Infectious disease
Merck’s investigational antibody clesrovimab demonstrated more than 60% effectiveness in reducing some types of respiratory syncytial virus-associated infections in infants, while Pfizer’s RSV vaccine Abrysvo showed 90% effectiveness at preventing the most severe RSV cases in adults 60 years and older.
Real-world evidence show that GSK and ViiV Healthcare’s long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis Apretude can prevent nearly all HIV infections, while rival Gilead Sciences is moving quickly toward an approval for a twice-yearly option.
The mpox vaccine induced an antibody response in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years that matched that in adults, suggesting the shot can be used to protect the highly susceptible group.
The lawsuits claim that Moderna used and profited from crucial mRNA technology in its COVID-19 vaccine Spikevax and respiratory syncytial virus shot mResvia.
The FDA is looking at four events for the remainder of October, one of which is an advisory committee meeting for a dual SGLT inhibitor for use alongside insulin in type 1 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
Vaccine biotech Gritstone bio is filing for bankruptcy while securing a stalking horse bid from an unnamed party, which the company hopes will save its clinical research in cancer and infectious disease.
Pfizer in recent months has implemented aggressive cost-cutting measures to help it weather the steep decline in sales of its COVID-19 products.
J&J has recently pulled back from the infectious diseases space, including winding down R&D activity in this area in August 2023.
While a JAMA study found a decline in mpox antibody responses after vaccination, a University of Oxford expert cautioned that there is still not enough evidence to determine if this decline also leads to waning protections.
Gilead Sciences is granting licenses to six companies to produce lenacapavir for pre-exposure prophylaxis, as well as for treating human immunodeficiency virus in heavily pre-treated adults with multidrug-resistant infections.
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