In conjunction with its American Rescue Plan, the administration of US president Joe Biden has announced its intention to spend $3 billion on building a stockpile of pharmaceuticals that can be used to treat Covid-19 and other viral threats of the future.
As India’s Covid-19 infections soar and the death toll nears 200,000, wealthier countries – including the US, UK, Germany, France and Australia – are rushing supplies of oxygen, ventilators and protective gear to the subcontinent.
Another “Big Pharma” company with a stalled candidate of its own is stepping in to help boost national or regional Covid-19 vaccine supply. US president Joe Biden was due to announce on Mar. 2 that Merck & Co will help make the Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine that received an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Feb. 27.
US pharma giant Merck has divested its direct holding in Moderna just as the US biotech is on the cusp of receiving an emergency use authorization (EUA) for its mRNA-based Covid-19. It said it expects to “record a small fourth-quarter gain.”
With some potential Covid-19 vaccine makers suggesting they could have a candidate ready for approval and maybe even deployment this autumn, concerns are arising that a doubting public could shun inoculation.
US pharma giant Merck & Co is boosting its cancer drug development, adding two more collaborations – with Foghorn Therapeutics and Zymeworks.
