November 13, 2020

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 13, 2020. Notable advancements include:

• Early data from Pfizer shows its COVID-19 vaccine candidate may be 90% effective at preventing the disease.
• U.S. FDA granted Eli Lilly & Co.’s emergency authorization for its antibody therapy to treatCOVID-19.
• Johnson & Johnson is well on its way to producing 1 billion doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in 2021.

​Recent News:

• Pfizer says early data suggest its COVID-19 vaccine is 90% effective
  Los Angeles Times – November 9, 2020
  Pfizer says early data on its COVID-19 vaccine candidate suggest the shots may be 90% effective at preventing the disease, indicating the company is on track later this month to file an emergency-use application with U.S. regulators.
• Johnson & Johnson confident in 1B dose goal for COVID-19 vaccine next year, looking ahead to 2022
  FiercePharma – November 12, 2020
  While some drugmakers have been set back by the challenge of manufacturing enough doses to keep up with demand, New Jersey’s Johnson & Johnson thought ahead. Leaning on its years of experience, the drugmaker is well on its way to producing 1 billion doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 and is looking ahead to 2022.
• How Pfizer Plans to Distribute Its Vaccine
  New York Times – November 12, 2020
  Now Pfizer, the government and the public health community face a new challenge: quickly making millions of doses of the vaccine and getting them to the hospitals, clinics and pharmacies where they will be injected, two separate times, into people’s arms.
• Moderna On Track for Early Data Readout for COVID-19 Vaccine This Month
  Biospace – November 12, 2020
  Moderna has indicated they are projected to have data to report by the end of the month on their COVID-19 vaccine program. The company said they needed 53 patients in the study to be diagnosed with COVID-19, and the trial has hit that figure.
• Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine: 11 Things You Need to Know
  New York Times – November 10, 2020
  The news — the first results from any late-stage vaccine trial — buoyed stock markets and spirits as the public saw a glimmer of hope. But it’s worth noting that the news is still preliminary, and there is much that is still not known about how well the vaccine works.
• The Path Forward: Combating COVID-19 with Alexander Hardy, CEO of Genentech
  Washington Post – November 10, 2020
  Genentech, the American biotechnology company, began trials in March to see if one of its existing medicines could be used to combat COVID-19 as it spread across the U.S. causing hospital overruns and thousands of deaths with a special effort to enroll diverse groups disproportionately impacted by the virus.
• Drug companies deliver a vote of confidence in adaptive trial for COVID-19
  STAT – November 10, 2020
  A novel clinical trial that uses artificial intelligence to rapidly compare COVID-19 treatments has attracted participation from two major drug companies, Amgen and Eisai, a key milestone in the effort to shake up the way trials are conducted.
• Eli Lilly COVID-19 Antibody Drug Gets FDA Emergency Clearance
  Bloomberg – November 9, 2020
  Eli Lilly & Co.’s antibody therapy was granted an emergency-use authorization by U.S. drug regulators for treating COVID-19, widening access to a treatment that early data suggest is effective in keeping people infected with the COVID-19 out of the hospital.
• Sanofi has narrowed gap vs competitors in development of COVID-19 vaccine – CEO
  Reuters- November 9, 2020
  French drugmaker Sanofi has narrowed the gap against its rivals in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, its Chief Executive said.

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].