Pharmacology / Pharmaceutical Industry
Cohort study: Arterial events, venous thromboembolism, thrombocytopenia, and bleeding after vaccination with Oxford-AstraZeneca ChAdOx1-S. 11 excess venous thromboembolic events per 100 000 vaccinations; 2.5 excess cerebral venous thrombosis per 100 000 vaccinations.
7 May, 2021 | 08:33h | UTCEditorial: Thromboembolism and the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine – The BMJ
Commentaries: Thrombosis and bleeding after the Oxford-AstraZeneca covid-19 vaccination – The BMJ Opinion AND Putting risks into context: covid-19 vaccines and blood clots – The BMJ Opinion AND Expert reaction to study from Denmark and Norway looking at rare blood clots after the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine – Science Media Centre
Commentary on Twitter
NEW research sheds more light on rate of rare blood clots after Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine
Rate of adverse events low; benefits of the vaccine still outweigh risks in most situations, say researchershttps://t.co/LslgvzWlWi @Pottegard
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) May 6, 2021
Opinion | Covid-19: Sputnik vaccine rockets, thanks to Lancet boost
7 May, 2021 | 08:31h | UTCCovid-19: Sputnik vaccine rockets, thanks to Lancet boost – The BMJ
Commentary on Twitter
Journals risk being used in place of regulators when they publish studies of novel vaccines that have not yet been authorised by a major regulator @DoctorChrisVT unpicks the story of the Sputnik V vaccine https://t.co/lYf7l0lXcy
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) May 6, 2021
RCT: Therapeutic drug monitoring during infliximab induction does not improve disease remission in patients with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases
7 May, 2021 | 08:27h | UTCEffect of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring vs Standard Therapy During Infliximab Induction on Disease Remission in Patients With Chronic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases: A Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA (free for a limited period)
Editorial: Treatment Strategies for Patients With Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases – JAMA (free for a limited period)
Commentary: Mixed Results with Refined Treatment Strategies for Rheumatic Diseases – Physician’s Weekly
Commentary on Twitter
Study findings do not support routine use of proactive therapeutic drug monitoring during infliximab induction for improving immune-mediated inflammatory disease remission rates https://t.co/sDslkVm3u9
— JAMA (@JAMA_current) May 5, 2021
RCT: Among patients with rheumatoid arthritis in remission, tapering conventional DMARDs using half-dose resulted in disease flares in 25% of patients compared with 6% of patients in the stable-dose group.
7 May, 2021 | 08:26h | UTCEffect of Half-Dose vs Stable-Dose Conventional Synthetic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs on Disease Flares in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Remission: The ARCTIC REWIND Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA (free for a limited period)
Editorial: Treatment Strategies for Patients With Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases – JAMA (free for a limited period)
Commentary: Mixed Results with Refined Treatment Strategies for Rheumatic Diseases – Physician’s Weekly
Short review: How to diagnose and manage QT prolongation in cancer patients
7 May, 2021 | 08:18h | UTCHow to Diagnose and Manage QT Prolongation in Cancer Patients – JACC: CardioOncology
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
1/3 #JACCCardioOnc Just out 🔥 in @JACCJournals , our perspective on Management of QT prolongation in patients with cancer 👉🏼 https://t.co/s2Fo6lSIFc pic.twitter.com/FamiE0huCh
— Juan Lopez-Mattei (@onco_cardiology) March 16, 2021
In shock move, US backs waiving patents on COVID vaccines. “The development from the Biden administration draws cheers from public health researchers and ire from drugmakers.”
6 May, 2021 | 09:10h | UTCIn shock move, US backs waiving patents on COVID vaccines – Nature
See also: U.S. will back proposal to waive intellectual property rights and boost Covid-19 vaccine production – STAT AND Statement from the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima on the decision by the United States of America to support the TRIPS waiver for COVID-19 vaccines – UNAIDS AND WHO Director-General commends United States decision to support temporary waiver on intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines – World Health Organization
Commentary on Twitter
These extraordinary times and circumstances of call for extraordinary measures.
The US supports the waiver of IP protections on COVID-19 vaccines to help end the pandemic and we’ll actively participate in @WTO negotiations to make that happen. pic.twitter.com/96ERlboZS8
— Ambassador Katherine Tai (@AmbassadorTai) May 5, 2021
RCT: Novavax vaccine is 49.4% effective against B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variant.
6 May, 2021 | 09:08h | UTC
Observational study in Qatar: Pfizer–BioNTech Covid vaccine is 89.5% effective against B.1.1.7 variant and 75.0% effective against B.1.351 variant. Vaccine effectiveness against severe, critical, or fatal disease with any SARS-CoV-2 variant was very high, at 97.4%.
6 May, 2021 | 09:06h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
📍GET BOTH DOSES! Great variants & #COVID19 vaccine news—Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine had great efficacy of 89.5% vs #B117 🇬🇧 variant & 75% vs #B1351 🇿🇦 variant for infection—but only with 2 doses. The 1 dose efficacy was just ~29% vs #B117 & ~17% vs #B1351. 🧵https://t.co/SprUfggnmh pic.twitter.com/VDWHiLsQLL
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) May 6, 2021
Observational study in Israel: Pfizer-BioNTech is 95.3% effective against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
6 May, 2021 | 09:04h | UTCCommentaries: Expert reaction to Israel nation-wide study looking at Pfizer vaccine effectiveness – Science Media Centre AND Covid-19: Two doses of Pfizer vaccine are “highly effective” against infection, hospital admission, and death, study finds – The BMJ
Organ transplant recipients remain vulnerable to Covid-19 even after second vaccine dose.
