Vaccine Research
New data demonstrated that antibodies induced by Novartis Vaccines investigational, four component, Meningococcal Serogroup B Vaccine (4CMenB) killed the majority of a collection of geographically and genetically diverse meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) strains. The strain coverage research findings were recently published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Novartis release
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is funding four efforts to develop vaccine manufacturing processes based on fast-growing tobacco plants. Under its Blue Angel initiative, begun in May 2009, the agency assigned four companies to the task. Story
Vaccine Market
Protein Sciences Corporation (PSC) has announced that the company and its management have reached an agreement with Emergent BioSolutions resolving all remaining issues from the failed attempt by Emergent to purchase PSC's assets in June 2008. As a result, all litigation will be dismissed with prejudice and all other entanglements between the two companies will be ended. PSC release
In an ironic twist, J&J ($JNJ) is again forced to probe quality matters, only this time at another company's plant. Its acquisition target Crucell has suspended operations at a South Korean facility and temporarily halted shipments of two products due to contamination concerns. Article
Merck's Gardasil vaccine should win expanded approval to prevent anal cancer and precancerous lesions in men and women, according to an FDA staff review. News
Dendreon on Wednesday reported a wider third quarter loss on costs associated with the launch of its new Provenge vaccine for advanced prostate cancer, but the company provided an encouraging forecast for future sales. Story