Coronavirus

Free access to BioWorld coronavirus articles

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 10:30:00 -0400

The articles in this collection are from BioWorld’s ongoing coverage of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. They are available for free with registration. Note that we have added five critical tables, which are continuously updated:

Biopharma vaccines and therapeutics in development
Diagnostics with U.S. FDA emergency use authorization
Clinical trials of biopharma products affected by COVID-19

Therapeutics and vaccines
Med-tech diagnostics

COVID-19 mRNA vaccine provides broad-spectrum protection

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Researchers from the University of Naples Federico II (Italy) and collaborating institutions reportedd the design of a next-generation mRNA vaccine that leverages a phylogenetically informed consensus receptor binding domain heterotrimers representing the major variant lineages.

Moderna to pay up to $2.25B to settle COVID-19 patents case

Wed, 04 Mar 2026 08:00:00 -0500

In what it says could be the largest disclosed patent settlement in the pharmaceutical industry, Roivant Sciences Ltd. has reached a potential $2.25 billion settlement with Moderna Inc. over the use of its lipid nanoparticle delivery technology in the Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine.

Moderna’s flu vaccine back in play as FDA shifts course on review

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:05:00 -0500

A week after catching Moderna Inc. and its investors off guard with a refuse-to-file letter, the U.S. FDA has reversed course on the company’s BLA submission seeking approval of seasonal influenza vaccine mRNA-1010, now agreeing to review the application and setting an assigned PDUFA date of Aug. 5, 2026.

Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire de Lille divulges new 3CLpro inhibitors

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire de Lille has patented new 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19).

New 3CLpro inhibitors disclosed in Nxera Pharma patent

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 08:00:00 -0500

Nxera Pharma UK Ltd. has divulged 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19).

Vaccines: From the toast of the town to being in the crosshairs

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

BioWorld’s 2022 end-of-year highlights included a toast to the future – of universal vaccines. Even before SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were developed in record time and saved countless lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccines were a rare bright spot in the fight against infectious diseases. Bacteria are becoming multidrug resistant far faster than new classes of antibiotics are being developed, viral spillover events and vector ranges are increasing, and climate change is helping bacteria and fungi alike breach human thermal protections against infections.

Research unpicks molecular mechanism of vaccine-induced cardiac inflammation

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 08:00:00 -0500

The cardiomyositis that is a rare adverse effect of mRNA-based COVID vaccines is due to immune cell activity as a result of increased levels of the chemokines CXCL10 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Blocking CXCL10 and IFN-γ could prevent muscle cell damage in cell culture, and cardiomyositis in animal models. The findings, reported in the Dec. 10, 2025, issue of Science Translational Medicine, suggest a way of mitigating the risk of cardiomyositis.

Petition claims FDA oops! means COVID-19 vaccines misbranded

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 12:00:00 -0500

Restricting the recommended use of COVID-19 vaccines in the U.S. wasn’t enough. Now the Children’s Health Defense (CHD) is trying to get the FDA to revoke the BLAs for all versions of the Moderna Inc. and Pfizer Inc.-Biontech SE COVID-19 vaccines.

Aligos and KU Leuven divulge new antivirals

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

Aligos Therapeutics Inc. and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuken) have synthesized antiviral compounds reported to be useful for the treatment of coronavirus acute respiratory syndrome, norovirus and picornavirus infections.

Ena Respiratory raises AU$34M series B to fund phase II trial

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Ena Respiratory Pty Ltd. raised an AU$34 million (US$22.4 million) series B round to advance INNA-051, its nasal spray for symptomatic viral respiratory infections, to phase II trials. New investors in the Melbourne-headquartered company include the Gates Foundation and Flu Lab. Existing investors Brandon Capital, Uniseed and Stoic Venture Capital also participated in the round.

Ena Respiratory raises AU$34M series B to fund phase II trial

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Atomic layer deposition enhances antibody responses to a mosaic sarbecovirus vaccine

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a recently proposed vaccine technology.

Latest ACIP recommendations added to CDC vaccine schedules

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Even though the U.S. CDC is operating on a skeleton crew due to the partial government shutdown, it is updating its immunization schedules to adopt the COVID-19 and chickenpox vaccine recommendations the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) made at its September meeting.

