Development of Diagnostics, Vaccines and Treatment

How is the life sciences industry responding to COVID-19?

Is your company working in any way on the development of
diagnostics, vaccination or treatment of COVID-19?

What is striking is quite how many in the industry - 47% of respondents - are working on the development of diagnostics, vaccination or treatment of COVID-19. This number is highest for North American respondents (49%) and lowest for Asian (31%). Whilst, a higher number (28%) are working on treatments than anything else.

Which approach/modality do you think is the most
promising in the diagnostic testing of COVID-19?

Antibodies mRNA Biologics Other Small Oligonu-

Molecules cleotides

When it comes to testing of COVID-19, almost half (46%) of respondents think antibody based diagnostic testing is the most promising approach. This is hardly unsurprising with a number of tests - with varying degrees of reliability - already available that rely on antibody testing.

How soon do you think a vaccine for COVID-19 will be first
approved in your region? (By respondent region)

Globally, 80% of respondents predict a vaccine will be approved in their region within 18 months, with an average prediction of almost 14 months. However, those based in Asia tend to the extremes as 14% think a vaccine will be approved with 6 months, and conversely 8% think it will be longer than 24 months.

How soon do you think a vaccine for COVID-19 will be made widely
available to the population in your region? (By respondent region)

Respondents unsurprisingly think that it will take longer for a vaccine to made widely available in their region after it gains approval, though possibly not by as much as it may be assumed. Whilst 14 months was the average response for when a vaccine will be approved, the average for when it will be made widely available is just under 18 months.

What is the biggest challenge in producing a large scale vaccination?

Three challenges to producing a large scale vaccine stand out for respondents. The safety of any vaccine is the biggest concern (28%), and manufacturing on a large enough scale (23%) is not far behind. However, perhaps surprisingly given the number of studies already underway, finding an effective vaccine is seen as the second biggest challenge (27%).

How can approval and manufacture of a vaccine for COVID-19 be accelerated safely? Selected responses.

"Short cuts will lead to unintended consequences. I do not think we can accelerate the testing for approval safely."
"Reengineeering of a preexisting vaccine."
"Parallel work on research, development, clinical trials, manufacturing & scale-up and regulatory approval. Secure global governmental funding."
"Obtain sufficient data on safety and efficacy with systematic long term follow-up of quantitative antibodies (recovered patients AND asymptomatic cases). Define early potential for virus mutation and antibody protection over time to assess magnitude of efforts for manufacturing and approach to costs coverage."
"Much like the whole industry has come together to help fight this virus, I think the industry will continue to come together to approve and manufacture a vaccine. It will require shuffling of priorities, capacity and many other things, but we are already doing this currently."
"Manufacture ASAP following pre-clinical results. Be financially strong to handle disposal of therapeutic if it doesn't pan out."
"Larger population study for a shorter period of time."
"Funding - moving quickly costs money. Companies will need to be ready for large scale manufacturing before approvals are given. There needs to be something to protect those investments so corners are not cut."
"Coordination between all regulatory authorities and cooperation between countries."
"Commonly used three trial phases may be rescheduled, one overlapping the other, during the last month of each of the phase in sequence for a positively effective vaccine."

How soon do you think therapeutics will be made available to
treat/manage COVID-19 symptoms?

Respondents are more optimistic about the speed with which therapeutics will be made available to treat COVID-19 or manage symptoms, with 62% predicting it will be within 1-12 months. Whilst Europe and North American respondents were closely matched, those based in Asia thought it far less likely treatment would be available within 6 months.

From which source do you think treatment for COVID-19 will come from? (By Region)

Just 9% of respondents think that treatment will be exclusively from newly developed drugs, with the vast majority predicting it will come either from drugs already on the market (38%) or else a combination of both (53%).

Which approach/modality do you think
has the most promise for treatment of COVID-19?

As with diagnostic testing, respondents believe antibody therapeutics to hold the most promise for treatment of COVID-19, with a quarter of respondents choosing them over small molecule drugs (23%) and combination therapies (18%).