Pharmacology
Cluster-randomized trial: Postexposure hydroxychloroquine does not prevent Covid-19 in healthy persons exposed to a PCR-positive case patient
25 Nov, 2020 | 09:15h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Another RCT in @NEJM of outpatient treatment with Hydroxychloroquine in high risk folks to prevent COVID transmission
No benefit
But about 10X rate of adverse events in HCQ group
Happy to keep studying HCQ
But it really doesn't look like it workshttps://t.co/9nAfir0CMX
— Ashish K. Jha, MD, MPH (@ashishkjha) November 24, 2020
With more data on its COVID-19 vaccine, Russian institute offers new evidence of success
25 Nov, 2020 | 09:13h | UTCWith more data on its COVID-19 vaccine, Russian institute offers new evidence of success – Science
Commentaries: Expert reaction to press release reporting the second interim analysis of the efficacy of the Sputnik V vaccine – Science Media Centre AND Russia says Sputnik V virus vaccine 95% effective – MedicalXpress
Latest COVID-19 guidelines come out against bamlanivimab, remdesivir
25 Nov, 2020 | 09:10h | UTCLatest COVID-19 guidelines come out against bamlanivimab, remdesivir – ACP Internist
Systematic review: Financial payments from the pharmaceutical industry is associated with more physician prescribing of the drug made by the company that they got the payments from
25 Nov, 2020 | 09:07h | UTCAre Financial Payments From the Pharmaceutical Industry Associated With Physician Prescribing? A Systematic Review – Annals of Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Financial payments from drug industry associated with physician prescribing – American College of Physicians
Commentary from the author on Twitter (thread – click for more)
"Are Financial Payments From the Pharmaceutical Industry Associated With Physician Prescribing?"
Our latest on physician-industry COI is out today in @AnnalsofIM!Not to bury the lede, the answer is "yes."
Thread to follow.https://t.co/2lfAjWSQuq
1/— Aaron Mitchell (@TheWonkologist) November 24, 2020
Why the AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine is different. It does not require extremely cold temperatures for storage, and the price will be “a fraction” of the expense of the other vaccine candidates
24 Nov, 2020 | 09:32h | UTCWhy the AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine is different – Vox
Why does the AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine’s efficacy vary so much? Here’s what we know
24 Nov, 2020 | 09:30h | UTCWhy Does the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine’s Efficacy Vary So Much? Here’s What We Know – TIME
Related: Why Oxford’s positive COVID vaccine results are puzzling scientists – Nature
Emergency COVID-vaccine approvals pose a dilemma for scientists. It could complicate efforts to study long-term outcomes, such as safety, how long protection lasts and whether the jab prevents infection or just the disease
24 Nov, 2020 | 09:28h | UTCWhy emergency COVID-vaccine approvals pose a dilemma for scientists – Nature
Four reasons why we need multiple vaccines for Covid-19
24 Nov, 2020 | 09:27h | UTCFour reasons why we need multiple vaccines for Covid-19 – Wellcome Trust
Randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial: Amantadine, modafinil, and methylphenidate are no better than placebo for fatigue in multiple sclerosis
24 Nov, 2020 | 09:02h | UTCSafety and efficacy of amantadine, modafinil, and methylphenidate for fatigue in multiple sclerosis: a randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover, double-blind trial – The Lancet Neurology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Covid-19: Oxford University vaccine shows 70% protection
23 Nov, 2020 | 09:54h | UTCCovid-19: Oxford University vaccine shows 70% protection – BBC
News release: Oxford University breakthrough on global COVID-19 vaccine
Commentary on Twitter
Today marks an important milestone in the fight against #COVID19. Interim data show the #OxfordVaccine is 70.4% effective, & tests on two dose regimens show that it could be 90%, moving us one step closer to supplying it at low cost around the world>> https://t.co/fnHnKSqftT pic.twitter.com/2KYXPxFNz1
— University of Oxford (@UniofOxford) November 23, 2020
Systematic review: Ultra-long‐acting insulins provide modest benefit compared to NPH insulin for Type 2 DM, resulting in reduced risk of hypoglycemia but no difference in HbA1c
23 Nov, 2020 | 09:45h | UTC
Updated WHO guideline on drugs for Covid-19 rejects Remdesivir and strongly recommends Corticosteroids for patients with severe and critical disease
20 Nov, 2020 | 08:51h | UTCA living WHO guideline on drugs for covid-19 – The BMJ
Commentary: WHO Guideline Development Group advises against use of remdesivir for COVID-19 – British Medical Journal
Commentary on Twitter
Today the @WHO rejects Remdesivir for #COVID19.
