Tuesday, March 8, 2022: Life Sciences

House Energy and Commerce Chair Frank Pallone introduced a bill that would dramatically rein in the FDA’s accelerated approval program. Under accelerated approval pathway, the FDA can approve drugs without clear evidence that they actually prolong patients’ lives, so...

Tuesday, March 8, 2022: Life Sciences

Moderna Inc. suggested it is ready to enforce its COVID-19 vaccine patents in wealthier countries, but didn’t specify a timeline. According to CEO Stéphane Bancel, Moderna is open to licensing its patents in higher-income nations on “commercially...

Tuesday, March 8, 2022: Life Sciences

Bancel also said that Moderna is preparing to launch human trials by 2025 for vaccines targeting 15 viruses and other pathogens that “threaten global health.” He said the $300 million effort seeks to complete early dose and safety testing in case any of...

Friday, March 4, 2022: Life Sciences

Civica Rx, the nonprofit generic drug company created by a consortium of hospitals, announced that it plans to lower the cost of insulin by making it on its own. Civica plans to manufacture and distribute three different kinds of insulin at a cost of no more than $30...

Thursday, March 3, 2022: Life Sciences

A new study found that a booster shot of either the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE or Moderna Inc. COVID-19 vaccines restored protection against symptomatic sickness caused by the omicron variant. However, just two doses of either vaccine brand were only minimally effective:...

Wednesday, March 2, 2022: Life Sciences

A group of 13 lawmakers called on the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) to account for the “troubling price increases for brand name drugs” in January. The group, led by Senators Elizabeth Warren and Amy Klobuchar, accused...