Pharmacology/Pharmaceutical Industry
Review: Sedation in the Intensive Care Unit.
16 Jul, 2021 | 10:31h | UTCSedation in the Intensive Care Unit – Current Anesthesiology Reports
RCT: Bamlanivimab plus Etesevimab reduce mortality and hospitalization in ambulatory patients with early Covid-19 (within 3 days of a positive test) who are at risk for clinical deterioration (i.e., older people, obese, diabetics, immunocompromised, with CV disease).
15 Jul, 2021 | 09:26h | UTCBamlanivimab plus Etesevimab in Mild or Moderate Covid-19 – New England Journal of Medicine
Tramadol: Where do we go from here? – “Tramadol’s unpredictability, unique potential harms, and lack of advantage over other opioids or NSAIDs are now well recognized”.
15 Jul, 2021 | 09:14h | UTC[131] Tramadol: Where do we go from here? – Therapeutic Initiative
RCT: Intravitreal ranibizumab vs. aflibercept vs. bevacizumab for macular edema due to central retinal vein occlusion.
15 Jul, 2021 | 09:09h | UTC
RCT: Lopinavir-ritonavir and hydroxychloroquine worsened outcomes in critically ill patients with COVID-19.
14 Jul, 2021 | 11:25h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
Results of @remap_cap #Covid_19 #Antiviral Domain released Online First @yourICM: Among critically ill patients with COVID-19, #lopinavir-ritonavir, #HydroxyChloroquine, or combination therapy worsened outcomes compared to no antiviral therapy
— remap-cap (@remap_cap) July 13, 2021
RCT: Neither Remdesivir nor Hydroxychloroquine affect viral clearance in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
14 Jul, 2021 | 11:23h | UTCNews release: Neither remdesivir nor HCQ affect viral clearance in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 – American College of Physicians
Original Study: Evaluation of the Effects of Remdesivir and Hydroxychloroquine on Viral Clearance in COVID-19 – Annals of Internal Medicine
Commentary on Twitter
Newly published research in Annals concludes neither remdesivir nor #hydroxychloroquine affected viral clearance in hospitalized patients with #COVID19 https://t.co/K3qWLUW8uY. pic.twitter.com/ugbjJJ3qI5
— Annals of Int Med (@AnnalsofIM) July 12, 2021
Cohort study: Pfizer/BioNTech COVID vaccine associated with 78% lower risk of Covid-19 in pregnancy.
14 Jul, 2021 | 11:20h | UTCBetween BNT162b2 Vaccination and Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pregnant Women – JAMA
Commentary: Pfizer COVID vaccine shows 78% efficacy in pregnancy – CIDRAP
One COVID vaccine dose yields good protection in elderly, 2 studies find.
14 Jul, 2021 | 11:15h | UTCOne COVID vaccine dose yields good protection in elderly, 2 studies find – CIDRAP
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
2 research Articles on #COVID19 vaccine effectiveness in older people:
1) Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 COVID-19 vaccination at preventing hospitalisations in people aged at least 80 years: a test-negative, case-control study https://t.co/ELvMCPwSHF— The Lancet Infectious Diseases (@TheLancetInfDis) June 24, 2021
Summary: SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists established and emerging indications.
14 Jul, 2021 | 10:56h | UTCSGLT2 Inhibitors and GLP-1 Receptor Agonists: Indications – American College of Cardiology
Original review: SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists: established and emerging indications – The Lancet (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
FDA Safety Alert: hydroxyethyl starch products should not be used unless adequate alternative treatment is unavailable.
14 Jul, 2021 | 10:48h | UTCCommentary: FDA Piles on New Warnings for Blood Volume Expanders – MedPage Today (free registration required)
Related: Hydroxyethyl-starch Solutions (HES) Should no Longer be Used – European Medicines Agency AND Randomized Trial: Hydroxyethyl Starch vs. Saline for Volume Replacement Therapy in High-Risk Patients Undergoing Major Abdominal Surgery AND Systematic Review: Colloids vs Crystalloids for Fluid Resuscitation in Critically Ill People
German national treatment guidance for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
13 Jul, 2021 | 10:02h | UTC
WHO warns against mixing and matching COVID vaccines.
