With the FDA’s granting of emergency use authorization (EUA) to Johnson & Johnson (J&J), there is now a third vaccine – and the first requiring only a single shot – against COVID-19 for adult Americans. Though it packs less of an efficacy punch, the EUA allows J&J’s Ad26.COV2.S to join mRNA vaccines from Moderna Inc. and Pfizer Inc./Biontech SE as protection against the virus.
A new study by Mayo Clinic and Nference Inc. researchers suggests that prior childhood and adult vaccinations for illnesses such as polio, measles and flu may provide protection against COVID-19 infection. The study, which analyzed patient data using Nference artificial intelligence (AI) software, underscores the critical role immunizations play in curbing the spread of diseases and preventing future pandemics. “What we discovered represents compelling evidence that vaccinations are a critical element in prevention of disease, even diseases one doesn’t anticipate,” said Venky Soundararajan, co-founder and chief scientific officer of the Cambridge, Mass.-based company.
Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Aquarius Surgical Technologies, Healthmode, Htg Molecular Diagnostics, Inventiva, Materials and Machines, Medi-Tate, Mesa Biotech, Mind Medicine, Olympus, Picnichealth, Sirtex Medical, Surgical Lasers, Thermo Fisher, Vela Diagnostics.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Fusion Robotics, Roche.
China’s National Medical Products Administration granted conditional approval two Chinese-developed COVID-19 vaccines in less than 24 hours on Feb. 25. One of the vaccines approved was developed by Tianjin-based Cansino Biologics Inc., and the other by China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) through its Wuhan Institute of Biological Products subsidiary.
HONG KONG – Wuxi Diagnostic Investment (Cayman) Ltd. has raised $150 million in a series B financing round, while netting a number of new investors along the way. The new investors to come on board include Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Shiyu Capital, ABC International Holdings Ltd., Sunland Capital and CCBI Tech Venture.
Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: American Cryostem, Assure Holdings, Biotherapeutic Labs, Bird & Cronin, Caredx, Cerus, Charles River Laboratories, Clinical Reference Laboratory, Co-Diagnostics, Collplant Biotechnologies, Dynatronics, Grin, Henry Schein, Icon, Illumina, Imaging Endpoints, Intalere, Kibur Medical, Neovasc, New England Biolabs, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Patientslikeme, PRA Health Sciences, Protembis, Puretech Health, Renalytix AI, Rubiconmd, Sentry Neuromonitoring, Shandong Zhongbaokang Medical Implements, Siren Care, Smiledirectclub, SQN Clinical, Transchart, TX Services, United Therapeutics, Veristat, Walgreens.
The U.S FDA’s response to the pandemic has been all-consuming, but epidemiologist Michael Mina of Harvard blasted the agency’s handling of rapid testing. Mina said the agency is in possession of emergency use authorization filings for rapid antigen tests that should be acceptable, but that the FDA is “the only bottleneck” in the rapid antigen testing pipeline.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Agilent, Assure Tech, Dascena, G21, Locate Bio.
