Technology
CEPI and CIDRAP advance coronavirus vaccine R&D roadmap
CEPI announced in October 2024 that the Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota is to receive US$3.2
Next-gen vaccines: Vicebio announces financing and study
Vicebio announced $100 million Series B financing and the initiation of a Phase I clinical study of RSV/hMPV bivalent vaccine in September 202
Self-administered FluMist secures FDA approval
In September 2024 the United States FDA announced the approval of FluMist for self- or caregiver-administration. It is approved for active immunisation
Study pits recombinant DNA against IVT mRNA technologies
An article in Scientific Reports in September 2024 uses Digital Shadows to facilitate a comparison of recombinant DNA and in vitro (IVT) mRNA
PharmaJet and Scancell partner on Stratis for DNA vaccine
PharmaJet announced in September 2024 that it has entered a long-term license and supply agreement with Scancell Holdings to use PharmaJet’s
WHO introduces global open access MeDevIS platform
WHO announced in July 2024 that its online open access clearing house, MeDevIS (Medical Devices Information System), is being publicly released following a consultation period with WHO Member States. The platform is designed to support governments, regulators, and...
mRNA in Japan: Moderna and Mitsubishi Tanabe join forces
Moderna and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation announced in July 2024 that they have entered a joint agreement regarding the co-promotion of Moderna’s mRNA respiratory vaccine portfolio in Japan. This includes Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines, Spikevax. Through the...
CEPI to support Apriori Bio’s Octavia AI platform
In July 2024 CEPI announced an award of US $1.1 million to support Apriori Bio in advancing its biology-informed artificial intelligence platform Octavia. Octavia is intended to protect humanity against rapidly evolving viruses through the design of variant-resilient...
HilleVax to discontinue infant norovirus vaccine development
HilleVax announced in July 2024 that topline data results from NEXT-IN1, a Phase IIb trial of HIL-214, reveal a failure to meet primary and secondary efficacy endpoints. This trial in infants around 5 months old at time of initial vaccination was conducted after a...
Merck and Afrigen announce mRNA technology MoU
Merck’s Life Science business sector and Afrigen Biologics announced in July 2024 that they have entered a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the development of an mRNA vaccine technology platform. The collaboration will seek to advance...
GSK and CureVac announce mRNA licensing agreement
In July 2024, GSK and CureVac announced that they have “restructured” an existing collaboration into a new licensing agreement to allow both companies to “prioritise investment and focus their respective mRNA development activities”. The two companies have been...
HHS provides $176 million for Moderna mRNA influenza efforts
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that through BARDA, part of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), it will provide around $176 million to Moderna to support the development of an mRNA-based pandemic influenza...
NextGen funding for GeoVax’s dual-antigen COVID-19 vaccine
GeoVax announced in June 2024 that it has received an award to advance development of GEO-CM04S1 in a Phase IIb clinical trial. GEO-CM04S1 is GeoVax’s dual-antigen, next-generation COVID-19 vaccine and the trial will compare its efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity...
RAY CRO’s Ahmed Hamouda: taking pride in services
In a throwback to the Barcelona Congress in October 2023 we are sharing a conversation with RAY CRO's Ahmed Hamouda, who joined us to share his vision for growth and the importance of his team's work. RAY CRO joined us as exhibitors on the packed exhibition floor; did...
FDA approval for Merck’s 21-valent CAPVAXIVE in adults
In June 2024 Merck (known as MSD outside the US and Canada) announced that the FDA has approved CAPVAXIVE for the prevention of invasive disease and pneumonia caused by specific Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes that cause most invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD)...
NextGen funding for Vaxart’s oral pill COVID-19 vaccine
In June 2024 Vaxart announced that it has received a project award valued at up to $453 million to conduct a Phase IIb comparative study to evaluate Vaxart’s oral pill COVID-19 vaccine candidate against an FDA-approved mRNA vaccine comparator. The funding will be...
Fiocruz and SINOVAC partner for research and development
In June 2024, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) announced that SINOVAC is to invest $100 million in the development of cell therapy, vaccine production, and monoclonal antibodies in Brazil. This was shared at a meeting with the Vice President of the Republic and...
NextGen funding for CyanVac intranasal vaccine study
In June 2024 CyanVac announced that it has received a funding award under Project NextGen to support a Phase IIb study of CVXGA, the company’s PIV5-based vaccine candidate for protection against COVID-19. This is one of the first awards made through the Rapid Response...
Study finds protection against pertussis in mRNA platform
A study in npj vaccines in June 2024 presents the mRNA vaccine platform as a potential solution to bacterial infections. Immunogenicity and challenge models were used in evaluations of the platform with multivalent vaccine formulations that target Bordetella pertussis...
“Driving” research with EmVenio Research’s Thad Wolfram
Our next interview from The World Vaccine Congress in Washington is with EmVenio Research's President Thad Wolfram, who joined us to present in the Clinical Trials track on "evolving vaccine trials: the power of a comprehensive hybrid strategy for improved access". We...
