Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Pfizer, BioNTech Vaccine On Track For Mid-October Approval Review: CEO
CNN: Vaccine By Pfizer-BioNTech Could Be Ready For Approval By Mid-October -- But There Are Still 'Unknowns'
Pfizer and BioNTech are confident they can have a vaccine against the novel coronavirus ready for regulatory approval by the middle of October or early November, BioNTech CEO and co-founder Ugur Sahin told CNN Tuesday. "It has an excellent profile and I consider this vaccine ... near perfect, and which has a near perfect profile," Sahin said in an exclusive interview with CNN. (Pleitgen and Otto, 9/8)
CNBC: Pfizer CEO Says People Who Don’t Get Vaccinated Will Become ‘Weak Link’ That Allows Coronavirus To Spread
Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla warned on Tuesday that people who don’t take the Covid-19 vaccine will become a “weak link” that allows the coronavirus to spread. Bourla, whose company is in late-stage testing for a potential inoculation, said he understands the public’s concerns about vaccines, which are being developed in record time. He said Pfizer will only request authorization from the Food and Drug Administration after data shows that its vaccine is safe and effective. (Lovelace Jr., 9/8)
MarketWatch: There Are Seven Coronavirus Vaccine Candidates Being Tested In The U.S. — Here’s Where They Stand
The race to develop a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is well under way, setting the stage to bring to market the fastest vaccine in history. There are dozens of coronavirus vaccines in development, primarily in the preclinical phase when they are tested on animals. In the U.S., there are seven vaccine candidates that have moved into clinical trials with human participants, including three that have moved into the crucial Phase 3 development phase. (9/8)
Also —
WBUR: Amid Campaign Jabs Over Vaccine, Senate To Hold Hearing On Treatment Development
The U.S. Senate will on Wednesday hold a hearing on the development of vaccines aimed at eradicating the coronavirus, amid an escalated political rhetoric regarding the potential effectiveness of a fast-tracked vaccine. As President Trump has promised to expedite treatments against the virus that has killed nearly 190,000 Americans, he has appeared publicly rankled by critics who question his handling of the pandemic and those who are skeptical of the viability of a safe vaccine in such record time. (Wise, 9/9)
CNBC: Coronavirus Vaccine: Fauci Says It's 'Unlikely' It Will Be Ready By Election
White House coronavirus advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday a coronavirus vaccine probably won’t be ready by the U.S. presidential election even as the Centers for Disease and Prevention asks states to ready distribution facilities by Nov. 1. At a health conference, Fauci said it’s more likely a vaccine will be ready by “the end of the year” as drug companies Moderna and Pfizer race to complete patient enrollment for their late-stage vaccine trials by the end of September. (Lovelace Jr., 9/8)
More on the global vaccine race —
Fox News: Second Russian Coronavirus Vaccine Candidate Finishes Phase II Human Trials: Report
Researchers in Russia finished Tuesday the early-stage human trials of a second COVID-19 vaccine candidate, according to a report. According to Reuters, “Siberia’s Vector virology institute” wrapped up Phase II, attributing Interfax news agency, which reportedly cited “watchdog” Rospotrebnadzor.The vaccine candidate is reportedly a “peptide-based jab” and began human trials on July 27, involving 100 volunteers, the outlet wrote. (Rivas, 9/8)
Reuters: Venezuela's Maduro Proposes Giving Russia COVID-19 Vaccine To Legislative Candidates
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Tuesday proposed administering a Russian coronavirus vaccine to nearly 15,000 candidates in upcoming legislative elections so that they can campaign safely. Russia in August licensed a COVID-19 vaccine after less than two months of human testing, a move celebrated by Moscow but questioned by some experts who note that only about 10% of clinical trials are successful. (Ellsworth, 9/8)
Reuters: China's CanSino Defends Coronavirus Vaccine Candidate After Experts Cast Doubt
China’s CanSino Biologics Inc said on Wednesday that expert opinion on its high-profile coronavirus vaccine candidate should not be followed “blindly” without sufficient clinical trial data. (9/9)
Reuters: Brazil Eyes Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout In January, Acting Health Minister Says
Brazil’s acting Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello said on Tuesday that a COVID-19 vaccine would be rolled out for all Brazilians in January 2021. (9/8)
