EMA starts evaluating use of Moderna's COVID vaccine in children aged 6 to 11: Reports

European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced on Wednesday, November 10, that it h started looking into use of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 6 to 11. EMA has begun evaluating an application to expand use of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax, to children, according to a statement from agency, ANI reported. Before an official statement allowing Spikevax to be used on children in aforementioned age group is released, data and results from medical study will be reviewed by EMA's human medicines committee (CHMP). 

In about two months, announcement is expected to be me. decision of CHMP will n be forwarded to European Commission, which will make final decision. vaccine is currently approved for use in children aged 12 and above.

Moderna is disputing claims me by National Institutes of Health (NIH) that it was involved in development of company's mRNA Coronavirus vaccine, raising stakes in debate over government's ability to influence vaccine's future availability and price, New York Times reported.  contribution of NIH-funded scientists who worked closely with Moderna at start of pandemic to develop groundbreaking vaccine is at heart of dispute. argument revolves around who invented core component of mRNA vaccine, genetic sequence that causes vaccine to elicit an immune response.

NIH claims that three of its scientists should be named on patent because y worked on technology with Moderna for more than four years, but paperwork Moderna filed in July only names its own scientists, according to NYT.  dispute has far-reaching consequences for vaccine's long-term distribution, not to mention billions of dollars in potential profits.

Mihir Metkar named as primary contributor Moderna's COVID vaccine

Moderna has identified an Indian-origin scientist as primary contributor to its Covid-19 vaccine. Mihir Metkar, a Pune-educated bioinformatics scientist, was listed as "first-named inventor" on company's patent application for coronavirus vaccine that uses revolutionary RNA technique. In two or Covid-19 vaccine patent applications filed with US Patent Office, he is listed as one of inventors.

(With inputs from agencies)

Image: AP