Linksbridge Pharma: this week's highlights
U.S. funds H5N1 vaccine, Covid PrEP
The U.S. government last week announced nearly $1 billion in funding for pandemic vaccine and therapeutic development through the Rapid Response Partnership Vehicle (RRPV) Consortium.
A $590 million BARDA-funded award to Moderna will accelerate the development of an mRNA-based H5N1 influenza vaccine “well matched to strains currently circulating in cows and birds,” according to a government press release. The Massachusetts-based vaccine maker will also use the award to support a Phase 3 study of an H7N9 vaccine candidate and help bring up to four additional novel pandemic flu vaccine candidates to Phase 1.
CEPI backs RVF vaccine ‘made in Africa, for Africa’
South Africa’s Afrigen will progress the “first-ever mRNA-based vaccine” against Rift Valley fever into Phase 1 trials thanks to a $6.2 million investment from CEPI, the Oslo-based organization announced Sunday.
Leveraging the mRNA technology it developed in its role as host of the WHO-backed mRNA tech transfer hub, Afrigen will work with Seoul’s?International Vaccine Institute to develop the candidate. Clinical testing will take place in South Africa or “another outbreak-affected country” on the continent, the press release said.
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RIGHT Foundation funds rapid STI diagnostic
Kryptos Biotechnologies has secured a development grant from South Korea’s RIGHT Foundation to advance its molecular diagnostic testing system for STIs, the Silicon Valley startup announced last week.
In collaboration with South Korean medical device maker Osang Healthcare, Kryptos aims to use the $1.2 million award to develop a 30-minute test to detect chlamydia, gonorrhea and trichomoniasis using a single patient sample, per 360Dx.
Additional stories from our January 22 issue:
Each week, our team covers industry and R&D developments important to global health. From early-stage vaccines to multistakeholder initiatives supporting market health, we tell you what’s happening and why it matters. To access full coverage, sign up today.