Latest ACIP recommendations added to CDC vaccine schedules

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0400

So far, ACIP vaccine recommendations in line with the world

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0400

While the discussions and votes at the past two meetings of the U.S. CDC Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) have generated a lot of controversy and resulted in some states and medical groups issuing their own vaccine schedules, the truth is that the newly reconstituted committee’s recommendations to date are still in line with, or more generous in some instances than, global norms.

In the clinic for Sept. 24, 2025

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Clinical updates, including data readouts and publications: Aphaia, Atai, Beckley Psytech, BMS, Moderna, Neurocrine, Sensory Cloud.

GC Biopharma files Korean IND for COVID-19 mRNA vaccine

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

GC Biopharma Corp. has filed an IND application with the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) for a phase I trial of GC-4006A, an mRNA vaccine candidate for COVID-19.

Decide on COVID-19 shot at your own peril: ACIP

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0400

The second day’s meeting of the U.S. CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) took up guidelines related to COVID-19 vaccines, of which an outspoken skeptic is Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy – who in June fired all 17 members of ACIP and replaced them with names more to his liking.

Decide on COVID-19 shot at your own peril: ACIP

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Cancer vaccines face collateral damage of mRNA funding cuts

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

When Robert Kennedy Jr. announced the cancellation of 22 projects related to mRNA vaccines and the end of new investments in that technology, the U.S. Secretary of Health only mentioned their use against respiratory viruses, without referring to other applications. The vaccines whose safety and effectiveness Kennedy is questioning are based on the same molecular principles as cancer vaccines under development. “Continued investment in mRNA technology is essential to fully realize its potential in oncology and ensure that promising strategies like neoantigen-based vaccines reach clinical application.” Kazuhiro Kakimi, professor at the Department of Immunology at Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, told BioWorld.

Animosity toward mRNA COVID vaccines puts basic science at risk

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

An ongoing concern for scientists is that there will be across-the-board funding cuts. This is already happening in mRNA research, where reductions affected coronavirus-related projects. During the pandemic, efforts focused on this pathogen, and once the health emergency was over, grants for antivirals were eliminated. However, these drugs could stem future outbreaks. Despite the cuts, recent research continues to demonstrate the potential of mRNA, not only for the development of antivirals, but also for obtaining more effective and longer-lasting vaccines.

US CDC, ACIP in spotlight, pertussis outbreak threatens Louisiana

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Just three days before the U.S. CDC’s reconstituted Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) is scheduled to discuss and possibly vote on the COVID-19, hepatitis B and MMRV vaccines, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy added five new members to the panel.

Harvard College divulges new compounds to treat SARS-CoV-2

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Harvard College has published compounds reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infections (COVID-19).

The domino effect of cutting mRNA vaccine research

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

In August, a press release from HHS announced the cancellation of 22 vaccine research projects based on mRNA, the latest available technology aimed at developing therapies for viral infections, cancer, and genetic conditions. What happens to mRNA innovation when funding dries up? This series explores how reductions in funding could impact mRNA technology, affecting innovation, research and future therapies.

Gilead Sciences describes new Mpro inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Gilead Sciences Inc. has identified 3C-like proteinase (3CLpro; Mpro; nsp5) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19).

South Korea clears Moderna’s Spikevax LP.8.1 vaccine for COVID-19

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 11:00:00 -0400

South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved Moderna Inc.’s Spikevax LP.8.1 vaccine as an updated shot for COVID-19 targeting the LP.8.1 variant, according to Moderna Korea’s announcement Sept. 1. The regulatory clearance comes days after the U.S. FDA accepted, on Aug. 27, Moderna’s supplemental BLAs for two of its COVID-19 vaccines, Spikevax and Mnexspike.

Regulatory actions for Aug. 29, 2025

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, and other regulatory decisions and designations: Aldeyra, Biontech, D3 Bio, Moderna, Novavax, Outlook, Pfizer, Teva, Tolremo, Travere, Vanda.

Rare immune disease inspires broad-spectrum antiviral mRNA

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 11:00:00 -0400

Deficiencies in interferon-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15), a protein that normally regulates the immune response, causes mild but persistent inflammation. However, its absence also provides an unexpected advantage by increasing resistance to viral infections. Inspired by this condition and using mRNA technology, scientists at Columbia University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed a broad-spectrum antiviral platform.

Spike-Accum vaccine is immunogenic against SARS-CoV-2

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 09:00:00 -0400

Researchers at Université de Montréal and collaborators have succeeded in preparing a highly immunogenic SARS-CoV-2 vaccine using the Accum platform.