LONDON – Initial results from the U.K. randomized trial assessing mixed COVID-19 vaccine schedules show there is a significant increase in systemic side effects with one dose of Astrazeneca plc’s and one of Pfizer Inc./Biontech SE’s vaccines (in either order), compared to receiving two doses of the same vaccine.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Applied DNA, Bioecho Life Sciences, Desktop Health, Chordate Medical, Endologix, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Qiagen.
Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Burning Rock Biotech, Cyduct Diagnostics, E Ink, Ers Genomics, Flagship Biosciences, Fluorogenics, Fujifilm, Galaxy Medical, Genscript Biotech, Helio Health, Hhc Preferred, Japan Lifeline, Leap Therapeutics, Lucira, New England Biolabs, Novartis, Nuclera Nucleic, Pmb-Alcen, Sagentia Innovation, Sientra, Tilak Healthcare, Wearable Health Solutions.
It came as no surprise May 12 that the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 14-0, with one recusal, to recommend the use of Pfizer Inc.-Biontech SE’s COVID-19 vaccine, Comirnaty (tozinameran), in 12- to 15-year-olds following the FDA’s decision earlier this week to expand the vaccine’s emergency use authorization (EUA) to that age group.
PERTH, Australia – Australia’s budget theme for the 2021 to 2022 fiscal year is rebuilding the economy following COVID-19, and med-tech and biotech leaders were praising some of the new measures.
HONG KONG – The Biden administration’s support for a TRIPS waiver of COVID-19 vaccine patents has already met a chorus of resistance from Western companies. In Asia, skepticism about how it would be achieved and what it will cover, is widespread.
In an open letter to Pfizer Inc. employees, the company’s CEO, Albert Bourla, provided some insight about why some countries don’t have COVID-19 vaccines and others have a surplus. It has nothing to do with intellectual property (IP), or even price, Bourla said.