COVID-19 News
COVID-19 Update | July 24, 2020
July 24, 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 July 24, 2020. Notable advancements include:
- AstraZeneca and Oxford University’s vaccine showed a robust defense against COVID-19 and move into Phase III Trials.
- Pfizer announced a nearly $2 billion contract for 600 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, with the first 100 million promised before the end of the year.
- The National Institutes of Health is preparing to launch large clinical trials to test new approaches to treating COVID-19.
Recent News:
- Genentech, other biotechs OK’d to share COVID antibody manufacturing
San Francisco Business Times – July 23, 2020
Genentech Inc., Amgen Inc. and other large biotechs received clearance Thursday from the Department of Justice to share know-how around manufacturing facilities and other information that could speed production of potential monoclonal antibody treatments against COVID-19. - NIH to start large studies of potential COVID-19 treatments
STAT – July 23, 2020
The National Institutes of Health is preparing to launch large clinical trials to test new approaches to treating COVID-19, hoping to expand what for now remains a limited arsenal of therapies to help people with the disease.
- UAB to start human trials of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine
WHNT 19 News – July 23, 2020
UAB will soon begin trials of a coronavirus vaccine in the Jefferson County area. The vaccine, manufactured by AstraZeneca will be given to over 30,000 Americans over the next few months. - Pfizer Gets $1.95 Billion to Produce Coronavirus Vaccine by Year’s End
New York Times – July 22, 2020
The federal government announced a nearly $2 billion contract with Pfizer and a German biotechnology company for 100 million doses by December. - Three Coronavirus Vaccine Developers Report Promising Initial Results New York Times – July 21, 2020
Oxford University and the British-Swedish drug maker AstraZeneca; and the Chinese company CanSino Biologics — published their early results as peer-reviewed studies while the joint venture between the drug giant Pfizer and the German company BioNTech shared results online. - New Treatment for COVID-19 Shows Promise, but Scientists Urge Caution
New York Times – July 20, 2020
A British drug company said Monday that an inhaled form of a commonly used medicine could slash the odds of COVID-19 patients becoming severely ill. - How a Potential Treatment for the Coronavirus Turned Up in a Scientist’s Freezer
New Yorker – July 20, 2020
Dr. Bosch’s team, along with researchers at various biotechnology firms around in the world, have shown promising early results in cloning antibodies that could be effective against COVID-19.
- Inside Johnson & Johnson’s Nonstop Hunt for a Coronavirus Vaccine
New York Times – July 17, 2020
Janssen Pharmaceutica, a division of Johnson & Johnson, has been collaborating with the Beth Israel team to craft a coronavirus vaccine and next week, clinical trials of the vaccine will begin in Belgium. - Sacramento Area Biotechnology Company Providing Crucial COVID-19 Testing for Organ Donors During Pandemic
Business Wire – July 16, 2020
StemExpress is now providing critical COVID-19 testing capabilities to Sierra Donor Services (SDS), the federally designated Organ Procurement Organization (OPO).
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].