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Adam R Houston

@healthlawadamh.bsky.social

Health/Law/Human Rights. Thinking globally, meeting CanCon requirements. Disproportionately but not exclusively access to medicines/global health/humanitarian response/public health/infectious disease.

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Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 15h ago

It's good there's a 500k+ dose access commitment in the Moderna PR on their Bundibugyo vaccine trial, but: a)"timely" is positive... but still doesn't mean first. b) Remember when Moderna reneged on (sorry, "updated") its "patent pledge" for COVID-19 vaccines? feeds.issuerdirect.com/news-release...

Screenshot from the PR reading "The first-in-human Phase 1 study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT07737717) is being conducted at three sites in Canada, and will evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of mRNA-1469 in healthy adult participants. The study is expected to enroll approximately 80 participants. BDBV is one of the viruses that can cause Ebola disease and has been responsible for the active outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although vaccines are available against Zaire ebolavirus, no vaccine is currently approved to protect against disease caused by BDBV. The current outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) by the World Health Organization and Africa CDC, respectively. It has already caused more than 3,000 confirmed cases and more than 1,400 deaths, making it one of the largest filovirus outbreaks in history.[1] If licensed, Moderna is committed to enabling rapid supply and access of its BDBV vaccine to affected countries and to the populations that need them. As part of its agreement with CEPI, Moderna will make available at a minimum 500,000 doses for timely supply to low- and middle-income countries under access pricing." with the last two sentences highlighted.
Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 22h ago

Hope this💉works, but would have been more excited if this were 2015 and Health Canada was talking about a pan filovirus vaccine developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (instead stalled a decade ago for lack of Canadian funding & political will). www.cbc.ca/news/health/...

André Picard @picardonhealth @picardonhealth.bsky.social · 3h ago

B.C. gets its first new medical school since 1950. It's a welcome initiative, but graduating more doctors alone won’t magically solve Canada’s health care woes, by @picardonhealth.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/gift/0fc7a92... via @theglobeandmail.com

B.C. gets its first new medical school since 1950, but it won’t magically solve the doctors shortage

More flexible pay models and fewer barriers to international graduates are still needed to address the dearth of doctors

theglobeandmail.com

Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 15h ago

Also, this is kind of a weird press release from Canada about conducting phase 1 trials of a Bundibugyo vaccine candidate (and NOT one based on Canadian Govt-developed rVSV tech!). Like... why is this what you are choosing to emphasize? 🤨 (I do have some theories but it's still a weird outcome).

Screenshot of the main text from "https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2026/08/health-canada-authorizes-vaccine-clinical-trial-for-ebola-disease-caused-by-the-bundibugyo-virus.html?utm_campaign=esdc-edsc-censv2-24-25&utm_medium=email&utm_source=news-from-the-government-of-canada&utm_content=news-product-260804-en-2pm reading "Health Canada authorizes vaccine clinical trial for Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus From: Health Canada News release August 4, 2026 | Ottawa, Ontario | Health Canada Ebola disease is a severe illness with a high fatality rate. There is currently no licensed vaccine or treatment for Bundibugyo virus disease, the type of Ebola disease that is causing the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On July 30, 2026, Health Canada authorized Moderna to move forward with a Phase I clinical trial for its candidate mRNA vaccine for Ebola disease caused by the Bundibugyo virus. Canada is the second country to authorize a Phase I clinical trial for a Bundibugyo virus vaccine candidate after the U.K. The clinical trial will assess the candidate vaccine’s safety, determine the right dosage range and identify any side effects in healthy participants. Following this, Moderna would be required to conduct additional clinical trial phases before it could seek approval from Health Canada for the vaccine. Any final submission would need to meet Health Canada’s stringent safety, efficacy and quality standards before the vaccine could be allowed on the Canadian market." with the last two sentences highlighted.
Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 15h ago

It's good there's a 500k+ dose access commitment in the Moderna PR on their Bundibugyo vaccine trial, but: a)"timely" is positive... but still doesn't mean first. b) Remember when Moderna reneged on (sorry, "updated") its "patent pledge" for COVID-19 vaccines? feeds.issuerdirect.com/news-release...

