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☆ US FDA authorizes Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna's updated COVID shots
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Signage is seen outside of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) headquarters in White Oak, Maryland, U.S., August 29, 2020. A third shot, made by Novavax (NVAX.O), is still under review by the FDA. But obviously that requires that FDA have decided the data supports it," said Jesse Goodman, a professor at Georgetown and former FDA chief scientist. Moderna and Pfizer, which is partnered with German biotech firm BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE), said the updated vaccines were expected to be available the United States in the coming days. An endorsement by CDC Director Mandy Cohen, expected shortly, should clear the way for the new shots.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Novavax, Jesse Goodman, —, Mandy Cohen, Cohen, Sriparna Roy, Mariam Sunny, Michael Erman, Shinjini Organizations: Food and Drug Administration, FDA, REUTERS, Pfizer, Moderna, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, for Disease Control, Prevention, Georgetown, EG, CDC, Thomson Locations: White Oak , Maryland, U.S, United States, Bengaluru, New York

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. approved updated COVID-19 vaccines Monday, hoping to rev up protection against the latest coronavirus strains and blunt any surge this fall and winter. It’s part of a shift to treat fall updates of the COVID-19 vaccine much like getting a yearly flu shot. A CDC advisory panel is set to issue recommendations Tuesday on who most needs the updated shots. The FDA pointedly isn’t calling this latest round a “booster” but instead a vaccine updated to better match the currently circulating virus. But while the FDA's decision allows for wide use of the updated shots, the CDC will decide how strongly different groups are urged to get them.

Persons: BioNTech, they’ve, There’s, Novavax, It’s, Peter Marks Organizations: WASHINGTON, Drug Administration, Moderna, Pfizer, Disease Control, CDC, FDA, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, AP

Nicknamed "Pirola" on social media, the BA.2.86 Omicron subvariant is being tracked by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of Aug. 30, CDC said the BA.2.86 variant was detected in at least four U.S. states in people or wastewater. Delaware on Tuesday said it had detected a BA.2.86 infection at a hospital. Moderna on Wednesday said clinical data showed that its retooled COVID vaccine generated a nearly 9-fold increase in human antibodies that can neutralize BA.2.86. Pfizer said on Wednesday that its updated COVID shot showed neutralizing activity against BA.2.86 and EG.5 in studies conducted on mice.

Persons: Emily Elconin, David Dowdy, Dowdy, Dan Barouch, David Ho, Deena Beasley, Julie Steenhuysen, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Moderna, Pfizer, World Health Organization, WHO, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, EG, Omicron, East, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center, Virology, Vaccine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical, Columbia University, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Thomson Locations: Waterford , Michigan, U.S, Europe, Asia, Delaware, East Coast, Boston, Sweden, China

☆ How Covid Affects the Heart
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Dana G. Smith | More About Dana G. Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Others may develop because Covid is also associated with the onset of risk factors for heart disease, most notably hypertension. How vaccines reduce the riskResearch has shown that people who are vaccinated are roughly 40 to 60 percent less likely to have a heart attack or stroke following a Covid infection than those who are unvaccinated. This may be because vaccinated people are less likely to develop severe Covid, which in turn lowers the risk of many of these heart-related issues. There is a small risk of developing myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) in the weeks after getting an mRNA Covid vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. For males 30 and older, the risk of myocarditis was 28 times higher from Covid than from the vaccine.

Persons: ”, Helene Glassberg, who’ve, Laffin, myocarditis Organizations: University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Pfizer, Centers for Disease Control, Prevention

☆ Moderna, Pfizer say updated COVID shots generate strong response vs newer variant
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Patrick Wingrove | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Moderna said its shot generated an 8.7-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies against BA.2.86 compared with an untreated natural antibody response in clinical trials in humans. Pfizer said its updated vaccine with partner BioNTech (22UAy.DE) elicited a strong antibody response against BA.2.86 in a preclinical study in mice. Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech and relative newcomer to the COVID vaccine market Novavax (NVAX.O) have created versions of their shots aimed at the XBB.1.5 subvariant, the dominant variant through most of 2023. Moderna shares were down 1.6% and Pfizer shares were off nearly 3% in afternoon trading. The Omicron offshoot carries more than 35 mutations in key portions of the virus compared with XBB.1.5, the target of the updated shots.

