Omicron | Jotup

Ginkgo Bioworks and XWELL Implement Expanded CDC Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance Program to Test for More than 30 Known Pathogens

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Monday, November 6, 2023

RSV, Air travel, Traveler, Ginkgo Bioworks, NYSE, SARS-CoV-2, BA2, Genomics, Omicron, JFK, Biosecurity, Virus, United, Volunteering, DNA, CDC, World Health Organization, COVID-19, TGS, BA3, Bacteria, Public, Collection, Airport, XBB, Vaccine

BOSTON, Nov. 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, and XWELL, Inc. (Nasdaq: XWEL) today announced they are expanding their work with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Traveler-based Genomic Surveillance program (TGS) to test for more than 30 additional priority pathogens, in addition to SARS-CoV-2. TGS is a flexible, multimodal platform that consists of three complementary approaches of sample collection from arriving international travelers at U.S. airports, including voluntary nasal swabbing, aircraft wastewater, and airport wastewater sampling to enhance early detection of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and other pathogens, and fills gaps in global surveillance.

Key Points:

The partners continue to help the CDC grow TGS's capabilities to detect pathogens as early as possible, allowing for the best public health response.
The program expansion will launch at four of the program's seven major international airports (New York, JFK, San Francisco, Boston, and Washington DC, Dulles).
The TGS program can augment global surveillance systems, especially as testing and sequencing information become limited as Covid-19 monitoring wanes.
We thank the volunteers who elect to swab their noses in service to our national security and public health."

GeoVax Update: Clinical and Operational Progress Toward Transformative Opportunities

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Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Enrollment Target Completed for Phase 2 Clinical Trial Evaluating GEO-CM04S1 as a Booster for Healthy Patients Who Have Previously Received the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA Vaccine.

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Enrollment Target Completed for Phase 2 Clinical Trial Evaluating GEO-CM04S1 as a Booster for Healthy Patients Who Have Previously Received the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA Vaccine.
GeoVax and ProBioGen announced the signing of a landmark commercial license agreement for ProBioGen’s groundbreaking AGE1.CR.pIX® suspension cell line.
The agreement empowers GeoVax to enhance the manufacturing capabilities of its entire Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-based vaccine portfolio.
GeoVax announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued a Notice of Allowance for Patent Application No.

IMUNON’s Chief Science Officer to Present at the 3rd International Vaccines Congress

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Monday, October 23, 2023

LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J., Oct. 23, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMUNON, Inc. (NASDAQ: IMNN), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on harnessing the power of the immune system against cancer and infectious diseases, announces that Khursheed Anwer, Ph.D., IMUNON’s executive vice president and chief science officer, will highlight the Company’s vaccine development work at the 3rd International Vaccines Congress being held in Boston October 23-26.

Key Points:

Dr. Anwer will present “A DNA-based Vaccine Technology Independent of Virus or Device,” at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on October 23rd.
His presentation describes the multiple advantages of the Company’s PlaCCine modality over current commercial vaccine platforms, including more durable antigen expression and T-cell responses versus protein and mRNA vaccines.
Compared with viral or other DNA vaccines or protein vaccines, PlaCCine vaccines have advantages in T-cell responses, safety, compliance and manufacturing flexibility.
“We are delighted to share our ongoing work at this important conference,” said Dr. Corinne Le Goff, president and chief executive officer of IMUNON.

American Lung Association Funds $13.6 Million in Research for a Future Free of Lung Disease

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Thursday, October 12, 2023

CHICAGO, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the American Lung Association Research Institute announced it awarded $13.6 million in research grants to fund 129 innovative projects to advance today's science to end the burden of lung disease tomorrow. Lung research is critical because one in 10 people in the U.S. are living with a lung disease and each year, millions of people are impacted by respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and influenza.

Key Points:

Organization funds 129 promising research grants on lung cancer, asthma, COVID-19 and more
CHICAGO, Oct. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the American Lung Association Research Institute announced it awarded $13.6 million in research grants to fund 129 innovative projects to advance today's science to end the burden of lung disease tomorrow.
Through the Awards and Grants Program, the Lung Association supports trailblazing research, novel ideas and innovative approaches.
The Lung Association's Awards and Grants Program promotes innovative research, collaboration, translation of discoveries and scientific exchange to transform today's science into tomorrow's solutions," said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association.
For more information about the new grant awardees and the entire American Lung Association research team, visit Lung.org/research-team .

