5 things to know in life sciences: Week of May 23, 2022
REAL ECONOMY BLOG | May 26, 2022
Authored by RSM US LLP
This week we highlight an international collaboration for an innovative under-the-skin insulin delivery device, a focus on improving diversity for clinical trials and a promising COVID-19 vaccine for children under 5. Finally, at-home testing for sexually transmitted diseases is coming, and the University of California, San Francisco has recently announced plans that would allow their Ph.D. students to spend a portion of their studies working at biotech companies. Each week we highlight five things you need to know about in the life sciences industry. Here’s the latest.
Please note that next week we will not be publishing our “5 things” post in observance of Memorial Day.
German and Canadian companies collaborate on implant treatment for Type 1 diabetes
Sernova, a Canadian clinical stage regenerative medicine company, and German pharmaceutical company Evotec are collaborating on an innovative insulin delivery device to treat Type 1 diabetes. The product would be implanted in the body and would replace external insulin pumps and manual injections. A small pouch containing therapeutic cells is designed to be implanted under the skin and produce an unlimited supply of insulin.
Pfizer and Headlands Research look to build clinical trial sites in diverse populations
Amid the growing calls for increased diversity in clinical trials, Pfizer has partnered with Headlands Research to launch clinical trial sites specifically targeted at diverse patient populations. A new site is being launched in Brownsville, Texas, a city with a population of over 180,000 where over 94% of the population is Hispanic or Latino. The industry is focusing on improving representation of racial and ethnic minority populations as well as members of the LGBTQIA+ community, older adults, pregnant and lactating individuals, and people with disabilities in clinical trials.
Third dose is the charm for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in young children
Many parents of children under 5 have been waiting since last year for a COVID-19 vaccine to be available for their children. There finally appears to be hope on the horizon with Pfizer announcing positive results for a three-dose regimen of its vaccine in children under age 5 (and older than 6 months). The next step will be submission to the Food and Drug Administration and its decision on whether to grant an emergency use authorization.
At-home testing is coming for more infectious diseases
COVID-19 caused many relationships between patients and their health care to be upended. In some cases, people opted to delay preventative care, causing even worse outcomes. One potential positive resulting trend is that people have become more comfortable doing at-home health-related testing. Now, public health officials and lawmakers are looking to build from that momentum to encourage at-home testing for sexually transmitted infections. However, there are trade-offs between making testing more accessible and ensuring support and accuracy.
University announces new internship-focused doctoral program
When thinking of internship programs, most people may picture undergraduate students working in a corporate setting for a semester to put their academic learning to a real-world test. Now, a similar idea is being tried at the University of California, San Francisco to help its Ph.D. students prepare for work in private sector biotech after gaining their doctorate.
This article was written by Justin Culbertson, Steve Kemler, David Stuart, Brian Winne and originally appeared on 2022-05-26.
2022 RSM US LLP. All rights reserved.
https://realeconomy.rsmus.com/5-things-to-know-in-life-sciences-week-of-may-23-2022/
RSM US Alliance provides its members with access to resources of RSM US LLP. RSM US Alliance member firms are separate and independent businesses and legal entities that are responsible for their own acts and omissions, and each is separate and independent from RSM US LLP. RSM US LLP is the U.S. member firm of RSM International, a global network of independent audit, tax, and consulting firms. Members of RSM US Alliance have access to RSM International resources through RSM US LLP but are not member firms of RSM International. Visit rsmus.com/about us for more information regarding RSM US LLP and RSM International. The RSM logo is used under license by RSM US LLP. RSM US Alliance products and services are proprietary to RSM US LLP.
![RSM US Alliance Logo Stacked RGB](http://frkpc.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/RSM-US-Alliance-Logo-Stacked-RGB.png)
Fitts, Roberts, Kolkhorst & Co., P.C. is a proud member of the RSM US Alliance, a premier affiliation of independent accounting and consulting firms in the United States. RSM US Alliance provides our firm with access to resources of RSM US LLP, the leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market. RSM US LLP is a licensed CPA firm and the U.S. member of RSM International, a global network of independent audit, tax and consulting firms with more than 43,000 people in over 120 countries.
Our membership in RSM US Alliance has elevated our capabilities in the marketplace, helping to differentiate our firm from the competition while allowing us to maintain our independence and entrepreneurial culture. We have access to a valuable peer network of like-sized firms as well as a broad range of tools, expertise and technical resources.
For more information on how Fitts, Roberts, Kolkhorst & Co., P.C. can assist you, please contact us.