News round-up by DDW’s Megan Thomas for 7-11 February, 2022
This week has proved eventful in terms of progression in the drug discovery industry. DDW’s Megan Thomas flags five news stories which display this.
1. Additional dose of Covid-19 vaccine is safe, says US trial
A study sponsored by the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, suggests that an additional dose of a Covid-19 vaccine is safe in adults who had previously received a full regimen of any of three Covid-19 vaccines granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
2. Drug discovery collaboration to progress inhibitor project
Domainex has supported the collaboration between Queen’s University Belfast (UK) and Ipsen to research, develop, manufacture and commercialise FLIP inhibitors – a programme that Domainex has supported since its inception.
3. Moderna begins Omicron booster trial and presents durability data
Moderna has dosed the first participant in a Phase II study of the company’s Omicron-specific booster candidate (mRNA-1273.529). Additionally, Moderna announced the publication of neutralising antibody data against the Omicron variant six months following a booster dose in The New England Journal of Medicine.
4. Push continues to reduce reliance on animal research methods
FRAME, a medical research charity that aims to reduce the number of animals used in scientific testing, has awarded a total of £29,000 to three projects with the potential to replace animal use in biomedical research.
5. New organisation promises smart clinical trials for better health
Protas, a non-profit organisation which was launched on January 24, will design and deliver large, inclusive, randomised clinical trials, working in collaboration with industry partners, medical charities, patient groups, academic researchers, and frontline clinical teams. Sanofi is its first strategic partner.