Novavax Advances Science Supporting Protein-based Vaccine Technology at IDWeek 2023 and World Vaccine Congress Europe 2023

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Wednesday, October 11, 2023

COVID-19, Omicron, WVC, NVAX, Vaccine, Development, Research and development, MD, Ageing, Virus, Science, CIC, Messenger, Novavax, EU, Pharmaceutical industry, Research

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a global company advancing protein-based vaccines with its Matrix-M™ adjuvant, will present study findings during two posters sessions at IDWeek 2023 , October 11-15, and three oral presentations at World Vaccine Congress (WVC) Europe 2023, October 16-19.

Key Points:

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a global company advancing protein-based vaccines with its Matrix-M™ adjuvant, will present study findings during two posters sessions at IDWeek 2023 , October 11-15, and three oral presentations at World Vaccine Congress (WVC) Europe 2023, October 16-19.
Highlights include clinical data on Novavax's BA.1, BA.5 and bivalent variant vaccines, an evaluation of its prototype COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 6 to 11 years, real-world evidence on adverse events post-COVID vaccination and an update on its COVID-19-Influenza Combination (CIC) vaccine candidate.
"We are excited to share the latest clinical data and real-world evidence advancing the science behind our protein-based vaccine technology," said Filip Dubovsky, MD, President of Research and Development, Novavax.
"These data will support the expansion of our label and describe characteristics that may help drive vaccine choice."

Novavax Advances Science Supporting Protein-based Vaccine Technology at IDWeek 2023 and World Vaccine Congress Europe 2023

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

COVID-19, Omicron, WVC, NVAX, Vaccine, Development, Research and development, MD, Ageing, Virus, Science, CIC, Messenger, Novavax, EU, Pharmaceutical industry, Research

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a global company advancing protein-based vaccines with its Matrix-M™ adjuvant, will present study findings during two posters sessions at IDWeek 2023 , October 11-15, and three oral presentations at World Vaccine Congress (WVC) Europe 2023, October 16-19.

Key Points:

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Novavax, Inc. (Nasdaq: NVAX), a global company advancing protein-based vaccines with its Matrix-M™ adjuvant, will present study findings during two posters sessions at IDWeek 2023 , October 11-15, and three oral presentations at World Vaccine Congress (WVC) Europe 2023, October 16-19.
Highlights include clinical data on Novavax's BA.1, BA.5 and bivalent variant vaccines, an evaluation of its prototype COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 6 to 11 years, real-world evidence on adverse events post-COVID vaccination and an update on its COVID-19-Influenza Combination (CIC) vaccine candidate.
"We are excited to share the latest clinical data and real-world evidence advancing the science behind our protein-based vaccine technology," said Filip Dubovsky, MD, President of Research and Development, Novavax.
"These data will support the expansion of our label and describe characteristics that may help drive vaccine choice."

Gilead to Present Latest Innovative Virology Data on Current and Potentially Transformative Therapies Across HIV and COVID-19 at IDWeek 2023

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

These latest data demonstrate the company’s ongoing efforts to address the unmet medical needs of people and communities affected by HIV and COVID-19.

Key Points:

These latest data demonstrate the company’s ongoing efforts to address the unmet medical needs of people and communities affected by HIV and COVID-19.
Gilead will be presenting 16 abstracts, including real-world evidence, as the company continues to pursue the next wave of scientific discovery in virology.
“At IDWeek 2023, we look forward to sharing our latest data with the broader community and discussing potential implications for the treatment of COVID-19 among some of the most vulnerable populations.
At IDWeek 2023, Gilead will present data that reinforces the ongoing role Veklury® (remdesivir) plays as the antiviral standard of care for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Pfizer and BioNTech Receive Health Canada Authorization for XBB.1.5-Adapted Monovalent COVID-19 Vaccine

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Thursday, September 28, 2023

BioNTech, Vaccine, Pirola, Omicron, Hospital, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, History, Messenger, COVID-19 vaccine, XBB, European, BNTX, COVID 19, United Kingdom, Health Canada, Safety, Pfizer

New Omicron XBB.1.5-adapted COVID-19 vaccine is administered as a single dose for individuals 5 years of age and older, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination history.