Persons: Moderna, Jacqueline Miller, BioNTech, Cowen, Tyler Van Buren, Dado Ruvic, Patrick Wingrove, Michael Erman, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Pfizer, World Health Organization, WHO, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, ” Moderna, Moderna, REUTERS, CDC, Omicron, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Britain's Medicines, Healthcare, Agency, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Switzerland, South Africa, Israel, Denmark, U.S, Britain, New York, New Jersey

☆ Moderna says updated COVID vaccine is effective against newer variant
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Patrick Wingrove | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A vial and sryinge are seen in front of a displayed Moderna logo in this illustration taken January 11, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 6 (Reuters) - Moderna (MRNA.O) on Wednesday said clinical trial data showed its updated COVID-19 vaccine will likely be effective against the highly-mutated BA.2.86 subvariant of the coronavirus that has raised fears of a resurgence of infections. The Omicron offshoot carries more than 35 mutations in key portions of the virus compared with XBB.1.5, the dominant variant through most of 2023 and the target of the updated shots. Moderna said it had shared the new finding on its vaccine with regulators and submitted it for peer review publication. European regulators have since backed the Pfizer/BioNTech shot, with Britain's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approving the vaccine on Tuesday, but have yet to make any announcements on Moderna’s updated vaccine.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Jacqueline Miller, Moderna, COVID, BioNTech, Patrick Wingrove, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, World Health Organization, WHO, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, ” Moderna, CDC, Omicron, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Pfizer, Moderna, Britain's Medicines, Healthcare, Agency, Reuters, Thomson Locations: The Massachusetts, Switzerland, South Africa, Israel, Denmark, U.S, Britain, New York

☆ US CDC says new COVID lineage could cause infections in vaccinated individuals
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

CDC said it was too soon to know whether this might cause more severe illness compared with previous variants. But due to the high number of mutations detected in this lineage, there were concerns about its impact on immunity from vaccines and previous infections, the agency said. Scientists are keeping an eye on the BA.2.86 lineage because it has 36 mutations that distinguish it from the currently-dominant XBB.1.5 variant. The agency had earlier this month said it was tracking the highly mutated BA.2.86 lineage, which has been detected in the United States, Denmark and Israel. CDC said on Wednesday the current increase in hospitalizations in the United States is not likely driven by the BA.2.86 lineage.

Persons: Pratik Jain, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: Science, Trinity College, Reuters, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, Thomson Locations: Dublin, Wuhan, United States, Denmark, Israel, hospitalizations, Bengaluru

☆ Covid vaccine stocks jump as new variants emerge ahead of fall shot rollout
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Covid vaccine makers' shares rose Monday as new variants of the virus emerge in the U.S. ahead of the rollout of updated shots this fall. Shares of BioNTech , which jointly develops Covid vaccines with Pfizer , popped nearly 7%. It's been a rocky few months for those stocks as sales of Covid shots and treatments plummet in the U.S.: Shares of all four companies are down more than 20% for the year. But Wall Street's enthusiasm for Covid vaccine makers is getting a fresh boost with the upcoming launch of brand-new shots this fall and the emergence of new variants of the virus. So far, there is no evidence that BA.2.86 spreads faster or causes more serious infections than previous versions.

Persons: Novavax, It's Organizations: Pfizer, EG, U.S . Health, CNBC, Moderna, Novavax, World Health Organization, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention Locations: U.S, Denmark, Israel

☆ Biden administration to urge Americans get new COVID-19 boosters
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A 50-year-old and immunocompromised resident receives a second booster shot of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine in Waterford, Michigan, U.S., April 8, 2022. On Thursday, Moderna (MRNA.O) said initial data showed its updated COVID-19 vaccine is effective against the "Eris" and "Fornax" subvariants in humans. Moderna and other COVID-19 vaccine makers Novavax (NVAX.O), Pfizer (PFE.N) and German partner BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE) have created versions of their shots aimed at the XBB.1.5 subvariant. Pending approval from health regulators in the United States and Europe, the companies expect the updated shots to be available in the coming weeks for the autumn vaccination season. "We will be encouraging all Americans to get those boosters in addition to flu shots and RSV shots," the official said, referring to the Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

Persons: Emily Elconin, Biden, BioNTech, Steve Holland, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, White, for Disease Control, Pfizer, Thomson Locations: Waterford , Michigan, U.S, Moderna, United States, Europe

