Technology
NeoDisc pipeline enables personalised cancer immunotherapy
A paper in Nature Biotechnology in October 2024 presents an “end-to-end clinical proteogenomic pipeline” to address the challenges associated
WHO confirms HPV vaccine Cecolin for single-dose schedule
In October 2024, WHO announced that a fourth WHO-prequalified human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine product, Cecolin, has been confirmed
Vaxart initiates sentinel cohort for Phase IIb study
In September 2024, Vaxart announced the initiation of the sentinel cohort of its Phase IIb clinical trial evaluating the oral pill COVID-19 vaccine
SK bioscience completes IDT Biologika acquisition
In October 2024, SK bioscience announced the successful completion of its acquisition of a controlling stake in IDT Biologika. This follows the announcement
Vaccine delivery vehicle to improve access in Samoa
UNICEF announced in September 2024 that it is working with Australia and Samoa to improve access to vaccinations in Samoa. To this end, an innovative
Tonix shares mpox vaccine update after PHEIC declared
In August 2024 Tonix Pharmaceuticals “reiterated its commitment” to advancing the development of its live attenuated virus vaccine TNX-801 for the prevention of mpox and other infectious diseases. This comes after WHO declared that the spread of mpox in Africa...
SARS-CoV-2 “molecular dance” insights for vaccine efforts
A study by researchers at Yale School of Medicine (YSM), Northeastern University, and Rice University in Science (not open access) in August 2024 presents new views of an “intricate molecular dance” between human cells and SARS-CoV-2. Their findings could allow more...
ICMR and Panacea initiate DengiAll vaccine trial in India
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Panacea Biotec announced in August 2024 that they have initiated the "first-ever" Phase III clinical trial for a dengue vaccine in India. The trial will evaluate the efficacy of Panacea Biotec’s tetravalent dengue...
ABRYSVO: Pfizer’s positive safety and immunogenicity data
In August 2024 Pfizer announced positive top-line safety and immunogenicity results from substudy B of its ongoing Phase III clinical trial MONeT (RSV IMmunisatiON study for adulTs at higher risk of severe illness). The trial evaluates two doses of the ABRYSVO vaccine...
LASSARAB vaccine a “worthy candidate” for development
An article in npj vaccines in August 2024 presents research into the efficacy of a deactivated rabies virus (RABV)-based vaccine encoding the glycoprotein precursor (GPC) of Lassa fever virus (LASV): LASSARAB. In nonhuman primates (NHPs), the vaccine induced “strong”...
CEPI to support Boost Biopharma vaccine development
CEPI announced in August 2024 that it is providing a $5 million cash injection to Boost Biopharma to advance its “cutting-edge” rapid antigen design process. This has potential to enable faster development of safe and effective vaccines, supporting CEPI’s 100 Days...
US places $156.8 million JYNNEOS order from Bavarian Nordic
Bavarian Nordic announced in August 2024 that the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Respond in the Department of Health and Human Services, has placed an order valued at...
ApiJect Injector shows favourable environmental profile
ApiJect announced in July 2024 that a peer reviewed study comparing the environmental footprint of the company’s prefilled injection device to traditional glass syringe options found a “substantial difference” in favour of the Prefilled Injector. The study identified...
GSK and Flagship announce portfolio collaboration
GSK and Flagship Pioneering announced in July 2024 that they have entered a collaboration to discover and develop a portfolio of “transformational” medicines and vaccines, starting in respiratory and immunology. The agreement will combine GSK’s “disease area expertise...
Sinergium Biotech to lead mRNA avian influenza project
In July 2024, WHO announced that Argentine manufacturer Sinergium Biotech is to lead a new project that aims to accelerate the development and accessibility of human avian influenza (H5N1) mRNA vaccine candidates for manufacturers in low- and middle-income countries...
Vaccine trial innovation for improved pandemic preparedness
An article in Infection in July 2024 summarises discussions held at a VACCELERATE Consortium workshop, which explored the applicability of adaptive platform trial (APT) methodology in vaccine trials for both non-pandemic and pandemic conditions. The authors suggest...
“Unconventional” immune response offers TB vaccine path
Researchers at the Hackensack Meridian Centre for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) shared in July 2024 that their paper in Cell Reports presents the identification of an “unconventional” immune response with positive implications for tuberculosis (TB) vaccine...
Sabin launches Phase II trial of Sudan ebolavirus vaccine
Sabin Vaccine Institute announced in July 2024 that it has launched a Phase II clinical trial for its vaccine against Sudan ebolavirus. The trial of healthy volunteers takes place at Makerere University Walter Reed Project (MUWRP) in Uganda. The vaccine is based on...
Oxford teams launch Marburg trial of ChAdOx1 vaccine
Oxford’s Pandemic Sciences Institute announced in July 2024 that a clinical trial to test a vaccine against Marburg virus has been launched. The first-in-human trial of the ChAdOx1 Marburg vaccine, developed and manufactured by teams at the University of Oxford, will...
Orlance awarded NIH grant for needle-free RNA platform
Seattle-based biotech Orlance announced in July 2024 that it has been awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the US NIH to develop and optimise RNA vaccine formulations with its needle-free MACH-1 platform. The technology is intended to...
