As the summer of 2020 starts to creep to a close, America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are working around the clock to identify new treatments to reduce COVID-19 infection and vaccines, to prevent symptoms. The rate of advancement of therapeutics and vaccines has been unprecedented with more than 1,500 clinical trials underway around the globe testing 24 vaccines and 449 treatments for potential use. Here in the United States, there are 338 clinical trials investigating therapeutics in 46 states and Washington, D.C. 110 of the 338 clinical trials are being conducted in more than one state.
Amid the rapid research and development, PhRMA has been working to explain the process of developing new treatments and vaccines to combat COVID-19. Here below are some recent articles and if you want to sign up to receive weekly updates specifically on COVID-19, click here.
How Scientists Plan to Develop a Coronavirus Vaccine
During COVID-19, biopharmaceutical research companies are working continuously with stakeholders across the R&D ecosystem to advance vaccine candidates as quickly and safely as possible. Step by step, here’s how scientists are aiming to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Read more here.
Progress Against Infectious Diseases: Where Do We Stand?
Throughout history, infectious diseases have taken a devastating toll on the lives and security of people around the world. From the current COVID-19 pandemic to HIV/AIDS and outbreaks of Ebola, the landscape of infectious diseases requires continued effort and preparation to overcome new obstacles and pathogens that can arise at any time. Meanwhile, science has been busy, continually improving the tools we have available to tackle these challenges. Read more here.
How biopharmaceutical researchers are ensuring COVID-19 vaccines will be safe and effective
No matter the approach, biopharmaceutical researchers carefully assess safety and must comply with a number of regulations throughout the development process to help ensure vaccine safety. Evaluation of vaccine safety begins in the earliest phases of pre-clinical research, and continues through clinical development and even after approval. Read more here.
Addressing the Mental Health Toll from COVID-19
As communities around the world continue to grapple with the impact of COVID-19, experts are warning of a second public health crisis brewing in the background. An ever-present risk of getting sick combined with financial stressors caused by the economic downturn are poised to exact a high toll on mental health. Read more here.
What Today’s ‘Unprecedented’ Partnerships May Mean for a COVID-19 Vaccine
The biopharmaceutical ecosystem has long relied on a framework of partnerships among the government, academia and private sector to research and develop new medicines and vaccines. In recent months, these partnerships, many among biopharmaceutical companies directly, have become crucial to the fight against COVID-19. Read more here.
New report shows more than 400 medicines and vaccines in development to tackle infectious diseases, including COVID-19
The biopharmaceutical industry is committed to the discovery and the development of treatments and development of vaccines for infectious diseases, despite their complicated nature. A new report finds that there are 421 medicines and vaccines in clinical development to treat or prevent bacterial and viral infections that cause infectious diseases, including COVID-19. Read more here.
Five Things You Need to Know About the Biopharmaceutical Research Ecosystem During COVID-19
America’s biopharmaceutical companies are at the heart of a robust research and development (R&D) ecosystem that develops more innovative medicines than any other country in the world. Some critics have claimed that this success is because the National Institutes of Health (NIH) use public funds to discover new therapies which are then just handed off to biopharmaceutical companies to be manufactured, packaged and monetized. This fundamental misunderstanding of the way drug development works has led to policy proposals that could seriously harm the U.S. research ecosystem and jeopardize its longstanding success. Now more than ever, it is critical that both public and private assets can be brought to bear in addressing critical diseases such as COVID-19. Read more here.
Stay up to date with the work of America’s biopharmaceutical research companies in combating COVID-19 at PhRMA.org/Coronavirus.
Andrew Powaleny
Andrew Powaleny is the Deputy Vice President of Public Affairs at PhRMA, where he leads communications on scientific, regulatory and intellectual property issues, highlighting the biopharmaceutical industry’s efforts in developing innovative medicines and vaccines while promoting an environment that encourages necessary risk-taking. For five years starting in 2019, he launched and led PhRMA’s grassroots initiative, Voters for Cures, bringing patients and caregivers together to advocate for access to medicine and biopharmaceutical innovation. He also co-founded and co-chaired PRIDE Umbrella, a resource group for LGBTQ+ individuals. Prior to joining PhRMA in 2015, Andrew worked as a communications consultant in Washington, D.C., and as Deputy Press Secretary for the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce under Chairman Fred Upton. He holds a degree in public policy and government from Eastern Connecticut State University, with a minor in music. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys exercise, musical theater and mentoring college students through The Fund for American Studies alumni association.