6 May, 2021 | 09:03h | UTCOriginal Study: Antibody Response to 2-Dose SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine Series in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients – JAMA
Cohort study shows inadequate antibody response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine among kidney transplant recipients.
6 May, 2021 | 09:01h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
The studies of mRNA vax in people with transplants are getting bigger: still the same message. Some protection, but not enough. This time, 308 people with kidney transplants in Israel, BNT-Pfizer vaccine https://t.co/Otvt8F11my
— Hilda Bastian, PhD (@hildabast) May 6, 2021
[Press release – not published yet] Moderna announces positive initial booster data against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.
6 May, 2021 | 08:57h | UTCModerna Announces Positive Initial Booster Data Against SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern – Moderna
Commentary: We just got our first evidence that Moderna’s coronavirus booster shot works to fight variants – Insider
Commentaries on Twitter
Moderna announces that a single dose of their #COVID19 booster shot provides a strong immunologic response to the variant first identified in South Africa (B.1.351) & Brazil (P.1).
This was also well tolerated.
Press release: https://t.co/q46Wx27BzI pic.twitter.com/16JpxrM4Vq
— Isaac Bogoch (@BogochIsaac) May 5, 2021
Great news
💥Single booster dose of 50 µg of mRNA-1273 or mRNA-1273.351 increased neutralizing titers against SARS-CoV-2 and two variants of concern (B.1.351, P.1)in previously vaccinated clinical trial participants💥 https://t.co/rzhDsgxEDh— Antibiotic Steward🆔🦠Bassam Ghanem (@ABsteward) May 6, 2021
Practice changing | A four-month rifapentine regiment with moxifloxacin is noninferior to the standard 6-month regimen in the treatment of tuberculosis.
6 May, 2021 | 08:56h | UTCCommentary: Four-month TB treatment matches six-month standard of care – Aidsmap
RCT: Perioperative dexamethasone reduces postoperative nausea and vomiting and is not associated with increased risk of surgical-site infections, even among diabetic patients.
6 May, 2021 | 08:54h | UTCDexamethasone and Surgical-Site Infection – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Dexamethasone treatment safe in surgery – Monash University
RCT: The combination of liraglutide + exercise improves weight loss maintenance more than either treatment alone.
6 May, 2021 | 08:52h | UTCCommentary: Liraglutide beneficial for post-diet weight loss maintenance – Medwire News
COVID has pushed medical research into remote trials, benefiting patients and scientists
5 May, 2021 | 08:38h | UTC
What’s the future of vaccines linked to rare clotting disorders? Science breaks down the latest
5 May, 2021 | 08:37h | UTC
Covax: How will Covid vaccines be shared around the world?
5 May, 2021 | 08:35h | UTCCovax: How will Covid vaccines be shared around the world? – BBC
Related: WHO chief – The world can bring the global COVID-19 pandemic under control in the coming months provided it distributes the necessary resources fairly AND A year in the COVID-19 vaccine scheme COVAX
China’s COVID vaccines are going global — but questions remain
5 May, 2021 | 08:32h | UTCChina’s COVID vaccines are going global — but questions remain – Nature
USPSTF Draft Statement: Insufficient evidence to recommend multivitamin supplements for the prevention of CVD or cancer. The statement also recommends against the use of beta-carotene (increases risk of CVD mortality and lung cancer) or vitamin E (clear evidence of no benefit)
5 May, 2021 | 08:30h | UTCDraft Evidence Review: Vitamin, Mineral, and Multivitamin Supplementation to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer
ASCO Guideline Update: Appropriate systemic therapy dosing for obese adult patients with cancer
5 May, 2021 | 08:27h | UTC
Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection boosts response to variants after first vaccine dose
4 May, 2021 | 08:51h | UTCOriginal study: Prior SARS-CoV-2 infection rescues B and T cell responses to variants after first vaccine dose – Science
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
Just published @ScienceMagazine
"After one dose, individuals with *prior infection* showed enhanced T cell immunity, antibody secreting memory B cell response to spike and neutralizing antibodies effective against B.1.1.7 and B.1.351." 👍https://t.co/7cCVM6iqdP pic.twitter.com/GiC43bjwZZ— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) April 30, 2021
WHO lists Moderna vaccine for emergency use
4 May, 2021 | 08:49h | UTCWHO lists Moderna vaccine for emergency use – World Health Organization
WHO Inches Closer to Approval of Chinese Sinopharm and Sinovac Vaccines
4 May, 2021 | 08:49h | UTCWHO Inches Closer to Approval of Chinese Sinopharm and Sinovac Vaccines – Health Policy Watch
Practical Guide on the Use of Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
4 May, 2021 | 08:38h | UTCCommentary: EHRA Updates Its Popular ‘Practical’ NOAC Guide – TCTMD