Study COVID-19 variants
Three fast-spreading new variants of SARS-CoV-2 virus have emerged in recent months: the U.K. variant B.1.1.7, the Brazil variant P.1, and the South Africa variant B.1.351.
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Entries by Thomas Gabrielczyk
Novel COVID antibody enters clinical testing
German CORAT Therapeutics GmbH got the greenlight for Phase Ib/II testing of COR-101, an antibody that reduced virus load in the lung by more than 99 % within three days.
A simple change delivers faster study start-up
Study start-up is a chaotic time. There are lots of moving parts. Lots of decisions to make and processes to establish. Lots of room for error. Mistakes can quickly derail a trial – and delays are endemic. That all represents a potential waste of time and resources – just at a moment when speed is of the essence. In many cases, the problem comes down to spreadsheets.
Don’t bet only on vaccines!
First emergency approvals of vaccines and antibody drugs in less than a year are great achievements of modern biotechnology in our battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, but we still have no efficient therapeutics to cure severe COVID-19. Millions of lives remain at risk until we control the pandemic, and what if we will never reach herd immunity? Waiting for others to do the job cannot be the strategy, as well as betting only on vaccines.
B.1.1.7 variant associated with higher mortality
The B.1.1.7 variant of SARS-CoV-2, which was first identified in the UK, may be associated with an increased risk of death, a Nature study suggests.
Roche in take-over deal with GenMark Diagnostics
Roche to acquire GenMark Diagnostics, Inc., to access platform to test for broad range of pathogens with one patient sample.
Media hype on Denmark’s decision to halt AZD1222 vaccination
While media reports suggest AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 jab might have caused blot clots, the EMA didn’t confirm a causal relationship.
Roche Phase III study misses COVID-19 endpoint
Swiss Roche AG has missed the primary endpoint in the REMDACTA trial in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia.
Vaccine production in Africa: an urgent priority
Africa produces less than 1% of the human vaccines it uses. To effectively respond in time of outbreaks and pandemics, Africa must expand its vaccine development and production capabilities to cater for its growing population. Successfully establishing such an industry at scale is a multifaceted endeavour to create an enabling environment. This article highlights key factors and considerations for establishing local vaccine manufacturing.
A very “cool” topic in the parmaceutical industry
The current debates regarding vaccine production and logistics have also made it clear even to the layman: Pharmaceutical production depends on cold. Temperatures below -80?°C are just as common as the requirement to freeze precursors such as blood plasma within a specified time period. Refrigeration specialists with pharmaceutical know-how are in demand for these challenging tasks.