Moderna sues Pfizer, Zerion develops a dispersome formulation, while Tufts researchers find a way for muscle cells to produce antibodies, along with other top news!
Bringing you the latest pharmaceutical and health news with this week’s newsletter! Every week we aim to cover the most important happenings in the industry and this week we take a look at Moderna suing Pfizer over the COVID vaccine (even though they said they wouldn’t), Zerion’s new drug formulation which will lead to a decrease in the need for large doses of drugs overall, a new research which uses synthesized mRNA to teach muscle cells to produce antibodies, a clinical trial for drug resistant TB, and a win for Curis’ leukemia treatment.
Moderna is suing Pfizer and partner BioNtech over use of mRNA technology
Pfizer and Moderna were among the first to offer hope during the initial stages of the COVID pandemic by rolling out vaccines. These vaccines were both mRNA-based and now Moderna has claimed that, and as a result sued, Pfizer and partner BioNtech stating that the companies have copied Moderna’s mRNA technology to develop their COVID-19 vaccine shot. However, two years ago Moderna had pledged to not enforce its patents while the COVID pandemic was ongoing. Read more about the claim by Moderna here:
Zerion develops Dispersome technology
Zerion Pharma has successfully developed Dispersome technology which improves the solubility of drugs in medicine formulation. With this technology, the volume of actives in a drug formulation can be lowered as they become more readily available for absorption and the need for higher drug concentration reduces. Zerion has partnered with Insud Pharma for the marketing and sales of the formulation. The partners have clinical trials for humans in the pipeline to test the formulation.
Programing muscle cells to produce antibodies using mRNA tech
The use of monoclonal antibodies in treatments is an important and effective therapy for a wide range of illnesses, most recently popularized during the COVID pandemic. However, this is an expensive process and works by neutralizing the threat in the body by binding to the invading pathogen. Researchers at Tufts University have conducted successful trials on mice using a kind of synthesized mRNA that was created by the team. This synthesized mRNA was given via an intramuscular shot and it elicited a response from the mice cells producing monoclonal antibodies used to find botulism.
PAN-TB teams up with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to develop new TB drugs
Drug resistance to Tuberculosis (TB) is a growing concern, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down efforts to reduce its occurrence and mortality rate. PAN-TB or the Project to Accelerate New Treatments for Tuberculosis has announced a Phase II clinical trial for two novel drugs to combat TB as per a joint effort with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. TB is a bacterial and infectious disease of the respiratory system and the novel drugs to fight the disease are expected to be available coming next year, after trials.
Win for Curis and its Leukemia treatment
The FDA has allowed Curis to resume its patient enrollment in the Phase I trials of emavusertib, its Leukemia treatment. Phase II is on a temporary hold until the results of Phase I have been reviewed by the regulatory authority. The FDA had previously halted the enrollment of patients in Curis’ clinical trials due to safety concerns, however, after an agreement with some adjustments to the trial, the FDA has allowed Curis to continue with the testing of its Lymphoma treatment.
