Despite global drops in COVID-19 infections and because variants never rest, Eiger Biopharmaceuticals Inc. is taking its strong top-line phase III data of pegylated interferon lambda to global regulatory agencies for approval. The type III interferon that stimulates immune responses significantly reduced the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalizations or emergency room visits longer than six hours by 50% and death by 60%. The results prompted Eiger to say it would submit the data to the FDA for an emergency use authorization – and also to the EMA and Asian agencies – as soon as it could.
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. Read More
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. has filed suits against both Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. over alleged infringements of its patent on biodegradable cationic lipids that it said "are foundational to the success of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines." Read More
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. Read More
SCG Cell Therapy Pte. Ltd. has signed a collaboration agreement with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)’s Bioprocessing Technology Institute (BTI) to advance the development of multispecific antibodies. Read More
From every perspective, the number of biopharma deals with nonprofit or government entities, as well as industry grants, are significantly below last year, and efforts focused on the COVID-19 pandemic have dropped as well. Read More
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Amicus, Apellis, Biocorrx, Biogen, Boehringer, Eli Lilly, Grifols, Junshi, NLS, Ocuphire, Oramed, Palisade, Roche. Read More
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Akston, Beyondspring, Biolexis, Centogene, G1, Janssen, Moderna, Oppilotech, Protagonist, Prothena, Q Biomed, Respirex, Saerum, Werewolf. Read More
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Adagene, Aim Immunotech, Biontech, Brii, Iovance, Kaléo, Ossium Health, Pfizer, Shionogi, Sonnet, The AIDS Clinical Trials Group. Read More
