1st October 2020
The University of Oxford is set to commence a new clinical study to assess the anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drug adalimumab in Covid-19 patients in the community, primarily care homes, across the UK. The Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit will conduct the AVID-CC trial in up to 750 patients.
Fujifilm has concluded a manufacturing contract agreement with VLP Therapeutics Japan for the latter’s Covid-19 vaccine formulation. Fujifilm agreed to leverage its manufacturing facilities and lipid nanoparticle infrastructure to manage operations associated with the vaccine formulations, from process development to production for clinical trials.
A clinical trial by the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has revealed no difference in infection rates among health care workers treated with a daily regimen of hydroxychloroquine, compared to placebo. The study involved 125 physicians, nurses, certified nursing assistants, emergency technicians and respiratory therapists.
Pfizer and BioNTech have started enrolling participants into a Phase III clinical trial of their Covid-19 vaccine candidate in South Africa. Designed to assess the safety and efficacy of the vaccine candidate, the trial will involve nearly 800 subjects at four sites across Gauteng, Limpopo and the Western Cape. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) granted approval for the trial on 22 September 2020.
NeuroRx and Relief Therapeutics have signed supply chain agreements and ordered enough drug substance of RLF-100 to potentially treat one million Covid-19 patients, if the pandemic continues. The companies agreed separate contracts with Nephron Pharmaceuticals and Bachem Americas for the production of commercial supplies of RLF-100. Also, another contract has been signed with an undisclosed pharmaceutical logistics partner to enable overnight supply to US hospitals.
