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Abivax of Paris has secured €36 million in funding from the government-owned investment bank Bpifrance for the phase IIb/III trial of its COVID-19 drug ABX464 in high-risk patients, and for manufacturing scale-up and additional clinical and other development costs. That opens the way for a 1,034-patient study of the orally available drug, which has the triple effect of antiviral, anti-inflammatory and tissue repair properties. The oral dosage form of ABX464 will allow high-risk patients who are not in hospital to take part in the trial.
Guido Rasi, head of the European Medicines Agency told the European Parliament ENVI committee meeting today that the agency will support Europe-wide procurement of any potential COVID-19 vaccine. EMA is working with the commission “to see if any joint procurement, any new tools can be made available in Europe,” he said. Work is also needed to prioritise who to vaccinate first because it will be impossible to make any vaccine universally available from day one, Rasi said.
Apeiron Biologics of Vienna, said it has raised money to fund the phase II development of its COVID-19 drug, APN01. The product is an enzyme with the potential to block the infection of cells with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and to counteract inflammatory reactions in the lungs. The ongoing phase II clinical trial, is treating 200 patients severely affected by COVID-19, with sites open to date in Austria, Germany, Denmark and the UK. The study is now expected to be expanded to other countries.
The Carlos III Health Institute awarded €700,000 to nine short-term research projects exploring the biology and epidemiology of the COVID-19 virus, clinical profiles of patients, the reuse of personal protective equipment, and the repurposing of existing drugs. More than €22 million has been allocated to 126 research projects since the launch of the €24 million national fund in March.
EIT Food has launched a call for short term projects to address shortcomings in food supply chains exposed by COVID-19. Projects should help with supply chain disruption, consumer behaviour change, food safety risks and nutrition for at risk populations. All research must be completed by the end of the year, with products on the market by the end of June 2021 at the latest. Organisations that are not currently members of the EIT Food Knowledge and Innovation Community can submit projects while waiting for partnering applications to be accepted. Application deadline: 28 May.
The UK government is adding a further £84 million to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine trials, with Oxford University getting up to an additional £65.5 million and Imperial College London £18.5 million. The group at the Jenner Institute at Oxford University has now formalised a manufacturing deal with AstraZeneca. Assuming its vaccine is found to be effective in phase II trials, up to 30 million doses will be manufactured by September, when an application will be made for an emergency use authorisation. Business secretary Alok Sharma said initial doses will be available for use in the UK; under the deal with AstraZeneca the company will make the vaccine available internationally. Pascal Soriot, CEO of AstraZeneca said, “Our company is working hard to establish parallel supply agreements with other nations and multilateral organisations to ensure fair and equitable access around the world.” The UK government has also pledged £250 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which is advancing a number of other vaccines projects.
UK artificial intelligence drug discovery specialist e-therapeutics plc today announced the start of cell-based testing on a set of compounds for the treatment of COVID-19 infections identified using its AI-driven drug discovery system. Pharmaceutical services company WuXi AppTec will perform the studies. No details of the compounds were given, but they are approved drugs, for use both alone and in combinations, that target human host systems, therefore minimising the risk of resistance and potentially being effective for the treatment of other viral conditions. UK artificial intelligence drug discovery specialist e-therapeutics plc today announced the start of cell-based testing on a set of compounds for the treatment of COVID-19 infections identified using its AI-driven drug discovery system. Pharmaceutical services company WuXi AppTec will perform the studies. No details of the compounds were given, but they are approved drugs, for use both alone and in combinations, that target human host systems, therefore minimising the risk of resistance and potentially being effective for the treatment of other viral conditions.
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s (EIT) Climate programme has launched a call for projects with the potential promote economic recovery from the COVID-19-induced recession. Projects must deliver tangible outputs by the end of 2020, delivering products and services with clear pathways to market. Given the requirement to complete this year, eligible projects must be at a level of maturity to grow and scale fast. Applicants must be an EIT Climate partner to be eligible for funding, non-partners can join in but will not receive funding until they have partnering status. Application deadline for outline proposals: 22 May.
The European Medicines Agency said it has been in discussions with 115 companies developing potential COVID-19 therapies and 33 COVID-19 vaccines developers. The agency says vaccine development timelines are difficult to predict. Based on past experience, it estimates, “It might take at least a year before a vaccine against COVID-19 is ready for approval and available in sufficient quantities to enable widespread use.”
EIT Raw Materials today launched an open call for funding of up €200,000 as part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s €60 million crisis response initiative. Start-ups, scale-ups and SMEs working on aspects of raw materials supply, including exploration, mining, recycling and improved methods for processing minerals and metals, can apply for funding until 12 June 2020. The call is open for companies hit by the economic consequences of the pandemic and for projects that can directly or indirectly mitigate technological, market and value chain challenges linked to the crisis.
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