RepliCel Life Sciences Inc (TSXV:RP)
RepliCel is a regenerative medicine company developing autologous cell therapies that address diseases caused by a deficit of healthy cells required for normal healing and function.
Merck (NYSE:MRK) -1.8% to discontinue development of its SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 vaccine candidates, V590 and V591 as Phase 1 clinical studies displayed immune responses to be inferior to those seen following natural infection and those reported for other SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 vaccines.
The company plans to focus its SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 research strategy and production capabilities on advancing two therapeutic candidates, MK-4482 and MK-7110.
Due to the discontinuation, the company will record a charge in Q4.
In addition to advancing the development and production of MK-7110 and MK-4482, the company will continue to conduct SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 research.
The company will also continue to evaluate the potential of the measles-virus vector and vesicular stomatitis virus vector-based platforms and pursue broader pandemic-response capabilities.
Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) rises 5% in premarket after announcing study results in which its COVID-19 vaccine retained neutralizing activity against the emerging new variants of the virus, including B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, first identified in the UK and South Africa, respectively.
The study showed no significant impact on neutralizing titers against the B.1.1.7 variant relative to prior variants, and six-fold reduction in neutralizing titers was observed with the B.1.351 variant relative to prior variants. Despite this reduction, neutralizing titer levels with B.1.351 remain above levels that are expected to be protective.
The study results from Moderna follows UK health secretary Matt Hancock comments that the COVID-19 variant first detected in South Africa could reduce the vaccine efficacy by half.
Additionally, the Company said it will test an additional booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine.
The German health minister has told the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag that the country’s government has procured a new antibody-based therapy against COVID-19, according to dw.com.
“Starting next week, the monoclonal antibodies will be used in Germany as the first country in the EU. Initially in university clinics,” the minister has said, adding that “the federal government has bought 200,000 doses for €400 million ($487 million).”
Both Regeneron (NASDAQ:REGN) and Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) have received FDA’s emergency use authorization for their monoclonal antibody therapies against COVID-19 to treat patients who are not hospitalized but are at high risk of developing the disease.
