GSK’s messenger RNA vaccine for seasonal influenza is designed to prompt an immune response to two proteins on the surface of the virus. That could be an advantage over Moderna’s recently approved mRNA flu shot, which addresses just one of those proteins.
Novavax’s partnership with Sanofi allows the pharma giant to explore potential combinations of assets from both companies, and it’s a blueprint for the kinds of alliances the vaccine developer is pursuing. Rather than commercializing vaccines, Novavax aims to turn its research into business development deals, R&D executive Ruxandra Draghia-Akli said.
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Despite achieving strong responses against influenza A, a Phase 3 test of a Pfizer and BioNTech flu and Covid-19 combination vaccine did not meet goals against less common influenza B. These results come two months after Moderna’s combination vaccine succeeded in its Phase 3 trial.
Apple Tree Partners’ latest startup is Red Queen Therapeutics, developer of stapled peptide drugs that block viral fusion. Its lead program is on track for Phase 2 testing in immunocompromised Covid-19 patients; a preclinical pan-influenza program is in development under a BARDA contract.
In the face of new variants and lower public acceptance of vaccination, it’s imperative that we take stock of lessons learned from previous seasons and examine key barriers to uptake as we prepare for this fall and winter – from adjusting approval timelines at the federal level, to implementing programs to address vaccine complacency, convenience and confidence.
An experimental Moderna combination vaccine for influenza and Covid-19 showed in a pivotal study that it can elicit a higher immune response compared to vaccines that are already available to protect against infection from both viruses.
Healthcare payments are no longer about transactions. It’s about controlling the revenue cycle. And increasingly, that control is not sitting with ISOs.
GSK and Vir Biotechnology have ended their influenza collaboration, a move that follows last year’s Phase 2 failure for one of the partnered programs. Vir is now free to continue its flu research on its own, but the company says it’s actively pursuing other partners.
The FDA will decide this summer which strains the next Covid-19 vaccines should address. But companies are also taking a longer view, developing shots for the future that offer different features than the current ones and potentially broader protection against a wider range of pathogens.
Moderna’s mRNA vaccine for influenza has early data from a pivotal study showing it met trial goals assessing immune response against the more common strains of the virus, but missed against two less common types. A separate and ongoing Phase 3 study is assessing efficacy.
A webinar sponsored by BD scheduled for March 7 will explore how diagnostics companies are working with healthcare organizations to guard against the perfect storm of Covid-19, RSV and influenza. Register today!
In an interview, Kyan Health Co-Founder and Chief Commercial Officer Konstantin Struck discussed how Kyan gives mid-market and enterprise employers access to premium workforce mental healthcare, at a price point that is affordable.
GSK gave Vir Biotechnology a Valentine’s Day break-up message, but it’s not a complete goodbye. Though the two companies are ending their Covid-19 collaboration, they’ll still work together on other respiratory programs, including a prophylactic influenza antibody drug that is in mid-stage clinical development.
Xofluza, a flu antiviral drug developed by Roche and Shionogi, is now approved in Europe for children age 1 and older. The European Commission decision expands the patient population for the drug, which was previously approved for treating adolescents and adults.
Leyden Labs is developing nasal spray medicines to prevent respiratory viral infections. The company’s Series B round of funding follows a licensing deal that gives the biotech rights to a Janssen antibody designed to address the two types of influenza that cause seasonal flu.
Diagnostics startup GRIP Molecular is developing an at-home test for Covid-19 and other respiratory infections. The technology builds on advances from several fields, including the discovery of graphene, a material that offers biocompatibility and conductivity.
The amended pact follows a collaboration begun last year when GlaxoSmithKline paid Vir Biotechnology $250 million to team up on potential treatments for Covid-19. The expansion includes an influenza treatment based on Vir's antibody technology.