Once again, the World Trade Organization (WTO) postponed a decision on a temporary intellectual property (IP) waiver for COVID-19 vaccines and other related medical products.
The rocky first quarter for public biopharmaceutical companies continued into April as the BioWorld Biopharmaceutical index remained flat for the period in contrast to the general market, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average growing by more than 2%. Weighing on the sector has been softer than expected earnings in the period among the top tier companies.
Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Autogen, Axim Biotechnologies, Cell Projects, Centogene, CN Bio, Eagle Genomics, Empowered Diagnostics, Exagen, Femselect, Fluxergy, Gene Group Holdings, Genostics, Heartflow, Isohelix, Konica Minolta, Lina Medical USA, Medaxiom, Nvoq, Oncimmune, Perahealth, Rxbio, Sientra, Spectrum Solutions, Stagezero, United Health Products, US Medical Innovations, Vtnc.
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Adagio, Ascletis, Catalyst, Cerecor, Genascence, Genprex, Neoleukin, Oncopeptides, Tilt, Vivace.
Dangerous blood clots and thrombocytopenia, rare simultaneous side effects seen with two adenoviral vector vaccines from Astrazeneca plc and Johnson & Johnson, as well as a worldwide spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths, primarily in India, has set the stage for what could soon become the next big vaccine option, a protein subunit candidate from Gaithersburg, Md.-based Novavax Inc.
Med-tech happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: 908 Devices, Avisa, Flurotest, Ivenix, Ivwatch, Moleculight, Premier, Sentinel Diagnostics, Smiths Medical, Vizient.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Astellas, Carmot, Clarity, Eli Lilly, Hutchmed, Immunomet, Newron, Pfizer, Quercis, R-Pharm Germany, Siga Technologies, Viiv Healthcare.