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Euronews
22-05-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Why the UK is offering vaccines for gonorrhoea – and the EU isn't
In a world first, the United Kingdom is rolling out a vaccine to prevent gonorrhoea – but it is not likely to reach patients in mainland Europe anytime soon. The jab will be offered through the UK's National Health Service to people in England at high risk of contracting gonorrhoea, after a vaccine advisory committee concluded in 2023 that it could help reduce the country's surge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In studies, the vaccine was between 32.7 per cent and 42 per cent effective against gonorrhoea, the advisory group found. That means the jab could help reduce, but not completely eliminate, the risk of infection. The vaccine, known as 4CMenB and sold by GSK as Bexsero, was not originally created with gonorrhoea in mind. It's been authorised for more than a decade in both the UK and the European Union to prevent meningococcal disease, which causes meningitis and bloodstream infections. The UK has recommended that babies receive the vaccine since 2015, with Ireland, Italy, Portugal, France, and Germany later following suit. Uptake has been spotty elsewhere in the EU. The bacteria that cause meningococcal disease and gonorrhoea are closely genetically related. Real-world data from New Zealand and elsewhere indicate that the 4CMenB jab could be particularly effective against gonorrhoea, though a randomised trial in France concluded that it was not effective. The vaccine hasn't been approved to prevent gonorrhoea in the UK, meaning the NHS programme will offer it for off-label use. Beginning in August, gay and bisexual men who have a recent STI or history of multiple sexual partners will be eligible for immunisation, in the hopes of slowing the bacteria's spread. England saw 85,000 new gonorrhoea cases in 2023, the highest level since records began in 1918, the NHS said. The vaccine 'has the potential to help us to turn that around,' Matt Phillips, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said in a statement. But other Europeans won't have access to the jab. The EU's scientific advisory group is not considering whether it should be authorised to prevent gonorrhoea, and a GSK spokesperson told Euronews Health that the drugmaker is not in talks with regulators to change that. Meanwhile, health authorities in France and Italy told Euronews Health that the jab is not on their agendas, and a German representative pointed to a review that found mixed results on the efficacy of the vaccine to prevent gonorrhoea. The Norwegian public health agency noted that the vaccine offers 'some protection' against gonorrhoea, but it stopped short of endorsing the jab. Gonorrhoea is one of the most common STIs, with nearly 97,000 confirmed cases in 28 European countries in 2023 – up 31 per cent from the year before, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Cases have been rising among all age groups and among both women and men, with men who have sex with men accounting for 58 per cent of cases in 2023. Gonorrhoea can cause burning during urination, discharge from the genitals, and pain in the lower abdomen or testicles. It can lead to serious health issues if left untreated, such as pelvic inflammatory disease in women. Symptoms typically appear two weeks after infection, but many people don't have symptoms and can unknowingly spread gonorrhoea to their sexual partners. Gonorrhoea can be treated with antibiotics, though the surge of cases in recent years raises the risk that people will be infected with drug-resistant strains that are harder to treat. That's one problem the UK is hoping to address with the new vaccination programme, according to Dr Sema Mandal, deputy director of the UK Health Security Agency. 'This vaccination programme is a hugely welcome intervention at a time when we're seeing very concerning levels of gonorrhoea, including antibiotic resistant gonorrhoea,' Mandal said in a statement. A startup in France is leveraging artificial intelligence-backed physics principles in the hope of speeding up the process of making new drugs. Currently, developing a new medicine takes a company 10 to 15 years on average, with research conducted in a lab environment – and a lot of trial and error before they enter multiple stages of human clinical trials. It's also an expensive process, with only 10 to 20 per cent of experimental drugs in clinical trials eventually being approved. Those are problems the France-based Aqemia is trying to solve. The company, founded in 2019 by quantum physics researcher Maximilien Levesque and Emmanuelle Martiano, a former consultant for Boston Consulting Group, aims to use artificial intelligence (AI) to more efficiently create new molecules for drugs that treat cancers of the head, neck, and chest, such as lung cancer. It wants to "develop medicine faster in a frugal and accurate way," Dr Véronique Birault, Aqemia's vice president of translational sciences, told Euronews Health at the company's new London hub, which opened in January. To do so, Aqemia is using both AI and fundamental physics, which Levesque worked on during his academic career. Many healthcare companies are turning to AI tools in the drug discovery process, but they usually need to be trained on a large corpus of data – which doesn't always exist for these new molecules, according to Levesque. For example, "there aren't billions and billions and billions of drugs for chest cancer" that the AI models could be trained on, Levesque told Euronews Health. Instead of feeding their AI model with raw data, the team feeds it the rules of physics at the level of atoms and molecules tied to specific diseases. That includes a mathematical equation that Levesque solved, which the team says can be leveraged to identify "better molecules" that are "more effective". "It's as if, rather than swallowing lists of numbers, you had