PFIZER INC.

U.S. to offer free COVID tests by mail starting late September, with each household able to order up to four tests. The program has distributed over 900 million tests since the pandemic began. The tests aim to help detect the virus and prevent its spread during the holiday season.

Pfizer and BioNTech receive FDA approval for Omicron KP.2-adapted COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 12 years and older, with emergency use authorization for those 6 months through 11 years. The vaccine is based on mRNA technology and will be available in pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics across the U.S.

Pfizer and BioNTech announce Phase 3 trial results for their mRNA-based combination vaccine against influenza and COVID-19 in adults 18-64, with one immunogenicity objective met. A separate Phase 2 trial showed robust immunogenicity for standalone influenza mRNA vaccines. The companies are evaluating adjustments to improve immune responses against influenza B and will discuss next steps with health authorities.

ORIC-944 is an orally bioavailable PRC2 inhibitor designed to improve solubility and stability, with a longer half-life than EZH2 inhibitors. It reprograms AR-independent prostate tumors to AR-dependent states.

July's Molecules of the Month feature Novartis' molecular glue degrader for sickle cell disease, Pfizer's tinlorafenib for melanoma with brain metastasis, AstraZeneca's AZ-PRMT5i-1 for MTAP-deficient cancers, MTX-531 for dual EGFR/PI3K inhibition, and LifeMine Therapeutics' XC219 discovered via top-down approach. Paxalisib shows promising data in glioblastoma, and Takeda's OX2R-selective agonist offers potential in Alzheimer's disease.

BioNTech announces positive Phase 2 results for mRNA immunotherapy BNT111 in advanced melanoma patients, showing significant improvement in ORR when combined with cemiplimab vs. historical control, with both monotherapies active. BNT111, part of BioNTech's FixVac platform, targets four tumor-associated antigens and has received FDA Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations for melanoma treatment.

Multiple biotech companies raise significant funding for various drug development and clinical trial initiatives, including Cardurion Pharmaceuticals ($260M for cardiovascular therapies), Formation Bio ($372M for AI drug discovery), Element Biosciences ($277M for DNA sequencing), and others targeting cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and more.

Pfizer announces positive Phase 3 results for hemophilia A gene therapy candidate giroctocogene fitelparvovec, showing significant reduction in annualized bleeding rate post-infusion and generally well-tolerated profile.