VLA15 is the only active Lyme disease vaccine program in clinical development today, and covers six serotypes that are prevalent in North America and Europe. The investigational multivalent protein subunit vaccine, VLA15, targets the outer surface protein A (OspA) of Borrelia, an established mechanism of action for a Lyme disease vaccine. OspA is one of the most dominant surface proteins expressed by the bacteria when present in a tick.Continue reading
Author Archive: AZBio
Gilead Sciences Chairman & CEO Shares Open Letter on Remdesivir Data
On April 29, 2020, Daniel O’Day, Chairman & CEO, Gilead Sciences shared an Open Letter following the official press release containing data on Remdesivir and COVID-19.
“The results from the global, placebo-controlled trial run by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) are positive. They show that patients with COVID-19 who received remdesivir recovered faster than similar patients who received placebo” O’Day writes. “There is still more work to do and remdesivir has not been approved, but all of us at Gilead are humbled by what these promising results might mean for patients. After years of research and hard work on remdesivir, there is relief and gratitude among our teams today that their efforts have been so worthwhile.”
Gilead Announces Results From Phase 3 Trial of Investigational Antiviral Remdesivir in Patients With Severe COVID-19
Study Demonstrates Similar Efficacy with 5- and 10-Day Dosing Durations of RemdesivirContinue reading
Dr. Theresa Cullen to join Pima County team as Public Health Director on June 1
Dr. Theresa Cullen is the new Pima County Public Health Director, effective June 1. Dr. Cullen has had a distinguished career as a public health physician, including retiring as a Public Health Service Officer from the federal government with the rank of Rear Admiral and Assistant U.S. Surgeon General.
Governor Ducey Provides Updated Guidance For Arizonans, Businesses
PHOENIX — Governor Doug Ducey today announced an extension of physical distancing measures while laying out a step-by-step approach to continue reenergizing Arizona’s economy. The Governor today issued an Executive Order extending Arizona’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy, Stay Connected Order until May 15, 2020.
The order also continues Arizona’s gradual economic reopening, allowing retail businesses to begin partial operations starting next week. Under the order, retail businesses currently not operating can begin curbside pick-up on Monday, May 4, followed by expanded in-person operations on Friday, May 8 as long as they implement social distancing and sanitation measures established by the United States Department of Labor or the Arizona Department of Health Services.Continue reading
NIH launches the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) Initiative.
- NIH mobilizes national innovation initiative for COVID-19 diagnostics
- Initiative aims to speed delivery of accurate, easy-to-use, scalable tests to all Americans.
- With a $1.5 billion investment from federal stimulus funding, the newly launched Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx) initiative will infuse funding into early innovative technologies to speed development of rapid and widely accessible COVID-19 testing
- NIH is urging all scientists and inventors with a rapid testing technology to compete in a national COVID-19 testing challenge for a share of up to $500 million over all phases of development.
Moderna Announces IND Submitted to U.S. FDA for Phase 2 Study of mRNA Vaccine (mRNA-1273) Against Novel Coronavirus
- 600 participant Phase 2 study to begin upon IND acceptance and safety data from ongoing NIH-led Phase 1 study
- Planning underway for Phase 3 study; study expected to begin in the fall of 2020
Sonora Quest Laboratories Now Offering COVID-19 Antibody Testing in Arizona
TEMPE, Ariz. (April 24, 2020) – Sonora Quest Laboratories, the market share leader in diagnostic laboratory testing in Arizona, announced today that it will ramp up its fight against COVID-19 and offer antibody testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) using blood specimens. With this new offering, Sonora Quest now provides healthcare providers in Arizona access to a COVID-19 antibody test as well as the molecular diagnostic testing that has been offered since mid-March.Continue reading
Banner Health urges former COVID-19 patients to donate plasma for current patients
Banner Research provides Donation Coordinators to assist potential donors
PHOENIX (April 24, 2020) – With the need for “convalescent plasma” to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients ramping up as cases rise, Banner Research is providing donation coordinators in metro Phoenix, Tucson and Northern Colorado to help recovered COVID-19 patients get through the plasma donation process. The donation coordinators are equipped to assess qualifying criteria for potential donors, answer questions and explain how the donation process works.Continue reading
Johnson & Johnson Announces Collaboration to Expand Manufacturing Capabilities For its COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate in Support of the Company’s Goal to Supply More Than One Billion Vaccine Doses Globally
Company Signs Agreement with Emergent BioSolutions in the U.S. As Part of its Investment
First in Series of Anticipated Strategic Collaborations Designed to Further the Company’s Goal of Ensuring Global Supply of a Safe and Effective Vaccine for COVID-19Continue reading