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GAITHERSBURG, Md., March 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX), a late-stage biotechnology company developing next-generation vaccines for serious infectious diseases, today announced positive top-line results of its pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of NanoFlu™, its recombinant quadrivalent seasonal influenza vaccine candidate with its proprietary Matrix-M™ adjuvant, in adults aged 65 and older. Using the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) criteria for accelerated approval of seasonal influenza vaccines, the trial evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of NanoFlu compared to Fluzone® Quadrivalent, a U.S.-licensed quadrivalent influenza vaccine.

There is a desperate need for new medicines to treat Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus that has shut down much of the world. A vaccine to prevent infection entirely would be even better.

Drug companies and medical researchers are making heroic efforts to deliver new medicines. Several dozen are now in development, and you can see highlights of those efforts here. Studies so far are mostly small and lack real control groups, making it hard for researchers to be sure of their conclusions. 

The BioHealth Capital Region (BHCR) and its life science ecosystem have a rich and deep history of pioneering scientific innovation, research, development, and commercialization. The region’s history has been written by life science anchor companies, scientific research universities, government research organizations, rich startup culture, and serial entrepreneurs, all of whom have played critical roles in transforming the BHCR into one of the most innovative and productive biocluster in the world. 

Image: https://biobuzz.io/

QIAGEN (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced that Thierry Bernard has been namedChief Executive Officer.

Additionally, a Joint Meeting of the Supervisory Board and the Managing Board has resolved to propose Mr. Bernard, who has been with QIAGEN since 2015, for election as Chief Executive Officer and a Managing Director at the next Annual General Meeting, which is set to take place in June 2020, along with the re-election of Roland Sackers as Chief Financial Officer and a Managing Director. The Joint Meeting further resolved to propose the current members of the Supervisory Board to all stand for re-election: Håkan Björklund, Stéphane Bancel, Metin Colpan, Elaine Mardis, Lawrence Rosen and Elizabeth Tallett.

Image: https://corporate.qiagen.com/

Johns Hopkins University’s COVID-19-tracking map has leveled up to show more granular data on the number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases around the globe.

Since January, well before the coronavirus began rapidly infecting people in the United States, a team from Johns Hopkins University had been tracking the virus’ spread in China and other countries worldwide. Now, a little over two months since launching the interactive map, the tool now shows data reflecting real-time confirmed cases in cities and localities across the U.S. and internationally.

Image: https://www.bizjournals.com

(Reuters) – German molecular testing company Qiagen NV (QIA.DE) said on Tuesday it has begun shipping its diagnostic test for COVID-19 to the United States.

The test kit, QIAstat-Dx Respiratory SARS-CoV-2 Panel, requires less than one minute for sample preparation and can deliver results in about one hour, the company said.

Shipments come under a new policy laid out by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier this month to help accelerate the availability of coronavirus diagnostic tests, developed by laboratories and commercial manufacturers during the public health emergency.

The world might be facing turmoil and uncertainty — states that Novavax Inc. knows all too well — but today, the Gaithersburg biotech has reason to celebrate.

The company has reported positive results for its late-stage clinical trial of seasonal flu vaccine NanoFlu, marking its first successful phase 3 study after two devastating failures. These latest results now open an otherwise impenetrable door with a product candidate viewed as Novavax’s last best chance for success — and its first-ever commercial product in more than 30 years of operation.

No vavax is cel e brat ing tri al re sults again four years af ter a Phase III fail ure in RSV sent their stock price off a cliff.

The com pa ny an nounced that their re com bi nant flu vac cine NanoFlu met all pri ma ry and sec ondary end points in a Phase III study of 2,652 adults old er than 65. The num bers, No vavax sug gest ed, should al low them to clear reg u la to ry hur dles and snag the biotech’s first ap proval since its found ing in 1987.

In honor of the new JLABS @ Washington, DC – a 32,000 square foot facility located on the new Children’s National Research and Innovation Campus, Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS launched the JLABS @ Washington, DC Children’s QuickFire Challenge.

Visionaries within the fields of pediatric oncology, pediatric surgery and influenza are invited to submit innovative ideas for up to $150,000 in total grant funding; one year of residency at JLABS @ Washington, DC; and mentorship.