In a peer-reviewed study published May 17 in PLOS Medicine, scientists found that mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines were superior to adenovirus vector-based ones across major variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Just as Emergent BioSolutions looked to be making some headway in course corrections following a production mishap that ruined millions of doses of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine, new information indicates the Maryland-based company sought to hide the deficiencies from federal regulators, all while touting its manufacturing capabilities, according to a BioSpace article.
Johnson & Johnson on May 11 appointed Thibaut Mongon as the chief executive officer of the consumer health division, which the pharmaceutical giant plans to spin off into a listed company by the end of 2023.
Janssen terminated a seven-year-old vaccine collaboration with Bavarian Nordic. The two companies partnered in 2015 to develop potential vaccines against the hepatitis B virus and human papillomaviruses.
COVID vaccine makers shift focus to boosters
AstraZeneca, Biopharma Companies, BNT162b2 (Pfizer and BioNTech), Coronavirus Vaccines, COVID vaccine mandates, COVID-19 booster shots, COVID-19 shots, COVID-19 Vaccines, CureVac, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (J&J), Johnson & Johnson, Mixing & Matching Covid-19 Vaccines, mRNA-1273/Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (Moderna), Novavax, R&D, Therapeutics, Vaccines, Vaxzevria (previously COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca)COVID-19 vaccine makers are shifting gears and planning for a smaller, more competitive booster shot market after delivering as many doses as fast as they could over the last 18 months.
Obesity may weaken vaccine protection; unvaccinated Omicron patients face risk from variants
AstraZeneca, BNT162b2 (Pfizer and BioNTech), Body Mass Index (BMI), CoronaVac (Sinovac Biotech), COVID-19 immunity, COVID-19 Studies, COVID-19 Vaccinations, COVID-19 Vaccines, Covid-19 Variants, Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients, Immune System, Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine (J&J), Johnson & Johnson, Medical Journals, Messenger RNA (mRNA) Vaccines, mRNA-1273/Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (Moderna), Nature, Nature Communications, Obesity, Omicron (B.1.1.529) (South Africa), R&D, SARS-CoV-2 virus, Sinovac, South Africa, TurkeySevere obesity may weaken the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in those who have never been infected with the coronavirus, according to a small Turkish study. Additionally, South African researchers have found infection with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus can significantly improve the immune system’s ability to protect against other variants, but only in people who have been vaccinated.
The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine is now limited to certain individuals ages 18 and up after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration downgraded its emergency use authorization.
Opioid distributors reach $518 million settlement with Washington state
Allegations, AmerisourceBergen, Business, Cardinal Health, Class Action Lawsuits, Drug Distributors, Epidemics, Hydrocodone, Johnson & Johnson, Lawsuits, Legal, McKesson, Opioid Epidemic, Opioid Overdoses, Opioids, Opioids, Settlements, Therapeutics, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, WashingtonWashington reached a $518 million settlement with drug distributors McKesson Corp., AmerisourceBergen Corp. and Cardinal Health, ending a months-long trial over the companies’ alleged role in fueling the opioid epidemic in the state, the three companies announced on May 3.
Johnson & Johnson filed a lawsuit against drug distributors and a pharmacy seeking to stop the sale of counterfeit versions of the company’s HIV drugs, months after a similar case brought by Gilead Sciences Inc.
Walgreens, Teva face San Francisco trial over opioid epidemic
Alabama, AmerisourceBergen, Business, California, Cardinal Health, Drug Distributors, Endo, Epidemics, Johnson & Johnson, Lawsuits, Lawsuits, Los Angeles, McKesson, Opioid Lawsuits, Opioids, Opioids, Pharmacies, Pharmacy, Purdue Pharma, San Francisco, Therapeutics, U.S. Opioid Crisis, Walgreens Boots Alliance, West VirginiaSan Francisco squared off on April 25 against Walgreens Boots Alliance and three other companies accused of fueling an opioid crisis in the city, the first trial to target manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies over the addictive pain medicines.