The same drug the @US_FDA gave a full approval.
Because the @WHO reviewed all the data and made the right call.https://t.co/u7GKTRlf37@bmj_latest pic.twitter.com/kVwmDnJRCz— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) November 20, 2020
Phase 2 trial of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine finds it is safe and provokes immune response in young as well as in older adults
20 Nov, 2020 | 08:50h | UTCCommentaries: Covid: Oxford vaccine shows ‘encouraging’ immune response in older adults – BBC AND Age and frailty in COVID-19 vaccine development – The Lancet AND Expert reaction to phase 2 trial safety and immunogenicity data from the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine trial including in healthy older adults – Science Media Centre AND Phase 2 trial of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine in healthy older adults finds it is safe and provokes immune response – The Lancet
Commentary on Twitter
NEW—UK’s #COVID19 vaccine shows similar safety and immunogenicity results in healthy older adults (aged 56 years & over) to those seen in adults aged 18-55 years: finding from a single-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial https://t.co/OKDSySPwfK pic.twitter.com/JyXRk5ZzPT
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) November 19, 2020
Opinion: Improving care for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction—a potential polypill-based strategy
20 Nov, 2020 | 08:37h | UTC
Pfizer and BioNTech to submit Covid-19 vaccine data to FDA as full results show 95% efficacy
19 Nov, 2020 | 09:36h | UTCPfizer and BioNTech to submit Covid-19 vaccine data to FDA as full results show 95% efficacy – STAT
News release: Pfizer and Biontech conclude phase 3 study of Covid-19 vaccine candidate, meeting all primary efficacy endpoints
Commentaries: ‘Incredible milestone for science.’ Pfizer and BioNTech update their promising COVID-19 vaccine result – Science AND Pfizer: COVID-19 shot 95% effective, seeking clearance soon – Associated Press AND Expert reaction to announcement by Pfizer that they have concluded the Phase III study of their COVID-19 vaccine candidate after demonstrating 95% efficacy – Science Media Centre AND Covid vaccine: Pfizer says ‘94% effective in over-65s’ – BBC
Opinion: For billion-dollar COVID vaccines, basic government-funded science laid the groundwork
19 Nov, 2020 | 09:33h | UTC
Temperature concerns could slow the rollout of new coronavirus vaccines
19 Nov, 2020 | 09:31h | UTCTemperature concerns could slow the rollout of new coronavirus vaccines – Science
#AHA20 [not published yet] Randomized trial: After drug-eluting stent implantation, one-month dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) followed by aspirin monotherapy was noninferior to 6-12 months of DAPT
19 Nov, 2020 | 09:21h | UTCCommentary: Latest Post-DES Drug Trial Tests Aspirin Monotherapy After 1 Month of DAPT – TCTMD
Chinese Covid-19 vaccine candidate (CoronaVac) appears safe and induces an immune response in healthy volunteers in phase 1/2 clinical trial
18 Nov, 2020 | 09:19h | UTCCommentaries: Covid-19: Chinese vaccine ‘successful in mid-stage trials’ – BBC AND Expecting the unexpected with COVID-19 vaccines – The Lancet Infectious Diseases
Commentary on Twitter
NEW—Chinese #COVID19 vaccine candidate (CoronaVac) based on inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus appears safe & induces an immune response in healthy volunteers: finding from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1/2 clinical trial @TheLancetInfDis https://t.co/0AC0fP53dI pic.twitter.com/W3gMdqLzTG
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) November 18, 2020
#AHA20 – RCT: Sotagliflozin improved cardiovascular outcomes in patients with Diabetes and CKD. Diarrhea, genital mycotic infections, volume depletion, and diabetic ketoacidosis were more common with sotagliflozin than with placebo
18 Nov, 2020 | 09:08h | UTCSotagliflozin in Patients with Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
#AHA20 – RCT: Sotagliflozin improved cardiovascular outcomes in patients with Diabetes and Recent Worsening Heart Failure. Diarrhea and severe hypoglycemia were more common with sotagliflozin than with placebo
