Category Archives: COVID-19 Updates
BioFire Respiratory Panel with COVID Target Scores CE Mark
BioMerieux announced that Utah-based BioFire’s Respiratory Panel 2.1 plus, which tests for SARS-CoV-2 and 23 pathogens encompassing 19 viruses, and four bacteria that cause the most frequent respiratory tract infections, has received CE marking. “It’s exciting to see the advances that BioFire is making in COVID-19 and infectious disease diagnostics,” said Kelvyn Cullimore, president and […]
PhotoPharmics Stay-At-Home Trial for People with Parkinson’s
This week, PhotoPharmics announced a collaboration with the Center for Health + Technology (CHeT) at the University of Rochester Medical Center to conduct an at home, telemedicine, phase 3 trial for the company’s Celeste® – a non-invasive, specialized light therapy device for Parkinson’s. The trial follows an FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for the device in […]
Johnson & Johnson to Begin COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials in Humans Next Week
Last month, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) announced that its Phase 1/2a in-human clinical trial of its potential COVID-19 vaccine was expected to begin in July – instead of September as initially scheduled. On Thursday, as reported by Fierce Pharma, J&J chief scientific officer Paul Stoffels confirmed the accelerated timeline, saying that the company has seen […]
Pfizer, BioNTech Get FDA Fast Track Status for COVID-19 Vaccines
U.S. Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech announced Monday that they have received Fast Track designation from the FDA for two COVID-19 vaccine candidates – BNT162b1 and BNT162b2 – part of the companies’ “Project Lightspeed” program. The designation was issued based on promising preliminary data from Phase 1/2 clinical studies. The FDA’s Fast Track designation is intended […]
Governor Herbert Releases Utah Leads Together Plan Volume IV; Economic Response Task Force Report “Utah Rising” Includes Life Sciences
On June 16, Governor Herbert released Volume IV of the Utah Leads Together plan, which presents Utah’s economic recovery and revitalization plan, using a 100, 250, and 500-day time horizon. Volumes I, II, and III of the Utah Leads Together plan presented economic phases, color-coded health guidance, instructions for high-risk individuals, recommendations from Utah’s multi-cultural […]
June 30th Webinar: Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Medical Device Patents
Whether you are a solo entrepreneur, starting a company, or running an established corporation, you should be aware of issues such as IP ownership, freedom-to-operate, patentability, patent portfolio management and cost control. For more information, click here.
Request for Proposals – CARES Act Funding in Support of COVID-19 Treatments
August 21, 2020 Update Thank you to everyone who submitted applications for the $2M of CARES Act funding appropriated by the Utah Legislature to support the response to COVID-19. Applicants were awarded grants through a multi-step review process. At this point, all $2M in CARES Act funding appropriated by the legislature has been distributed. Thank […]
Changes to PPP Rules Set After Senate Passes Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act of 2020
By Brandon Allfrey, Partner, Squire, Brandona@squire.com Late Wednesday evening, the U.S Senate passed by unanimous consent the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020 to ease some of the original rules of the PPP application and forgiveness rules from the CARES Act and the subsequent guidance from the Treasury Department. The details of the Act did not change from the […]
Governor Issues Executive Order Releasing Updated Guidelines for Low-Risk Phase in the Utah Leads Together Plan
SALT LAKE CITY (May 27, 2020) – Gov. Gary R. Herbert has issued an Executive Order updating guidelines for areas in low health risk designation under Utah’s phased health guidance plan. The order specifically addresses updated guidelines pertaining to social gatherings, education, businesses, travel and events. “We are making progress and we can see that […]
Grants Still Available for the Utah Commercial Real Estate Assistance Program
On May 11, 2020, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) began accepting applications for the Utah Commercial Real Estate Assistance Program, to provide rental relief to small businesses that have lost revenue as a result of COVID-19 mitigation efforts. The program, with $40 million in funds, has received 2,700 applications to date, totaling just […]
House Democrats Move to Pass $3 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Package
House Democrats have proposed a new $3 trillion relief package, titled the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act, which would increase funding for state and local governments, extend unemployment benefits, and designate special funding for frontline healthcare workers and first responders. Republicans have pushed back over the timing and priorities of the […]
Governor Herbert Says Most of Utah Will Move from “Orange” to “Yellow” This Weekend
Governor Herbert announced at a press conference on Thursday that most of Utah will move from the moderate-risk phase (orange), to low-risk phase (yellow) this weekend. Grand, Summit and Wasatch counties, as well as Salt Lake City and West Valley City, however, will remain under moderate-risk guidelines. Salt Lake City Airport will also remain in […]
