Pharmacology/Pharmaceutical Industry
[Preprint] Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections in 620,000 U.S. Veterans, February 1, 2021 to August 13, 2021 – “Vaccine protection declined by mid-August 2021, decreasing from 91.9% in March to 53.9%”.
17 Oct, 2021 | 21:29h | UTCRelated:
Editorial | Covid-19 vaccination: evidence of waning immunity is overstated.
COVID vaccine effects wane over time but still prevent death and severe illness.
Perspective | What we actually know about waning immunity.
Another study shows Pfizer mRNA vaccine immunity is reduced over time.
Studies: COVID vaccine protection waning against infection but not hospitalization.
Commentary on Twitter
New on breakthrough infections in 620,000 Veterans
"Vaccine protection declined by mid-August 2021, decreasing from 91.9% in March to 53.9%"https://t.co/xonBb4aEqJ highest reduction with J&J vaccine pic.twitter.com/rbhXOREFPP— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 15, 2021
Eight months later: Researchers compare immune responses elicited by three COVID-19 vaccines.
17 Oct, 2021 | 21:27h | UTCOriginal study: Differential Kinetics of Immune Responses Elicited by Covid-19 Vaccines – New England Journal of Medicine
Commentary on Twitter
Just published @NEJM
Neutralizing antibody levels and T cells response out to 8 months for Pfizer, Moderna and J&J vaccines https://t.co/ghAgk3Y4kR
Moderna highest antibody response; J&J while lower doesn't fall off and best CD8 T-cell response at 8 months pic.twitter.com/uANSzAylMF— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) October 15, 2021
M-A: Effectiveness and safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioid treatment for knee and hip osteoarthritis – although Etoricoxib 60 mg/day and diclofenac 150 mg/day seem to be most effective treatments, topical diclofenac 70-81 mg/day is safer and should be considered as first line treatment.
17 Oct, 2021 | 21:14h | UTCNews release: Topical pain-killers more effective, safer than opioids for knee osteoarthritis pain – St. Michael’s Hospital
Commentary: Network meta-analysis compares analgesic regimens for osteoarthritis – medwire News
Commentary on Twitter
Etoricoxib 60 mg/day and diclofenac 150 mg/day seem to be the most effective oral NSAIDs for knee and hip osteoarthritis pain and physical function, but might not be appropriate in the presence of comorbidities or for long term use, concludes #BMJResearchhttps://t.co/rrtX3BnQE5
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) October 16, 2021
RCT: After third molar surgery, Ibuprofen doses above 400 mg did not significantly increase the analgesic effect, and Paracetamol 1000/codeine 60 mg was not more effective than ibuprofen 400 mg.
17 Oct, 2021 | 21:16h | UTC
Review: Timing of antibiotic therapy in the ICU.
17 Oct, 2021 | 21:05h | UTCTiming of antibiotic therapy in the ICU – Critical Care
Study evaluated several heterologous SARS-CoV-2 vaccine regimens; no efficacy data but there was increased antibody production on study days 15 and 29 after booster shots from Moderna and Pfizer.
15 Oct, 2021 | 02:49h | UTCHeterologous SARS-CoV-2 Booster Vaccinations: Preliminary Report – medRxiv
Commentary: Study: Mixing and Matching COVID-19 Booster Shots Is Effective, Safe – U.S. News
Commentary on Twitter
So yes, mRNA vaccines are great at generating antibodies but what does that mean? Where is the efficacy data? How come JnJ gets really great efficacy at preventing symptomatic COVID and severe disease with low antibodies? T-cells? Still much to learn. https://t.co/YwKUyogAhQ
— Daniel Griffin MD PhD (@DanielGriffinMD) October 13, 2021
Statins linked to reduced risk of death from COVID-19 in major population study – “Randomized studies will be needed to ascertain whether there is a causal relationship, note the researchers”.
15 Oct, 2021 | 02:47h | UTCNews release: Statins linked to reduced risk of death from COVID-19 in major population study – Karolinska Institutet
Original study: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors and COVID-19 mortality in Stockholm, Sweden: A registry-based cohort study – PLOS Medicine
Commentaries:
Expert reaction to study looking at statins and risk of death from COVID-19 – Science Media Centre
People taking statins less likely to die from Covid, study suggests – The Guardian
Perspective | Trying to Block SARS-CoV-2 Transmission With Intranasal Vaccines.
