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• Yesterday, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced eight new members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which makes recommendations that are adopted by doctors, pharmacists, insurers and patients.

• His nominations include a physician who previously served on the committee, a scientist who has spread unfounded claims about Covid-19 vaccines and an epidemiologist who denounced Covid lockdowns.

“It’s hard to know what this huge disruption in the system will cause in the future,” Dr. Bennett said.

• How the committee shapes vaccine policy

• If Americans will still be able to get vaccines if ACIP does not recommend them

• Where to get reliable information about vaccines, and

• What happens next (New York Times)

• Despite both companies being famous for their work in making COVID-19 vaccines, today’s acquisition agreement is focused on cancer.

• CureVac—which sued BioNTech in July 2022, claiming that its work on mRNA technology contributed to the latter’s COVID-19 vaccine, amounting to patent infringement—surged 30% before the opening bell.

• The transaction, which BioNTech expects to close within the year, will deliver CureVac’s pipeline of, among other things, early mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies, including its most mature program CVGBM, which is being trialed for resected glioblastoma.

• The deal will also give BioNTech CureVac’s preclinical oncology assets, including off-the-shelf and personalized cancer vaccines and a squamous non-small cell lung cancer program. (Biospace)

• A small vaccine maker’s stock price shot up yesterday after releasing new data in the same week that vaccine R&D is the focus of attention.

• Vaxart saw its shares surge 45% at market open after it reported results for its second-generation pill vaccine in norovirus.

• The company compared its newer pill to an older formulation and said it increased antibodies blocking norovirus in the GI.1 and GII.4 strains by 141% and 94%, respectively.

• This was after looking at data from a phase 1 healthy volunteer study and a phase 2 challenge trial. (Endpoints)

• Novavax reported yesterday that its experimental COVID-19 and influenza combination (CIC) vaccine generated immune responses on par with approved shots in a descriptive phase 3 trial involving older adults.

  The Gaithersburg, Maryland-based firm tested its CIC candidate and a standalone flu shot against its own COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid (NVX-CoV2373), and Sanofi’s Fluzone HD.

• The study was not designed to demonstrate statistical significance but rather to guide the development of a future phase 3 trial that could support regulatory submission. (Pharma Letter)

• The FDA approved a new oral medication for an uncommon kind of tumor, clearing Nuvation Bio’s Ibtrozi for certain people whose metastatic non-small cell lung cancer has a type of alteration in the gene ROS1.

• The drug will now vie for market share in an indication where multiple large pharmaceutical companies have already struggled to grow sales. (BioPharma Dive)

• The monoclonal antibody is approved for the prevention of RSV lower respiratory tract disease in newborns and infants entering their first RSV season.

• Enflonsia is the only RSV preventative option administered with the same 105 mg dose regardless of the patient’s weight. It is designed to provide protection for 5 months, the length of a typical RSV season.

• The drug will compete for market share with Sanofi and AstraZeneca’s Beyfortus, which quickly became a blockbuster medicine following its approval two years ago. (Drug Discovery Trends)

• The polypill contains three separate drugs for treatment of high blood pressure: telmisartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker; amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker; and indapamide, a thiazide-like diuretic.

• The polypill is available in three doses and is the first triple combination to be FDA-approved as initial therapy in patients who may need multiple drugs to reach their BP goals, according to a company press release. (Healio)

• The honorees include a dozen leaders across various roles in research, management, manufacturing, investing and clinical trial diversification work.

• Also profiled is a group of advocates working on gender affirming care.

• In 2023, Endpoints profiled 20 people just as the Human Rights Campaign issued its first-ever “state of emergency” for LGBTQ+ Americans.

• This year’s installment comes as diversity, equity and inclusion has become even more of a target.