Infectious Diseases News – Spring 2025

Our round-up of the latest developments from across infectious disease research and prevention in Spring 2025.

DIAGNOSTICS

• The WHO published its first analysis of commercially available and pipeline diagnostic products for invasive fungal diseases caused by WHO Fungal Priority Pathogens and the identifiable gaps.(19 Mar)
• The WHO issued the information notice for users of malaria rapid diagnostic tests, highlighting the risk of false negatives and results (31 Mar)
• Biotia announced collaboration with Mayo Clinic to advance microbial identification for infectious disease diagnostics using AI-powered sequence analysis from clinical specimens (2 Apr)
• Revvity received FDA approval for its automated latent tuberculosis test, Auto-Pure 2400 liquid handling platform with the T-SPOT™ TB test (2 Apr)
• The WHO and Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) announced a sublicensing agreement for development and manufacturing of rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) using technology transferred from SD Biosensor, with initial focus on RDTs for HIV (9 May)

PROPHYLAXIS & VACCINES

• GC Biopharma’s BARYTHRAX, a recombinant anthrax vaccine, was approved by the Korean MFDS, becoming the world’s first recombinant protein anthrax vaccine (8 Apr)
• Arcturus Therapeutics received the FDA Fast Track Designation for ARCT-2304, STARR self-amplifying mRNA vaccine candidate, for pandemic influenza A virus H5N1, also known as bird flu (10 Apr)
•  Valneva SE’s IXCHIQ (a live attenuated vaccine) was granted marketing authorisation from Brazilian ANVISA for the prevention of disease caused by the chikungunya virus in individuals 18 years of age and older, marking the world’s first approval of a chikungunya vaccine in an endemic country (15 Apr) following its approval in Europe earlier in April
• Invivyd announced new pipeline discovery program focused on monoclonal antibody-based treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis for measles, with plans to identify preclinical candidate in 2025 (12 May)
• Sanofi/ Novavax received the FDA approval for Nuvaxovid, following emergency use authorisation (EUA) in 2022 making it the only recombinant protein-based, non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine available in the US (19 May)
• Moderna has voluntarily withdrawn the pending Biologics License Application (BLA) for mRNA-1083, flu/COVID-19 combination mRNA vaccine candidate for adults aged 50 years and older, outlining plans to resubmit the BLA once the interim Ph3 efficacy data for its seasonal influenza vaccine, mRNA-1010, is available (21 May)
• The UK MHRA  approved Bavarian Nordic’s Vimkunya vaccine to prevent disease caused by the chikungunya virus in people 12 years of age and older, following its FDA approval in February 2025 as the first virus-like particle (VLP) single-dose, pre-filled syringe chikungunya vaccine (1 May)
• Moderna submitted an application to the FDA for review of its Spikevax (mRNA COVID-19 vaccine) 2025-2026 formula, targeting the SARS-CoV-2 variant LP.8.1, which currently accounts for ~70% COVID-19 cases in the US (23 May)

PUBLIC HEALTH

• The UK HSA (Health Security Agency) published the first annual report summarising the latest infectious disease trends, showing a rise in both endemic disease and vaccine-preventable infections (25 Mar)
• The WHO published its first-ever global guidelines for meningitis diagnosis, treatment and care, in line with its global road map of ‘Defeating meningitis by 2030’ (10 Apr)
• The WHO and Africa CDC  updated their joint Continental Response Plan for the mpox emergency as outbreaks persist, with the revised strategy focus on controlling outbreaks, expanding vaccination coverage and transitioning toward a longer-term, sustainable response (17 Apr)
• The WHO published its World health statistics report 2025, highlighting that while HIV and tuberculosis (TB) incidence rates are falling and fewer people need treatment for neglected tropical diseases, malaria has been resurging since 2015, and antimicrobial resistance remains a public health challenge (15 May)