News: Articles and Publications

Merck and the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute today announced a licensing agreement for two preclinical antibacterial candidates for evaluation as potential components of combination regimens for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB).

Gate MRI’s Head of Vaccine Development, Alex Schmidt, joins a panel of international experts on a recent consensus statement for the development of TB vaccines in those with HIV. The paper outlines recommendations for vaccine developers on which vaccines, patient populations, and efficacy endpoints to prioritize when investigating a TB vaccine in individuals with HIV as well as ethical and regulatory factors to consider.

The Project to Accelerate New Treatments for Tuberculosis (PAN-TB) collaboration announced today the execution of a joint development agreement (JDA) — among Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Otsuka, TB Alliance and the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute — supporting the progression of two investigational tuberculosis (TB) combination treatment regimens into phase 2 clinical development.

Gates MRI's Head of Therapeutics Development, Charles Wells, gave an interview with News Medical in which he discussed our current research into tuberculosis, the World Health Organization's new guidelines for TB care, and what inspired his career. He also spoke about Gates MRI's novel potential vaccine interventions and how we're supporting future innovative approaches to TB treatment.

Gates MRI's CEO Emilio Emini conducted a Q&A with MassBio and shared how Gates MRI is developing biomedical interventions to address global health concerns for those in the greatest need.

Gates MRI’s Head of Vaccine Development, Alex Schmidt, discussed Gates MRI’s tuberculosis epidemiology study. He referred to the study’s role in setting the stage for a potential Phase 3 efficacy trial for Gates MRI’s investigational tuberculosis vaccine.

Gates MRI’s Head of Therapeutics Development, Charles Wells, wrote a post for Medicines Patent Pool outlining public health challenges stemming from tuberculosis. He also highlighted how partnerships can play a key role in helping to contribute to ending the TB epidemic by 2030. 

Gates MRI’s CEO Emilio Emini gave an in-depth interview to the Progress, Potential, and Possibilities podcast on immunology, vaccinology, and his career in public health. He also provided an overview of Gates MRI’s research priorities and discussed a call-to-action for preparedness ahead of the next pandemic.

Gates MRI’s Exploratory Biomarker Leader, Nicole Frahm, and Clinical Development Leader, David Holtzman, contributed to the important review of new TB treatment monitoring biomarkers with colleagues from UNITE4TB and FIND — the global alliance for diagnostics.

Gates MRI’s Clinical Development Leader, Alemnew Dagnew, gave an interview about the latest tuberculosis vaccine study at Gates MRI and the future of tuberculosis worldwide.

Gates MRI’s Head of Bioassay Development and Operations, Joleen T. White, published research that provides a hypothetical case study to present an immunogenicity risk assessment for a multi-specific therapeutic as part of an Investigational New Drug (IND) application.

Gates MRI’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Development, Michael Dunne; Program Lead Mohamed Bassyouni; Head of Global Regulatory Strategy & Operations, Taryn Rogalski-Salter; Head of Translational Discovery, Jared Silverman; and Program Leads Jeroen Medema and Mohamed Bassiouni investigated whether rivaroxaban, a direct oral anticoagulant factor Xa inhibitor, would reduce coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) progression. 

Gates MRI’s Research Project Manager, Judith Maxwell Silverman, contributed to research demonstrating how a bioengineered yeast production strain combined with an optimized version of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) exhibits improved biomolecular attributes that are well-suited for further development for large-volume manufacturing of low-cost vaccine candidate.