We’re reading about a Vaxcyte vaccine, Ozempic shortages

Hello, everyone, and how are you today? We are doing just fine, thank you, especially since the middle of the week is upon us. Having made it this far, we believe congratulations are in order. So we are brewing a few cups of stimulation, which is more exciting than usual since we recently restocked our pantry with a few interesting choices. For now, we are reaching for Mexican cinnamon. There is an endless variety, you know? As always, please feel free to join us. Now, though, the time has come to get busy. So please grab your own cup and dig in to the items of interest assembled below. We hope you have a wonderful day, and please do keep in touch. …

With new vaccine data released on Tuesday, Vaxcyte emerged as one of biotechnology’s hottest David-vs.-Goliath stories as the company seeks to challenge one of Pfizer’s biggest franchises: the Prevnar vaccine against pneumococcal disease, STAT tells us. Shares in the company rocketed up 36% on the new data, because Vaxcyte’s pneumococcal vaccine outperformed Pfizer’s current version of Prevnar in a small preliminary clinical trial of 1,015 healthy adults aged 50 and older. Vaxcyte’s vaccine includes coverage of 31 different serotypes, or strains, of the pneumococcus bacteria, compared to 20 for the Pfizer vaccine. Investors had expected that on some serotypes the vaccines had in common, Prevnar would do better. But Vaxcyte said its vaccine did better on each one.

Intermittent shortages of the diabetes drug Ozempic in the European Union that are expected to continue into the final quarter of 2024 because of strong demand will not affect all member states, Reuters writes. In a note published by the European Medicines Agency, Novo Nordisk recommended health care workers continue limiting treatment initiation of new patients on Ozempic and its other diabetic drug, Victoza, until the supply situation improves. A company spokesperson added, “Not all member states may be impacted by supply shortages.” Novo is racing to expand production capacity to meet runaway demand for Ozempic and Wegovy, its obesity drug containing the same active ingredient.