26 June 2020
US-based biotech firm Avalon GloboCare has collaborated with the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU) in Vienna, Austria, to develop an S-layer vaccine against Covid-19 for intranasal or oral administration. The partners are working to develop a vaccine candidate that would trigger an immune response sufficient to prevent a severe form of Covid-19 infection.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA)’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended the conditional marketing authorisation of Gilead Sciences’ remdesivir under the brand name Veklury for Covid-19 patients aged 12 years and above with pneumonia who require supplemental oxygen. The drug is the first Covid-19 medicine to be recommended for authorisation in the European Union (EU).
The Federal University of Sao Paulo (Unifesp), Brazil is in discussions to assess a Covid-19 vaccine candidate developed by Italian researchers at Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute, as reported by Reuters. The Italian researchers intend to perform mid-stage and final Phase III trials in Brazil.
Theravance Biopharma has dosed first patient in the Phase II clinical trial of TD-0903 to treat hospitalised patients with acute lung injury (ALI) caused by Covid-19 infection. TD-0903 is believed to be able to block the cytokine storm related to ALI and prevent progression to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).
