Rare genetic mutations associated with impairment of the breathing muscles are more common in children who have died from sudden infant death syndrome (also known as ‘cot death’) than in healthy children, suggesting a possible genetic element of the disorder, according to a case-control study in the UK and the US, published in The Lancet . The authors, however, stress that more research will be needed to understand the link identified, and whether drug treatments might be suitable. They also highlight that this is not the sole cause of sudden infant death syndrome, and other elements also play a part.

FLU VACCINES

EU advice on virus strains

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued the European Union recommendations for the influenza virus strains that manufacturers should include in vaccines from autumn 2018. Trivalent vaccines for the 2018-2019 season should contain these three virus strains: an A/Michigan/45/2015 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus; an A/Singapore/INFIMH-16-0019/2016 (H3N2)-like virus; a B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus (B/Victoria/2/87 lineage), the EMA said. For quadrivalent vaccines with two influenza B viruses, a B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus in addition to the strains mentioned above is considered appropriate. These recommendations also apply to the manufacture of live attenuated influenza vaccines.

LEUKAEMIA

Drug for those with relapse risk

The US Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to Blincyto (blinatumomab) to treat adults and children with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) who are in remission but still have minimal residual disease (MRD). MRD refers to the presence of cancer cells below a level. In patients who have achieved remission after initial treatment for this type of ALL, the presence of MRD means they are at increased risk of relapse. “This is the first FDA-approved treatment for patients with MRD-positive ALL,” said Richard Pazdur, director, FDA’s Oncology Center of Excellence and acting director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Studies are being conducted to assess how Blincyto affects long-term survival outcomes in patients with MRD,” an FDA note said.

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