Infectious disease
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals announced more positive findings from its ongoing Phase III trial on the use of REGEN-COV to prevent COVID-19 in uninfected persons who have been exposed to the virus.
Researchers aren’t sure why the mRNA vaccines appear to cause myocarditis symptoms. The FDA said the risk appears more after the second dose. Find more here.
The U.S. government canceled a contract with Maryland-based Emergent BioSolutions, which earlier in the year ruined about 15 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
Pfizer plans to seek Emergency Use Authorization for an antiviral COVID-19 treatment following an interim analysis of Phase II/III data that show statistically and clinically meaningful results.
Moderna reported its third-quarter earnings, and since it currently only has one commercial product, its COVID-19 vaccine, that was the financial focus.
Vaccinations will be required by January 4 under the new White House plan.
Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics’ antiviral drug molnupiravir, which showed great promise against COVID-19 in clinical trials, received its first authorization.
Both Moderna and Pfizer reported third-quarter financials this week, and it was instantly obvious that the COVID-19 vaccines are huge profit drivers for the companies.
While some may wonder about the commercial future of these late-to-the-market solutions, the developers themselves are taking a long view.
The decision follows a 14-0 vote among members of an expert panel advising the agency.
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