November 12, 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 November 12, 2021. Notable advancements include:

• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s antibody drug cut the risk of contracting COVID-19 by 82% for up to eight months, according to a new study that could pave the way for its broader use.
• The California Department of Public Health says that all eligible people 18 and over should receive their booster vaccines six months after their last dose and two months for Johnson and Johnson.

​Recent News

• Pfizer’s pill is the latest COVID treatment to show promise. Here are some more
  The Conversation – November 12, 2021
  Pfizer says its antiviral COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid cuts the chance of ending up in hospital or dying by 89%. What differentiates this from other medicines we have used since the start of the pandemic is it provides the opportunity for patients to be treated at home, with a combination of a capsule and a pill.
• No California adult should be denied a COVID-19 booster shot, state officials say
  Los Angeles Times – November 11, 2021
  No fully vaccinated adult should be denied a COVID-19 booster shot, the California Department of Public Health says. The move comes as health authorities are trying to increase the number of Californians getting the booster shots, fearing that slow early demand could increase the chances of another winter coronavirus wave.
• COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for all adults could be here by Thanksgiving — and new data says you should get one immediately
  CNBC – November 10, 2021
  COVID-19 vaccine booster shots could be on the horizon for all U.S. adults — and, according to new research, the move might be just in time. Pfizer asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to authorize booster shots of its COVID-19 vaccine for all Americans age 18 and older. The FDA could approve the request before Thanksgiving.
• The White House estimates almost a million children ages 5 to 11 have gotten COVID-19 vaccine shots so far
  New York Times – November 10, 2021
  The White House estimated that nearly a million young children have received COVID-19 shots since the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was cleared for 5- to 11-year-olds last week — a figure that President Biden’s top coronavirus adviser, Jeff Zients, described as a “good start.”
• Regeneron Antibody Prevents COVID-19 Infections for 8 Months
  Bloomberg – November 8, 2021
  Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc.’s antibody drug cut the risk of contracting COVID-19 by 82% for up to eight months, according to a company-sponsored study that could pave the way for its broader use. The monoclonal antibody cocktail, known as REGEN-COV, is available under an emergency use authorization in the U.S. to treat outpatients at risk of developing severe symptoms.
• Pfizer Says Its Antiviral Pill Is Highly Effective in Treating COVID-19
  New York Times – November 5, 2021
  Pfizer announced that its pill to treat COVID-19 had been found in a key clinical trial to be highly effective at preventing severe illness among at-risk people who received the drug soon after they exhibited symptoms, making it the second antiviral pill to demonstrate efficacy against COVID-19.

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].