Universal mRNA flu vaccine out of Univ. of Pennsylvania may be available within two years, says scientist

Published on : Published by : BioBuzz Media

Universal flu vaccine may be available within two years, says scientist
Vaccine against all strains of virus hailed as major step in protecting against potentially devastating flu pandemic
The new vaccine is designed to prime the immune system against all 20 subtypes of influenza A and B, potentially arming the body to tackle any flu virus that arises. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA
Ian Sample Science editor
@iansample
Fri 25 Nov 2022 06.05 EST
A universal flu vaccine that protects against all strains of the virus could be available in the next two years, according to a leading scientist.
An experimental vaccine based on the same mRNA technology used in the highly successful Covid jabs was found to protect mice and ferrets against severe influenza, paving the way for clinical trials in humans.
Prof John Oxford, a virologist at Queen Mary University in London, who was not involved in the work, said the vaccine developed at the University of Pennsylvania could be ready for use the winter after next.
“I cannot emphasise enough what a breakthrough this paper is,” Oxford told the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme. “The potential is huge, and I think sometimes we underestimate these big respiratory viruses.”
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ATCC Wins $545 Million Contract to Respond to Emerging Infectious Disease Threats

Headshot of Joseph Leonelli, SVP of ATCC Federal Solutions
Published on : Published by : Alex Keown

As the world continues to grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the emergence of the new omicron variant, Virginia’s ATCC secured a seven-year Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a division of the National Institutes of Health, valued at up to $545 million.

Mason’s Michael Buschmann and team at start-up AexeRNA Therapeutics Inc. pursue patents for improved COVID-19 vaccines

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George Mason University bioengineering professor Michael Buschmann and a team of scientific collaborators have devised improved lipid nanoparticle technologies to deliver mRNA that could make mRNA vaccines such as the COVID-19 vaccines less costly, with fewer side-effects and more available worldwide.

Tonix Pharmaceuticals Announces Agreement to Acquire Infectious Disease R&D Facility in Frederick, MD to Accelerate Development of Vaccines and Antiviral Drugs

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Tonix Pharmaceuticals Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: TNXP) (Tonix or the Company), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced the signing of a Purchase and Sale Agreement to acquire an approximately 48,000 square foot research and development (R&D) facility in Frederick, MD to support Tonix’s expanding infectious disease pipeline, including TNX-1800, a live replicating viral vaccine designed to protect against COVID-19, TNX-801, a live vaccine designed to protect against smallpox and monkeypox, and TNX-3500, a small molecule antiviral to inhibit replication of SARS-CoV-2.

Rockefeller Foundation Grant Aims to Boost Vaccinations Among African American Communities

Published on : Published by : Alex Keown

Fueled by a $400,000 grant from The Rockefeller Foundation, the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI), based in Washington, D.C., aims to improve vaccination rates among the African-American community through outreach programs and strategic partnerships with like-minded coalitions, including the National Caucus & Center on Black Aging (NCBA) and National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW).

Novavax Vaccine Could Generate $33 Billion in Revenue through 2027, Analyst Says

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Novavax is aiming to seek Emergency Use Authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine NVX-CoV2373 later this spring. If the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gives it the green light, the Maryland-based company could see revenue of approximately $1.8 billion in sales by the end of the year.

Emergent Rallies to Meet COVID-19 Vaccine Supply Challenge

Published on : Published by : Alex Keown

Emergent BioSolutions’ contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) business is playing a crucial role in supporting the battle against COVID-19. The company has contracted with multiple vaccine makers, including AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, to manufacture the preventative medications.

Novavax Announces Start of Rolling Review by Multiple Regulatory Authorities for COVID-19 Vaccine Authorization

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Novavax Announces Start of Rolling Review by Multiple Regulatory Authorities for COVID-19 Vaccine Authorization Rolling reviews have commenced by FDA, MHRA, EMA and Health Canada GAITHERSBURG, Md., February 4, 2021 [….]