18 Nov, 2020 | 09:06h | UTCSotagliflozin in Patients with Diabetes and Recent Worsening Heart Failure – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
#AHA20 – Randomized trial: Among patients with recurrent pericarditis, Rilonacept was associated with lower risk of pericarditis recurrence than placebo
18 Nov, 2020 | 09:04h | UTCPhase 3 Trial of Interleukin-1 Trap Rilonacept in Recurrent Pericarditis – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Rilonacept Prevents Recurrent Pericarditis: RHAPSODY – TCTMD AND Rilonacept inHibition of interleukin-1 Alpha and beta for recurrent Pericarditis: a pivotal Symptomatology and Outcomes stuDY – RHAPSODY – American College of Cardiology AND Trial shows drug effective in 96% of patients with recurrent pericarditis – Cleveland Clinic
Commentary on Twitter
Patients with recurrent pericarditis were treated with the interleukin-1 trap rilonacept. Those who had a response were randomly assigned to receive continued rilonacept or placebo. Rilonacept led to a significantly lower risk of pericarditis recurrence than placebo. #AHA20
— NEJM (@NEJM) November 17, 2020
Opinion: A new important study supports wider use of the polypill
18 Nov, 2020 | 09:01h | UTCRichard Smith: A new important study supports wider use of the polypill – The Lancet
Original study and commentaries: Randomized trial: A polypill comprising statins, multiple blood pressure lowering drugs, and aspirin prevents cardiovascular events among patients at intermediate cardiovascular risk
Commentary on Twitter
"We seem now to have good evidence that the polypill can reduce cardiovascular events and deaths by at least a third and probably by half in those who take the polypill regularly" @Richard56 discusses a new study in @NEJM https://t.co/B2tkN4pkDP
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) November 17, 2020
Systematic review: Management of primary headaches in pregnancy
18 Nov, 2020 | 09:00h | UTCManagement of Primary Headaches in Pregnancy – Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Full report: Management of Primary Headaches in Pregnancy
Evidence Summary: Management of Primary Headaches in Pregnancy
[Press release – not published yet] Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate shows 94.5% protection in an interim analysis of the phase 3 COVE study
17 Nov, 2020 | 09:55h | UTCPress release: Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Meets its Primary Efficacy Endpoint in the First Interim Analysis of the Phase 3 COVE Study
See also: Moderna Announces Longer Shelf Life for its COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate at Refrigerated Temperatures
Commentaries: What Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine results mean for ending the pandemic – Vox AND Moderna follows Pfizer with exciting vaccine news – how to read these dramatic developments – The Conversation AND Moderna’s COVID Vaccine Is 95% Effective – Independent NIH-Appointed Board Assessment – Higher Storage Temperature Make It Even Better News – Health Policy Watch AND Moderna’s Vaccine News “Encouraging” But Won’t Solve Immediate Problem of Virus Surge in Europe & Americas – WHO – Health Policy Watch AND COVID vaccine excitement builds as Moderna reports third positive result – Nature AND Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine is strongly effective, early look at data show – STAT AND With strong data on two Covid-19 vaccines, we have more answers about the road ahead — and questions too – STAT AND Early data show Moderna’s COVID vaccine 94.5% effective – CIDRAP AND A Note Of Caution On Moderna’s Promising Covid-19 Vaccine News – Forbes AND Promising Interim Results from Clinical Trial of NIH-Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine – NIH News Releases AND Moderna: Covid vaccine shows nearly 95% protection – BBC AND Latest vaccine success is good news but high price may restrict access – The Guardian AND ‘Just beautiful’—Another COVID-19 vaccine, from newcomer Moderna, succeeds in large-scale trial – Science AND Moderna trial success gives world more hope in race to end pandemic – Reuters AND Expert reaction to Moderna announcement of its phase 3 vaccine interim results – Science Media Centre