Category: Science and Tech
The Magic of mRNA Will Push Medical Advances for Everyone
(Wired) mRNA is one of the first molecules of life. While identified six decades ago as the carrier of the blueprint for proteins in living cells, its pharmaceutical potential was long underestimated. mRNA appeared unpromising—too unstable, too weak in potency, and too inflammatory. The successful development of the first mRNA vaccines against Covid-19 in 2020 was an […]
Dec 30, 2022
HHS Increases Access to Tamiflu through the Strategic National Stockpile
(HHS) Tthe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), announced that they are making additional supply of Tamiflu available to jurisdictions to respond to an increased demand for the antiviral during this flu season, including through the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). Jurisdictions will work with […]
Dec 27, 2022
The COVID-19 virus keeps evolving. These ‘disease detectives’ are on the case
(Canadian News) The Omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 was last year’s unpleasant holiday surprise. More than a year later, a loosely knit group of “disease detectives” across Canada continues to keep watch for key mutations. Officials with the World Health Organization (WHO) say Omicron is better able to pass from person to person […]
Dec 27, 2022
Israel researchers discover 100,000 new RNA viruses
(Jerusalem Post) RNA viruses infect cells by injecting RNA into the cytoplasm of the host cells to transcribe and replicate viral proteins. Since the appearance of COVID-19, viruses have gotten a very bad name in the general public. These tiny intracellular parasites of living organisms are the most numerous biological entities on Earth and cause disease […]
Dec 27, 2022
One of our best Covid-19 treatments doesn’t work anymore. What now?
(Vox) Covid-19 is once again trending upward in the United States, with new cases reaching more than 450,000 and deaths climbing up to 3,000 per week. But hospitals will have to face this year’s winter surge without a valuable tool. In late November, the Food and Drug Administration revoked its emergency use authorization for bebtelovimab, a monoclonal antibody […]
Dec 20, 2022
Are Subphenotypes for Long COVID Beneficial?
(MedPageToday) A recent study opens in a new tab or window published in Nature Medicine, “Data-driven identification of post-acute SARS-CoV-2 infection subphenotypes” by Hao Zhang, PhD, et al. used a data-driven framework to stratify patients suffering with post-acute SARS-CoV-2 (PASC), also referred to as long COVID, into different subcategories of sequelae. The bulk of the patients in the […]
Dec 20, 2022
Voluntary Recall of Three Detect Covid-19 Test Lots
(FDA) Detect, Inc. is voluntarily recalling specific lots of the Detect Covid-19 Test™, our molecular, over-the-counter test used to identify SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid-19) in self-collected nasal swabs. The recall affects a total of 11,102 tests shipped to customers from July 26th, 2022 through August 26th, 2022. The test was granted Emergency Use […]
Dec 13, 2022
COVID-19 Viral Rebound Occurs With Molnupiravir, No Antivirals
(US Pharmacist) Viral rebound sometimes occurs after treatment with Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir; ritonavir) for the treatment of COVID-19. Apparently, viral rebound also occurs with molnupiravir but not very commonly, according to a new study. Researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong sought to examine the incidence of viral rebound in patients with COVID-19 who were […]
Dec 13, 2022
Scientists Eye Monoclonal Antibodies for Malaria as Drug Resistance Looms
(Bloomberg) Most people are by now familiar with the monoclonal antibody drugs used to prevent and treat severe Covid-19 infections. But antibody drugs have a variety of other uses in medicine from cancer treatment to preventing viral illnesses like RSV. They have even shown promise in slowing disease progression from Alzheimer’s.
Dec 6, 2022
Covid Rebound with Pfizer’s Paxlovid Less Than Expected
(Bloomberg) On the (Paxlovid) rebound, Pfizer Inc.’s antiviral medication caused recurrences or prolonged infections more often in real life than in clinical studies. (A rebound of coronavirus occurred in 2.3% of patients on Paxlovid versus 1.7% receiving placebo in a late-stage trial, Pfizer scientists said in September.)
Dec 6, 2022