June 5, 2020

The California Biotechnology Foundation is committed to keeping you up to date on COVID-19 testing, treatment and prevention advancements. The following resources track what progress has been made as of June 5, 2020. Notable advancements include:

• The federal government has selected Moderna Inc, AstraZeneca Plc, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co Inc and Pfizer Inc, as the five companies most likely to produce a vaccine for the novel coronavirus.
• AstraZeneca announced that it has found partners to manufacture and distribute 2 billion doses of the experimental COVID-19 vaccine created by Oxford University.
• Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc plans to begin human trials of its potential COVID-19 vaccine in South Korea later in June.

​Recent News:

• Inovio Plans Human Trials for Potential COVID-19 Vaccine in South Korea in June
  Reuters – June 4, 2020
  Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Thursday it plans to begin human trials of its potential COVID-19 vaccine in South Korea later in June, with support from Seoul-headquartered partner, non-profit organization International Vaccine Institute.
• AstraZeneca lays out plan for producing 2 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine, if it works
  STAT – June 4, 2020
  The drug giant AstraZeneca said Thursday that it has found partners to manufacture and distribute 2 billion doses of the experimental COVID-19 vaccine created by Oxford University, inking a series of deals with non-government organizations and another manufacturer.
• Federal government selects five coronavirus vaccine candidates as finalists
  Reuters – June 3, 2020
  The federal government has selected five companies: Moderna Inc, AstraZeneca Plc, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co Inc and Pfizer Inc, as the most likely candidates to produce a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing senior officials.
• Fauci: Moderna’s Phase 3 Covid-19 Vaccine Trial Of 30,000 Individuals Will Begin In July
  Forbes – June 2, 2020
  In an interview Tuesday with the editor of JAMA, Dr. Anthony Fauci said the Phase 3 trial of Moderna’s experimental COVID-19 vaccine will begin in July and include a study of 30,000 patients who will be as young as 18 and include elderly Americans as well.
• Heart Drugs Show Promise With COVID-19 Complications
  Wall Street Journal – June 2, 2020
  Spurred by promising early findings, researchers are investigating whether drugs currently approved to treat heart disease can also prevent or reduce complications from COVID-19 and help hospitalized patients recover sooner.
• Gilead’s remdesivir shows some benefit in patients with moderate COVID-19, new data show
  STAT – June 1, 2020
  Remdesivir, the drug developed as a treatment for COVID-19 by Gilead Sciences, helped patients with “moderate” disease recover more quickly when they received it for five days, but the benefit was not statistically significant when given for 10 days, the company said Monday.
• Eli Lilly begins first human tests of an antibody drug against COVID-19
  STAT – June 1, 2020
  Researchers have begun testing what appears to be the first new medicine developed specifically against COVID-19, in a milestone for drug companies aiming to combat the disease, the medicine’s makers said Monday.
• U.S. awards new $628 million contract to boost output of potential COVID-19 vaccine
  Reuters – June 1, 2020
  The U.S. government on Monday entered into a $628 million contract with drugmaker Emergent BioSolutions to boost manufacturing capacity for a potential COVID-19 vaccine.

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].