HONG KONG – Celltrion Inc. continues its quest to take its Diatrust COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test overseas, after receiving the FDA’s emergency use authorization (EUA). The Incheon, South Korea-based company also submitted results of clinical trials in which 450 people throughout the U.S. were tested between February and March 2021 to the regulator, with the trial results currently under review.
The FDA reported a new streamlined pathway for diagnostic testing as part of a serial testing program using pooled samples, a pathway that should enable the further reopening of the economy. However, the FDA’s Tim Stenzel said April 21 that this new pathway relied on accumulated data for molecular testing, and that the agency lacks sufficient data to provide a similar mechanism for this use of antigen tests.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Biostable Science & Engineering, Cerus Endovascular, Empowered Diagnostics, Enzo Biochem, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Medtronic.
Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Affirmxh, Atlas Genomics, Axonlab, Baxter, Cathmedical Cardiovascular, Delcath Systems, Endpoint Clinical, Labcorp, Lifeconnect, Movement Interactive, Opsens, Pixcell Medical, Prevencio, Qiagen, Quick Tube Medical, Red One Medical, Sherlock Biosciences, United PPE, Xphyto.
In addition to safety questions about its COVID-19 vaccine, Johnson & Johnson is facing manufacturing challenges as a key partner, Emergent Biosolutions Inc., has yet to get FDA approval to manufacture or distribute the vaccine or its components in the U.S. That approval could be awhile in coming. On April 21, a day after completing its onsite inspection of Emergent’s Bayview plant in Baltimore, Md., the FDA released Form 483 from its inspection, revealing nine observations related to cross-contamination issues, lack of employee training and poorly designed and maintained facilities.
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Alterity Therapeutics, Atriva Therapeutics, China Biologic Products, Claritas, CMAX, Cybin, Enzychem, Excellthera, Hemoshear, Horizon, Marinomed, Moderna, Nasus, RDIF, Valneva, Willow.
PERTH, Australia – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Trajan Scientific and Medical Ltd. and Synexa Life Sciences Ltd. have developed and validated a SARS-CoV-2 serology assay that enables more efficient, population-based monitoring of the longevity of COVID-19 vaccines being deployed and to help determine the timing and deployment of booster vaccinations.
Prenetics Ltd. is working with Oxford University researchers again to develop molecular diagnostic testing for the new COVID-19 variants, six months after it acquired Oxsed Ltd., a University of Oxford University spinoff to enable rapid airport testing. On April 19, Hong Kong-based Prenetics inked a multimillion-dollar partnership with the University of Oxford and Oxford Suzhou Center for Advanced Research (OSCAR) to upgrade the molecular testing technology Oxlamp for infectious diseases.
HONG KONG – Laboring under the burden of a new wave of COVID-19 infections that have raised its case total to 15.3 million, second only to the U.S., India is ramping up its vaccination efforts by opening up COVID-19 vaccine availability to citizens 18 years or older from May 1, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. However, ensuring a steady vaccine supply for the world's second most populous country, with nearly 1.4 billion people, might prove to be an issue. So far, India has administered just over 124 million COVID-19 vaccine doses.
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