Vaccines

New research is outlining the long-term efficacy of a novel type of cancer vaccine. The research followed eight skin cancer patients and found the experimental treatment offers durable and persistent immune responses to cancer cells up to four years later.

Health authorities in the UK have recommended extending dosing schedules for COVID-19 vaccines, claiming one dose offers short-term protection despite trials only testing two-dose regimes. US authorities call the change risky and unproven.

A study is the first to report successful results of a Phase 1 trial testing a novel universal flu vaccine. The trial found the experimental vaccine to be both safe and effective at generating a long-term immune response in a small number of adults.

IBM security analysts have discovered a global phishing campaign designed to infiltrate organizations associated with managing cold chain supplies of COVID-19 vaccines. The analysis suggests this campaign bears the hallmarks of nation-state spycraft.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved a COVID-19 vaccine developed by pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech for use in the United Kingdom, with vaccinations to begin as soon as next week.

Biotech company Moderna has revealed more data from its Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial, reporting the vaccine is 94.1 percent effective at preventing COVID-19. An FDA review evaluating Emergency Use Authorization is now scheduled for December 17.

A novel cancer vaccine is moving to Phase 1 human trials in the US after results from animal studies showed encouraging efficacy and a robust safety profile. A new study describes the vaccine as producing complete responses in 90 percent of animals.

AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford have presented the first interim data from their Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial. The vaccine is safe, up to 90 percent effective, and significantly easier to distribute compared to other options.

Pfizer and BioNTech have announced their large Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial is complete. The trial has reportedly met all its primary endpoints and the vaccine is claimed to be 95 percent effective.

A week after Pfizer reported its COVID-19 vaccine is effective, biotechnology company Moderna has revealed similar results from its own vaccine candidate. But experts suggest the challenge ahead will be overcoming the logistical hurdles of mass vaccinations.

Days after Pfizer revealed vaccine trial data, Russian authorities have announced their vaccine candidate is also demonstrating promising results. Experts call the Russian data encouraging, but caution the results are premature and based on low numbers.

The first data from Pfizer's Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial suggests the experimental mRNA candidate is more than 90 percent effective in preventing symptomatic disease. Experts say these results are encouraging, but it is still early days.