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Themis Bioscience a leading company developing prophylactic vaccines against emerging tropical infectious diseases, has indicated plans to start in-human testing of its vaccine against the deadly Lassa fever disease as early as this year, with help from $37.5 million in funding from the public-private vaccine alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

As an unprecedented Lassa fever outbreak devastates Nigeria, Themis aims to generate safety and immunogenicity data in about three years, to lay the groundwork for emergency use.

The first step is to enter the clinic early next year, or even late this year, Themis CEO Erich Tauber told FiercePharma.

Mr Moses Tingir, a clinical psychologist in Garki Hospital, Abuja, said work place stress could adversely affect optimal performance, weaken immune system and cause depression if not properly managed. Tingir, who is also a member of British Psychological Society, in an interview with the press said that failure to properly manage work place related stress could lead to complications such mood swing, anxiety, depression, weak immune system and even total breakdown.

Chinese scientists are taking a close look at cockroaches to explore their potential in medical treatment.

The research is led by Li Sheng, director of the Institute of Insect Science and Technology at South China Normal University in Guangzhou City.

Based on previous studies on the German cockroach by foreign researchers, Li’s team has been focusing on the genetic code of the American cockroach.

The Lagos State Government has declared Thursday, March 29 as a public holiday in the state.

This according to the state government is to enable Lagos residents to come out and welcome President Muhammadu Buhari who is set to visit the state.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan, the government also announced traffic diversions and alternative routes ahead of the presidential visit, which will take place between March 29 and 30.

New evidence from foetal brain scans has shown that a mother’s stress level during pregnancy can change the neural connectivity in the brain of her unborn child, potentially affecting the baby’s brain functions. NAN reports that Moriah Thomason, an assistant professor of Wayne State University, presented the new finding on Monday at the 25th meeting for the Cognitive Neuroscience Society in Boston, US.

GlaxoSmithKline said on Tuesday it will buy Novartis’s 36.5 percent stake in their consumer healthcare joint venture for $13 billion in cash, and will also begin a strategic review of some other businesses. GSK last week quit the race to buy Pfizer’s consumer healthcare business, endangering an auction the U.S. drugmaker hoped would bring in as much as $20 billion.