LONDON – Researchers have pinpointed a little-studied gene as responsible for doubling the risk of respiratory failure in COVID-19 and shown exactly how it exerts its effect. The gene, leucine zipper transcription factor like 1, is activated by a single base pair change on chromosome 3 that occurs in 60% of people of South Asian ancestry and 15% of people of European ancestry.
As booster shots become increasingly available and COVID-19 vaccines for young children are introduced into pediatric offices, several potential therapeutics to battle the SARS-CoV-2 virus are lining up for regulatory authorizations.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Agilent, Detect, Renovia.
LONDON – A U.K. study following up 32.5 million people for 28 days after their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine has shown an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke after receiving the Pfizer Inc./Biontech SE product, and confirmed case reports of an increased risk of developing Guillain-Barré syndrome after the Astrazeneca plc vaccine.
LONDON – The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has designated an offspring of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 as a “variant under investigation” after uncovering some early evidence it may have an increased growth rate.
Iceni Diagnostics Ltd. is accelerating efforts to commercialize a diagnostic for detecting COVID-19 using sugars rather than antibodies. Lateral flow diagnostics (LFDs) have been widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic to diagnose people with an active infection. The tests use antibodies, which attach to the SARS-COV-2 virus but Iceni’s Host-Pathogen Glycan Recognition technology has been touted as a potential alternative due to its polymer approach.
Phase II results from Atea Pharmaceuticals Inc. with AT-527 in COVID-19 treatment had pundits scrambling to stack the odds of success for the direct-acting oral antiviral against those of Merck & Co. Inc.’s molnupiravir, though cross-trial comparisons are beset by the usual hurdles, with two especially dramatic ones.
A new engineered glycated vaccine induced production of neutralizing antibodies against severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other coronaviruses in mice, scientists at The University of Osaka and the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Science in Yokohama have reported.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health reported Oct. 14 that it has awarded contracts in the amount of $77.7 million for development and manufacture of a dozen new rapid tests for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The monies were awarded under the NIH’s Rapid Development of Diagnostics (RADx) program, and will add seven viral antigen detection and five viral RNA detection tests to the suite of offerings. all with an eye toward more rapid turn-around of test results. The news of the new round of RADx grants was followed by 24 hours the announcement that the Department of Health and Human Services has extended the public health emergency (PHE) for the COVID-19 pandemic for another three months.
LONDON – Valneva SA’s COVID-19 vaccine, VLA-2001, prompted a stronger immune response with fewer side effects than Astrazeneca plc’s product, according to headline data from the phase III trial. Shares in Valneva (NASDAQ:VALN) shot up by nearly 40% to close Oct. 18 at $39.21 when the data were announced, partly repairing the damage on Sept. 13 when the U.K. government cancelled a $1.65 billion contract with the French vaccines specialist for 100 million doses.
