Building on its partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) to improve access in Sub-Saharan Africa to vaccines, drugs and medical technologies, the EU committed at least €24.5 million (nearly US$27 million) to fund projects aimed at tackling some of the barriers to that access.
While the focus of much U.K. Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s spring statement 2022 was on the rising cost of living, there was welcome relief for life sciences and research-based industries as part of a drive to restore economic growth.
Headlines the world over have been dominated by the resilience of the Ukrainian military – but the country’s clinical research body said that amid the chaos of war, trials are carrying on despite the destruction of hospitals and civilian infrastructure. As revealed by BioWorld, big pharma sponsors are putting clinical studies on hold in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus as the war plays havoc with medical supplies and the normal functioning of society.
As it settles a patent dispute with Japan’s Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. for $775 million, the U.K.’s Astrazeneca plc is looking to bring intellectual property in-house by snapping up a new generation of talented scientists.
With the World Health Organization’s COVAX facility having more COVID-19 vaccine doses available than have been requested by the countries it was designed to help, industry groups are pushing back against the proposed TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver for COVID-19 vaccines that has been agreed to by the EU, India, South Africa and the U.S.
Big pharma sponsors of clinical trials in Ukraine are putting studies on hold in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus as the conflict continues into its third week. As revealed by BioWorld last week, hundreds of clinical trials were being conducted in the two countries at the time Russian President Vladimir Putin gave orders to invade Ukraine on Feb. 20.
Russia and Belarus are being frozen out of international science, with universities and research institutions across Europe suspending joint research projects and calling a halt to the formation of any new collaborations, following the invasion of Ukraine. Initial sanctions announced by European governments called for the severing of direct institution-to-institution links only, with many universities counseling individual researchers to maintain personal relations with Russian peers.
Quoin Pharmaceuticals Ltd.’s scientific advice briefing document is asking the EMA for ideas on how to proceed with lead asset QRX-003 for Netherton syndrome (NS).
As the conflict in Ukraine intensifies following the Russian invasion, hundreds of clinical trials could be in jeopardy amid the chaos and destruction of war, with pharma giant Merck & Co. Inc. saying it is putting recruitment for dozens of studies on hold.
The indirect impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the life sciences sector continues to grow, as the West responds with more and more sanctions against Russia. In one of the latest moves, the European Commission announced March 4 that it is suspending cooperation with Russian entities in research, science and innovation.
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