Latest Headlines in Biotech
FDA panel’s limited booster use recommendation disrupts Biden administration plans
A federal advisory panel voted unanimously Friday to recommend a third shot of Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine be offered at least six months after the second, but only to people 65 and older and those at high risk for severe COVID-19 regardless of their age.
Four things to know about the FDA panel’s booster shot vote
After a panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted to recommend Pfizer booster shots for people over 65 or at high risk, what happens next?
‘New bio nerds on the block’: Ginkgo Bioworks goes public, now valued at $20 billion
The deal generated more than $1.6 billion in proceeds for Ginkgo, making it one of the largest public debuts for a life sciences company.
Biogen loses $7 billion in value on slow Alzheimer’s drug rollout
Only about 50 sites have been infusing the medication since June, well below company’s prior target of 900 centers, according to RBC analyst Brian Abrahams.
Biotech behind ‘organ-on-a-chip’ systems raises $82 million
Emulate, based in Boston, uses plastic chips to simulate human organs to test whether drugs are safe and effective.
House committees demand FDA records on Alzheimer’s drug approval
“We are concerned by apparent anomalies in FDA’s processes surrounding its review of Aduhelm,” the committee chairs said in a 13-page letter asking for a raft of documentation and answers to questions.
MassBio taps another state lawmaker as its leader
State Senator Joseph Boncore is the third consecutive current or former legislator to run the trade group for the state’s booming biotechnology industry.
As RNA remains hot, Flagship’s Laronde raises $440m for a new class of medicines
Laronde is based on a proprietary molecule its scientists call “endless RNA,” which the company hopes will allow humans to produce their own proteins for weeks or months to treat diseases.