The global AI drug discovery market, valued around $1 to $1.7 billion in 2023, will be worth a multiple of that by the decade’s end. Analysts project the sector could be worth $9 billion or more. 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Recipients: David Baker Demis Hassabis John Jumper Achievement: Computational protein design and structure prediction…
Advances in next generation vaccine development for SARS-CoV-2
Typical COVID-19 vaccines present fragments of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to the body, enabling the immune system to recognize and develop a defense against the virus. However, emerging variants are increasingly evading this immune response due to mutations in their receptor-binding domain (RBD), threatening the effectiveness of existing vaccines. This challenge has prompted research into…
Vaccine mega-trials: Rare behemoths in the vaccine trial landscape
Abstract The vast majority of vaccines are prophylactic in nature. As a result, the demonstration of their efficacy paradoxically requires the infectious disease to occur among non-diseased study participants randomized between investigational vaccine and appropriate control groups. The statistics of vaccine efficacy (VE) calculation are nearly entirely and solely based on the number of observed…
Five pharmaceuticals featured on Time’s list of top inventions alongside other medical breakthroughs
Time magazine’s most recent roundup of 200 inventions included an array of product types, spanning household gadgets and AI applications. Five distinct pharmaceuticals also made the list, not counting a shipping container for biologics and a vaccine for bees. Among the notable pharmaceutical advances on the list are a novel postpartum depression drug, a novel…
Legal dispute precede Pfizer’s latest FDA nod for RSV vaccine
Amid a backdrop of recent RSV vaccine approvals, GSK and Pfizer find themselves locked in a legal spat over alleged patent infringements. Both Big Pharma giants now possess the FDA’s blessing for their respective respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines. Pfizer’s recent win came with the second approval for its Abrysvo vaccine, which the company now…
Moderna leans on RSV vaccine, AI and a diversified pipeline to regain competitive edge
Moderna surged to prominence thanks to its rapid development of a competitive COVID-19 vaccine. Since the early days of the pandemic, however, the company has struggled to maintain its momentum. Year-to-date, its stock is down close to 40%, trading around $110 per share. Adapting to COVID-19 variants The company hopes that its development of vaccines…
Codagenix taps synthetic biology and machine learning in vaccine development
In the quest to outsmart viral foes such as SARS-CoV-2, RSV and influenza, Codagenix, a clinical-stage biotech firm based in Farmingdale, New York, has engaged a unique arsenal: the intersection of synthetic biology and machine learning. Their weapon of choice is a blend of live-attenuated virus design and codon deoptimization technology. Their process involves introducing…
An overview of the RSV vaccine candidate landscape in early 2023
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a prominent global health concern. Each year, the virus is to blame for 2.1 million outpatient visits for children under 5 years old, according to CDC. Other vulnerable populations, including older adults and immunocompromised individuals, are also at risk. Nevertheless, RSV has long been a research focus. Scientists first identified RSV in 1956.…