Last Friday, the ACIP voted to recommend COVID vaccination “based on individual-based decision-making” for adults 65 and older. For individuals 6 months to 64 years old, the vaccine is recommended based on individual decision, “with an emphasis that the risk-benefit of vaccination is more favorable for individuals who are at an increased risk for severe…
Bipartisan support for vaccines could be a balm for beleaguered vaccine companies
Despite some vocal attacks against vaccines, a poll conducted by Republican pollsters — including Donald Trump’s chief pollster — shows “that there is broad unity across party lines supporting vaccines such as measles (MMR), shingles, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (TDAP), and Hepatitis B.” NBC News reported that the poll results were made known to Republican…
Vaccine makers’ stocks continue to spiral as the segment faces fresh pressures
On Friday, Kevenue, the maker of Tylenol, saw its stocks drop more than 10% after the Wall Street Journal reported that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy plans to release a federal report connecting prenatal use of Tylenol to autism. As Kennedy and his appointed vaccine panel continue to erode vaccine recommendations, many…
Florida could become the first state to remove vaccine mandates for school
Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, the Florida surgeon general, announced at an event on Wednesday that the Department of Health, working with the governor, would “end all vaccine mandates in Florida law.” He also compared vaccine mandates to slavery. “Your body is a gift from God. What you put into your body is because of your…
CureVac and GSK launch Phase 1 trial of mRNA-based flu vaccine
CureVac (NSDQ:CVAC) and GSK (NYSE:GSK) have announced the dosing of the first participant in a Phase 1 study of a multivalent influenza vaccine built on a second-generation mRNA backbone. The study is based in Panama and will enroll approximately 240 subjects. CVAC shares increased 2.27% to $19.34 in mid-day trading. At various points last year,…
Moderna doses the first patient with its mRNA Epstein-Barr virus vaccine candidate
Moderna (NSDQ:MRNA) has dosed the first volunteer in the Phase 1 Eclipse study of mRNA-1189, an Epstein-Barr virus vaccine candidate. The study will take place at roughly 15 sites in the U.S. and involve approximately 272 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 30. The study will be randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled and involve a range of doses.…
Pfizer and BioNTech set their sights on developing mRNA-based shingles vaccine
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and mRNA vaccine specialist BioNTech SE (NSDQ:BNTX) will collaborate to develop an mRNA-based vaccine to prevent the herpes zoster virus (shingles). Roughly one million people in the U.S. get shingles each year, according to the CDC. Currently, the two-dose Shingrix shingles vaccine from GSK (NYSE:GSK) is the only such product available in the U.S. market.…
Moderna debuts fellowship program for young researchers focusing on mRNA therapies
Messenger RNA (mRNA) therapeutics and vaccines may offer significant promise, but few scientists specialize in the technology. Moderna (NSDQ: MRNA) aims to inspire a new generation of scientists and clinicians to focus on mRNA research with a new fellowship program. The program will support a range of applications within medicine, basic research, epidemiology, pharmacology, nursing…
Sanofi completes Translate Bio acquisition
Sanofi (NSDQ:SNY) announced today that it has completed the purchase of its mRNA partner Translate Bio. The previously announced deal, according to Sanofi, accelerates the French pharma giant’s efforts to develop transformative vaccines and therapies using mRNA technology. The deal comes during a year in which mRNA-based Moderna (NSDQ:MRNA) and Pfizer-BioNTech (NYSE:PFE/NSDQ:BNTX) COVID-19 vaccines are…
CureVac’s interim vaccine efficacy is 47% in Phase 2b/3 study
Germany-based CureVac (NSDQ:CVAC) announced that its mRNA vaccine was 47% effective against COVID-19 in a second interim analysis of a pivotal study involving approximately 40,000 participants in 10 countries. The rise of COVID-19 variants played a role in the disappointing results. At least 13 COVID-19 variants were present in the study population who contracted the…








