Kenya Ebola surveillance, remigromig trial results and vamikibart Phase III data.
East African public health
Kenya reports no additional Ebola cases after 293 tests
Kenya’s Ministry of Health reported that 293 samples collected from 289 alerts produced no additional positive Ebola results following the country’s imported case. Of 122 identified contacts, 108 remained in quarantine without symptoms, while surveillance and public-health monitoring continued.
Why it matters: This is a reassuring but still evolving update for East African healthcare teams, highlighting the importance of contact tracing, border surveillance and rapid diagnostic capacity.
Merck reported that both remigromig doses demonstrated non-inferior improvement in visual acuity versus monthly ranibizumab after one year in the 984-participant BRUNELLO study. However, proliferative diabetic retinopathy and treatment discontinuations were more frequent with remigromig, and no secondary endpoint demonstrated superiority.
Why it matters: The results support a potentially new biological approach to diabetic macular edema, but the safety findings and lack of demonstrated superiority will be important considerations for regulators and clinicians.
Roche reports sustained Phase III results for vamikibart
Roche said its investigational anti-IL-6 antibody vamikibart produced sustained improvements in vision and retinal swelling through 52 weeks in the MEERKAT and SANDCAT studies of uveitic macular edema. The FDA has accepted its application, with an approval decision expected by July 2027; submissions are also under review in the EU, China and Japan.
Why it matters: If approved, vamikibart could become the first targeted non-steroid treatment for this sight-threatening condition and reduce reliance on corticosteroids associated with cataracts and glaucoma.
Editorial summaries for general information only; not medical advice. Research findings and company announcements should be read in their original context.