COVID-19 Update

After a difficult year, biopharma science delivers promising results.

Moderna has filed for authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which has shown high efficacy and safety in a Phase III trial.

FDA granted fast track designation for AB201, a small recombinant protein that is a potent, selective inhibitor of tissue factor, for the potential treatment of COVID-19.

Wacker will support production of CureVac’s COVID-19 mRNA-based vaccine candidate at its biotech site in Amsterdam, with production scheduled to start in the first half of 2021.

The acquisition gives Merck a new Phase III COVID-19 therapeutic candidate, CD24Fc, a fusion protein that targets the innate immune system, in its pipeline.

The companies have formed a long-term manufacturing agreement to accelerate the global supply for Lilly’s COVID-19 antibody therapeutics.

When administered together in clinical trials, casirivimab and imdevimab were shown to lessen COVID-19 hospitalization or emergency room visits in patients at high risk for disease progression within 28 days after treatment when compared to placebo.

An independent data safety monitoring board found that clinical trial data demonstrated that the vaccine candidate met its primary endpoint and demonstrated protection from COVID-19.

Following an EUA application from Pfizer and NioNTech, FDA outlines the process for committee and agency review.

Almac Sciences has been granted an award by the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator for the development of an efficient and scalable production process for remdesivir.

Researchers concluded that the nasal spray should catch and coat the virus inside the nose, preventing it from spreading throughout the body, and it is then removed by nose-blowing or swallowing.

A second global Phase III clinical trial investigating the safety and efficacy of a two-dose regimen of JNJ-78436735 has been initiated by Johnson & Johnson.

Interim results of AZD1222 trial have demonstrated lower reactogenicity in older adults, and strong immune responses across all adult age groups.

Moderna has reported that EMA's CHMP has started a rolling review of mRNA-1273—Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

The guidance was published in connection with a safety monitoring plan for COVID-19 vaccines.

The agency’s safety monitoring plan outlines how information that emerges after the authorization of COVID-19 vaccines will be collected and reviewed.

The event will be rescheduled for Oct. 19–21, 2021 at the Javits Center in New York City.

Stephen Hahn promises disclosure of supporting scientific data used to issue EUAs.

Pfizer and BioNTech’s BNT162b2 shows efficacy of 95%; the companies plan to submit a request, within days, to FDA for an EUA.

Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate can be distributed using widely available vaccine delivery and storage infrastructure.

The first public announcement from the Biden-Harris transition team was to name members of a COVID-19 advisory board charged with initiating policies and actions to combat the fast-rising infection rate in the United States.

The vaccine will enter into a Phase III clinical trial in the United States and Mexico by the end of November, which could potentially support global authorization and approval of the vaccine.

FDA issued emergency use authorization for bamlanivimab for patients at risk for severe COVID-19.

Interim efficacy data suggests the Pfizer/BioNTech mRNA-based vaccine has an efficacy rate above 90%.

Opposition to IP protection for COVID-19 vaccines, therapies, tests and other technologies may only prevent eradication and treatment of the disease.

Biopharma can apply new manufacturing practices adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic to enhance bioprocessing.

The agreement will provide capacity for the manufacturing of AZD7442, currently being developed for the potential prevention and treatment of COVID-19, at Lonza's Portsmouth, NH site.

The document provides analytical strategy options for the control of recombinant viral vectored vaccines to support COVID-19 vaccine developers.

In the wake of its efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine candidate, the company has secured two additional properties in the Gaithersburg, MD area.

FDA, US Customs and Border Protection, and the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations signed a Memorandum of Understanding to prevent illegal drug imports from entering the US through International Mail Facilities.