And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is still on the drawing board, but we do plan to catch up on our reading and napping, promenade with the official mascots, and hold another listening party with Mrs. Pharmalot, and the rotation will likely include this, this, this, this and this. And what about you? Summer is winding down, but time remains to enjoy the great outdoors. Perhaps a stroll along a beach or paddling about a lake is in order. A ride in the country along back roads can also provide a respite. Or maybe you would prefer stopping by a favorite eatery and sitting outdoors to watch the world go by. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon. …
AstraZeneca maintains it has “no idea” where rumors of a plan to relocate a planned facility in the U.K. to the U.S. have originated, Pharmaphorum writes. The comments came in response to an article The Financial Times that claimed the company is considered changing the location of a $578 million vaccine manufacturing plant from Liverpool to Philadelphia because the new U.K. Labor government is angling to reduce a subsidy program. The FT said that Chancellor Rachel Reeves wants to reduce the package from around $118 million to $52 million. The report said AZ had told the U.K. government it was considering the move because “generous financial support is offered for industrial projects” in Philadelphia, and also suggested that manufacturing could be transferred to India.
The World Health Organization said its partners such as Gavi and Unicef can start buying mpox vaccines before they are approved by the U.N. health agency, in a bid to get inoculations to Africa faster as the continent battles an escalating outbreak of the virus, Reuters reports. Traditionally, organizations like Gavi, which helps lower-income countries buy vaccines, can only start purchasing shots once they have approval from the WHO. But the rules have been relaxed in this instance to get talks moving, as WHO approval is due in a few weeks. Two vaccines — one from Bavarian Nordic and another from KM Biologics — are already approved by regulators around the world, including in the U.S. and Japan, and have been in widespread use for mpox since 2022. Around 1.2 million people have had Bavarian Nordic’s vaccine in the U.S. alone. The WHO is expected to grant an emergency license to the shots in September.
