Intranasal vaccines: A new approach to Covid-19
Nasal vaccines may become the next weapon against Covid-19, but are they a feasible option? (1,175 words, 5.5 minutes)
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The global response to the Covid-19 pandemic fostered many scientific milestones. Vaccines and other therapeutics were developed in a short time to curb the spread of the virus. After months of administering intramuscular vaccinations, experts, including U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director Dr. Anthony Fauci believe the next generation of effective Covid vaccines could be intranasal.
A study published in Nature Communications highlights the concerns with the current Covid-19 vaccines. While intramuscular vaccines generate systemic immunity, which offers protection against severe disease and death, there is little or no immune response in the nose, where respiratory viruses typically enter the body.
According to Dr. Fauci, nasal vaccines could potentially block infectious transmissions since vaccines delivered through the nasal cavity elicit both mucosal and systemic immune responses. In an interview with NBC News, Dr. Fauci commented that nasal vaccines “concentrate the immune protection in the upper airway.” He said the “antibodies trying to protect you from having the virus enter your body are right there on the front lines protecting you.”
Research into nasal Covid-19 vaccines is well underway. In one study, scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a one-dose version that has shown efficacy in animal models.
“We were happily surprised to see a strong immune response in the cells of the inner lining of the nose and upper airway—and a profound protection from infection with this virus,” said Dr. Michael Diamond, the senior author of the study, in an article on the Washington University website.
Although the results are promising, he cautioned that the vaccine has only been tested on mice and that clinical trials are needed to observe human immunity. “We’re optimistic, but this needs to continue going through the proper evaluation pipelines,” he said.
Even with early positive results, complications remain in developing and delivering nasal vaccines. According to an article published on The Scientist website, measuring mucosal immunity is more challenging than measuring systemic immunity. In addition, the lack of standardized tests for mucosal immunity makes it difficult to gauge the immune response level and demonstrate the efficacy of nasal vaccines.
Another challenge is the vaccine delivery process. First, as mentioned on the British Medical Journal website, those administering the nasal vaccination must ensure that the patient gets the correct dose, and the vaccine must make its way into the nasal cavity without being sneezed away. Then the vaccine ingredients must breach a thick barrier gel of mucus and activate the immune cells.
THIS WEEK 08/30/22
The U.S. FDA has approved dextromethorphan HBr -bupropion HCl (Auvelity) for treating major depressive disorder in adult patients. It is estimated the therapy, developed by Axsome Therapeutics, will be commercially available in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Bristol Myers Squibb Canada announced Health Canada’s approval of nivolumab (Opdivo) as an intravenous injection to be used with platinum-doublet chemotherapy to treat resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults.
The U.S. FDA granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to the Novavax Covid-19 Vaccine. The EUA expands the vaccine’s use to include a two-dose primary series for active immunization to prevent Covid-19 in teenagers between 12 and 17 years of age.
Janssen announced that the European Commission (E.C.) granted conditional marketing authorization for teclistamab (Tecvayli) for treating relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in adult patients. To access Tecvayli, patients must have received at least three prior treatments, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 antibody.
LISTEN NOW
In season seven of the NPC Podcast, Michael Stone, General Manager for Canada of Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, talks about taking on a leadership role during the pandemic, attracting younger, tech-savvy talent and the relevance of an education degree in pharma. Hear him in conversation with podcast hosts Mitch Shannon, Jim Shea and Mark McElwain.
CANADIAN HEALTHCARE MARKETING HALL OF FAME
The Canadian Healthcare Marketing Hall of Fame awards were established in 2002 to honour healthcare marketers who have contributed to our vocation and inspire others.
More than 100 honourees have been selected during the past 18 years. In the selection committee’s view, they represent a cross-section of the qualities that make our business unique and fulfilling. NPC Healthbiz Weekly will acknowledge one past Hall of Fame Honoree each week.
2004 Inductee
Donna Day
Markham, Ont.
Although her first career choice was nursing, “it was the pharmaceutical industry that really captured my passion,” says Donna Day. Just four years into her nursing career, Day followed that passion, snagging an interview with Astra Pharmaceuticals, and the company promptly selected her to become one of their first female sales reps in Toronto.
As a female in a male-dominated industry, however, there were challenges.
“One of the strangest and funniest times of my career came during my first visit to a small pharmacy in a tiny rural community in central Ontario. I had only been on the job for a month when confronted by a very irate pharmacist who wanted to know where my predecessor, the previous representative in the territory, had gone. It seems he was quite upset that I had “taken the ‘job from a man with a family to support.’ After that shock, I worked my heart and soul to provide the highest level of service I could to that pharmacy. He turned out to become one of my best customers, and though retired, on occasion we still laugh at his ‘old style’ ways.”
Her training and background opened new and exciting windows of opportunity two years after joining Astra. Day recalls being faced with a choice between clinical research, sales management, and marketing, but it wasn’t a tough decision because marketing was “where I belonged.” After honing her skills as group product manager, Day moved on to take a position as territory manager for a company specializing in respiratory products. In 1991, she moved to Solvay, where her career evolved into other challenging areas, including project management, new product launches, and opportunities in senior product management for some of Solvay’s key products.
Indeed, the introduction of new drugs that dramatically improve patients’ lives has had the biggest impact on healthcare in her time, says Day. She adds that some of her “biggest successes” have come from the introduction of products that have made a significant difference in the quality of life for many people. “When I graduated from nursing, a gastric ulcer for many patients meant at the very least one of the most serious surgeries you could imagine. Now that we have new drugs, such as proton pump inhibitors, the surgical rate has dropped dramatically while quality of life has soared.”
Currently, Day says she enjoys the challenge of moving from product management to marketing research. “I have a natural curiosity about everything. For me, the fun comes in figuring out what makes things tick, and I love meeting new people and hearing what they have to say. I get to work with practically everyone at Solvay in this new role, and the position covers every product area, both current and those in R&D. My dream for the future is to make a contribution doing what I love most.”
Register now for next week’s NPC End-of-Summer Webinar on Sept. 7 at 11:00 a.m
As we wrap up the summer of 2022 and new challenges emerge, the National Pharmaceutical Congress invites you to our End-of-Summer webinar on Sept. 7: “With Covid in the Rear-View: The Way We Live Now.” Speakers include Eileen McMahon of Torys LLP, Mark Smithyes, MBA, and other Life Sci leaders. Ben Parry of The Pangaea Group and Mitch Shannon of Chronicle Companies will share moderating duties.
The event will also provide a preview of the 16th annual NPC, which will be live on Nov. 2 at the Mississauga Convention Centre.
The last NPC webinar was attended by more than 250 pharma industry delegates, so register today before all spaces are filled. The event is free. See you in September. Register at this link: https://lnkd.in/g5pPFTYg
NEXT WEEK
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