Vaccines
FDA veteran Peter Marks will now shape the future of Eli Lilly’s vaccines work after the buys of Curevo, LimmaTech Biologics and Vaccine Company for up to $3.8 billion total.
The FDA will convene its vaccines advisory panel to discuss seasonal COVID-19 vaccines—a surprise move after Health Secretary and vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. overhauled a separate vaccine committee.
Eli Lilly continues to spend its GLP-1 landfall with four new deals in the past week, including three in the vaccine space; the obesity leader also touted surgery-like results for its next-gen weight loss drug; Moderna’s stock climbs on the hantavirus “fear trade”; and in oncology, all eyes are on Revolution at ASCO this week.
Eli Lilly, with a busier-than-ever business development team, has made a major vaccine play‚ months after hiring veteran vaccine regulator Peter Marks following his FDA departure.
After getting slapped with a surprise refuse-to-file letter signed by former CBER Director Vinay Prasad, Moderna’s flu vaccine application will now go before the FDA’s Vaccine advisory committee.
In September last year, a group of concerned stockholders raised alarm about Vaxart’s proposed reverse stock split, which the biotech was pushing for despite strong opposition from shareholders.
While the pathogen appears unlikely to trigger a pandemic, analysts see potential for Moderna to build goodwill amid a period of political pressure on vaccine manufacturers.
Despite having no definitive data, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) in a letter to health secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. suggested there was a conscious effort by the Biden administration’s FDA to cover up the safety risks of COVID-19 vaccines.
CEO Stéphane Bancel expressed confidence in Moderna’s first quarter, touting the revenue numbers as a sign of the company’s return to prosperity.
While sales for most of GSK’s shots slumped as vaccine skepticism continues to climb in the U.S., Shingrix jumped 20% to almost $1.4 billion in the first quarter, emerging as the pharma’s top-selling product.
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