Moderna/Merck’s Combo Melanoma Cancer mRNA Therapeutic May Be Ready Next Year
The CEO of Moderna, Inc., Stephane Bancel, said last week that his company may introduce a new mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) biologic to treat melanoma cancer as early as 2025. Moderna has been working in partnership with Merck, Inc. to develop a mRNA-based shot that targets skin cancer cells. The product, mRNA-4157 (V940), would be […]
U.S. Government Gives Moderna $176 Million to Develop mRNA Bird Flu Biologic
On July 2, 2024, the U.S. government awarded a $176 million contract to Moderna, Inc. for the development of an mRNA H5N1 avian influenza biologic labeled a “vaccine,” as the media reports concerns about bird flu in dairy cows and farm workers in multiple states. The funds from the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development […]
BARDA Awards $9.27 Million Contract to Evaluate Oral Pill COVID Vaccine
Biotechnology firm Vaxart, Inc. announced on Jan. 19, 2024 that it received a $9.27 million contract from the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to fund preparations for a Phase IIb clinical trial to evaluate the company’s oral pill XXB COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The trial is expected to involve 10,000 participants and will […]
Only Remaining HIV Vaccine Efficacy Trial Fails in Africa
The latest effort to develop an HIV (human immunodeficiency viruses) vaccine in Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa was halted on Dec. 6, 2023 after preliminary data showed that the vaccine would not be effective at preventing HIV infection. The PrEPVacc (pre-exposure prophylaxis vaccine) phase 2b trial was testing two different combinations of experimental HIV vaccines, […]
Oral Vaccine for COVID Under Development in Japan
Researchers in Japan have been working on a new vaccine for COVID-19 that would be administered orally rather than by injection. The vaccine, under development by EPS Holdings, Inc. of Tokyo, is in the form of a pill that is placed under the tongue and contains part of the spike protein along with an adjuvant […]
U.S. Taxpayers Fund $5 Billion Project NextGen to Develop Novel COVID Vaccines and Drugs
Just three months after the Biden administration announced that U.S. taxpayers would fund a $5 billion initiative called Project NextGen to develop “next generation” COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) awarded $1.4 billion in contracts under the program on Aug. 22, 2023. The total includes “$1 billion for […]