In the news this week, vaccine deals are afoot on either side of the Atlantic: both the U.K. and U.S. governments have signed deals with Sanofi and GSK for doses of their COVID-19 vaccine, while the UK has also requested pharma companies begin stockpiling drugs for the period immediately post-Brexit. In other news, more potential COVID drugs appear on the horizon, though the price for current candidates is seen to vary wildly between companies.

UK SIGNS COVID-19 VACCINE DEAL WITH GSK AND SANOFI – The UK government has signed a fourth deal on coronavirus vaccines, this time securing 60 million doses of an experimental treatment, The government also secured another 90 million doses of two other promising vaccines. The GSK/Sanofi vaccine is based on the recombinant protein-based technology Sanofi uses to produce a flu vaccine. Regulatory approval for the vaccine could be reached halfway through 2021, if all trials are successful. 

UK GOVERNMENT CALLS FOR POST-BREXIT DRUG STOCKPILES – The UK government has requested that pharma companies stockpile at least six weeks’ worth of drugs in readiness for the full Brexit transition. This reserve would, it said, provide a buffer against the disruption caused by COVID-19. 

U.S. GOVERNMENT SANOFI/GSK PAYS $2.1 BILLION FOR COVID VACCINE DOSES – The Trump administration has committed more than $2 billion for an initial 100 million doses of Sanofi/GSK’s potential COVID-19 vaccine. This comes as part of its Operation Warp Speed vaccine development initiative, and will accelerate manufacturing of the vaccine. 

In other news:

R&D
Gilead urged to study potential COVID-19 treatment showing promise in cats 

Clinical Trials
Eli Lilly’s COVID-19 antibody begins nursing home trials
Novavax COVID vaccine produces antibodies in early-stage trials

Manufacturing
Moderna and J&J have disclosed vastly different price points for their lead COVID-19 vaccine candidates
State attorneys request that U.S. lowers price of remdesivir

That’s all for now. See you next week!

Joshua Neil, Editor
Proventa International

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