Andrew Powaleny
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A conversation with Dr. Mike Ybarra on the current state of COVID-19
What they are saying: Experts reinforce that TRIPS waiver expansion is harmful and unnecessary
PhRMA provides comments and testimony to USITC investigation on COVID-19 medicines and the TRIPS Agreement
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PhRMA submits comments to OSTP on enhancing clinical trial diversity
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U.S. must address IP and market access barriers abroad to protect American innovation
Word of the Month: What is TRIPS?
TRIPS waiver expansion risks public health
Expanding the WTO intellectual property waiver will hurt American jobs
Word of the Month: Long COVID
Protecting against influenza: A conversation with David Ross, Vice President, Commercial Operations, North America, CSL Seqirus
Partnerships are driving global COVID-19 treatment access
The dangers of expanding the TRIPS waiver
ICYMI: New research builds upon growing body of evidence on value of COVID-19 treatments and vaccines
ICYMI: PhRMA’s Ubl pens op-ed on IP waiver for COVID-19 technologies
Increase in drug-resistant superbugs during COVID-19 highlights need for policy reforms to address antimicrobial resistance
COVID-19 vaccines and treatments helped save millions of lives and billions in health care costs
ICYMI: Antimicrobial resistance spotlighted as growing public health threat
Intellectual Property waiver on COVID-19 innovation is unnecessary and harmful
ICYMI: PhRMA CEO Stephen J. Ubl spotlights lessons learned during COVID-19
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A conversation with Barry Greene, CEO of Sage Therapeutics
ICYMI: New resource catalogs biopharmaceutical industry lessons learned from COVID-19
New Data: COVID-19 vaccine global production capacity projected to exceed 20 billion doses this year
What you need to know about newly authorized COVID-19 antiviral treatments
Guest post: Joining forces to combat the COVID-19 mental health crisis
Guest Blog: COVID-19 vaccines are the key to keeping kids healthy
Protecting U.S. innovation abroad to support economic and pandemic recovery
ICYMI: New report demonstrates growing global impact of antimicrobial resistance
Navigating the patient experience in the time of COVID-19
Global COVID-19 vaccination matters now and for the future
Understanding breakthrough COVID-19 infections
PhRMA submission to 2022 National Trade Estimate Report underscores need for pro-innovation U.S. trade policy to combat COVID-19
The important role of antivirals in the fight against COVID-19
Understanding Long COVID-19
A year and a half later: The biopharmaceutical industry remains committed to beating COVID-19
The impact of monoclonal antibodies and COVID-19 recovery
Recognizing National Immunization Awareness Month
Driving further innovation is critical to global vaccine equity
Supporting country readiness to boost global vaccine access
Ensuring global vaccine equity requires eliminating trade and regulatory barriers
Setting the record straight: Addressing common misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccine
Increasing global access to vaccines by optimizing production
Guest post: Retired medics return to the field to take on vaccine delivery and disaster relief
Guest Post: A patient’s story of the long-term health impacts of COVID-19
Dose sharing as a part of the COVID-19 global vaccine equity strategy
Promoting global vaccine equity while protecting innovation
Data shows COVID-19 vaccines are creating a pathway to a strong U.S. recovery
PhRMA awards $75,000 to fund initiatives to reduce health inequities
More than 800 medicines are in development for diseases that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic communities
Americans 12 years of age and older are eligible for COVID-19 vaccines
PhRMA hosts first stakeholder workshop on clinical trial diversity
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Barry Greene, CEO of Sage Therapeutics
A year later: Reflections on the meaning of equity
ICYMI: PhRMA president and CEO Stephen J. Ubl joins other industry leaders for a conversation on COVID-19 vaccines with Axios
Supporting India during the devastating coronavirus surge
New polling shows Americans are sounding the alarm on the TRIPS IP waiver
The Biden Administration allows politics to upend a pragmatic pandemic response
PhRMA CAREs Grant request for proposals: Addressing inequities in access to COVID-19 testing, therapeutics and vaccines
Ron Busby, Sr., President and CEO of the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. on improving vaccine confidence in community
Reflecting on Mental Health Awareness Month
American leadership on innovation policy is essential to global health progress
Patient safety is at the heart of COVID-19 vaccine R&D
ICYMI: New CBO Report highlights biopharmaceutical leadership in the development of new treatments and cures
Diversifying clinical trials and fighting disease requires equity and trust
Building confidence in the COVID-19 vaccine through education
ICYMI: WSJ showcases breakthrough science of COVID-19 vaccines and implications for future medicines
Intellectual property is the key to vaccine development, manufacturing and technology sharing
