News for December 2020

News Archive

MHRA approval for nasal COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial MHRA approval for nasal COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial

First in human trials for vaccine candidate with the potential to confer long-term immunity

Shionogi’s Novel Antibiotic, Fetcroja® (Cefiderocol), Has Been Selected By UK’s NICE / NHS&I as Part of an Antimicrobial Subscription Style Reimbursement Model

OSAKA, Japan, AMSTERDAM, NL – December 21, 2020 - Shionogi & Co., Ltd. and its European subsidiary, Shionogi B.V. (hereafter "Shionogi"), today announce that NICE and NHSE&I have selected its innovative antibiotic, cefiderocol, for inclusion in a pilot subscription reimbursement model in the UK which ‘de-links’ payment from volume of use, thereby recognising its potential in treating multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections and its benefits to society and healthcare systems. This scheme is called the UK Project for developing and testing an innovative model for the evaluation and purchase of antimicrobials. Pull incentives such as this are an important step to help bring urgently needed new antibiotics to market.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diversity & Inclusion in STEM launches new inquiry on Equity in the STEM workforce The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diversity & Inclusion in STEM launches new inquiry on Equity in the STEM workforce

Initial findings from the APPG reveal that 65% of the STEM workforce are White men. The STEM workforce also has a lower share of both female workers (27% vs. 52%) and disabled workers (11% vs. 14%) compared to the overall UK workforce. The APPG are calling on the STEM sector, and those in pharma specifically, to respond to their Call for Evidence in order to gain a representative view of the environment and culture of UK STEM workplaces, and inform recommendations to Government in their subsequent report

HOOKIPA Interim Phase 1 Monotherapy Data of HB-201 for the Treatment of Advanced HPV16+ Cancers Shows Promising Anti-Tumor Activity and Favorable Tolerability HOOKIPA Interim Phase 1 Monotherapy Data of HB-201 for the Treatment of Advanced HPV16+ Cancers Shows Promising Anti-Tumor Activity and Favorable Tolerability

Results support first proof of concept for HOOKIPA’s replicating investigational single-vector immunotherapy in oncology. Data demonstrate responses and stable disease in some head and neck cancer patients who all received at least two prior therapies and progressed on a PD1 inhibitor. By targeting an antigen common to Human Papillomavirus 16-positive (HPV16+), HB-201 has the potential to be a tumor-agnostic therapy for all HPV16+ cancers

Catapult Ventures invests in OVO Biomanufacturing to improve the manufacturing efficiency of viral vaccines and gene therapies Catapult Ventures invests in OVO Biomanufacturing to improve the manufacturing efficiency of viral vaccines and gene therapies

OVO Biomanufacturing, a spin-out from the University of Warwick and Coventry University, is developing digital solutions to improve the efficiency of viral vaccine and gene therapy manufacture. OVO’s technology allows manufacturers of both established and novel viral vaccines and gene therapies to maximise the production of the target virus used to produce each therapy. The technology can be applied to any virus that is grown to produce a vaccine or therapy. Improving the efficiency of manufacture can improve yield, cut lead times and costs and maximise distribution, which is essential for current and future pandemics.

Why better databases are key to chemistry’s digital future Why better databases are key to chemistry’s digital future

The Royal Society of Chemistry has announced that its near 180-year old archive of research insights have been made available for Text and Data Mining projects, but why is this important? Richard Kidd, Head of Chemistry Data at the Royal Society of Chemistry explores the significance.

Horizon Discovery licenses CHOSOURCE to Sanyou Biopharmaceuticals Co. Horizon Discovery licenses CHOSOURCE to Sanyou Biopharmaceuticals Co.

Sanyou signs two commercial-use licenses for Horizon’s gene-edited CHO-K1 GS knockout cell line, for use in biotherapeutic pipeline development and contract research services

Bora Pharmaceuticals completes acquisition of former GSK facility Bora Pharmaceuticals completes acquisition of former GSK facility

Bora Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd announced today that the contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) has successfully completed the acquisition of GSK’s Mississauga, Ontario (Canada) facility