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Coronavirus Vaccine Efficacy Rate Set At 50% Because That’s What US FDA ‘Could Tolerate’

 
• By Derrick Gingery

CBER Director Marks explains that too high a bar might result in natural herd immunity before vaccine trials could be completed, while too low a threshold could result in approval of products with limited efficacy.

Accelerated approval may not be appropriate for early coronavirus vaccine candidates, CBER Director Peter Marks said in an up-close look at FDA’s decision-making as it developed its guidance. • Source: Screenshot

No complicated analysis or algorithm helped the US Food and Drug Administration determine the efficacy standard for a coronavirus vaccine.

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research Director Peter Marks said 50% was a rate that his staff decided was

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Safety Review Prompts EMA to Suspend Ixchiq Chikungunya Vaccine For Seniors

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

The European Medicines Agency is investigating whether Valneva’s Ixchiq is safe to use in the elderly, following reports of 17 serious adverse events, including two cases resulting in death, in people aged 62 to 89 years who received the vaccine. This follows actions by US and French authorities last month regarding Ixchiq’s use in people over 65.

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The Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee will meet for two days in mid-May, followed by a Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee’s review of the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine formulation.

Tougher Approval Standards May Follow Vinay Prasad’s Appointment To Lead US FDA’s CBER

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

Industry is concerned that Prasad may make regulatory flexibility tougher to obtain for cell and gene therapy, while vaccine and public health advocates are angry about Prasad’s criticisms of US COVID-19 policies.

Moderna Pivots To Increase Focus On Cancer Amid US Vaccine Policy Changes

 
• By Joseph Haas

During its first quarter earnings call, Moderna avoided criticizing vaccine policy changes, but de-emphasized its flu/COVID-19 vaccine for those under age 50 and prioritized cancer programs.

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Recent and Upcoming FDA Advisory Committee Meetings

 
• By Sue Sutter

Recent and upcoming US FDA advisory committee meetings and a summary of the topics covered.

UK Health Data Research Service Looks ‘Encouraging’ For Industry, But Implementation Details Will Be Key

 
• By Anabel Costa-Ferreira

Marcus Vass and Vladimir Murovec of international law firm Osborne Clarke tell the Pink Sheet what the government's planned HDRS might mean for industry, and how it compares with the European Health Data Space.

EU Health Data Space May Speed Up R&D Through Access To Multi-Omics & Clinical Record Data

 
• By Eliza Slawther

The European Health Data Space framework will allow companies to accelerate R&D processes and identify new molecular targets faster by facilitating centralized access to certain types of high-quality data, Finland’s Orion Pharma says.