Infectious disease
Pfizer and BioNTech reported laboratory assays indicating that three doses of their mRNA COVID-19 vaccine are effective against the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.
The FDA has approved emergency use authorization for AstraZeneca’s Evusheld cocktail as prophylaxis against COVID-19 infection in adults and adolescents aged at least 12 years.
Researchers in China are busy developing several treatments, combining vaccines and drugs for COVID-19, and also working on monoclonal antibodies treatment.
Biopharma and life sciences companies from across the globe provide updates on their businesses and pipelines.
Pfizer’s preliminary laboratory studies have shown that the third booster dose increases the neutralizing antibody titers by 25-fold compared to two doses against the Omicron variant.
Several life sciences companies and life science-focused real estate firms have announced expansion plans as 2021 comes to an end.
Despite having 37 new mutations in the viral spike protein, there does not appear to be any deaths associated with Omicron, although it’s spreading rapidly in South Africa.
The WHO’s latest decision is based on advice from an independent panel of experts who evaluated data from 16 randomized controlled studies.
Data is still coming in from South Africa and other regions about the new Omicron variant of COVID-19. Early analysis suggests it causes less severe disease than other variants.
A major factor behind the success of the smallpox eradication campaign was political commitment and leadership.
PRESS RELEASES