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

Combatting Future Viral Threats with Vaccine Advances

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

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

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

Key Elements for Assay Transfer Success

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Avantor plans to increase its single-use manufacturing footprint by 30% and double its cleanroom space in the US and Europe.

Avantor to Increase Global Capacity for Single-Use Technologies

Merck has entered into non-exclusive voluntary licensing agreements with five Indian generic drug manufacturers for the development of molnupiravir, an investigational, oral antiviral agent for the treatment of non-hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19.

Merck Enters into Agreements with Five Indian Generic Drug Manufacturers to Accelerate Availability of Oral COVID-19 Treatment

With a $5 million grant from DARPA, DNA Script and Moderna will develop a prototype for rapid mobile manufacturing of vaccines and therapeutics as part of the DARPA’s Nucleic Acids On-Demand World-Wide program.

DNA Script to Team up With Moderna for Vaccine and Therapeutic Manufacturing for DARPA

Sanofi will perform the fill/finish of up to 200 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine at its Ridgefield, NJ, facility starting in September 2021. 

Sanofi to Manufacture up to 200 Million Doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine

The decision comes from the US CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices following the evaluation of data showing a rare adverse event involving blood clots in combination with low platelet counts within approximately one to two weeks following vaccination.

J&J COVID-19 Vaccinations to Resume in the US

EMA's PRAC has concluded that there is a possible link to rare cases of blood clots with low blood platelets with Janssen’s COVID-19 vaccine.

EMA’s PRAC Recommends Warning on Very Rare Side Effects of Janssen’s COVID-19 Vaccine

Lipid production at Evonik’s Hanau, Germany, site was set up in eight weeks and met high-quality requirements, accelerating delivery time, which was originally set for mid-2021. 

Evonik Delivers First Batch of Lipids to BioNTech for its COVID-19 Vaccine

Jill Wechsler is Pharmaceutical Technology's Washington Editor, jillwechsler7@gmail.com.

A FDA report cites multiple ongoing violations that undermine assurance of quality in products from this plant and the need for a continuing “pause” in production.

FDA Unveils Extensive Manufacturing Violations at Emergent

Post-inspection report reveals nine sanitary and process problems at Bayview, Md., facility.

Emergent BioSolutions Hit with FDA Form 483 

FDA has called a halt in production of vaccine drug substance and to quarantine all remaining product at the Bayview plant. 

COVID-19 Update

Combatting Future Viral Threats with Vaccine Advances

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

Key Elements for Assay Transfer Success