The Race Toward a COVID-19 Vaccine: Three Months Later
As of July 2020, more than 11 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported worldwide, with the number of deaths at half a million and counting.
Since the start of the month, the U.S. has confirmed 50,000 cases a day for three straight days. But those numbers are optimistic—former FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb warned that actual spikes might have been in the 400,000 to 500,000 range due to limited testing capacity.
Testing at scale has been an ongoing issue in the U.S. since the beginning of the outbreak. But where are we on the vaccine front?
FDA Implements New Threshold
The FDA has released a strict set of requirements for prospective COVID-19 vaccines. Among these is proof that the vaccine candidate is at least 50% more effective than a placebo.
This threshold is comparable to the performance of the flu vaccine over the last decade, which has fluctuated between 19% and 60% efficacy, according to the CDC. In the wake of the announcement, concerns have been raised as to whether 50% efficacy is enough to stop the spread of COVID-19—which is more easily transmitted and has a higher death rate than the flu.
Major Players: What Progress Has Been Made?
CureVac
CureVac has joined forces with Tesla to manufacture mRNA vaccines using mobile molecular printers. Tesla CEO Elon Musk calls them “RNA microfactories,” and plans on shipping to remote locations in need of on-site vaccine production.
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech
A 45-patient trial has shown promising results for one of Pfizer and BioNTech’s four mRNA vaccine candidates. Doses given to COVID-19 patients elevated antibody levels by up to 2.8 times. Phase 3 trials could begin as early as July.
Moderna
The NIH claims partial ownership of Modern’s frontrunner COVID-19 vaccine. Why does this matter? Patent rights would allow the federal government to lower costs and widen distribution without Moderna’s consent.
Major Players: Recent Updates on COVID-19 Treatments
Gilead Sciences
The Trump administration has been widely criticized for setting aside Gilead Sciences’ entire Remdesivir supply for the month of July—plus the majority of its stock for the next two months, amounting to more than 500,000 doses.
Eusa Pharma
Eusa Pharma won FDA approval for phase 3 trial testing of Sylvant, an IL-6 inhibitor that targets COVID-induced lung inflammation. This is the last hurdle for Eusa Pharma to overcome before Sylvant reaches hospitals.
Key Takeaways
For pharmaceutical organizations everywhere, staying updated is more important than ever. But watching the news is not enough. In the midst of a global public health emergency, life sciences training must become a top priority.
Now is the time to invest in new skills for your organization. Get your teams up to speed with professional training and certification courses from the Center for Professional Innovation and Education (CfPIE).
Are you interested in keeping your organization COVID-ready? Get in touch with a member of the CfPIE team by calling 1-610-648-7550 or emailing [email protected].
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