Could we develop a vaccine in 100 days?

April 13, 2021
Today, we tell you more about the science behind mRNA vaccines and Reese Witherspoon’s favorite synbio skincare. Read to the end for what to watch in D.C. this week. (737 words, 3 minutes, 41 seconds)Breaking News: The FDA and CDC call for a pause on Johnson & Johnson…
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Today, we tell you more about the science behind mRNA vaccines and Reese Witherspoon’s favorite synbio skincare. Read to the end for what to watch in D.C. this week. (737 words, 3 minutes, 41 seconds)

Breaking News: The FDA and CDC call for a pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccine, The New York Times reports. We will be monitoring the FDA's press conference at 10 AM ET on YouTube.)

 

Could we develop a vaccine in 100 days?

 
 

BIO President and CEO Dr. Michelle McMurry-Heath answers this question and more on an episode of the CBS podcast “America: Changed Forever.” 

3 COVID vaccines have been authorized for emergency use in the United States: two mRNA vaccines (Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech) and one adenovirus-based vaccine (Johnson & Johnson). 

“They basically all use the over-100-year-old technology behind vaccines,” says Dr. Michelle—but they differ in “how they deliver that building block” that prepares the body to fight the virus when it eventually encounters it. (Listen starting around 11:00:00.) 

mRNA is a new vaccine vehicle—but the technology has been under development for 30 years. mRNA is “notoriously unstable,” so it took a long time to understand how to keep it stable enough to be that delivery vehicle. 

The pandemic accelerated this research—thanks to “an unprecedented level of collaboration and coordination” between federal agencies and regulators, companies, and non-profits to ensure we were working “at our most optimal speed.” 

But: “We’re not satisfied with that 12-month turnaround,” she adds. The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is calling for speeding up vaccine development “so that the next time we face an unknown virus we’re able to turn around and answer in as little as 100 days.”

Really? “We’re definitely learning how to do the critical steps much more robustly and much more quickly. So, while we’re not there yet…it is now within reach and it seems completely reasonable.” 

Listen to the whole thing for interesting insights on innovation in the age of COVID, including how we get vaccines to low-income countries and the likelihood of another pandemic, plus what was behind the Zoom boom.
 

More Health Care News: 

Forbes: BioNTech’s CEO on the next era of mRNA vaccines
“The triumph of the COVID-19 vaccine, Uğur Şahin says, is ‘motivating us to use the success to further accelerate our other programs.’” 

STAT News: Cavazzoni to take over influential spot atop FDA drug center
“Patrizia Cavazzoni has been named the permanent leader of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.”

 
 
 
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Reese Witherspoon swears by this synbio serum

 
 

Reese Witherspoon recently posted her skincare routine on Instagram—and we were excited to find out she swears by Biossance products, the sustainable beauty brand using biotech-derived squalane. 

The actor, producer, and entrepreneur is the new global brand ambassador for Biossance,where she’ll work to build consumer awareness of the brand’s sustainable beauty products.   

Biossance is the beauty brand created by BIO member Amyris, which uses synthetic biology (synbio) to turn renewable sugarcane into squalane, a replica of squalene, a skin moisturizer produced naturally by humans (and sharks).

Amyris' plant-based products range from hand sanitizers to Reese’s favorite vitamin C serum. They're safe, sustainable, and moisturizing.

What they’re saying: “I not only fell in love with Biossance’s products, especially its Rose Oil, but also its innovative, female-led team and mission towards a sustainable future. My skin has never felt healthier and I’m proud to work with such a strong industry leader in sustainability and care for our planet,” says Reese Witherspoon

Thanks to synbio, you too can get that Hollywood glow—check out Reese’s favorite Biossance products here

Want to know more about Amyris?Meet Kirsten Benjamin, VP of R&D at Amyris, who is researching squalane for vaccines.

 
 
 
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President Biden’s Tuesday: Paying respects to U.S. Capitol Police Officer William Evans, who was killed at the Capitol on April 2. This afternoon, the President and Vice President will meet with members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Meanwhile, Axios says President Biden and the Democrats are “aiming big on health care.”

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Today, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies will look at FY 22 funding for the National Science Foundation, the federal agency that supports science and engineering research. A few more hearings we’re watching this week: 

Wednesday, April 14 at 10:00 AM ET
Senate Homeland Security Committee: Preparedness for COVID-19: The Initial Pandemic Response and Lessons Learned (featuring Merck’s Dr. Julie Gerberding, former director of the CDC) 

Wednesday, April 14 at 10:30 AM ET
House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health: An Epidemic Within a Pandemic: Understanding Substance Use and Misuse in America

Thursday, April 15 at 10:00 AM ET
House Appropriations Committee: FY 2022 Budget Request for the Department of Health and Human Services (featuring HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra)

 
 
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