Merck is buying Thermis, a company based in Vienna, Austria, that has been developing an experimental COVID-19 vaccine based on a measles vaccine. Thermis is finishing up preclinical tests on the vaccine, and human studies are set to begin in France in a matter of weeks, STAT reported.
Merck is also partnering with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, or IAVI, to develop a vaccine based on Merck’s existing Ebola vaccine. That vaccine could enter human studies later this year, according to STAT.
The goal is to develop a single-dose vaccine for COVID-19, Roger Perlmutter, president of Merck Research Laboratories, told STAT.
Merck is also licensing an experimental drug from a company called Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. The drug was developed at Atlanta-based Emory University and was shown to be effective against the coronavirus in lab cultures and in mice. Phase 2 studies on the drug are set to begin this week, according to STAT.
Read the full article here.
More articles on pharmacy:
AstraZeneca gets $1B from US to produce COVID-19 vaccine
Generic drugmaker Akorn files for bankruptcy
7 things to know about startup drugmaker Phlow
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.