Médecins Sans Frontières says the latest draft of the proposed IP waiver must be rejected, and the WHO has suspended supply of Bharat’s COVID-19 vaccine over manufacturing issues. Two EU agencies have issued advice on fourth doses of mRNA vaccines, while GlaxoSmithKline has filed high-dose sotrovimab for patients with suspected Omicron BA.2 infection in Australia.

Despite Indian companies not being able to honor COVID-19 vaccine export commitments, Biological E’s MD believes mitigating circumstances mean relations with the agency won’t be damaged. Meanwhile, Corbevax is being used in India's immunization program and a tech transfer for Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine is going ahead.

Billionaire philanthropist and co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation signals efforts underway to support building mRNA capacity in India amid the new platform’s potential beyond COVID-19 vaccines. He also highlights the need to bring down sharply the cost of gene therapies.

Japan has added to its growing arsenal of COVID-19 treatments with the approval of the oral antiviral Paxlovid, while the US FDA has lifted a clinical hold on Bharat's vaccine, which has shown potential against Omicron. Also, Biological E's vaccine is approved for use in adolescents in India