☆ Pfizer's updated COVID shot effective against 'Eris' variant in mice study
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Pfizer, along with its German partner BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE), as well as other COVID-19 vaccine makers Moderna (MRNA.O) and Novavax (NVAX.O) have created versions of their shots, which are aimed at the XBB.1.5 subvariant. EG.5, nicknamed by some as "Eris", is similar to the XBB.1.5 subvariant and a sub-lineage of the still-dominant Omicron variant. EG.5 accounted for about more than 17% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the latest government data. In the United States, COVID-19 related hospitalizations are up more than 40% off of recent lows hit in June, but are still more than 90% below peak levels hit during the January 2022 Omicron outbreak. Reporting by Pratik Jain in Bengaluru; Editing by Shilpi MajumdarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Chris Aluka Berry, BioNTech, Pratik Jain, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: Dekalb Pediatric Center, REUTERS, Pfizer, Pfizer Inc, Moderna, EG, World Health Organization, Thomson Locations: Dekalb, Georgia, Decatur , Georgia, U.S, United States, China, South Korea, Japan, Canada, Bengaluru

☆ Moderna's updated COVID vaccine effective against 'Eris' variant in humans
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Vials of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are seen at Apotex pharmaceutical company as Humber River Hospital's mobile vaccine clinic vaccinate employees as part of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination campaign, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada April 13, 2021. REUTERS/Carlos Osorio/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies BioNTech SE FollowModerna Inc FollowNovavax Inc Follow Show more companiesAug 17 (Reuters) - Moderna (MRNA.O) said on Thursday an initial study data showed its updated COVID-19 vaccine to be effective against the "Eris" and "Fornax" subvariants in humans. Moderna and other COVID-19 vaccine makers Novavax (NVAX.O), Pfizer (PFE.N) and German partner BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE) have created versions of their shots aimed at the XBB.1.5 subvariant. Earlier on Thursday, Pfizer reported that its updated COVID-19 shot, co-developed with BioNTech, showed neutralizing activity against the Eris subvariant in a study conducted on mice. Eris, the nickname for EG.5, is similar to the XBB.1.5 subvariant and a sub-lineage of the still-dominant Omicron variant.

Persons: Carlos Osorio, BioNTech, Pratik Jain, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: Moderna, REUTERS, Pfizer, EG, Omicron, World Health Organization, Thomson Locations: Humber, Toronto , Ontario, Canada, United States, Europe, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ New Covid vaccines are on the way as 'Eris' variant rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Michael Erman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Some public health experts hope that Americans will welcome the new shot as they would a flu jab. In the fall of 2022, by which time most people had either had the COVID virus or the vaccine, fewer than 50 million people got the shots. Its biggest rival, Moderna, conceded demand could be as few as 50 million shots. POST PANDEMIC VACCINEThe COVID public health emergency ended in May and the government has handed much of the duty of vaccinating America to the private sector. As with the flu, Pfizer (PFE.N)/BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE), Moderna (MRNA.O) and Novavax (NVAX.O), have created versions of the COVID vaccine to try to match the variant they believe will be circulating this fall.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Ashley Kirzinger, Kirzinger, BioNTech, Jefferies, Michael Yee, " Yee, Mandy Cohen, William Schaffner, Schaffner, David Boulware, Michael Erman, Caroline Humer, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, CVS Health, Family, Reuters, Pfizer –, Moderna, Pfizer, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, EG, Vanderbilt University, University of Minnesota, Thomson Locations: U.S, America, United States, COVID, CDC's

☆ Covid Eris: What to know about new variant EG.5 dominating U.S. cases
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Michael Erman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Aug 14 (Reuters) - COVID infections and hospitalizations are on the rise in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Health officials are pointing at the EG.5 "Eris" coronavirus, a subvariant of the Omicron lineage that originally emerged November of 2021. EG.5 had been found in more than 50 countries as of August 8, according to the WHO. It is the most common and fastest growing COVID-19 subvariant in the U.S., estimated to be responsible for around 17% of current COVID cases, according to the CDC. EG.5 is similar to XBB.1.5 although the newer subvariant carries one mutation to its spike protein, the part of the virus targeted by the vaccine.