Screenshot from the PR reading "The first-in-human Phase 1 study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT07737717) is being conducted at three sites in Canada, and will evaluate the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of mRNA-1469 in healthy adult participants. The study is expected to enroll approximately 80 participants. BDBV is one of the viruses that can cause Ebola disease and has been responsible for the active outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although vaccines are available against Zaire ebolavirus, no vaccine is currently approved to protect against disease caused by BDBV. The current outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) and a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security (PHECS) by the World Health Organization and Africa CDC, respectively. It has already caused more than 3,000 confirmed cases and more than 1,400 deaths, making it one of the largest filovirus outbreaks in history.[1] If licensed, Moderna is committed to enabling rapid supply and access of its BDBV vaccine to affected countries and to the populations that need them. As part of its agreement with CEPI, Moderna will make available at a minimum 500,000 doses for timely supply to low- and middle-income countries under access pricing." with the last two sentences highlighted.
Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 22h ago

Hope this💉works, but would have been more excited if this were 2015 and Health Canada was talking about a pan filovirus vaccine developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (instead stalled a decade ago for lack of Canadian funding & political will). www.cbc.ca/news/health/...

Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 22h ago

Hope this💉works, but would have been more excited if this were 2015 and Health Canada was talking about a pan filovirus vaccine developed by the Public Health Agency of Canada (instead stalled a decade ago for lack of Canadian funding & political will). www.cbc.ca/news/health/...

Health Canada authorizes mRNA vaccine trial for Ebola virus causing huge outbreak in Congo | CBC News

Health Canada has given Moderna the green light to launch a clinical trial for a vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo form of the Ebola virus, which continues to surge throughout the Democratic Republic o...

cbc.ca

Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 2w ago

This report could've prioritized action on Cdn innovation over rehashed talking points. Remember the 2014 analysis that the Public Health Agency of Canada had the technology to make a pan filovirus vaccine ( #Marburg & all #Ebola species incl. #Bundibugyo), but lacked the money & political will?

Screenshot of parts of a govt report reading "Project Completion Report 3 March 2014 Development of Live Replicating Viruses as Vaccine and Therapies for Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses Canadian Safety and Security Program Project Completion Report Development of Live Replicating Viruses as Vaccines and Therapies for Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses CSSP 05-0078RD" and later paragraphs reading "This CSSP covered the Zaire strain of Ebola virus which is the most pathogenic Ebolavirus with a 90% mortality rate. However, it will not protect against a Sudan (SUDV), Bundibugyo (BDBV) or Marbvirus virus (MARV) infection which has a 50%, 40% and 40-90% mortality rate, respectively. It is highly recommended that a pan filovirus vaccine be made to cover all of the most pathogenic filoviruses. The VSV platform is perfect for a pan vaccine scenario as several rVSVs can be made each with one of the glycoproteins from each of the filoviruses, and then various mixtures of the rVSVs can be made to suit the emergency. The US Department of Defence (DOD) is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to have a pan filovirus vaccine and post-exposure therapeutic available. PHAC already has the technology to make the pan filovirus vaccine but not the money to produce one. Without any political will in Canada to fund this work we will have to rely on funding from the US government. In regards to CSSP, a Knowledge Translation mechanism should be implemented to ensure that the projects they fund have a way to make it to the end users. A list should be created for all of the innovations and their potential uses, then either posted on a website or provided as a document for potential users
Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 2d ago

Glad to see Canada's decision to phase out its peacekeepers from countries like DRC (a decision made in the midst of an Ebola outbreak underpinned by challenges stemming from conflict and unrest) get some attention. www.theglobeandmail.com/world/articl...

Bild
Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 2w ago

Conflict underpins the challenges of the #Bundibugyo #Ebola outbreak. Canada "rebalancing" its armed forces to "better align...with current defence priorities" means it will pull its (already paltry) #peacekeeping contribution to MONUSCO in DRC (in Ituri & North Kivu...) & UNMISS in South Sudan.

CEPI@cepi.net · 2d ago

The Bundibugyo Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has passed a tragic milestone. Just 11 weeks after it was declared, the outbreak has reached 3,748 confirmed cases, making it the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history and the fastest-growing ever recorded.