a maths teacher teaching you how to count," Levesque added. Aqemia isn't the only company betting on AI for drug discovery. Worldwide, 10 major pharmaceutical companies have signed more than 130 deals for AI collaborations since 2021. AI models can quickly analyse datasets to uncover patterns, helping scientists predict which molecules are linked to certain diseases and identifying promising drug candidates for new drugs or treatments. To some extent, they can also help forecast how people will respond to new drugs. For example, Google's AlphaFold system – which won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2024 – uses AI to predict a protein's 3D structure and how it will interact with other molecules. Aqemia has signed partnerships with pharmaceutical giants like Sanofi, Servier, and Johnson & Johnson to research potential new drugs, Levesque said. But he cautioned that even as the company works on speeding up the molecular development phase, it can't influence the clinical development stage, which takes an average of nine years. Some research indicates that may also be changing. A handful of AI-discovered molecules are in early stage trials, with cancer-related drugs making up about half of those in phase one and phase two studies. Aqemia could be part of the next wave. "Our internal programmes are progressing and we already have programmes showing efficacy and non-toxicity on mice with cancer," he said. The company hopes to launch clinical trials testing new molecules in late 2026 or early 2027.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctors and charities call for gonorrhoea vaccine roll-out
Max was in the shower when he got a call few would want. "My phone is connected to a speaker in the shower. That goes off, and I'm like: 'Oh no'," he says. He was told he'd tested positive for gonorrhoea. His was one of more than 85,000 cases in England last year - the highest level ever recorded. Numbers are similarly high across the rest of the UK and have more than doubled over the last decade. Catching gonorrhoea once doesn't stop you from getting it again. "I went from having no STIs in my life, to having three or four in the space of three months. It was ridiculous," Max tells BBC Newsbeat. Gonorrhoea is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the UK. Many, like Max, show no symptoms but it can cause pain in the joints and genitals, coloured discharge and problems getting pregnant. Using a condom during sex is usually said to be the best way of reducing the risk of catching it, but doesn't eliminate it entirely. It can be treated with a single injection of antibiotics, although a small number of treatment-resitant cases have been found in the UK. In November 2023, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended a targeted roll-out of the MenB vaccine. Primarily designed to tackle Meningitis B in children, the JCVI found the treatment was roughly 40% effective at preventing people from contracting and spreading gonorrhoea. The body, which considers whether different immunisations should be offered on the NHS, said it would be cost-effective if given to people who are most at risk of catching gonorrhoea. That includes gay and bisexual men and people who have had an STI in the past. The JCVI said the money saved from fewer appointments and antibiotic treatments would be greater than the cost of the vaccines. Prof Matt Phillips, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), tells BBC Newsbeat it's "pushing for this to happen as soon as possible". "If we don't deal with it now, we're going to see more people with serious types of gonorrhoea and more cases of antibiotic resistance," he says. "The science says we should do this, the JCVI says we should do this. Let's get it done." Other charities working in sexual health tell BBC Newsbeat they agree, including the Terrence Higgins Trust which says "it's time to put money where it needs to be. The time is now". A spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care says "we want everyone to have good access to sexual health services and treatment. "We're currently considering the JCVI advice and we will update in due course." They also added: "Last month we announced a boost of almost £200m to the public health grant, which funds sexual health clinics across the country". Max, who creates educational online content on sexual health and wellbeing aimed at gay and bisexual men, says he would "absolutely" take the vaccine if he was offered it. He shared his own gonnorhoea diagnosis online and believes we should be more open about discussing STIs to reduce the stigma around them. "There's a lot of shame around it," he says. "People think it's dirty. I felt like talking about it online not only normalised getting tested and having the treatment, but also took away the shame. "Even if you're doing everything right, you can still get an STI". The latest data on STIs shows under-25s, black men and gay and bisexual men are most likely to catch gonnorhoea. Max says he's often had to work harder to get information on sexual health which he didn't get in school. "I think as queer people we have to go out of our way to get the information," he says. "It's not something we're actively taught". One of the organisations looking to change that is The Love Tank, based in London. It campaigns on sexual health and other areas of wellness for LGBT+ people, including drug abuse and mental health. It told BBC Newsbeat it also supports the campaign to have the MenB vaccine offered on the NHS. "Sexual health services are already massively underfunded and understaffed", says project co-ordinator Phil Samba. "I feel like we should all be talking about sexual health," he says. "It should be as normalised as going to the dentist". He also says he's noticed more people he knows testing positive for gonorrhoea, and says he's caught it himself "repeatedly". Phil and The Love Tank also campaign for a wider use of Doxy-PEP, where the antibiotic doxycycline is taken in advance of sex to prevent some sexually transmitted bacterial infections being caught. Neither Doxy-PEP nor the MenB vaccine are currently offered for free on the NHS in sexual health clinics, but can be bought through online pharmacies. Both Boots and Superdrug offer private vaccination on the High Street for £110 per dose. Phil thinks it's important, though, that MenB is available to anyone who needs it, and says funding for drugs like PrEP to prevent HIV, and vaccines for mpox - formerly referred to as monkeypox - have come too late. "We have not learned from the past," says Phil. "We need to learn from mistakes and try to provide people with resources, vaccines and medications. Surely we should be taking care of people's health". Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Doctors and charities call for 'gonorrhoea vaccine' roll-out
