A third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer (PFE.N) and BioNTech (22UAy.DE) produced significant protection against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in healthy children ages 5 to 11, the companies said on April 14.

AstraZeneca said on March 21 the company’s antibody-based cocktail to prevent and treat COVID-19 retained neutralizing activity against Omicron coronavirus variants, including the highly contagious BA.2 sub-variant, in an independent lab study.

Jane Qiu, a freelance science writer based in Beijing, published an overview of her efforts to investigate the lab-leak theory for the origin of COVID-19. In another update, the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet on February 15 to discuss an amended Emergency Use Authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children 6 months through 4 years of age.

At WORLDSymposium, Astellas Pharma presented interim safety data from a Phase I/II study assessing the company’s AAV gene therapy for the rare, autosomal metabolic disease Pompe disease.

A third booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine made by AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech or Johnson & Johnson increases antibody levels significantly in those who have previously received two doses of Sinovac’s CoronaVac shot, a study has found.

Sorrento Therapeutics announced that the company’s COVID-19 treatment Covishield (STI-9167) shows significant progress in neutralizing Omicron and Omicron variants of SARS-COV-2.

Moderna Inc. said on Oct. 25 the company’s Covid-19 vaccine generated a strong immune response in children aged 6 to 11 years and plans to submit the data to global regulators soon.

Coronavirus vaccines are known to be less protective in people with the blood cancer multiple myeloma, such as former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who died on Oct. 18 of complications from Covid-19 despite being fully vaccinated. Additionally, in a paper in the journal Stem Cell Reports, researchers said numerous businesses have made unsubstantiated and inaccurate claims about supposed stem cell products to treat Covid-19.

Initial results from a vaccine trial reported Sept. 20 showed that Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine might be safe for use in children under 12 years old. 

Pfizer BioNTech, COVID booster

Pfizer Inc. and the company’s German partner BioNTech SE submitted to U.S. regulators the initial data from an early-stage trial toward seeking authorization of a booster dose of their Covid-19 vaccine, the drugmakers said on Aug. 16.