Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Allogene, Clarity, Icosavax, Mersana, Octapharma, Oravax, Prolynx.
The factors why the clinical outcomes during infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus are highly heterogenous remains poorly understood. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a secreted protein with roles in lipid metabolism; interestingly, APOE has been shown to modulate immunity, including infection and antitumor immunity.
Sorrento Therapeutics Inc. has published data on the identification, in vitro binding and neutralizing activity of a novel monoclonal antibody (MAb), STI-5041, against the SARS-CoV-2 WA-1 strain as well as the alpha and beta variants from their G-MAB library screening.
Aim Vaccine Co. Ltd. priced an IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, raising HK$70.01 million (US$9 million) to fund work on its late-stage vaccine pipeline. Its shares increased only 3.09% on debut Oct. 6 but closed the week at HK$24.80, up 54% over its listing price of HK$16.16.
Regulatory snapshots, including global drug submissions and approvals, clinical trial approvals and other regulatory decisions and designations: ABVC, Annovis, Clarametyx, Crinetics, Eiger, Eli Lilly, Entera, Evofem, Humanetics, Immutep, Kiromic, Nova Mentis, Takeda, Transcenta.
Biopharma happenings, including deals and partnerships, grants, preclinical data and other news in brief: Biomarin, Nektar, Pharmacyte, Puretech, Teva.
The University of Arizona has divulged nonstructural protein 3 (Nsp3; PL-PRO) (SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19 virus) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, will provide seed funding of up to $4.8 million to Intravacc BV to advance the development of a broadly protective betacoronavirus vaccine candidate, which can be delivered intranasally.
The U.S. FDA’s device center recently advised companies that make tests for the COVID-19 pandemic that the emergency use authorization program for tests is winding down, albeit with a few exceptions.
Additional early-stage research and drug discovery news in brief, from: CSL, Elicio Therapeutics, Enzolytics, Innovation Pharmaceuticals, Lumen Bioscience, Nanology.