Bio Roundup: Coronavirus Diagnostics, Therapeutics, Vaccines & More
Summary
—Roche’s South San Francisco-based subsidiary Genentech said it was in talks with the FDA to start a Phase 3 trial of its rheumatoid arthritis drug tocilizumab (Actemra) in hospitalized patients with severe pneumonia associated with COVID-19. —Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: REGN) and Sanofi started a Phase 2/3 trial evaluating sarilumab (Kevzara), an arthritis drug the companies developed together, in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 infection. Like tocilizumab, sarilumab blocks the IL-6 receptor, which the companies said may play a role in driving the dangerous inflammatory overreaction that damages the lungs of coronavirus patients with severe infections. —German biotech CureVac batted off rumors that Donald Trump had sought to acquire its potential mRNA vaccine candidate for exclusive US use after its now former-CEO visited the White House. —Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) said scientists in its research labs would analyze patient samples taken in Indiana healthcare facilities, including nursing homes and emergency rooms, in an effort to expand the state’s ability to conduct coronavirus testing.
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