A Phase 1 trial of an investigational mRNA vaccine to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection has shown that the vaccine is well-tolerated and generates a strong immune response in older adults. A report published today in the New England Journal of Medicine describes the findings from the study, which was supported by the National Institute of Allergy […]
UPDATE (September 23, 2020): At the end of March, as the severity of the coronavirus pandemic and COVID-19 were becoming increasingly apparent, Johnson & Johnson announced that it expected to be able to test its candidate vaccine on people by September 2020. The pharmaceutical company met that goal with July's Phase 1/2a first-in-human clinical study, […]
WHO warns of surge in coronavirus cases in Europe EEurope is seeing more weekly coronavirus cases than it did in March’s peak; Amy Kellogg reports. Editors of a highly respected medical journal discussed on Wednesday "Operation Warp Speed" and the government's response to COVID-19, focusing mostly on therapeutics. "Operation Warp Speed" is the U.S. government's plan to […]
Fox News Flash top headlines for September 18 Medical groups and health organizations have urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remain transparent and maintain independent authority when giving approval to COVID-19 vaccine candidates, which they say will play a key role in earning the public's trust. “We really want to make sure […]
A big talking point this past week was the temporary suspension of the Oxford vaccine, one of the most promising under development, due to a potential adverse reaction. This was a real blow to some people who were basing much of their future hopes on the development of a vaccine sooner rather than later. Disappointments […]
Adjuvants are a key ingredient of many modern vaccines, working to unleash an immune response that helps protect the body from disease. Many scientists believe that adjuvants are they key to developing new kinds of vaccines for hard-to-vaccinate viruses, like HIV. But adjuvants can cause inflammation at the injection site, as well as side effects […]
The halting of clinical trials for one of the most advanced experimental COVID-19 vaccines shows the importance of safety in developing new medicines despite overwhelming international pressure, experts said Wednesday. Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford said Tuesday they were “pausing” trials of the vaccine after a volunteer developed an unexplained illness. AstraZeneca […]
An international research network of physicians and scientists is launching a clinical trial to evaluate whether the vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) can protect front-line health-care workers against infection from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The trial aims to enroll up to 30,000 health-care workers globally. Washington University School of Medicine in […]
Johnson & Johnson reveals its coronavirus shot prevents severe illness in hamsters as the drug giant says human trials will start this month Johnson & Johnson tested its coronavirus vaccine candidate, called Ad26-S.PP, on Syrian golden hamsters Vaccinated hamsters lost less weight and had less virus in their lungs and other organs than unvaccinated hamsters […]
With the race on to find a coronavirus vaccine, the biotech sector—from an investor’s point of view—appears to be the new gold rush, promising often giddy returns, but analysts warn that the exuberance could be exaggerated. According to the World Health Organization, some 168 potential vaccines are currently in development, with countless billions of dollars […]
