October 8, 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 8, 2021. Notable advancements include:

• Pfizer and BioNTech have asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize their COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use for children 5 to 11 years old. An estimated 28 million children in the United States would be eligible for the shots if regulators grant approval — a process expected to take several weeks.
• Johnson & Johnson has asked the Food and Drug Administration to allow booster shots of its COVID-19 vaccine as the U.S. government moves toward expanding its booster campaign to millions more vaccinated Americans.
• Merck said that its experimental pill for people sick with COVID-19 reduced hospitalizations and deaths by half and they will soon ask health officials in the U.S. and around the world to authorize the pill’s use.

​Recent News

• Pfizer, BioNTech ask FDA to authorize COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11
  The Washington Post – October 7, 2021
  Pfizer and its partner, BioNTech, have asked the Food and Drug Administration to authorize their COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use for children 5 to 11 years old, the companies announced. An estimated 28 million children in the United States would be eligible for the shots if regulators give the green light — a process expected to take several weeks.
• Los Angeles will require proof of a COVID-19 vaccine for indoor establishments
  NPR – October 7, 2021
  By next month Los Angeles will require residents and visitors to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccine in order to eat, drink, or shop in indoor establishments across the city. Under this mandate, eligible patrons will need to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination to enter restaurants, bars, coffee shops, stores, gyms, spas or salons. People attending large, outdoor events will also need to show evidence of either vaccination or proof of a negative COVID-19 test to attend the event.
• Studies confirm waning immunity from Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine
  CNN Health – October 6, 2021
  Two real-world published studies confirm that the immune protection offered by two doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine drops off after two months or so, although protection against severe disease, hospitalization and death remains strong.
• Sanofi says good results from flu vaccine with mRNA booster study
  Reuters – October 6, 2021
  Sanofi said that it had found positive results from the first study into a high-dose influenza vaccine with a COVID-19 mRNA booster. Sanofi said the interim results from the study of Sanofi’s Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine with Moderna’s COVID-19 mRNA investigational booster dose showed the vaccines had similar immunogenicity responses and a similar safety and tolerability profile.
• J&J seeks US clearance for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses
  Associated Press – October 5, 2021
  Johnson & Johnson asked the Food and Drug Administration to allow extra shots of its COVID-19 vaccine as the U.S. government moves toward expanding its booster campaign to millions more vaccinated Americans. J&J said it filed a request with the FDA to authorize boosters for people 18 and older who previously received the company’s one-shot vaccine. While the company said it submitted data on several different booster intervals, ranging from two to six months, it did not formally recommend one to regulators.
• AstraZeneca asks the F.D.A. to authorize an antibody treatment to prevent COVID-19
  New York Times – October 5, 2021
  AstraZeneca said that it had asked the Food and Drug Administration to grant emergency authorization for a long-acting antibody treatment to prevent COVID-19 in people who are at high risk of the disease. If authorized, it would become the first such preventive treatment to be available in the United States, the company said. The company said in a statement that the treatment had reduced the risk of symptomatic COVID-19 by 77 percent in a trial in which most participants either had other medical conditions that placed them at greater risk of severe illness or were not producing sufficient antibodies after vaccination.

Merck says COVID-19 pill cuts risk of death, hospitalization
Associated Press – October 1, 2021
In a potential leap forward in the global fight against the pandemic, Merck said that its experimental pill for people sick with COVID-19 reduced hospitalizations and deaths by half. If cleared by regulators, it would be the first pill shown to treat COVID-19, adding a whole new, easy-to-use weapon to an arsenal that already includes the vaccine. The company said it will soon ask health officials in the U.S. and around the world to authorize the pill’s use.

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].