US FDA Likely To Leave Harder Decisions On COVID-19 Boosters To CDC

With potentially less flexibility and a simpler calculation on the benefit-risk of approving COVID vaccine boosters, FDA could punt the more challenging questions like whether boosters are needed now and for which populations, along with global equity and public health considerations to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

football player punting ball
FDA may punt the more controversial COVID-19 booster decisions to CDC • Source: Alamy

All eyes will be on the US Food and Drug Administration and its vaccine advisors this week as they evaluate Pfizer Inc./BioNTech SE’s supplemental application for a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine amidst ongoing debate at to whether the Biden administration jumped the gun – and the data – in calling for universal booster availability by 20 September.

But it’s the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that is likely to be forced to make the most difficult...

Pink Sheet Podcast

Learn what's happening at the US FDA. On the go.

Derrick Gingery and the team bring you a weekly "Drug Fix".

More from Vaccines

COVID Vaccines: US FDA Changes Course, Wants New Formulas To Target KP.2 Subvariant ‘If Feasible’

 
• By 

Revised recommendation is based on most recent data on circulating strains in US, where KP.3 is now dominant. Novavax sticks with plans targeting the JN.1 ‘parent strain.’

GSK’s Bexsero Dangles No More: Meningococcal B Vaccine Converts To Regular Approval

 
• By 

US FDA’s 2015 accelerated approval called for confirmatory trial completion by 2018, but study initiation was delayed. Completed in 2022, the trial not only verified Bexsero’s clinical benefit, it also served as the pivotal study for GSK’s pentavalent meningococcal vaccine candidate.

WHO To Finalize Preferred & Critical Characteristics Of New Mpox Human Vaccines

 
• By 

To help sponsors developing candidate mpox vaccines, the World Health Organization will soon be finalizing guidance on the preferred and minimum characteristics these products must satisfy regarding efficacy, dose regimen and other aspects to secure regulatory approval.

WHO Urges Countries To Curb Spread Of Mpox With Vaccines, Therapeutics & Other Actions

 
• By 

The WHO’s emergency committee has warned of a lack of understanding of the epidemiology of mpox, the limited availability of vaccines, and the complexities of donations and procurement.

More from Pink Sheet

COVID Vaccines: US FDA Changes Course, Wants New Formulas To Target KP.2 Subvariant ‘If Feasible’

 
• By 

Revised recommendation is based on most recent data on circulating strains in US, where KP.3 is now dominant. Novavax sticks with plans targeting the JN.1 ‘parent strain.’

Nancy Tests New Podcast Template

 

Pink Sheet reporter and editors discuss the US FDA’s changes to the COVID-19 vaccine indication and its revocation of the vaccine emergency use authorizations, as well as new vaccine coverage and reimbursement questions.

PinkSheet-R&D-Free: ‘Ranking’ article that includes different Composer content

 
• By 

To make your document look professionally produced, Word provides header, footer, cover page, and text box designs that complement each other. For example, you can add a matching cover page, header, and sidebar. Click Insert and then choose the elements you want from the different galleries.