October 1, 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 October 1, 2021. Notable advancements include:

• Pfizer and other drug companies are currently testing oral pills that could treat COVID-19 and perhaps prevent outbreaks before cases can spread.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued its strongest guidance to date, urging pregnant women to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as they face a greater risk of hospitalization.

​Recent News

• Pfizer’s COVID Pill Could Be ‘Game Changer,’ Doctor Says
  NBC Boston – September 30, 2021
  Pfizer and other drug companies are currently testing pills that could treat COVID-19 and perhaps prevent outbreaks before cases can spread. The drugmaker said Monday that it will study the pill it is developing in combination with a low dose of the HIV drug ritonavir in people who are at least 18 years old and live in the same household with someone who is infected.
• Am I fully vaccinated without a COVID-19 vaccine booster
  Associated Press – September 30, 2021
  Am I fully vaccinated without a COVID-19 vaccine booster? Yes, people who got a two-dose vaccine or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson shot are considered fully vaccinated — even without a booster. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says you’re fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or one dose of the J&J.
• Kids may not be able to get Pfizer shots until November; vaccination rates among pregnant people low
  USA Today – September 29, 2021
  While Pfizer and BioNTech submitted data this week to the Food and Drug Administration on the safety and efficacy of their COVID-19 vaccine in younger children, kids may not be able to get the shots until November, reports say. The Wall Street Journal, citing an unnamed source, said the companies would submit their application for emergency use authorization in the coming weeks even though they had targeted the end of September. Reuters also reported the companies had not started the official process.
• CDC issues urgent alert: Pregnant women need the COVID-19 vaccines
  NBC News – September 29, 2021
  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued its strongest guidance to date urging pregnant women to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The guidance comes as more than a quarter million cases of COVID-19 in pregnant women have been reported, 22,000 of whom were hospitalized, according to the CDC.
• Vitamin A Nasal Drops Trialled for COVID-19 Anosmia
  Medscape – September 29, 2021
  A new study will consider whether vitamin A can help those who have lost their sense of smell after having COVID-19. The 12-week Apollo trial will treat people who have experienced smell loss or an altered sense of smell as a result of viral infections with nasal drops containing the vitamin, the University of East Anglia (UEA) said in a statement.
• CDC finds reactions to booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine similar to second
  UPI Health News – September 28, 2021
  Side effects reported among recipients of a COVID-19 booster vaccine are similar to those seen after the second dose, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. The findings are based on reports made from roughly 12,600 booster-dose recipients to the CDC’s voluntary vaccine safety surveillance program, which tracks shot side effects.
• Sanofi claims positive early data for mRNA COVID-19 sho
  BioPharma Dive – September 28, 2021
  Sanofi said the messenger RNA-based COVID-19 vaccine it is developing sparked immune responses in an early-stage trial. But the company will not advance testing further and instead focus on a protein-based shot it’s working on with GlaxoSmithKline.
• Moderna Is Likely to Get FDA Approval for Smaller Booster, Report Says
  Barron’s – September 30, 2021
  The Food and Drug Administration is likely to authorize a booster dose of Moderna ‘s COVID-19 vaccine, and will do so at a dose level that is half as large as what was used for the prime doses, according to a report from Bloomberg.
• A pill to treat COVID-19: ‘We’re talking about a return to, maybe, normal life’
  CNN – September 27, 2021
  At least three promising antivirals for covid are being tested in clinical trials, with results expected as soon as late fall or winter, said Carl Dieffenbach, director of the Division of AIDS at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who is overseeing antiviral development. A top contender is a medication from Merck & Co. and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics called molnupiravir which is being tested in clinical trials. Two others include a candidate from Pfizer, and an antiviral produced by Roche.
• Who’s eligible for Pfizer booster shots in US?
  Associated Press – September 24, 2021
  Millions of Americans are now eligible to receive a Pfizer booster shot to help increase their protection against the worst effects of COVID-19. People who got two Pfizer shots at least six months ago and who fall into one of these groups should get the booster: — People 65 and older, nursing home residents and assisted living residents. — Others ages 50 to 64 with a long list of risky health problems including cancer, diabetes, asthma, HIV infection and heart disease.

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].