Introduction:Vaccine efficacy wanes one month after inoculation, Pfizer vaccine effectiveness questioned! Zhejiang Province includes IVF in medical insurance; Detailed data on pig kidney transplantation released... Bio Exploration joins you in focusing on "pharma" news, exploring the value of biotechnology!
1Vaccine efficacy wanes one month after inoculation, Pfizer vaccine effectiveness questioned
Recently, according to an article published in the authoritative international medical journal, *The Journal of the American Medical Association*, the latest research by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that during the prevalence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the effectiveness of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children and adolescents dropped significantly one month after receiving the second dose. Meanwhile, in response to the decline in vaccine effectiveness, the U.S. is promoting booster vaccinations for children. On May 17, the U.S. FDA revised the emergency use authorization for Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine to include a booster dose for children aged 5-11.
2Zhejiang Province Includes IVF in Medical Insurance
Recently, Zhejiang Province released the "Notice of the Zhejiang Provincial Medical Security Bureau on Supporting 'Zhe You Shan Yu' to Promote the Work of Better Birth and Upbringing (Draft for Soliciting Opinions)." The notice pointed out that the medical insurance reimbursement ratio for infants aged 0-6 will be increased. The basic medical insurance reimbursement ratio for infants aged 0-6 will be approximately 10 percentage points higher than that of ordinary urban and rural residents. In addition, the notice issued by Zhejiang proposed formulating the medical service prices for assisted reproductive technologies such as artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization used to treat infertility, and including them in the scope of maternity insurance payments according to relevant national regulations at an appropriate time.
3Detailed Data on Pig Kidney Transplantation Released
On May 19, the latest paper published in The New England Journal of Medicine provided a more detailed data analysis of the results of two cases of pig kidney transplantation. One of the authors of the paper is Dr. Robert Montgomery, the head of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, who personally performed the pig kidney human "transplant" in September 2021. By analyzing these two cases of pig kidney transplantation, the paper concluded that genetically modified pig xenotransplant kidneys can survive and function for 54 hours in brain-dead individuals without showing signs of hyperacute rejection.
4Henlius' PD-1 mAb First-Line Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Phase III Study Successful
On May 18, Henlius announced that the Phase III clinical study of Hansizhuang (Seriulimab Injection) combined with chemotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced/metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma had reached its primary endpoint. This study is a randomized, double-blind, multicenter, Phase III clinical trial conducted in patients with locally advanced/metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, aiming to compare the efficacy and safety of Seriulimab or placebo combined with chemotherapy as first-line treatment for these patients. Based on the pre-specified interim analysis conducted by the IDMC, Seriulimab combined with chemotherapy demonstrated significant improvements in progression-free survival and overall survival compared to placebo combined with chemotherapy, meeting the pre-established superiority criteria. The safety profile was favorable, with no new safety signals identified.
5In 2021, Winner Medical's net profit halved, and it has initiated a self-rescue mode.
On the evening of May 18, Winner Medical announced that it plans to use its own funds of RMB 6.52 billion to acquire 65.5528% of Hunan Ping'an Medical Devices' equity, and use its own funds of RMB 1 billion for a unilateral capital increase in Hunan Ping'an Medical Devices. After the completion of the aforementioned transactions, Winner Medical will hold 68.7000% of Hunan Ping'an Medical Devices’ equity after the capital increase and share expansion with a total investment of RMB 7.52 billion. Headquartered in Shenzhen, Winner Medical was listed on the A-share market in September 2020 and is known as the "first mask stock." As early as 2016, the company had applied for an IPO, but in September 2017, the Issuance Examination Committee announced the postponement of the voting on Winner Medical’s initial public offering. Subsequently, due to various issues, the CSRC announced that Winner Medical's IPO was not approved. In December 2019, Winner Medical submitted another application, intending to go public on the Growth Enterprise Market (GEM). It wasn’t until 2020, when the outbreak of the pandemic brought opportunities to this company, that Winner Medical finally went public on the GEM at an issue price of RMB 74.30 per share, reaching a peak of RMB 215.78 per share within five months, with a market value exceeding RMB 80 billion. However, after peaking, it has since declined continuously to today's RMB 61.37 per share, with a market value of only RMB 26.174 billion remaining.
Compiled by Wen Jingze
Typesetting | Qiaowei Jun