Bild
Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 3d ago

Not totally apples to apples, but this piece about Canadian inadequacies in getting important Canadian technologies out to the world to tackle emergencies rang more than a few bells around other Canadian technologies like filovirus vaccines... www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

Opinion: While Europe burns, Canada’s water bombers are too few and far between

Canadair water bombers are a triumph of Canadian aviation, but production delays over the years have cost precious time

theglobeandmail.com

Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 2w ago

This report could've prioritized action on Cdn innovation over rehashed talking points. Remember the 2014 analysis that the Public Health Agency of Canada had the technology to make a pan filovirus vaccine ( #Marburg & all #Ebola species incl. #Bundibugyo), but lacked the money & political will?

Screenshot of parts of a govt report reading "Project Completion Report 3 March 2014 Development of Live Replicating Viruses as Vaccine and Therapies for Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses Canadian Safety and Security Program Project Completion Report Development of Live Replicating Viruses as Vaccines and Therapies for Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses CSSP 05-0078RD" and later paragraphs reading "This CSSP covered the Zaire strain of Ebola virus which is the most pathogenic Ebolavirus with a 90% mortality rate. However, it will not protect against a Sudan (SUDV), Bundibugyo (BDBV) or Marbvirus virus (MARV) infection which has a 50%, 40% and 40-90% mortality rate, respectively. It is highly recommended that a pan filovirus vaccine be made to cover all of the most pathogenic filoviruses. The VSV platform is perfect for a pan vaccine scenario as several rVSVs can be made each with one of the glycoproteins from each of the filoviruses, and then various mixtures of the rVSVs can be made to suit the emergency. The US Department of Defence (DOD) is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to have a pan filovirus vaccine and post-exposure therapeutic available. PHAC already has the technology to make the pan filovirus vaccine but not the money to produce one. Without any political will in Canada to fund this work we will have to rely on funding from the US government. In regards to CSSP, a Knowledge Translation mechanism should be implemented to ensure that the projects they fund have a way to make it to the end users. A list should be created for all of the innovations and their potential uses, then either posted on a website or provided as a document for potential users
Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 3d ago

Health Canada has long had an odd relationship with caffeine in carbonated beverages, it must be said. "Mixing energy drinks and alcohol can lead to ‘wide-awake drunk’ danger. So why did Health Canada drop warning labels?" c/o @alexboyd.bsky.social www.thestar.com/news/investi...

Mixing energy drinks and alcohol can lead to ‘wide-awake drunk’ danger. So why did Health Canada drop warning labels?

Regulator removed warning labels on mixing energy drinks and alcohol. An investigation reveals Red Bull-funded studies played a role.

thestar.com

Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 4d ago

Always interesting to see the big public health warnings on unhealthy foods in many Latin American countries, but it feels like we are deep into the weeds of comparative regulatory classification regimes here.

Fanta can, with writing saying "Para Chile: Bebida de fantasia. Para Paraguay: Bebida sin alcohol gasificada sabor frutal."
CTV News Montreal@ctvnewsmontreal.bsky.social · 6d ago

Three people have been treated for rabies exposure after coming in contact with a stray cat that recently was confirmed as having contracted raccoon rabies, the regional health board for the South Shore of Montreal said Thursday.

3 people treated after exposure to cat with raccoon rabies southwest of Montreal

Three people have been treated for rabies exposure after coming in contact with a stray cat that recently was confirmed as having contracted raccoon rabies, the regional health board for the South Shore of Montreal said Thursday.

bit.ly

Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 2w ago

There are multiple places where access delays occur, all deserving attention... and yet, per the actual report, the single longest delay, which is entirely within the control of pharma companies wanting to sell drugs faster, is in... those companies themselves filing new drugs w/ Health Canada.🤔

Screenshot of the four paragraphs of the "Timelines across the access pathway" section of the report, with the sentence "Evidence indicates that submissions to Health Canada are often filed significantly later than in peer jurisdictions, by approximately 262 days (median)Footnote7, delaying entry into the Canadian review process." highlighted.
The Hill Times@hilltimes.com · 2w ago

UNLOCKED | Feds’ pharma task force says cutting time to get medicines onto public plans should be a priority with a three-month deadline By @tessiesanci #cdnpoli www.hilltimes.com/2026/07/24/p...

Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 2w ago

Canada's "Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Sector Task Force" Report is out. 💊💉🔬🏭💰 Are there some reasonable suggestions re: supporting Canadian R&D? Yes. Does it use the statement "[Canada's] pricing policy prioritizes affordability and sustainability of health systems" pejoratively? Also yes.🤨

Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Sector Task Force: Report to the ministers of health and industry - Canada.ca

This report presents the advice from the co-chairs of the task force to the Ministers of Health and Industry.

canada.ca

Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 2w ago

As one does...n't? 🤔 "Health Canada says it did not consult the work of its own inspectors when writing a medical summary that said a young woman’s death in October last year had no connection with the plasma donation she was undergoing when her heart problems started."

Health Canada did not consult inspectors’ work in review of plasma donor’s death

Agency’s medical summary on young Winnipeg donor’s death was based on records from Grifols and Manitoba’s medical examiner

theglobeandmail.com

Melissa Barber@mbarber.bsky.social · 2w ago

The peculiar situation of Gilead not selling HIV drugs to MSF has been hard to explain: "Wait, the drug company doesn't want cash money, what am I missing?" is the constant q I get from journalists. Thanks to #tbfighters who are finding ways to explain in sharp (& very funny) ways what's happening.

Celeste Moss@celestevmoss.bsky.social · 3w ago

YEZTUGO (lenacapavir) is a new injectable form of long-acting PrEP that only requires 2 doses per year to prevent HIV infection, and 3 million people are expected to get access to the drug by 2028 via The Global Fund. Sounds great, right? (1/5)

Kathleen Bachynski@bachynski.bsky.social · 2w ago

Amazingly, this is not a unique experience! “In 2003, a librarian in New Mexico opened a book and an envelope containing lesion crusts fell out of the book (Figure 3, panel C). The envelope was labeled “scabs from vaccination of W.B. Yarrington’s children,” and the book was dated 1888.”

Poxvirus Viability and Signatures in Historical Relics

Poxvirus Viability and Signatures in Relics

wwwnc.cdc.gov

Ada Palmer@adapalmer.bsky.social · 2w ago

Historian friend was reading a civil war era letter in an archive, the letter said “In this envelope I include my smallpox scabs” and sure enough there they were. Had to call CDC for a hazmat team.

Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 2w ago

It's great that Canada is explicitly identifying #albendazole and a range of #tuberculosis drugs in this proposal. Plus many of the concerns raised about relying on foreign regulatory authorities are far lower for widely-used old #EssentialMedicines like albendazole than some completely novel drug.💊

Screenshot from the list in the link in the quoted tweet, showing the listings for "drugs for treatment of tuberculosis" and albendazole.
Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 3w ago

The accompanying list of Foreign Regulatory Authorities for reliance is... actually pretty complicated (which authority depends on which drug etc.). www.canada.ca/en/health-ca... It is certainly not all of those listed in the image below all of the time... 🌐🔎📃💊

Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 2w ago

Yeah, I am sticking with this theory about the origins of Canada's newest Ebola border restrictions (barring all foreign nationals who've been in DRC in the past 21 days) until presented with evidence otherwise... Per an interesting new piece in @rollingstone.com www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

Screenshot reading: On July 15, the CDC and Department of Homeland Security issued a new directive to include U.S. citizens in an Ebola travel restriction: anyone coming into the U.S. from the DRC would need to quarantine for 21 days in another country, or possibly be subject to a Do Not Board order that would restrict their air travel back into the U.S. But shortly after midnight on Friday July 17, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya — who is nominally in charge of the CDC in the absence of a Senate-confirmed agency director, while also running the National Institutes of Health — plunged the CDC into chaos in pursuit of the White House’s zero-risk policy. At about 1:00 a.m., Bhattacharya “authorized the apprehension and detention of 13 people — U.S. Citizens — who came over the border by land from Canada,” according to notes from a meeting held later on Friday.
Adam R Houston@healthlawadamh.bsky.social · 2w ago

Canada introduces new restrictions barring entry of any foreign national who has been in DRC in the past 21 days. 🛂 www.canada.ca/en/public-he... What are the odds that these changes are in response to Americans trying to enter their own country via Canada (i.e., the incident in the NYT below)? 🤔