NEW DELHI – If India’s government has its way, the country could launch a vaccine for COVID-19 in mid-August, an extremely short deadline that has caused controversy and pushed companies to speed up their development and the trials of prospective vaccines.
Chinese biosimilar maker Shanghai Henlius Biotech Inc. won EMA approval for its Zercepac, a biosimilar to Roche Holding AG’s Herceptin (trastuzumab) on July 28. Henlius CEO Scott Liu told BioWorld that Zercepac will be the first Chinese monoclonal antibody biosimilar to enter the EU market, setting a precedent for Chinese drugmakers seeking to join the global race in biosimilars.
The U.S. FDA gave an emergency use authorization (EUA) to the first semi-quantitative antibody test from Siemens Healthineers AG for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. This test, known as the SARS-CoV-2 IgG (COV2G) antibody test, could potentially be used repeatedly over time to assess relative levels to gauge potential immunity.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Abiomed, Biotricity, Siemens Healthineers.
The latest global regulatory news, changes and updates affecting medical devices and technologies, including: Advamed, Boston Scientific, Clinical Research Consultants, MDMA.
With Glaxosmithkline plc (GSK) having sailed through an FDA advisory panel meeting July 14 centered on its belantamab mafodotin (belantamab), an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) for multiple myeloma (MM), others in the B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) space such as Legend Biotech Corp. are further piquing Wall Street’s interest.
HONG KONG – Incheon, South Korea-based Celltrion Inc. is rapidly advancing CT-P59, its antiviral antibody treatment for the COVID-19 virus, after receiving its second green light to begin phase I trials.
The matter of how adhesion of its Viaskin Peanut allergy patch relates to efficacy became a major problem for DBV Technologies SA, which drew a complete response letter (CRL) for the once-daily epicutaneous (EPIT) product. Shares of the Montrouge, France-based firm (NASDAQ:DBVT) closed Aug. 4 at $2.34, down $1.76, or 43%, in reaction to the CRL for the patch, designed to protect children ages 4 to 11. The FDA wants DBV to modify the patch, which means a new human-factor study; officials also are requiring clinical data for the modified patch.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Ana, Biophytis, Biosight, Cerecor, DBV, Deciphera, Eloxx, I-Mab, Leo, Myr, Reviral, Vivoryon.
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