Thursday, December 9, 2021: Life Sciences

The FDA authorized the first widely available drug to help prevent COVID-19 among people with vaccine allergies and those with weakened immune systems, for whom the shots may not be effective. The drug from AstraZeneca PLC is expected to offer longer-lasting...

Wednesday, December 8, 2021: Life Sciences

Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE announced that a third dose of their COVID-19 vaccine neutralized the omicron variant and raised antibodies 25-fold in initial lab studies. While the companies said the results offer reassurance that the current formulations will protect...

Tuesday, December 7, 2021: Life Sciences

USAID said it is launching a new $400 million program to help speed COVID-19 vaccinations in lower-income countries. Most of the funding will go toward helping the countries with policy, supply chain logistics, and administering the shots in remote areas. The rest...

Tuesday, December 7, 2021: Life Sciences

GlaxoSmithKline Plc said research shows its COVID-19 antibody treatment is effective against the full combination of mutations in the new omicron variant. Tests done in-vitro against a pseudo-virus that recreates a synthesized version of omicron showed that...

Friday, December 3, 2021: Life Sciences

The FDA is preparing to accelerate the review of vaccines and drugs targeting the omicron variant in case they’re needed. According to people familiar with the matter, agency officials are meeting with drugmakers and establishing guidelines for research. Vaccine...

Friday, December 3, 2021: Life Sciences

Robert Califf, President Biden’s nominee to lead the FDA, asked Dr. Janet Woodcock, the agency’s acting commissioner, to stay on if he’s confirmed by the Senate. The Senate has not yet set a confirmation hearing for Califf. It is also not yet clear...