BioPharm International Editors

The dispute between the European Commission (EC) of the European Union and pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca continues.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued the first safety update on a COVID-19 vaccine—Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine).

Nexelis’ recent acquisition of GSK’s Marburg, Germany-based vaccines clinical bioanalytical laboratory expands its bioanalytical capabilities.

The £500,000 (US$686,294)-investment in mass spectrometry support will accelerate biologics development and approval.

The launch of HiScreen Fibro PrismA, the company’s newest product for early mAb purification process development strengthens Cytiva’s new fiber-based Protein A platform.

Evozyne’s evolution-based protein design technology will be used to research and develop proteins that could be used in the next generation of gene therapies.

Sanofi will offer access to its infrastructure and expertise to help BioNTech produce over 125 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in Europe.

The project is aimed at discovering novel transport mechanisms in the human intestinal tract that could be used for oral delivery of diverse therapeutic modalities.

Clinical material for a Theratechnologies product in development will be produced at PPS’ manufacturing facility in Lexington, KY.

Emergent will use its CDMO services to manufacture drug product batches to support the increased supply of the therapeutic candidate in anticipation of a potential emergency use authorization in the first quarter of 2021.

The company is discontinuing the development of its SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 vaccine candidates, V590 and V591, to focus on advancing its two SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 therapeutic candidates, MK-4482 and MK-7110.

The companies have entered into an advance purchase agreement with COVAX to provide up to 40 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, BNT162b2, to lower-middle-income countries.

The site, which is set to be operational in three years, will feature disposable technology and advanced technology filling lines to produce 90 million vials and 50 million pre-filled syringes a year.

Through the acquisition, Lilly will have access to Prevail’s portfolio of clinical-stage and preclinical neuroscience assets.

Woodcock will serve as acting commissioner of FDA, taking over for Stephen Hahn, FDA’s previous acting commissioner.

The drug offers immediate post-exposure protection against the virus and will serve as a counterpart to the vaccine during its early phases.

Verquvo is a soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator for the reduction of the risk of cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization in adults with symptomatic chronic heart failure.

The approval was based on positive results from a single-arm Phase II trial where the treatment demonstrated significant antitumor activities in patients with the disease.

The companies will develop up to three CD3-engaging T-cell redirecting bispecific antibody therapies using Merus' proprietary Biclonics platform.

Through the acquisition, Thermo Fisher will have access to Mesa’s PCR-based rapid point-of-care testing platform for detecting infectious diseases.

The new US offices will give the company the ability to support its US-based customers on site while continuing to collaborate with its global team.

The CPhI event, which was originally scheduled for Aug. 31–Sept. 2, 2021 at the Fiera Milano in Milan, Italy, will be rescheduled for Nov. 9–11, 2021 at the same venue.

The 40,000-ft.2 facility will feature eight cleanrooms with configurations for the production of cell and viral vector products.

Henogen will be integrated into Thermo Fisher’s Pharma Services business within its Laboratory Products and Services segment.

This new agreement covers 1.25 million additional doses of the antibody cocktail containing casirivimab and imdevimab for the treatment of COVID-19.

The collaboration will focus on up to three types of lung and gastrointestinal cancers.

The first four investments of the new program will support clinical-stage biotechnology companies while new investments will include companies focused on oncology, rare disease, and inflammation and immunology.

The acquisition significantly expands Precision Medicine Group’s cell and gene therapy expertise.

A report on the FDA PREPP initiative’s work in 2020 aims to strengthen the Agency’s response to future public health emergencies.

The service uses Hovione’s Intelligent PROprietary Screening methodology to screen for combinations of polymers, drug loads, surfactants, and solvents with an advanced computational tool.