Persons: Mandy Cohen, Cohen, Michael Erman, Caroline Humer, Diane Craft Organizations: Health, EG, Omicron, World Health Organization, WHO, CDC, Pfizer, Thomson Locations: U.S, Europe, Asia

☆ With Eris on the rise, US CDC sees no major shift in COVID variants
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Updated vaccines should be available by mid- to late September, she said. The vaccines still need to be authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the CDC needs to make its recommendations, she said. "We are likely to see this as a recommendation as an annual COVID shot just like we have an annual flu shot," she said. Pfizer (PFE.N)/BioNTech SE (22UAy.DE), Moderna (MRNA.O) and Novavax (NVAX.O) have all said they expect to have supplies of the updated vaccine ready for the roll out this autumn. Eris is the fasting-growing COVID-19 subvariant in the U.S., estimated to be responsible for around 17% of current COVID cases, according to the CDC.

Persons: Mandy Cohen, Biden, Andy Slavitt's, we've, Cohen, Michael Erman, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: EG, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Pfizer, World Health Organization, CDC, Thomson Locations: United States, China, U.S, New York

☆ Novavax posts quarterly profit on COVID vaccine sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Novavax Inc FollowAstraZeneca PLC FollowBioNTech SE Follow Show more companiesAug 8 (Reuters) - Novavax (NVAX.O) reported a second-quarter profit on Tuesday, helped by strong revenue from its COVID-19 vaccines, but still trimmed its annual forecast for sales of the shot. As part of the agreement, Novavax will issue 6.5 million shares to SK Bioscience at $13 per share. Following the agreements, Novavax now owes SK Bioscience $65 million in cash. The company reported revenue of $424 million, compared with analysts' estimates of $240 million, according to Refinitiv IBES data. Novavax lowered the sales forecast for its COVID-19 vaccines to between $1.3 billion and $1.5 billion this year, compared with a previous outlook of $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion.

Persons: Novavax, Leroy Leo, Michael Erman, Varun H, Maju Samuel, Shounak Organizations: AstraZeneca, SK Bioscience, South Korean, South, Thomson Locations: KS, South Korean, United States, Bengaluru, New York

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves midday: Tesla, Berkshire Hathaway, PayPal, Cinemark and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Brian Evans | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The company earned €168 million in revenue, while analysts polled by Refinitiv expected €672 million. The company reported adjusted net income and revenue that beat expectations for the second quarter. Viatris reported revenue of $3.92 billion, while analysts polled by StreetAccount called for $3.86 billion. PayPal – PayPal stock climbed 2% after launching its first stablecoin, PayPal USD, backed by the U.S. dollar on Monday. Analysts polled by FactSet are forecasting an adjusted 5 cents per share on $534.2 million in sales.

Persons: Tesla, Zach Kirkhorn, Vaibhav Taneja, Taneja, BioNTech, Refinitiv, Tyson, Berkshire Hathaway, Warren, StreetAccount, Andrew Mok, Sovos, Campbell, Sovos Brands, Campbell Soup, Morgan Stanley, Benjamin Swinburne, Oppenheimer, Yun Li, Alex Harring, Samantha Subin Organizations: Refinitiv, Berkshire, Warren, UBS, Sovos, PayPal, U.S, FactSet Locations: Gruenheide, Germany, BioNTech –, stablecoins, U.S

☆ Stocks making the biggest moves premarket: Sovos Brands, BioNTech, Tyson Foods and more
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Tyson Foods — Shares of the food processing company fell more than 7% after Tyson's fiscal third-quarter report missed estimates on the top and bottom lines. Tyson generated 15 cents in adjusted earnings per share on $13.14 billion of revenue. Analysts surveyed by Refinitiv were expecting 26 cents per share on $13.59 billion of revenue. Sovos Brands — Shares of Rao's parent Sovos Brands' popped 25% in premarket trading after food giant Campbell Soup said Monday it would acquire the pasta sauce maker for $2.33 billion. Campbell will pay $23 per share for the company, which is 27.6% higher than the Sovos Brands' last closing price.

Persons: Tyson, Refinitiv, DaVita, Campbell Soup, Campbell, Wells, Warren Buffett's, BioNTech, it's, Nikola —, Viatris, —, Fred Imbert, Samantha Subin, Yun Li, Tanaya Macheel, Jesse Pound Organizations: UBS, Brands, Campbell Soup, Berkshire Hathaway —, KKR —, KKR Locations: Covid

REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay/File PhotoFRANKFURT, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Germany's BioNTech (22UAy.DE), Pfizer's (PFE.N) partner on COVID-19 vaccines, cut its drug development budget for this year after quarterly revenues were hurt by a plunge in pandemic-related demand. The quarterly net loss was 190 million euros, down from a COVID-19-fuelled profit of 1.67 billion euros a year earlier. The company said it cut its projected research and development (R&D) budget for this year to between 2 and 2.2 billion euros, down from between 2.4 and 2.6 billion euros previously forecast. R&D expenditures were 1.54 billion euros last year. BioNTech reaffirmed its outlook for COVID-19 vaccine revenues to reach about 5 billion euros in 2023, down from 17.2 billion euros last year, expecting a renewed sales boost from an inoculation campaign in the fall.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, Jens Holstein, BioNTech, Ludwig Burger, Miranda Murray, Friederike Heine, Louise Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Pfizer, Thomson Locations: Mainz, Germany

☆ On tap next week: Two key inflation reports and 4 Club earnings releases. Here's what we're looking for
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Economic releases : The Labor Department releases its monthly consumer price index and producer price index on Thursday and Friday, respectively. For that reason, we'd be content if the July figure doesn't indicate a resurgence of rising wholesale costs, which is a concern given a recent uptick in energy prices. On Tuesday before the opening bell, Club holding Eli Lilly (LLY) reports. Finally, Club names Walt Disney (DIS) and Wynn Resorts (WYNN) will report on Wednesday after the closing bell. In preparation for these releases, be sure to check out our first-quarter earnings report card .

Persons: we'll, Knight, Eli Lilly, We'll, donanemab, Walt Disney, We're, Tyson, Henry Schein, Li Auto, Armour, WEN, Ralph Lauren, Price, Jim Cramer's, Jim Cramer, Jim, Spencer Platt Organizations: Nasdaq, Labor Department, Reserve, Manufacturing, ADP, Fitch, AAA, U.S ., PPI, Coterra Energy, Walt, Wynn Resorts, Disney, Tyson Foods, TSN, KKR, Energy, Paramount, UPS, Barrick, Duke Energy, Restaurant Brands, Warner Music, Fox Corp, NRG Energy, AMC, Bros, Endeavor, IAC, Sony, SONY, Brookfield Asset Management, WYNN, Trade, Novo Nordisk, US Foods, News Corp, Air Canada, Jim Cramer's Charitable, CNBC, Traders, New York Stock Exchange, Getty Locations: United States, Mounjaro, Hollywood, Las Vegas, Boston, Macao, PENN, Valvoline, VVV, Credicorp, New York City

☆ Connecticut law ending religious vaccine exemptions for children is upheld
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Jonathan Stempel | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Michelle McLoughlin/File PhotoNEW YORK, Aug 4 (Reuters) - A divided federal appeals court on Friday rejected a challenge to a Connecticut law that ended the state's decades-old religious exemptions from immunization requirements for children in schools, colleges and day care. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said ending religious exemptions, while still allowing medical exemptions, was a rational means to promote health and safety by reducing the potential spread of vaccine-preventable diseases. He said many U.S. courts have reviewed vaccination mandates for children that lack religious exemptions, and only one, in Mississippi, has ever found constitutional problems. Five other U.S. states--California, Maine, Mississippi, New York and West Virginia--also lack religious exemptions. Connecticut's law, signed by Governor Ned Lamont, does not apply to children from kindergarten to 12th grade who previously had received religious exemptions.

Persons: Michelle McLoughlin, Denny Chin, Chin, Barack Obama, Ned Lamont, Joseph Bianco, Donald Trump, Norm Pattis, Brian Festa, William Tong, Lamont, Jonathan Stempel, David Gregorio, Leslie Adler, Deepa Babington Organizations: Pfizer, REUTERS, U.S, Circuit, Patriots USA, CT, Alliance, COVID, Patriots, Connecticut Office, 2nd U.S, Thomson Locations: Storrs , Connecticut, U.S, Connecticut, Manhattan, Mississippi, California , Maine , Mississippi , New York, West Virginia, 2nd, New York

☆ Fact Check-U.S. malaria outbreak in 2023 not caused by GM mosquitoes
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

(This story was corrected on July 27, 2023, to clarify that genetically modified mosquitoes were not released in Texas. The modified mosquitoes, which were released only in Florida, were all male, and only female mosquitoes feed on blood, which is how they transmit the malaria parasite from person to person, a mosquito-control expert said. Moreover, Markowski noted, only female mosquitoes “blood feed,” which needs to happen to transmit diseases like malaria, and the only genetically modified mosquitoes released are males, which feed only on plant juices and therefore cannot transmit malaria (explained further here). Reuters has previously addressed misinformation about uses of genetically modified mosquitoes (here), (here) and (here). Recent cases of malaria in the U.S. could not have been caused by the release of genetically modified mosquitoes.