Key Points:

New Omicron XBB.1.5-adapted COVID-19 vaccine is administered as a single dose for individuals 5 years of age and older, regardless of COVID-19 vaccination history.
The updated vaccine will be available in Canada as a single dose for individuals 5 years of age and older, regardless of prior COVID-19 vaccination history.
The authorization of is based on the full body of previous clinical, non-clinical, and real-world evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccines.
“We are proud of this achievement that empowers Canadians to protect themselves against the XBB sublineages, which are currently the most dominant strains in Canada.

VBI Vaccines’ Pan-Coronavirus Vaccine Candidate, VBI-2901, Induced Broad and Durable Protective Titers Against Variants of Concern

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Wednesday, September 27, 2023

VBI Vaccines Inc. (Nasdaq: VBIV) (VBI), a biopharmaceutical company driven by immunology in the pursuit of powerful prevention and treatment of disease, today announced interim data from the Phase 1 clinical study of its multivalent pan-coronavirus vaccine candidate, VBI-2901, which expresses the ancestral COVID-19, SARS, and MERS spike antigens.

Key Points:

VBI Vaccines Inc. (Nasdaq: VBIV) (VBI), a biopharmaceutical company driven by immunology in the pursuit of powerful prevention and treatment of disease, today announced interim data from the Phase 1 clinical study of its multivalent pan-coronavirus vaccine candidate, VBI-2901, which expresses the ancestral COVID-19, SARS, and MERS spike antigens.
The Phase 1 clinical study enrolled 101 adults, aged 18-64 years who had received either two or three doses of a messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine licensed by Health Canada, and assessed both one and two dose booster regimens of VBI-2901.
Based on interim data, however, peak responses were achieved with only a single 10µg dose of VBI-2901.
“As we’ve previously said, we endeavor to develop a vaccine with meaningful differentiation to those COVID-19 vaccines already approved – we believe these initial data are evidence of just that, demonstrating an ability to safely broaden durable, protective levels of immune responses and significantly boost neutralizing responses in participants with low baseline antibody titers,” said Jeff Baxter, VBI’s President and CEO.

UCSF QBI, University College London, and Mount Sinai Identify Shared Molecular Mechanisms Across SARS-CoV-2 Variants that Allow Virus to Thrive Despite Vaccination

Retrieved on:

Thursday, September 21, 2023

SAN FRANCISCO and LONDON, Sept. 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a study published online in CELL today, scientists at UCSF QBI, University College London and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai reported breakthrough findings on convergent evolutionary mechanisms shared by COVID-19 variants, allowing them to overcome both adaptive and innate immune system barriers. In the paper titled, SARS-CoV-2 Variants Evolve Convergent Strategies to Remodel the Host Response, scientists carried out an unprecedented, systematic comparative study using the most infectious COVID-19 variants, namely Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron to identify specific viral mutations responsible for hijacking a common host pathway, thereby leading to increased transmissibility, infectivity and survival. Specifically, they discovered a convergence in potent suppression of interferon-stimulated genes through several viral proteins, including Orf6 and Orf9b, which serve as innate immune antagonist proteins capable of blocking innate host immune response.

Key Points:

The award, which included a $200,000 prize, is intended to provide support for his vision for progress against pandemic threats.
“Unfortunately, we continue to see new mutations and strains of SARS-CoV-2 despite innovations in new vaccines,” said Dr. Krogan, who founded the QBI Coronavirus Research Group (QCRG).
This finding is consistent with our investigation of early SARS-CoV-2 variants where certain viral proteins were highly expressed in infected cells which helped the virus infect our cells.
Their analysis pinpointed cellular pathways that are similarly modulated across variants during infection and represent putative targets for pan-coronavirus antivirals.