July 29, 2022

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 July 29, 2022. Notable advancements include:

• Pfizer has launched a trial of the first in a planned series of next-generation, variant-busting COVID-19 vaccines.
• Patients vaccinated against COVID-19 have a lower risk of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and strokes, according to research published in JAMA.
• The Food and Drug Administration announced an emergency use authorization for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, securing 3.2 million vaccine doses for distribution in the U.S.

Recent News

• • Pfizer sends ‘enhanced’ COVID-19 shot to clinic under strategy for next generation of vaccines
    Fierce Biotech – July 27, 2022
    Pfizer just raised the stakes of the COVID-19 vaccine business. The company has launched a midstage trial of the first in a planned series of next-generation, variant-busting COVID-19 vaccines that the drugmaker is working on with BioNTech. The bivalent shot, dubbed BNT162b5, consists of RNAs that encode enhanced prefusion spike proteins for both the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and the omicron variant that is prevalent worldwide. The enhanced spike protein has been modified with the aim of increasing the magnitude and breadth of the immune response to COVID-19, Pfizer said in a statement.
  • Vaccinated Patients Have Lower Acute MI, Stroke Risks After COVID-19
    TCTMD – July 26, 2022
    The risks of acute MI or ischemic stroke up to about 4 months after having COVID-19 appear to be lower in patients who have been fully vaccinated against COVID than in those who have not received any doses of vaccine, according to a research letter published online last week in JAMA. Both outcomes occurred infrequently 30 to 120 days after a COVID-19 diagnosis, but the risk was lower among those who had previously received two vaccine doses.
  • Reformulated COVID vaccine boosters may be available earlier than expected
    NPR – July 26, 2022
    The Biden administration may scrap plans to let more younger adults get second COVID-19 boosters this summer. Instead, officials are trying to speed up availability of the next generation of boosters in the fall, NPR has learned. The new strategy is aimed at trying to balance protecting people this summer with keeping people safe next winter when the country will probably get hit by yet another surge.
  • FDA and CDC recommend Novavax COVID-19 vaccine: What to know
    Medical News Today – July 26, 2022
    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. Research shows Novavax to be 100% effective in preventing moderate to severe COVID-19. Novavax uses a traditional vaccine model used previously for influenza and shingles vaccines. The United States Department of Health and Human Services has secured 3.2 million doses of Novavax for distribution in the U.S., with ordering opening to medical professionals in the coming weeks.
  • White House to launch effort to develop next generation of COVID-19 vaccines
    STAT News – July 25, 2022
    The Biden administration is preparing a sweeping initiative to develop a next generation of COVID-19 immunizations that would thwart future COVID-19 variants and dramatically reduce rates of COVID-19 infection or transmission, building on current shots whose impact has been mainly to prevent serious illness and death, the White House told STAT. To kick off the effort, the White House is gathering key federal officials, top scientists, and pharmaceutical executives including representatives of Pfizer and Moderna for a “summit” to discuss the new technologies and lay out a road map for developing them.
  • COVID-19 Treatment Hope Found in Anti-Inflammatory Drug
    Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News – July 22, 2022
    The findings of a recent Phase IIa clinical trial suggest that OP-101, a hydroxyl-polyamidoamine dendrimer–N-acetyl cysteine conjugate, may have potential for treating systemic hyperinflammation in severe COVID-19. A single intravenous infusion of the anti-inflammatory compound was well tolerated and reduced the risk of death or mechanical ventilation at 30 and 60 days after treatment when compared to placebo. OP-101 treatment, which targets activated macrophages, was associated with decreased serum concentrations of proinflammatory markers as well as markers of neurological injury. The drug may have the potential to treat systemic inflammation and brain injury in patients with severe COVID-19 and significantly reduce their chances of death.

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].