AFRICA – The COVID Treatment Quick Start Consortium has announced that the governments of Zambia, Laos, Malawi and Rwanda have received shipments of PAXLOVID (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir), Pfizer’s COVID-19 oral treatment. Partners…
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FDA advisory panel supports full approval of Pfizer’s COVID therapy
USA —Advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave strong support for full approval of Pfizer’s oral antiviral COVID-19 treatment, Paxlovid, for adults at high risk of severe disease…
Read MoreMerck appeals EMA’s decision to reject Covid-19 antiviral drug
NETHERLANDS — Merck is appealing the EMA’s rejection of its Covid-19 pill, Lagevrio, which serves as an alternative to Pfizer’s Paxlovid. The EMA stated that they couldn’t conclude that Lagevrio…
Read MoreCOVID-19 vaccination coverage rises in Africa from EU and WHO project
AFRICA – European Union-funded, WHO-led two-year project has risen the number of COVID-19 vaccination in many vulnerable African communities. At the start of 2022, the COVID-19 vaccination rate was less…
Read MoreBiopharma industry rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic, resumes pre-pandemic levels of investment: IQVIA Report
USA—IQVIA’s latest report on the biopharmaceutical industry shows that it has rebounded from the COVID-19 pandemic and is returning to pre-pandemic levels of investment, pipeline activity, and launch of novel…
Read MoreMerck’s COVID pill faces rejection from European regulator
NETHERLANDS — Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics’ COVID-19 pill Lagevrio has been recommended against approval by a key committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The committee concluded that a clinical…
Read MoreUniversity of Sydney researchers discover new protein that hinders Covid-19
AUSTRALIA — University of Sydney scientists have discovered a protein in the lung that blocks SARS-CoV-2 infection and forms a natural protective barrier in the human body. The leucine-rich repeat-containing…
Read MoreNigeria surpasses its milestone of vaccinating 30% of its population against Covid-19
NIGERIA – Nigeria, with the support of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has surpassed the milestone of fully vaccinating 30 per cent of its total population. Nigeria has maintained a sustained…
Read MoreFDA revokes authorization for AstraZeneca’s Covid antibody drug Evusheld citing ineffectiveness
USA — Evusheld, a preventative monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19, has lost its emergency use authorization in the United States because it is unlikely to be effective against the coronavirus…
Read MoreCoVDP donates US$2.8m equipment to boost Sierra Leone vaccination efforts
SIERRA LEONE – Government of Sierra Leone has received vehicles including motorbikes and computers worth over US$2.8 million from the COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Partnership, (CoVDP), for vaccine deployment. CoVDP is…
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