One of the big regulatory and pandemic stories of 2022 with global impact was the June 17 World Trade Organization’s (WTO) agreement on a five-year intellectual property (IP) waiver for COVID-19 vaccines and their components.
Everest Medicines Ltd. has achieved a preclinical proof-of-concept milestone for its mRNA rabies vaccine program. This new vaccine candidate for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis was developed in partnership with Providence Therapeutics Holdings Inc. utilizing a clinically validated mRNA technology platform.
Vaxxas Pty. Ltd. raised AU$34 million (US$23 million) to advance its needle-free COVID-19 vaccine program, which began in early November, and readouts from the study are expected in late February or early March, Vaxxas CEO David Hoey told BioWorld. The COVID-19 vaccine patch is based on the company’s high-density microarray patch technology that delivers Hexapro, a second-generation version of the spike protein used in all major U.S.-approved COVID-19 vaccines.
Shionogi & Co. Ltd.’s orally administered COVID-19 antiviral, 3CL protease inhibitor Xocova (ensitrelvir/S-217622), scored emergency regulatory approval from Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the Japanese government has agreed to purchase 1 million courses of Xocova for domestic supply of the antiviral.
The National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM) and Tokyo Medical and Dental University have divulged 3C-like protease (3CLpro) (SARS-CoV-2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections (COVID-19).
Vaxxas Pty. Ltd. raised AU$34 million (US$23 million) to advance its needle-free COVID-19 vaccine program, which began in early November, and readouts from the study are expected in late February or early March, Vaxxas CEO David Hoey told BioWorld. The COVID-19 vaccine patch is based on the company’s high-density microarray patch technology that delivers Hexapro, a second-generation version of the spike protein used in all major U.S.-approved COVID-19 vaccines.
CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Ltd. has obtained clearance from China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to conduct clinical trials in China with SYH-2055, an oral small-molecule 3C-like protease (3CLpro) inhibitor against SARS-CoV-2.
New research has identified a novel receptor that interacts with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) by which the SARS-CoV-2 enters host cells, and shown it can be inhibited with marketed drugs, reducing expression of ACE2 and blocking viral entry.
The U.S. Office of Inspector General examined the volume of tests for allergies and respiratory pathogens conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and found a few outlier testing labs that billed a conspicuous volume of such tests. While the agency recommended that the CMS examine these claims more closely, the results also suggest that enforcement action may be en route for the more than 160 labs identified as having filed a higher than typical volume of claims for these tests.
