, which remains a diffuse form of female cancer. In low and middle-income countries, the cost of available HPV vaccines represents a serious limitation to vaccinating as many individuals as possible. As such, we are delighted to report very good news from India- which recently launched its first locally produced version of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
The last decade has seen an emphasis on so-called gender medicine. Little by little, the medical community is discovering significant differences between men and women in many areas of medicine, which can have a profound impact on diagnosis and treatment of such conditions. In a recent finding published by the Lancet, additional risk factors for women and cardiovascular disease have been identified.
Through a rigorous scientific and regulatory process, CDER’s Office of Generic Drugs (OGD) helps to ensure Americans have access to safe, effective, and high-quality generic drugs. The role of the Global Generic Drug Affairs Program is to lead, coordinate, and manage OGD’s international activities in collaboration with other offices in CDER offices and throughout the FDA to advance the overall mission of OGD and FDA. In an increasingly globalized pharmaceutical market, collaboration among drug regulators is critical. Actions one country or territory takes can affect others.
Sleep occupies a significant part of human life, but we still have limited information about its importance and the relevance of quality sleep for human health. In this editorial, the authors try review recent information regarding sleep, especially as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which in many subjects caused a significant change in sleep habits.
The Academy recognizes the importance of keeping you, our readers, up to date with the latest news relevant to your role in the Medical Affairs arena. As a result, the IFAPP Academy Editorial Board, along with the Operations office, initiated the distribution of bi-monthly newsletters. These newsletters are curated pieces designed to keep you, the Medical Affairs professional, in the know regarding regulatory bodies, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, Academy activities, and other important developments in our industry. You will also find select articles posted on LinkedIn and Facebook. Recent data indicates this data has been well-received by the IFAPP Academy audience.