Virology / vaccines

A study from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has shown that an experimental immunotherapy can temporarily reprogramme patients’ immune cells to attack a specific target via only a single injection of mRNA, similar to the mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccines.  Context  The researchers, whose work is published in Science, demonstrated the new approach with an […]

Pfizer and BioNTech have announced a new research, development and commercialisation collaboration to develop a potential first mRNA-based vaccine for the prevention of shingles (herpes zoster virus, or HZV), which impacts about one in three people in the US during their lifetime.   Why now?  The collaboration builds on the companies’ success and is is the third collaboration […]

The first results of an early trial of a multivariant Covid-19 vaccine booster, launched in Manchester in September 2021, has shown it is driving a comprehensive immune response.  The results  US-based biotechnology company Gritstone bio, in collaboration with The University of Manchester and Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, revealed the initial Phase I clinical data […]

An experimental HIV vaccine based on mRNA shows promise in mice and non-human primates, according to scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health. The results The results, published in Nature Medicine, show that the novel vaccine was safe and prompted desired antibody and cellular […]

Marinomed Biotech, an Austrian biotech company, has announced results of the antiviral efficacy of iota-carrageenan (Carragelose) against the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and variants of concern (VOC), including the Delta variant. This has been published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.   Collaboration   The peer-reviewed study is the result of a collaboration between virologists at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität […]

According to new results published as a correspondence in Cancer Cell, nearly 100% of cancer patients with solid tumours have antibodies effective against the Delta variant after a third dose of Covid-19 vaccine.  What does this mean?  The new findings highlight a proportion of patients with blood cancers who still have undetectable antibody levels against Delta after three doses, […]

Novavax has been granted conditional marketing authorisation by the European Commission (EC) for Nuvaxovid Covid-19 vaccine.  Context  The vaccine is for active immunisation to prevent Covid-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 in individuals 18 years of age and older and the authorisation follows the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommendation to authorize the vaccine […]

Oxford University has announced a £50 million funding commitment from Serum Life Sciences to establish The Poonawalla Vaccines Research Building at the University of Oxford.  What will it do?  The Poonawalla Vaccines Research Building will share infrastructure and support facilities with Oxford University Pandemic Sciences Centre for scientific research and academic teaching. Together, they will […]

Physician-scientists of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have published a paper in The New England Journal of Medicine which suggests that in order to counter future coronavirus outbreaks, the global scientific and medical research community should focus a major effort now on three […]

Pfizer has announced results from an analysis of 2,246 adults enrolled in its Phase II/III EPIC-HR (Evaluation of Protease Inhibition for Covid-19 in High-Risk Patients) trial of its novel Covid-19 oral antiviral candidate Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir [PF-07321332] tablets and ritonavir tablets).   The results   These results show that  Paxlovid significantly reduced the risk of hospitalisation or death for any cause by 89% compared to […]