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FDA Allowed Release Of Moderna COVID Booster While Still Mulling Plant Inspection Findings

 
• By Bowman Cox

Memo outlines how US agency ensured sufficient delivery of updated COVID-19 vaccine doses even as it navigated unresolved inspection findings of the Catalent plant where the additional doses had been manufactured.

COVID vaccine filling
fda: batch investigations were inadequate, but these batches look good • Source: Shutterstock

The US Food and Drug Administration has again demonstrated remarkable flexibility, speed and transparency in the regulatory setting of emergency use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines with its 20 September decision to release 10 batches of Moderna, Inc.’s bivalent booster even as the agency continued to mull concerns raised during a monthlong inspection of the contract facility where they were manufactured.

The episode shows the regulatory agility surrounding the pandemic response is continuing even as broader societal concern diminishes two and a half

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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.

FDA Adcomms Are Back: Four Cancer Drugs, COVID-19 Vaccine Formulations To Get Reviews

 
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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.

More from Pink Sheet

Austria To Fine Companies For Violating New Drug Stockpiling Rule

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

A new ordinance for addressing drug shortages in Austria requires drug companies distributing any of the hundreds of products listed in an accompanying annex to maintain adequate stock in the country to meet patient demand for four months.

EMA Explores Using AI Language Models To Refine Oncology Guidance

 
• By Vibha Sharma

The European Medicines Agency has for the first time explicitly stated it is considering the use of large language models as a tool to improve the readability of a scientific guideline.

Industry On Making England’s HTA Innovation Lab A Success

 
• By Eliza Slawther

England’s health technology assessment institute, NICE, must ensure that there is clarity for manufacturers on how its methods and processes might change following testing in its sandbox environment, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said.