Researchers from Hokkaido University (Japan) and colleagues have identified 2-thiouridine (s2U) as a broad-spectrum antiviral ribonucleoside analogue, by phenotypic screening of a library of 753 nucleoside analogues for antiviral effects. s2U showed antiviral activity against several ssRNA+ viruses, including DENV, SARS-CoV-2 and its variants of concern.
As COVID-19 vaccine development continues, the U.S. FDA is releasing a revised version of its 2020 guidance, “Development and licensure of vaccines to prevent COVID-19.”
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: 4SC, Ardelyx, Astrazeneca, Bio4t2, Brainstorm, Caribou, Celularity, Hyloris, Intellia, Mirum, Novavax, Orasis, Sage, Tiziana, UCB, Ymabs.
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Ayala, Basilea, Beam, Biosight, Eli Lilly, Geneuro, Gigagen, Gilead, Gravitas, Mablink, Microvascular, Oxford Nanopore, Pfizer, Qnovia, Seagen.
Researchers from Generate Biomedicines Inc. have detailed the discovery and preclinical characterization of GB-0669, a spike S2-targeted monoclonal antibody (MAb) being developed for the prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Machine learning models were used to identify MAbs targeting the conserved S2 stem helix and RBD class IV region of spike.
The official end of the COVID-19 public health emergency in the U.S. in May did not mark the end of interest and investment in the area. In the shifting landscape, attention has pivoted to new markets, emerging strains, boosters, and the commercialization and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and therapies.
In a study published in Nature on Oct. 11, coinciding with the beginning of IDWeek 2023 in Boston, researchers from Harvard Medical School described EVEscape, a method for anticipating the movements of SARS‑CoV‑2 by predicting potential mutations likely to escape current vaccines and treatments.