Persons: they’re, Aedes aegypti, Daniel Markowski, Markowski, Oxitec, Joshua Van Raalte, “ Oxitec, Read Organizations: Oxitec, U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Reuters, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, American Mosquito Control Association Locations: Texas, Florida, Harris County , Texas, U.S, BioNTech, Florida and Texas, Saharan Africa, South Asia

☆ Fact Check-U.S. malaria outbreak in 2023 not caused by GM mosquitos
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The release of genetically modified mosquitos in Florida and Texas could not have caused recent cases of malaria detected in the U.S., as suggested in social media posts. The OX5034 mosquitos developed by Oxitec were approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2020 for pilot testing (here). Markowski noted that only female mosquitos “blood feed,” which needs to happen to transmit diseases like malaria, and the only genetically modified mosquitos being released are males, which feed only on plant juices and therefore cannot transmit malaria (explained further here). Reuters has previously addressed misinformation about uses of genetically modified mosquitos (here), (here) and (here). Recent cases of malaria in the U.S. could not have been caused by the release of genetically modified mosquitos.

Persons: they’re, mosquitos, Daniel Markowski, Markowski, Read Organizations: Oxitec, U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, Reuters, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, Prevention, CDC, American Mosquito Control Association Locations: Florida, Texas, U.S, BioNTech, Florida and Texas, Saharan Africa, South Asia

☆ Biden administration to provide free Covid vaccines to uninsured Americans this fall through end of 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Biden administration on Thursday announced a program to provide free Covid vaccines to uninsured Americans through December 2024 after the federal government's supply of shots runs out this fall. Those free shots, which the government is purchasing at a discount, will be available to the uninsured at pharmacies and 64 state and local health departments. There are between 25 to 30 million uninsured adults in the United States and other Americans whose insurance will not cover free Covid products this fall, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the fall, the companies will begin selling shots directly to health providers, and the government's supply is expected to run out. Earlier this year, the World Health Organization declared an end to the global Covid public health emergency earlier this year.

Persons: Biden Organizations: Pfizer, BioNTech, Peabody Institute Library, The, Human Services Department, for Disease Control, Moderna, World Health Organization, HHS Locations: Peabody , Massachusetts, United States, Novavax

☆ Sanofi says it's back to the drawing board on mRNA flu vaccines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Ludwig Burger | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Both A and B viruses are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year and currently available flu shots work against both strains. "To succeed in mRNA flu, you need the next generation of mRNA technology, which is exactly what we are working on," Thomas Triomphe, head of vaccines at Sanofi, told Reuters. Pfizer (PFE.N) last year started a large late-stage trial testing an mRNA-based flu vaccine candidate. Sanofi, which is among the top four global vaccines makers by sales, trailing GSK (GSK.L), Merck & Co (MRK.N) and Pfizer (PFE.N), has a broad vaccines offering, including flu, childhood shots and travel vaccines. The French company's vaccine sales accounted for 7.2 billion euros ($7.85 billion) of 43 billion euros in group sales last year.

Persons: Thomas Triomphe, BioNTech, Ludwig Burger, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Sanofi, Reuters, Pfizer, COVID, GSK, Merck & Co, Thomson

☆ Moderna seeks US FDA authorization for updated COVID vaccine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 22 (Reuters) - Moderna (MRNA.O) said on Thursday it has completed a submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration seeking authorization for its updated COVID-19 vaccine to target the XBB.1.5 subvariant. The submission from the company follows the FDA's advice last week to manufacturers that are updating their COVID-19 vaccines to develop monovalent shots to target XBB.1.5. Moderna said preliminary clinical data demonstrated a robust immune response by its XBB.1.5 monovalent vaccine against XBB descendent lineage viruses. Pending authorization, the updated shot would be available in time for the fall vaccination, Moderna said. Other COVID vaccine makers Pfizer (PFE.N)/BioNTech (22UAy.DE) and Novavax (NVAX.O) are already developing versions of their respective vaccines targeting XBB.1.5 and other currently circulating subvariants.

Persons: Moderna, Raghav Mahobe, Krishna Chandra Eluri Organizations: U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Pfizer, Thomson Locations: U.S, Bengaluru

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