Category: Science and Tech
Coronavirus variants are dodging antibody treatments. New lab-made options may help.
(Washington Post) In the evolutionary chess match between the coronavirus and humans, scientists’ next move can’t come soon enough for the millions of Americans relying on treatments known as monoclonal antibodies. These lab-made therapies are rapidly losing their healing power, forcing researchers around the world to devise new antibodies that are both more potent and […]
Nov 22, 2022
An elegant way to stop deadly Hendra virus spillovers from bats to horses … to us
(NPR) Not quite 20 years ago, Raina Plowright stood in a forest in Australia’s Northern Territory at dusk. She watched as hundreds of thousands of bats called little red flying foxes launched themselves into the air. “The sky was [dark] with these huge bats taking off in this stream of animals across the landscape looking for nectar,” […]
Nov 22, 2022
Bird flu found in Southeast Alaska bear cub
(Alaska News) A sick bear discovered last month at Bartlett Cove in Glacier Bay National Park was found to be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza, the Division of Wildlife Conservation said.“The virus that causes HPAI was detected on both nasal and rectal swabs and in brain tissue screening at Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory […]
Nov 21, 2022
U.S. FDA authorizes Roche’s monkeypox test
(Reuters) The U.S. health regulator on Tuesday issued an emergency use authorization to Roche’s test for the detection of DNA from monkeypox virus in swab specimens collected from people suspected of the virus infection. The tests will be conducted on the Swiss company’s cobas systems, which can also detect HIV, hepatitis B and C viruses. […]
Nov 21, 2022
Monoclonal Antibodies May No Longer Be a Match for Emerging COVID Strains
(MedPageToday) Evusheld, bebtelovimab losing potency as circulation of BQ.1, BQ.1.1 grows. Tixagevimab/cilgavimab (Evusheld) and bebtelovimab are likely ineffective against approximately 60% of currently circulating Omicron variants, creating a big gap in protection, particularly for immunocompromised individuals, researchers from a Harvard Medical School-led consortium said at a briefing on late last week.
Nov 21, 2022
Paxlovid rebound more common than initially thought, doctors say
(ABC News) Six months ago, Dr. Joseph Boselli said he was prescribing the antiviral drug Paxlovid to nearly everyone who turned up at his practice with COVID. Now, the internal medicine physician at Jefferson Health in Philadelphia said he’s reserving it mostly for people who are 60-plus, with serious health problems, or who aren’t up-to-date on their […]
Nov 10, 2022
New VA study finds Paxlovid may cut the risk of long COVID
(NPR) It’s well-documented that Paxlovid — a 5-day course of antiviral pills from Pfizer — can reduce the risk of hospitalization in COVID-19 patients who are more likely to develop severe illness. Now, researchers from the Veterans Health Administration find that taking the medication may also reduce the risks of later developing long COVID, according […]
Nov 8, 2022
Pfizer’s Paxlovid Antiviral Lowered Long-Covid Risk in Study
(Bloomberg) Pfizer Inc.’s blockbuster Paxlovid antiviral that lowers rates of illness and death in people infected with the coronavirus also cuts the risk of some symptoms of disabling long Covid, a study found.Taking the oral medication within five days of testing positive for a SARS-CoV-2 infection was linked to a 26% lower risk of lingering […]
Nov 7, 2022
USDA to Fund Research on SARS-CoV-2 in Animals
(Pork) USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) will disseminate $30 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to address SARS-CoV-2 in animals and advance the nation’s ability to protect the health of humans and animals. This funding opportunity is part of APHIS’ multipronged approach under its American Rescue Plan Strategic Framework, to build […]
Nov 1, 2022
UNMC tapped for trial of monkeypox treatment
(Nebraska Examiner) The University of Nebraska Medical Center is among more than 60 sites nationally that has been tapped for a trial study of a monkeypox treatment. The STOMP (Study of Tecovirimat for Human Monkeypox Virus) is a phase 3 trial evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the antiviral tecovirimat drug.
Nov 1, 2022