The European Medicines Agency has started a rolling review of a Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine adapted to new variants.
The bivalent shot is adapted to target two strains of the virus — the original strain first identified in China at the beginning of the pandemic and the Omicron offshoots BA.4/5 that are driving a rise in cases across Europe.
The EMA on Tuesday announced the beginning of its review, a process which means it will assess the data on the vaccine as it becomes available. The examination will continue until there is enough data for a formal marketing application.
The authority last month said it had started a rolling review of another version of the Pfizer-BioNTech’s shot which targets the original Covid strain and the Omicron subvariant BA.1.
While existing coronavirus vaccines continue to provide good protection against being taken to hospital and death, their effectiveness has taken a hit as the virus has evolved.
EU officials plan to use bivalent shots in their autumn vaccination campaign, with most cases across the 27-member states now linked to the BA.5 variant.
The EMA expects new Covid variant-adapted vaccines to be approved by September. However, it has signalled it is open to using shots aimed at the older BA.1 variant for that campaign, given the shots aimed at the newer BA.4 and BA.5 strains are further behind in clinical development.
Pfizer on Monday sealed a $5.4 billion (£4.46bn) deal to buy drugmaker Global Blood Therapeutics, as it seeks to capitalise on a rise in revenue from its Covid vaccine and treatment.
Global Blood specialises in the development and delivery of therapies for people living with sickle cell disease.
With the acquisition of the firm, Pfizer adds sickle cell disease treatment Oxbryta, which was approved in 2019 and is expected to top $260m in sales this year. It will also pick up two pipeline assets — GBT601 and inclacumab — aimed at the same disease.
Pfizer has been on the lookout for acquisitions that could bring in billions in annual sales by the end of the decade.
Aamir Malik, Pfizer's top dealmaker, said the company was focused on improving growth for the second half of the decade, rather than large deals that generate value through cost-cutting.
In May, Pfizer struck an $11.6bn deal for migraine drug manufacturer Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding and recently also completed a $6.7bn pact to buy Arena Pharmaceuticals.
Pfizer said if they are all approved, it believes GBT's drugs could generate more than $3bn in sales annually at their peak.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The five pillars of Islam
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