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Paul Perreault, CEO and Managing Director of CSL
Fighting variants of COVID-19
ICYMI: Report provides actionable recommendations to strengthen America’s preparedness and future health crises response
Top five issues voters want addressed in the administration’s first 100 days
The latest: What they are saying: Intellectual property protections vital to COVID-19 research, development and manufacturing
Lessons learned from COVID-19: The way we develop new medicines is changing
Growing trend: Increased vaccine confidence
Election insights: Common ground areas to address Americans’ health care concerns
Paper finds gaps in health data are a barrier to health equity
New research shows hotspots of inequity relate to increased COVID-19 hospitalizations
American biopharmaceutical manufacturing: Fueling economic growth now and for years to come
Election insights: Voter priorities in the states
Strengthening a culture dedicated to patients and equity: A conversation with Percival Barretto-Ko, President of Astellas US
Insights from the election: Meeting voters where they are on health care
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Kabir K. Nath, President & CEO of Otsuka North America Pharmaceutical Bu
Guest post: How COVID-19 underscores the importance of public confidence in vaccines
Guest Post: Bringing our best to the fight against COVID-19
An unprecedented year and the road ahead: A conversation with Giovanni Caforio, PhRMA Chairman and CEO of Bristol Myers Squibb
Deep dive: The issues that drove the 2020 vote
Understanding the emergency use authorization process for COVID-19 vaccines
ICYMI: Addressing health inequities: Biopharmaceutical companies are rising to the occasion
U.S. trade policy must prioritize American biopharmaceutical innovation and patient access
Voters want to address the real drivers of health care costs for patients and the system
Proposed change to Medicaid line extension definition ignores importance of critical improvements in treatments
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Alexander Hardy, CEO of Genentech
Leading researchers to spotlight the critical role of biopharmaceutical R&D
Why the U.S. biopharmaceutical industry is leading the charge against COVID-19
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Ramona Sequeira, President of Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Albert Bourla, Chairman & CEO of Pfizer, Inc.
Guest Post: How proactivity and planning helped Novartis ensure a stable supply of medicines during COVID-19
Coming together to fight COVID-19: A conversation with Paul Hudson, CEO of Sanofi
The 2020 We Work for Health Champion Awards showcase the best of our industry
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ICYMI: The latest as America’s biopharmaceutical companies work to beat COVID-19
Executive order threatens R&D when we need it most to fight COVID-19
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PhRMA’s Lori Reilly joined CSG to discuss the industry’s response to COVID-19 and what it means for states
New initiative to bridge the gap on antimicrobial innovation
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How biopharmaceutical researchers are ensuring COVID-19 vaccines will be safe and effective
In combating COVID-19, science is how we get back to normal
Guest Post: Takeda seeks ‘new normal’ for cancer research during the COVID-19 pandemic
Guest post: A post-pandemic crisis: The mental toll on America
Guest Post: From lab to jab: Vaccine development to prevent COVID-19
PhRMA awards $100,000 to fund projects that address health inequalities
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What scientific experts are saying about vaccine safety
Guest Post: Honoring Asian and Pacific Islander heritage in the age of COVID-19
IP Explained: Intellectual property system working to combat COVID-19
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Clinical Trials Awareness Week: Recognizing unsung heroes in medical research
What they are saying: Intellectual property protections are critical as we work to defeat COVID-19
Guest Post: Preserving clinical research sites during the coronavirus pandemic
Observing National Minority Health Month in the age of COVID-19
New report shows nearly 260 vaccines in development, including dozens for COVID-19
Lilly, Merck and Pfizer empower team members to volunteer on COVID-19 frontlines
Guest post: Securing the health care supply chain during COVID-19
To the millions affected by COVID-19
New infographic: How we are fighting COVID-19
Merck’s Dr. Julie Gerberding on the threat of antimicrobial resistance and COVID-19
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ICYMI: America’s biopharmaceutical companies are working 'around the clock' to beat coronavirus
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America’s biopharmaceutical companies are working around the clock to beat coronavirus
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ICYMI: America’s biopharmaceutical companies are taking on COVID-19
ICYMI: Continued biopharmaceutical action on COVID-19
Helping those affected by the coronavirus
Summer reading in the age of COVID-19
Coronavirus
Summer reading in the age of COVID-19
Summer reading in the age of COVID-19