Oral

• The FDA has approved Shionogi’s Xocova (ensitrelvir) as the first oral therapy designed to prevent Covid-19 after a person has been exposed to the virus. • The approval follows the Scorpio-Pep trial involving 2,387 participants aged 12 and older who were asymptomatic but had been exposed to a symptomatic household member. • The drug works by inhibiting viral replication, offering a critical new preventative tool for those who initiate treatment within 72 hours of their contact's symptom onset.

While the technology is set to play a growing role in modern warfare, there remains an unresolved ethical challengeShould the AI-powered drones of the future have a licence to kill? The question is becoming ever more pressing as governments and the defence industry acknowledge that drone systems will play an increasingly crucial role in future warfare.With drones being deployed in huge numbers in the Ukraine war and AI being used to assist bombing missions in the Iran conflict, there is an expectation among some observers that weapons will have to operate with increased operational autonomy, which means they will need something approximating a moral framework. Continue reading...

Incumbent comes out on top in primary election – but with less than 50% of votes – and will take on challenger in NovemberKaren Bass has come out ahead in Tuesday’s heated primary for Los Angeles mayor, but with less than 50% of the vote will have to defend her seat in November’s general election.Bass will face either Spencer Pratt, a former reality TV star, or city council member Nithya Raman, in November. As of Tuesday evening, it was still unclear who would move on. Continue reading...

• The FDA has approved ensitrelvir, an oral antiviral medication specifically designed to prevent COVID-19 after a person has been exposed to the virus. • Approval follows the phase III SCORPIO-PEP trial, which demonstrated that the drug reduced the risk of developing COVID-19 by more than half for individuals who were household contacts of an infected person. • This marks a significant shift in prevention strategy, though the medication is currently not approved for treating active COVID-19 infections within the U.S.

• The FDA has approved XOCOVA (ensitrelvir), developed by Shionogi Inc., as a new treatment option for COVID-19. • XOCOVA is distinguished as the first and only oral medication specifically approved to help prevent the onset of COVID-19 following exposure to the virus. • This approval expands the available pharmaceutical toolkit for infectious disease management, offering a preventative oral alternative to existing treatments.

• The FDA has approved the oral medication ensitrelvir for use as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. • Approval follows phase 3 clinical trial data conducted between February 10 and July 10, 2022, across 92 sites in Japan, Vietnam, and South Korea, demonstrating efficacy against Omicron variants. • This development is significant as it provides a preventative option for individuals exposed to the virus in high-risk environments, including nursing homes, acute care facilities, and during travel.

The GOP-friendly map approved by state lawmakers now goes to Republican governor who is expected to sign itSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailLouisiana Republicans approved a new congressional map on Friday which would eliminate a majority-Black congressional district that was at the center of a landmark supreme court ruling gutting section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.The new map reconfigures the state’s sixth congressional district, now represented by Cleo Fields, a Black Democrat. Lawmakers drew the district in 2024 after a court found the map lawmakers enacted after the 2020 census diluted the influence of Black voters and violated section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The new map will probably give Republicans control of five of Louisiana’s six congressional seats (the previous map had a 4-2 Republican-Democrat split). The bill now goes to Louisiana’s Republican governor, Jeff Landry, who is expected to sign it. Continue reading...

Head of BHP’s WA iron ore operations unable to give firm timeline for replacing diesel trucks as leaked documents reveal decarbonisation delayRead more from the BHP files investigation hereGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA senior BHP executive has admitted the Australian multinational’s push to reduce emissions has been delayed as the Western Australian premier, Roger Cook, said big miners had an “important moral obligation” to decarbonise.An exclusive investigation based on documents leaked to the Guardian and ABC revealed this week that the world’s biggest miner has hit the brakes on decarbonisation, something experts fear could put Australia’s national emissions reductions targets at risk. Continue reading...