LONDON – After a number of equivocal small studies, the U.K. Recovery trial has applied its heft to turn in statistically significant evidence that the rheumatoid arthritis treatment Roactemra (tocilizumab) reduces mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
Limited manufacturing capacity, supply chain disruptions and a dearth of personnel with specialized skills are all challenges vaccine makers are facing as they race to produce contracted quotas of COVID-19 vaccines that were developed and authorized in record time.
LONDON – The EMA has requested all COVID-19 vaccine developers to investigate if their products offer protection against new variants of SARS-CoV-2 and to submit the relevant data.
The latest global regulatory news, changes and updates affecting biopharma, including: Fed Circuit agrees Amgen patents lack enablement; HC nudging along with regulatory modernization plan; EMA: No Sputnik application yet.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Clinuvel, Genmab, Moderna, Oryzon, Polaryx, Seagen.
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Atyr, Celltrion, China SXT, Dnatrix, Dyno, Exscientia, Gain, GSK, Incyte, M6P, Macrogenics, Mindmed, Mindshift, Nuvation, Olix, Panacea, Portage, Protalix, Renji, Rentschler, Repertoire, Sandoz, Sarcomed, Vyne.
It’s been more than a year since COVID-19 initially smacked humanity and as BioWorld’s senior analyst, Karen Carey, detailed in early February, vaccine and therapeutic R&D continues to move furiously forward. Variants have added a new twist in the race to gain global control of the virus. But what about tests and surveillance? Are these medical technologies keeping pace with the rapidly changing virus? BioWorld MedTech takes a deep dive in today’s edition.
Staff Writer Meg Bryant looks for answers on whether current tests are effective when it comes to the variants and how the test makers are adapting.
Staff Writer Annette Boyle explores how industry and universities united to scale up surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Senior Science Editor Anette Breindl explains why mutations in SARS-CoV-2 are at once a challenge, a fact of life and an opportunity.
Regulatory Editor Mark McCarty highlights how governments are being challenged with keeping track of mutations while simultaneously validating new and revamped existing tests.
Diagnostic manufacturers are turning their attention to antibodies for those who have been vaccinated for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and the U.S. FDA’s Tim Stenzel had some advice about this on the Feb. 10 testing town hall. Stenzel advised that developers think of such tests in the same vein as a companion diagnostic (CDx) in that these antibody test will have to be separately validated for each vaccine that is included in the test’s labeled claims.
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