Max was in the shower when he got a call few would want. "My phone is connected to a speaker in the shower. That goes off, and I'm like: 'Oh no'," he was told he'd tested positive for was one of more than 85,000 cases in England last year - the highest level ever recorded. Numbers are similarly high across the rest of the UK and have more than doubled over the last decade. Catching gonorrhoea once doesn't stop you from getting it again."I went from having no STIs in my life, to having three or four in the space of three months. It was ridiculous," Max tells BBC is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the like Max, show no symptoms but it can cause pain in the joints and genitals, coloured discharge and problems getting pregnant. Using a condom during sex is usually said to be the best way of reducing the risk of catching it, but doesn't eliminate it can be treated with a single injection of antibiotics, although a small number of treatment-resitant cases have been found in the UK. 'Let's get it done' In November 2023, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended a targeted roll-out of the MenB vaccine. Primarily designed to tackle Meningitis B in children, the JCVI found the treatment was roughly 40% effective at preventing people from contracting and spreading body, which considers whether different immunisations should be offered on the NHS, said it would be cost-effective if given to people who are most at risk of catching includes gay and bisexual men and people who have had an STI in the JCVI said the money saved from fewer appointments and antibiotic treatments would be greater than the cost of the Matt Phillips, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH), tells BBC Newsbeat it's "pushing for this to happen as soon as possible"."If we don't deal with it now, we're going to see more people with serious types of gonorrhoea and more cases of antibiotic resistance," he says."The science says we should do this, the JCVI says we should do this. Let's get it done."Other charities working in sexual health tell BBC Newsbeat they agree, including the Terrence Higgins Trust which says "it's time to put money where it needs to be. The time is now".A spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care says "we want everyone to have good access to sexual health services and treatment. "We're currently considering the JCVI advice and we will update in due course."They also added: "Last month we announced a boost of almost £200m to the public health grant, which funds sexual health clinics across the country". 'There's a lot of shame around it' Max, who creates educational online content on sexual health and wellbeing aimed at gay and bisexual men, says he would "absolutely" take the vaccine if he was offered it. He shared his own gonnorhoea diagnosis online and believes we should be more open about discussing STIs to reduce the stigma around them."There's a lot of shame around it," he says. "People think it's dirty. I felt like talking about it online not only normalised getting tested and having the treatment, but also took away the shame."Even if you're doing everything right, you can still get an STI".The latest data on STIs shows under-25s, black men and gay and bisexual men are most likely to catch gonnorhoea. Max says he's often had to work harder to get information on sexual health which he didn't get in school. "I think as queer people we have to go out of our way to get the information," he says."It's not something we're actively taught". 'I've gotten gonorrhoea repeatedly' One of the organisations looking to change that is The Love Tank, based in London. It campaigns on sexual health and other areas of wellness for LGBT+ people, including drug abuse and mental told BBC Newsbeat it also supports the campaign to have the MenB vaccine offered on the NHS."Sexual health services are already massively underfunded and understaffed", says project co-ordinator Phil Samba."I feel like we should all be talking about sexual health," he says. "It should be as normalised as going to the dentist".He also says he's noticed more people he knows testing positive for gonorrhoea, and says he's caught it himself "repeatedly". Phil and The Love Tank also campaign for a wider use of Doxy-PEP, where the antibiotic doxycycline is taken in advance of sex to prevent some sexually transmitted bacterial infections being caught. Neither Doxy-PEP nor the MenB vaccine are currently offered for free on the NHS in sexual health clinics, but can be bought through online pharmacies. Both Boots and Superdrug offer private vaccination on the High Street for £110 per thinks it's important, though, that MenB is available to anyone who needs it, and says funding for drugs like PrEP to prevent HIV, and vaccines for mpox - formerly referred to as monkeypox - have come too late."We have not learned from the past," says Phil. "We need to learn from mistakes and try to provide people with resources, vaccines and medications. Surely we should be taking care of people's health". Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why are potato chips still so expensive?