15 Oct, 2021 | 02:44h | UTCTrying to Block SARS-CoV-2 Transmission With Intranasal Vaccines – JAMA
Editorial: Covid-19 treatments and vaccines must be evaluated in pregnancy.
15 Oct, 2021 | 02:41h | UTCCovid-19 treatments and vaccines must be evaluated in pregnancy – The BMJ
Related:
Study shows high effectiveness of the Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in pregnancy.
5 Crucial Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy.
CDC Guidance: Pregnant people should be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Cohort study: Pfizer/BioNTech COVID vaccine associated with 78% lower risk of Covid-19 in pregnancy.
Commentary on Twitter
Inconsistent messaging from authorities, driven by lack of trial data, has increased covid-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women@DrAllyah and colleagues argue that pregnant women should be included in drug and vaccine development from the outsethttps://t.co/P3v1ouk8tQ
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) October 14, 2021
FDA panel green-lights Moderna COVID boosters for risk groups.
15 Oct, 2021 | 02:43h | UTCFDA panel green-lights Moderna COVID boosters for risk groups – CIDRAP
Trastuzumab for early-stage, HER2-positive breast cancer: a meta-analysis of 13 864 women in seven randomized trials.
15 Oct, 2021 | 02:07h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
https://twitter.com/NicoleKuderer/status/1423002503138795521
Video: Merck’s Covid pill could transform treatment. Here’s how it works.
14 Oct, 2021 | 10:10h | UTCWatch: Merck’s Covid pill could transform treatment. Here’s how it works – STAT
Related:
How antiviral pill Molnupiravir shot ahead in the COVID drug hunt.
What we know — and don’t know — about Merck’s new Covid-19 pill.
Merck’s Covid-19 pill is great news but may not be a game-changer.
Video | A Pill For COVID? A Doctor Explains Molnupiravir.
[Preprint] In RCT with 29,949 participants, the Novavax vaccine demonstrated high overall efficacy (>90%) for the prevention of Covid-19, and all moderate-to-severe cases occurred in placebo recipients.
14 Oct, 2021 | 10:17h | UTCEfficacy and Safety of NVX-CoV2373 in Adults in the United States and Mexico – medRxiv
Commentary: Novel vaccine demonstrates high efficacy for prevention of COVID-19 – News Medical
Related:
Opinion | The mRNA vaccines are extraordinary, but Novavax is even better.
RCT: Novavax vaccine is 49.4% effective against B.1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variant.
New COVID-19 vaccines: here’s how the promising Novavax and Johnson & Johnson jabs work
Covid-19: Novavax vaccine efficacy is 86% against UK variant and 60% against South African variant
Commentary on Twitter
Remember Novavax's #COVID vaccine?
Recent data looks really good.
~30K participants enrolled in a prospective clinical trial.
The vaccine appeared to be safe & effective (>90%).
Unclear why approval is taking so long.
Preprint 👉 https://t.co/MQkJXdgJyR pic.twitter.com/217Erw2stC
— Isaac Bogoch (@BogochIsaac) October 12, 2021
RCT: Oxytocin does not improve social functioning in children with autism spectrum disorder.
14 Oct, 2021 | 09:52h | UTCOriginal study: Intranasal Oxytocin in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder – New England Journal of Medicine
Systematic Review: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) may be beneficial for people being treated for cancer who have no therapeutic or prophylactic indication for anticoagulation.
14 Oct, 2021 | 09:44h | UTC
WHO advisers recommend 3rd COVID vaccine dose for highest-risk groups.
13 Oct, 2021 | 01:48h | UTCWHO advisers recommend 3rd COVID vaccine dose for highest-risk groups – CIDRAP
See also: WHO advises additional COVID shot for immunocompromised people – Reuters
A primer on what we know about mixing and matching Covid vaccines.
13 Oct, 2021 | 01:44h | UTCA primer on what we know about mixing and matching Covid vaccines – STAT
Related:
Another study shows increased immune response with heterologous Oxford-AstraZeneca/mRNA vaccination.
RCT: Mixing 2 different Covid vaccines is associated with increased risk of side effects.
USPSTF draft statement revises previous guidance and now recommends against initiating low-dose aspirin use for the primary prevention of CVD in adults aged 60 years or older.
