AstraZeneca receives $1B in U.S. funding for Oxford Univ. coronavirus vaccine AstraZeneca has received more than $1 billion from BARDA to develop a coronavirus vaccine from Oxford University. The drugmaker has agreed to initially supply at least 400 million doses of the vaccine and secured total manufacturing capacity to produce 1 billion doses, with first deliveries in … [Read more...]

Global coronavirus cases surpass 5 million Global cases of the novel coronavirus surpassed 5 million this week, nearly five months after the first infection was reported in Wuhan, China. The virus has now spread to more people in under six months than the total number of severe flu cases each year, which is estimated to infect about 3 million to 5 million globally, according … [Read more...]

Wharton model predicts 4.3M Americans infected if states fully reopen A University of Pennsylvania Wharton model forecasts 4.3 million infected in the U.S. by the third week of July if states reopen while still practicing measures of social distancing. Partially reopening states with social distancing rules in place would result in nearly 3.2 million positive cases. This … [Read more...]

BARDA awards $354M contract to Phlow Corp. to manufacture generic meds, pharm ingredients The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has awarded a $354 million, four-year contract to Phlow Corp. (Richmond, VA), a new company, to manufacture generic medicines and pharmaceutical ingredients needed to treat COVID-19. Currently, most of these ingredients … [Read more...]

Moderna reports positive data on early-stage coronavirus vaccine trial Moderna’s (Massachusetts) coronavirus vaccine produced COVID-19 antibodies in all 45 participants in an early-stage human trial. Each participant received a 25, 100 or 250 microgram dose, with 15 people in each dose group. Participants received two doses of the potential vaccine via intramuscular … [Read more...]

NIH, Oxford vaccine appears to provide protection against COVID-19 in monkeys Researchers from the NIH and the University of Oxford have a produced a vaccine that appears to protect animals from developing pneumonia or an immune-enhanced disease when it was given to rhesus macaque monkeys to fight COVID-19. The animals who had been given the vaccine and were then exposed to … [Read more...]

New $3 trillion coronavirus relief bill introduced in U.S. House Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled their latest coronavirus relief bill this week, a $3 trillion, 1,800-page package. A vote is expected this week on it. If it passes the House, it will face roadblocks in the Senate. “I’m in discussion, we all are with the administration, if we reach a … [Read more...]

NIH director says several vaccines likely needed to combat coronavirus NIH Director Francis Collins said several vaccines will likely be needed to combat the coronavirus and immunize groups of people in America and abroad. The first people to get a vaccine will likely be frontline healthcare workers and those with chronic conditions that put them at greater risk from the … [Read more...]

Three top White House officials began quarantine after two staff members test positive Three top White House officials have begun their quarantine after two administration staff members tested positive for the coronavirus. Among those who will be sequestered for two weeks is Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert. So will Dr. Robert Redfield, the … [Read more...]