In recent years, an increasing number of consumers have been abandoning their favorite brand-name potato chips for cheaper, generic options. That's because chip prices are on the rise, primarily due to inflation (one could call it 'potato-flation,' even) and extreme weather. Last July, Matt Phillips of Sherwood News reported that 'prices for a 16-ounce bag of chips are up 30.6% since the end of 2020, outpacing the 20.6% increase in the consumer price index.' That's roughly 'a decade to 15 years worth of price increases in around three years,' Phillips added, considering that price increases for potato chips 'have typically been between 1%-2% a year.' 'Shoppers are no longer willing to swallow high prices for brand-name potato chips, and salty snack makers are loath to roll back the highly profitable price increases of recent years,' Phillips wrote in a report titled 'High-priced potato chips are ticking off Americans.' That trend prevails in the new year as potato chip prices continue to skyrocket nationwide. Ten years ago, the average price for a 16-ounce bag of chips was $4.27, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. By the end of 2024, it was $6.32. The price hikes are, in part, due to inflation. Per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the all-items Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food increased 0.6% from December 2024 to January 2025. And food prices, overall, were up 2.5% in January 2025 compared to last year. But climate change is also a factor in driving the high cost of potatoes. As of 2024, Idaho (which produced 32% of the crop, according to Potato News Today) and Washington (which produced 24% of the crop) remain the top two potato-producing states in the country. However, warmer weather has been threatening potato production in both states. Idaho experienced its third warmest year on record in 2024, while Washington had its 15th warmest year, according to The Cool Down, an online news source covering all things climate and sustainability. The impact of rising temperatures on the snack industry is best seen in Pennsylvania, where there are 'more potato chip factories than any other state in the Union,' Nathan Tallman, CEO of the Pennsylvania Cooperative Potato Growers, told The Allegheny Front. Unlike Idaho and Washington, Pennsylvania does not produce the bulk of potatoes in the U.S. But chip-makers based in the state prefer getting the crop from local farmers, especially in the wake of inflation and high transportation costs. 'It's cheaper to ship potatoes from farms in Pennsylvania to, say, Hanover [Snyder's of Hanover snack company, based in Pennsylvania] versus coming from Florida, Michigan or Alliston, Ontario,' Tallman explained. Pennsylvania experienced its warmest year on record in 2024, meaning potatoes were also difficult to grow. Potatoes grow best in cool weather, when soil temperatures are between 60 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. They'll stop growing completely if the soil reaches 85 degrees. According to the Pennsylvania State Climatologist at Penn State University, daytime temperatures in Pennsylvania have been at 85 degrees or above in recent decades in many parts of the state.'If the climate is changing, and changing kind of rapidly, we have to develop potatoes that are adapted to the new climate,' Walter DeJong, a professor at Cornell University, told The Allegheny Front. DeJong added that it's not sustainable for Pennsylvania chip-makers to rely on potatoes from Florida and the northwest. 'Do they have the water to sustainably use to grow all those potatoes indefinitely out West?' he asked. 'I think the answer to that is 'no.' There's increasing water use issues in the West.' In the wake of rising potato chip prices, more consumers have been turning to private-label, less-expensive store brand options. The New York Times reported back in October 2023 that 'private-label foods and beverages have crept up to a 20.6 % share of grocery dollars from 18.7% before the pandemic,' citing market research from Circana. Potato chips are just another food item that inflation-weary consumers are either abandoning or seeking cheaper alternatives for. Consumers did the same with fast food which led to several chains, including McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's to release their own rendition of value meals.
