NEW DELHI – India is taking a multipronged approach to developing and distributing vaccines against COVID-19, with at least 10 different products under development, domestically or through collaborations with foreign developers. Vaccinations are likely to begin early next year but, with a population of around 1.2 billion, it is unlikely India will be able to vaccinate everybody it needs to before the end of 2022.
Regulatory snapshots, including global submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Acell, Artms, Medtronic, Products + Features, Quidel, Rapid Medical.
The U.S. FDA has granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for thousands of products for the COVID-19 pandemic, and the agency is legally required to advise companies of their post-pandemic options for new marketing authorization. Conversely, companies that fail to deal with inventory for expired EUAs may find themselves in the crosshairs of the FDA, whistleblowers, and federal and state attorneys, suggesting that manufacturers of devices should have a plan for dealing with unused inventories once the public health emergency comes to an end.
The BioWorld Drug Developers index is currently tracking up more than 9% in value so far this month and is on target, with a handful of trading days left before the end of the year, to close up over 35% for 2020, well ahead of the general markets.
The latest global regulatory news, changes and updates affecting biopharma, including: USPTO to expand diversity in innovation; Opioid prescriptions could cost Walmart billions.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: Amgen, Appili, Biogen, Cytodyn, Dr. Reddy’s, Innovation, Kempharm, Nicox, Ocular, Onconova, Orchard, Polyphor, Takeda, Uniqure, Vertex, Ziopharm.
LONDON – The EMA has issued a positive opinion on Pfizer Inc./Biontech SE’s COVID-19 vaccine, BNT-162b2, becoming the first regulator to recommend a full marketing authorization, rather than approval for emergency use. The vaccine, now brand named Comirnaty, still has to go through the formality of being approved by EU member state governments, but the EU health commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, has said she expects roll out to start on Dec. 27.