May 28, 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 May 28, 2021. Notable advancements include:

• Moderna two-shot COVID-19 vaccine produces the same immune response in teenagers as adults, and it plans to submit the data to U.S. regulators in early June.
• A full two dose of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine gives effective protection against the COVID-19 variant first discovered in India, according to a new study from Public Health England.
• Vir Biotechnology and GlaxoSmithKline’s monoclonal antibody drug to treat early COVID-19 infections has been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and will be used to treat patients who are at high risk of developing severe cases.

​Recent News:

• 70 Percent Covid Vaccination Rate May Be in Reach, New Poll Suggests
  New York Times – May 28, 2021
  A new poll suggests the United States could be on track to vaccinate at least 70 percent of the adult population against Covid-19 by this summer.In the latest survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 62 percent of respondents said they had received at least one dose of a vaccine, up from 56 percent in April.
• Sanofi and GSK Launch Late-Stage Trial for COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate
  BioSpace – May 27, 2021
  A two-stage Phase III clinical trial recently launched by Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is studying a COVID-19 vaccine candidate targeting the original SARS-CoV-2 strain as well as the South African B.1.351 variant. The partnership between the two companies sees Sanofi providing its recombinant antigen and GSK contributing its pandemic adjuvant, both of which have shown successful efficacy against influenza strains.
• Novartis, Molecular Partners kick off global trial for COVID-19 drug with phase 2 data expected this summer
  FierceBiotech – May 27, 2021
  Novartis is kicking off a phase 2/3 study of its COVID-19 drug in adults with early-stage COVID-19 to see whether it can ward off severe disease and hospitalization. Novartis aims to enroll a total of 2,100 patients in the trial: 400 for the dose-finding phase 2 portion and 1,700 in the phase 3 part.
• COVID-19 Treatment From Vir, GlaxoSmithKline Is Authorized
  Wall Street Journal – May 26, 2021
  A monoclonal antibody drug to treat early COVID-19 infections has been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said Vir Biotechnology Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline PLC , makers of the drug. The drug, called sotrovimab, is the third antibody medicine authorized to treat patients early in the course of disease who are at high risk of developing severe cases.
• New Vaccines and Treatment Approaches Show Promise
  BioSpace – May 26, 2021
  Companies continue to report promising data for vaccines and therapies against COVID-19. Here’s a look. Germany-based CureVac expecting its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to be authorized in Europe in June at the latest. Meanwhile, it is expanding its production capacity.
• Moderna says its vaccine triggers immune response in teenagers, will seek FDA approval
  Washington Post – May 25, 2021
  Biotechnology company Moderna announced that its two-shot COVID-19 vaccine produced the same immune response in teenagers as adults, and it plans to submit the data to U.S. regulators in early June. If authorized, the vaccine would become the second available for adolescents as young as 12.
• Half of U.S. adults will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, White House says
  CNBC – May 25, 2021
  Half of the adults in the United States will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, a White House official said. The latest milestone in the sweeping effort for the U.S. to inoculate its way out of the pandemic comes as infections and deaths from COVID-19 fall to lows the nation has not seen for nearly a year.
• Two doses of Covid vaccines provide effective protection against variant found in India: Study
  CNBC – May 24, 2021
  A new study has found that two doses of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or AstraZeneca-University of Oxford vaccine give effective protection against the COVID-19 variant first discovered in India, however it underscored the need for two doses, as both vaccines were significantly less effective after only one shot. The study, led by Public Health England, also found that two doses of one of those vaccines were similarly as effective at protecting against the variant that first emerged in the U.K.
• Pfizer begins testing COVID-19 booster shot with pneumococcal vaccine
  ABC News – May 24, 2021
  Pfizer began administering its first COVID-19 booster shots. The pharmaceutical company is studying a third dose of the vaccine and a pneumococcal vaccine candidate. The trial is looking at safety when the vaccines are co-administered, and will follow up six months later.

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].