Pharma giants make progress in pivot to mRNA technology in race for next-gen influenza vaccines, but hurdles remain

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mRNA technology helped propel the development of some of the most successful drugs in pharma history — notably, the Comirnaty COVID-19 from Pfizer generated almost $56 billion in 2022 while Moderna’s Spikevax vaccine raked in $18.4 billion. But with demand for COVID-19 vaccines cooling, drug developers are aiming to extend the dominion of mRNA technology to flu vaccines. This month, Moderna and the CureVac/GSK alliance announced promising interim results for their respective flu vaccine candidates. Meanwhile, a year ago, in September 2022, Pfizer announced a phase 3 study for its mRNA-based influenza vaccine. NIH is also developing an mRNA vaccine that promises to provide protection against all known influenza subtypes. A phase 1 study of it is underway.

Sanofi has acknowledged the promise and perils of mRNA flu vaccines

Sanofi, a prominent flu vaccine maker, has acknowledge…

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Drug Discovery & Development’s Brian Buntz clinches 2023 Azbee national gold award

Our own pharma editor, Brian Buntz, has won national gold in the 2023 Azbee Awards of Excellence. The accolade from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) recognized Buntz’s coverage for Drug Discovery & Development, which was highlighted in the sister print publication of Medical Design & Outsourcing.

ASBPE is a widely recognized professional association for individuals involved in the B2B media industry. Since its founding in 1964, ASBPE has sought to help set high standards in the industry.

A string of other WTWH Media publications also won Azbee awards, including Medical Design & Outsourcing (MDO), Design World, Solar Power World and Restaurant Business. MDO received five national and nine regional Azbee Awards, including two national golds.

The award for the pharma feature was granted for a late 2021 interview with Eric Merle. Merle is the chief business innovation officer at Genoskin, a company that uses huma…

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