COVID-19 Update

Combatting Future Viral Threats with Vaccine Advances

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to many changes in how pharmaceutical companies develop vaccines.

What’s Next for COVID-19 Vaccines and Variants?

More technologies and treatments are emerging for COVID-19—along with new variants.

Key Elements for Assay Transfer Success

Partnerships formed during the COVID-19 pandemic have provided a platform for change in assay development and transfers.

Pfizer Vaccine Approval Key to Boosting Vaccination Rates

August 24, 2021

FDA’s full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine raises hopes that this action will help overcome vaccine hesitancy.

HHS Public Health Makes Statement on COVID-19 Booster Shots

August 24, 2021

HHS Public Health and a team of medical experts recommend that COVID-19 vaccine booster shots will soon be necessary.

FDA Approves First COVID-19 Vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech

August 24, 2021

FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which will be marketed as Comirnaty.

UK Regulator MHRA Approves Moderna COVID-19 Jab for Adolescents

August 20, 2021

MHRA has approved Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for use in 12–17-year-olds.

EMA Commences Evaluation of RoActemra as COVID-19 Treatment

August 20, 2021

EMA has started evaluating RoActemra (tocilizumab), an anti-inflammatory medicine, as a potential treatment for hospitalized adult patients with severe COVID-19.

WHO’s Solidarity Plus Trial to Assess Three Drugs for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

August 18, 2021

WHO’s solidarity plus trial will enroll hospitalized patients to test artesunate, imatinib, and infliximab in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Lilly and Incyte Announce Promising COVID-19 Study Results with Baricitinib

August 13, 2021

Eli Lilly and Company and Incyte have announced promising results that patients with COVID-19 on mechanical ventilation saw a reduction in deaths with the addition of baricitinib treatment.

FDA Authorizes Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Dose for Certain Individuals

August 13, 2021

The agency has amended the emergency use authorizations for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to allow certain immunocompromised people to receive an additional dose of the vaccine.

KGI Team Adapts Vaccine Development Work to Address COVID-19

August 12, 2021

A research team at the Keck Graduate Institute will work to adapt its decade-long low-cost vaccine R&D for developing countries into a COVID-19 vaccine.

Aldevron and Ginkgo Bioworks Collaboration Yields mRNA Manufacturing Enhancement

August 12, 2021

A collaboration between Aldevron and Ginkgo Bioworks has resulted in a manufacturing enhancement that can improve production of an enzyme used for mRNA therapeutics.