Scientists at the University of Würzburg, Germany, and the biopharmaceutical company Aeterna Zentaris are working on the development of an oral vaccine against Covid-19. Preclinical development, which should pave the way for the first clinical trials in humans, has already begun.

Dolomite Microfluidics is leading the way in nanoparticle production with the release of its Automated Nanoparticle (ANP) System for microfluidic formulation library generation. This automated platform is the result of a four-year focus on the challenges commonly associated with batch production of lipid nanoparticles and liposomes for drug and vaccine development, including inconsistent particle size and poor encapsulation efficiency.

Several proposals have emerged on how to distribute the Covid-19 vaccine, but they fall short in ensuring that the vaccine is distributed fairly. A team including Binghamton University professor Nicole Hassoun suggests three ways to more fairly and effectively distribute the vaccine so that people in poor countries get the vaccine as soon as possible.

Health behaviors and emotional stressors can alter the body’s ability to develop an immune response to vaccines, including — potentially — the new Covid-19 vaccines. Simple interventions, including exercising and getting a good night’s sleep in the 24 hours before vaccination, may maximize the vaccine’s initial effectiveness, a new study finds.

Astra Zeneca collaborated with the Serum Institute of India (SII) for the supply of the vaccine to the Indian Government as well as many other low and middle-income countries. Astra Zeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine has also received emergency use authorisation in five other countries.

The UK has become the first country in the world to approve a Covid-19 vaccine in order to combat the global pandemic. The first doses of the vaccine developed by Pfizer-Biontech will be available to the UK immediately.

The Oxford University has revealed that the efficacy of its Covid-19 vaccine AZD1222 was 90 % and 62 % in two different dose regimens respectively. It also shared that the vaccine is 70.4 % effective when combining the data from the two dosing regimens.

Dolomite Microfluidics has partnered with Millipore Sigma to release new Nano Fabtx kits which will be used for the fabrication of PLGA particles for drug development and controlled drug release applications.

The international trade exhibition Analytica China was recently held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre in China. The prominent laboratory event attracted a record number of footfalls despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and also showcased more than 1,000 new products that are in line with the future trends of the industry.

China’s pharma firms Sinopharm Group and Sinovac Biotech are each developing a covid-19 vaccine. Phase 3 clinical developments of the vaccines have already begun and Global Data opines that the vaccines can surprise the world with their success.