Merck and Pfizer Seek Approval for COVID-19 Antiviral Drugs
Merck and Pfizer have submitted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) applications to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to authorize distribution of what would be the first antiviral drug specifically designed to treat COVID-19 disease.1 Merck/Ridgeback Biotherapeutics are seeking EUA approval for Molnupiravir (MK-4482/EIDD-2801), an investigational oral antiviral drug originally developed to treat influenza.2 Pfizer […]
Pfizer Raises Sales Forecast for COVID-19 Biologic to $33.5 Billion in 2021
Pfizer, Inc. reported that the company sold $7.8 billion worth of their COVID-19 biologic BNT162b2 in the second quarter of this year raising the company’s 2021 sales forecast for the two-dose vaccine to $33.5 billion from the previously estimated $26 billion.1 The $7.8 billion from direct sales of the shot is split with its German […]
Existing Drugs Hold Promise for Treatment of COVID-19
Story Highlights A group of Israeli researchers have studied close to 3,000 approved drugs to see if any could be repurposed to treat COVID-19. They identified 18 that showed encouraging results in laboratory studies, in many cases completely protecting human cells despite infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Three drugs have been singled […]
Johnson & Johnson Recalls Carcinogen Containing Sunscreen Products
On July 14, 2021, Johnson and Johnson Consumer, Inc. voluntarily recalled all batches of five NEUTROGENA and AVEENO aerosol sunscreen product lines distributed to consumers through a variety of retail channels. The corporation recalled the products after a cancer causing chemical known as benzene was detected in samples. The products were distributed nationwide and Johnson […]
Former FDA Chief Stephen Hahn Joins Venture Capital Firm Behind Moderna COVID Vaccine
Stephen Hahn, MD, who served as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from Dec. 17, 2019 through Jan. 20, 2021, has been hired by Flagship Pioneering Co.—the venture capital firm that launched biotechnology Moderna, Inc., maker of the experimental mRNA-1273 COVID-19 biologic currently being distributed in the United States under an emergency […]
Moderna Expects $18.4 Billion in Sales from Its COVID-19 Vaccine This Year
Moderna, Inc. expects to generate $18.4 billion from sales of its experimental mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine being distributed in the U.S. under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) granted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This will be the first time that the U.S. based pharmaceutical company will make a profit since it was established in […]