August 27, 2021

The California Biotechnology Foundation is committed to keeping you up to date about COVID-19 testing, treatment and prevention advancements. The following resources track what progress has been made as of August 27, 2021. Notable advancements include:

• The Food and Drug Administration granted full approval to Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine – becoming the first in the U.S. to be granted the designation.
• Unvaccinated people are about 29 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated, according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• According to preliminary research, monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19 like those from Eli Lilly and Regeneron reduce the risk for hospitalization or death by about 70%.

​Recent News

• Moderna Readies for Full Vaccine Approval, as Pfizer Submits Data on Booster Shot
  S. News and World Report – August 26, 2021
  Moderna Inc. announced that it has completed its submission for full approval of its COVID-19 vaccine, while Pfizer Inc. said it has begun to file data for full approval of a third booster shot of its vaccine. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said in a statement. “We are pleased that our COVID-19 vaccine is showing durable efficacy of 93% through six months after dose 2.”
• FDA approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 shot brings hope to vaccinate kids under 12
  Los Angeles Times – August 26, 2021
  The Food and Drug Administration’s formal approval of Comirnaty has raised hopes for a fresh wave of COVID-19 immunizations. But it may also trigger a wave of requests from anxious parents looking to vaccinate their children who are too young to get the Pfizer-BioNTech shot through official channels.
• Monoclonal Antibodies vs Vaccines vs COVID-19: What to Know
  MedScape – August 26, 2021
  The FDA authorized monoclonal antibody drugs from the companies Regeneron and Eli Lilly in November 2020, but only recently have they attracted more attention as the Delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 surges across the U.S. Whether you’ve just tested positive or been exposed, monoclonal antibodies could help you and your loved ones stave off COVID-19. Here’s what you need to know.
• Johnson & Johnson Says Its COVID-19 Booster Shot Prompts Large Increase In Immune Response
  CBSN – August 25, 2021
  Booster doses of Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot COVID-19 vaccine generated a big spike in antibodies, the frontline immune system defenses against infection, the company reported. People who received a booster six to eight months after their initial J&J shots saw antibodies increase nine-fold higher than 28 days after the first shot, Johnson & Johnson said.
• S. could control COVID-19 by spring 2022 if more people get shots
  Reuters – August 25, 2021
  The United States could get COVID-19 under control by early next year if vaccinations ramp up, Dr. Anthony Fauci said, one day after Pfizer won fuller FDA approval for its shot, with more potential approvals coming in the weeks ahead.
• Daily vaccination rate is rising among Americans getting their first shot, officials say
  The Washington Post – August 24, 2021
  The daily number of people getting their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine has risen by more than 70 percent since mid-July, White House officials said Tuesday. On average, about 450,000 Americans a day are getting their first jab, up from 260,000 a little more than a month ago, Jeff Zients, the White House Covid-19 Response Team coordinator, said in an afternoon briefing.
• CDC study shows unvaccinated people are 29 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19
  CNBC – August 24, 2021
  Unvaccinated people are about 29 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated, according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new study, published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, also found that unvaccinated people were nearly five times more likely to be infected with COVID-19 than people who got the shots.
• Monoclonal antibodies for COVID-19: How they work and who is eligible
  CNET – August 24, 2021
  Preventing COVID-19 from making people extremely sick or landing them in the hospital is the public health goal of the pandemic, and the main job of COVID-19 vaccines. While monoclonal antibody therapy has been around for decades, COVID-19 monoclonal antibodies have been gaining credibility as a key tool for protecting people most at risk of severe COVID-19. Preliminary research shows the treatment reduces risk for hospitalization or death by about 70%.
• What full FDA approval for COVID-19 vaccines really means
  Vox – August 23, 2021
  Nearly nine months after the first Americans received their shots, the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech received full approval from the Food and Drug Administration for people 16 and older on Monday. This could help increase the number of people willing to get vaccines and make it easier to compel those who are less willing — if health officials can cut through the mounting confusion around their efficacy, booster shots, and the threat of the delta variant.

Rely on California Biotechnology Foundation to monitor breaking news and provide updates on the latest advancements in COVID-19 diagnostics, vaccines and treatments.

Stay informed on the latest news and trends on the economic and health benefits of this industry by visiting the new CABiotech.org

If you have any questions about informational briefings contact California Biotechnology Foundation Executive Director Patty Cooper at (916)764-2434 or [email protected].