Africa CDC and WHO launch joint continental Ebola response plan

• A proposed White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rule threatens research by using PEPFAR as a justification to increase political oversight of federal grantmaking. • Vaccine development is accelerating in response to the growing Ebola Bundibugyo outbreak to mitigate the spread of the virus.

• Merck & Co. is considering the use of molnupiravir, an antiviral drug previously authorized for COVID-19 treatment, to combat a worsening Ebola outbreak in central Africa. • The move comes as governments and health authorities struggle to respond to the escalating public health crisis in the region.

• A rapidly widening epidemic of the Bundibugyo virus, a rare type of Ebola, is currently spreading across Africa. • A World Health Organization (W.H.O.) expert panel has recommended two monoclonal antibodies, maftimivab (by Regeneron) and MBP-134 (by Mapp Bio), for urgent clinical trials.

• Exelixis, Inc. announced positive results from a subgroup analysis of the phase 3 CABINET pivotal trial on May 30, 2026. • The trial demonstrated that CABOMETYX (cabozantinib) provided significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to a placebo for patients treating neuroendocrine tumors (NET).

• UK scientists from the University of Oxford and biotechnology firm Basecamp Research have launched human trials for the world's first AI-designed vaccine. • The vaccine targets Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), a potentially fatal viral disease primarily transmitted to humans via tick bites.

• The FDA has approved the oral antiviral ensitrelvir (Xocova), developed by Shionogi & Co, Ltd, for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) of COVID-19. • The treatment is authorized for use in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older to prevent symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

• Researchers, including Dr. Paul Bollyky of Stanford Medical Center, are struggling to secure funding and infrastructure to develop vaccines and treatments for the hantavirus. • The lack of medical countermeasures was highlighted during a recent hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, where no preventative tools were available.

• Professor Matthew Herder of Dalhousie University warns that the current Ebola outbreak is exacerbated by a lack of U.S. support for regional responses. • The situation is attributed to significant cuts in public health investments both domestically and abroad under the Trump administration's policies.

• An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sickened over 1,000 people and resulted in nearly 250 deaths. • A new study clarifies that while parental depression is strongly linked to child neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, the use of antidepressant medications is not a cause.

• Day 2 of the ASCO conference featured promising new data on lung cancer treatments and the introduction of new immunotherapies. • BioNTech and Pfizer presented positive results regarding their bispecific antibodies, while Kelun-Merck shared significant survival curve data.

• Several U.S. jurisdictions have reduced the legal authority of public health officials following backlash over COVID-19 mandates, including lockdowns, school closures, and vaccine requirements. • These legislative changes limit the ability of state and local health departments to implement restrictive measures during future health crises.