13 Oct, 2021 | 01:36h | UTCCommentaries:
Advice shifting on aspirin use for preventing heart attacks – Associated Press
Taking aspirin to prevent heart attack may cause more harm than good, task force says – NPR
Related Randomized Trials:
Randomized Trial: Aspirin for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
Randomized Trial: Effects of Aspirin for Primary Prevention in Persons with Diabetes
Randomized Trial: Effect of Aspirin on All-Cause Mortality in the Healthy Elderly
Related Meta-Analysis:
Meta-Analysis: Efficacy and Safety of Aspirin for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Events
Related Opinions:
Aspirin for Primary Prevention: Is This the End of the Road?
Evidence evolving on aspirin as prevention – ACP Internist
Commentary on Twitter
Low Dose Aspirin in the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease: #USPSTF recommends individualized decision making between 50 and 59 years, and against aspirin use in 60 years+. What a difference a few years can make, with more data and evidence. https://t.co/3nC3jpjTDq pic.twitter.com/SN8K3Z9XJj
— Muin J. Khoury (@MuinJKhoury) October 12, 2021
M-A: New pharmacologic agents (Ditans and Gepants) are not as good as triptans for treating migraines.
13 Oct, 2021 | 01:17h | UTCCommentary: Migraine: Older Drugs May Be Best Bet for Lessening Pain – Physician’s Weekly
Commentary on Twitter
This systematic review and meta-analysis found that ditans and gepants were associated with less efficacy compared with triptans, whereas gepants were associated with fewer adverse events compared with triptans for migraine treatment. https://t.co/PFCHg4MZ8r
— JAMA Network Open (@JAMANetworkOpen) October 11, 2021
RCT: No benefit from antithrombotic therapy (aspirin or apixaban) in outpatients with clinically stable symptomatic COVID-19.
12 Oct, 2021 | 00:28h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Data do not support the use of aspirin or apixaban in the outpatient setting to reduce the major adverse cardiovascular or pulmonary consequences associated with symptomatic but clinically stable #SARSCoV2 infection https://t.co/SH6OefXOCj #COVID19
— JAMA (@JAMA_current) October 11, 2021
How antiviral pill Molnupiravir shot ahead in the COVID drug hunt.
12 Oct, 2021 | 00:18h | UTCHow antiviral pill molnupiravir shot ahead in the COVID drug hunt – Nature
Related:
What we know — and don’t know — about Merck’s new Covid-19 pill.
Merck’s Covid-19 pill is great news but may not be a game-changer.
Video | A Pill For COVID? A Doctor Explains Molnupiravir.
AHA Scientific Statement: Medication Adherence and Blood Pressure Control.
12 Oct, 2021 | 00:09h | UTCNews release: Health system crucial to improve medication adherence for people managing hypertension – American Heart Association
Top Things to Know: Medication Adherence and Blood Pressure Control – American Heart Association
Commentary: Medication Adherence – Is It Really the Patient’s Fault? – American Heart Association
Cluster RCT: An antimicrobial stewardship intervention safely reduced the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics among patients hospitalized with moderately severe community-acquired pneumonia.
11 Oct, 2021 | 23:55h | UTCNarrow-spectrum antibiotics for community-acquired pneumonia in Dutch adults (CAP-PACT): a cross-sectional, stepped-wedge, cluster-randomised, non-inferiority, antimicrobial stewardship intervention trial – The Lancet Infectious Diseases (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
RCT: Therapeutic-dose heparin superior to standard prophylactic or intermediate-dose heparins for thromboprophylaxis in high-risk hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
10 Oct, 2021 | 21:53h | UTCInvited commentary: Anticoagulant Therapy in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 – JAMA Internal Medicine
Related studies (some conflicting results)
Commentary on Twitter
Thromboprophylaxis w therapeutic-dose LMWH reduced major thromboembolism and death by 32% compared with institutional standard heparin without increased major bleeding among #COVID19 inpatients with elevated D-dimers. The effect wasn't seen in ICU patients https://t.co/Wrgj2Ho5lv
— JAMA Internal Medicine (@JAMAInternalMed) October 7, 2021
Heart-inflammation risk from Pfizer COVID vaccine is very low.
10 Oct, 2021 | 21:42h | UTCHeart-inflammation risk from Pfizer COVID vaccine is very low – Nature
Original studies: