Comment

Governments and global non-government organisations have directly invested, or committed to invest, at least US$12.5 billion in the development of COVID-19 vaccines.

The strategic agreements between the federal government and industry do not expire until mid-2022 but they could be extended before the end of 2020.

Australia's and probably the region's hope of securing a vaccine at the same time as many other countries appears to hinge on a quick decision by the federal government to back CSL in repurposing one of its manufacturing facilities to produce an overseas product - a change in language suggests it could be under consideration.

Goldman Sachs says the US “leads the race” for a vaccine and it "stands to reason" it will be the first to benefit because it has invested the most.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has decried 'vaccine nationalism' but there was no such concern in the early weeks of the pandemic when Australia was 'gazumping' other countries in the 'free-for-all' race for personal protective equipment.33

An accessibility controller, an automatic mattress, a mindfulness support game and a muscle stimulation solution have taken top spots in the Biogen Neurohack.

The 1 August listing follows several months of discussion about the company's request for price premium over the existing presentation.

A leading group of contract research organisations under the leadership of ARCS Australia are calling on the federal government to improve policies and processes around the national coordination of clinical trials in Australia.

An experienced industry executive and former MSAC member is returning to Amgen to head its market access and policy function.

Janssen has teamed up with Monash University for a research and development program to advance the development of inhaled oxytocin for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage in developing countries.

AstraZeneca has moved again to expand its ability to manufacture the COVID-19 vaccine currently in development at The University of Oxford.

Another chapter in the ongoing legal epic of the alleged infringement of the patent covering Lundbeck's anti-depressant LEXAPRO (escitalopram).