13 Jul, 2021 | 09:53h | UTCWHO warns against mixing and matching COVID vaccines – Reuters
Commentary: WHO cautions data still limited on mixing COVID-19 vaccines, but Canadian officials say it’s OK – CTV News
Related: Germany issues world’s strongest recommendation for mixing Covid-19 vaccines. AND [Preprint] Mixing Covid jabs has good immune response, study finds – “The Com-Cov trial looked at the efficacy of either two doses of Pfizer, two of AstraZeneca, or one of them followed by the other. All combinations worked well, priming the immune system”. AND Perspective | Can I get AstraZeneca now and Pfizer later? Why mixing and matching COVID vaccines could help solve many rollout problems. AND RCT: Mixing 2 different Covid vaccines is associated with increased risk of side effects. AND Should you mix and match COVID-19 vaccines? Scientists are seeking answers
Commentary on Twitter
The World Health Organization's chief scientist on Monday advised against people mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines from different manufacturers, calling it a "dangerous trend" since there was little data available about the health impact. https://t.co/Oog6fWDSMz
— Reuters Health (@Reuters_Health) July 13, 2021
Pro-Con Debate | Should we delay covid-19 vaccination in children?
13 Jul, 2021 | 09:51h | UTCShould we delay covid-19 vaccination in children? – The BMJ
News release: Should we delay COVID-19 vaccination in children? – British Medical Journal
Commentary on Twitter
Covid-19 vaccines in adults have been remarkably effective. There is good reason to expect that the same will be true in children.
A group of authors discuss the pros and cons of vaccinating children against covid-19 https://t.co/TOEI67YPeH
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) July 9, 2021
Podcast | An Antibiotics Primer.
13 Jul, 2021 | 09:35h | UTC#284 An Antibiotics Primer, with @IDdocAdi – The Curbsiders
WHO criticizes rich countries for planning COVID vaccine ‘boosters’ – while billions wait for first jab.
13 Jul, 2021 | 09:45h | UTCCOVID-19 booster strategy as Delta multiplies, highlights ‘disappointing inequality’: WHO – UN News
See also: WHO Lambasts Pfizer, Moderna & Rich Countries for Planning COVID Vaccine ‘Boosters’ – While Billions Wait for First Jab – Health Policy Watch AND WHO says vaccinated countries must stop ordering booster shots until others are fully vaccinated – ABC News
RCT: Comparison of nebulized ketamine at three different dosing regimens for treating painful conditions in the emergency department.
13 Jul, 2021 | 09:22h | UTCComparison of Nebulized Ketamine at Three Different Dosing Regimens for Treating Painful Conditions in the Emergency Department: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Clinical Trial – Annals of Emergency Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary on Twitter
Nebulized Ketamine for pain in the ED? No way…Well- here you go-Comparison of Nebulized Ketamine at Three Different Dosing Regimens for Treating Painful Conditions in the ED. https://t.co/v3UT0Y0LdU #FOAMed #FOAMems #FOAMtox #FOAMcc #FOAMpharm
— Sergey Motov (@painfreeED) July 3, 2021
[Preprint] Heparin for Moderately Ill Patients with Covid-19 – “In moderately ill ward patients with Covid-19 and elevated D-dimer level, therapeutic heparin did not significantly reduce the primary outcome but decreased the odds of death at 28 days”.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:14h | UTCHeparin for Moderately Ill Patients with Covid-19 – medRxiv
Related: RCT: In patients hospitalized with Covid-19 with elevated D-Dimer, a full-dose anticoagulation strategy based on rivaroxaban (full-dose heparins in unstable patients) + rivaroxaban to day 30 was not better than prophylactic anticoagulation and increased bleeding risk. AND [Preprint] Practice Changing RCT: Therapeutic-dose anticoagulation with heparin (LMWH or unfractionated heparin) improves outcomes in non-critically ill patients with Covid-19 – the superiority of therapeutic-dose anticoagulation was seen in both high and low D-dimer groups. AND [Preprint] RCT: Full-dose/therapeutic anticoagulation provides no benefit in critically ill patients with Covid-19
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
?Final results of the RAPID trial now pub'd @medrxivpreprint ? RAPID was an open-label trial that randomly assigned hospitalized ward patients with COVID-19 and elevated D-dimer levels to therapeutic or prophylactic heparin. ? 1/10 https://t.co/oxiyXQAPeK pic.twitter.com/V2GtruEyM2
— Michelle Sholzberg (@sholzberg) July 9, 2021
RCT: Another study shows Azithromycin does not improve outcomes in patients with Covid-19.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:09h | UTCCommentaries: Trial shows that the antibiotic azithromycin does not prevent mild COVID cases progressing to hospitalization, death – European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases AND Azithromycin: can its benefit be ruled out in mild COVID-19? – The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
Related: M-A: Azithromycin does not reduce the need for invasive mechanical ventilation or mortality in patients with Covid-19. AND RCT: Azithromycin provides no benefit for community treatment of patients with suspected COVID-19 AND RECOVERY trial: Azithromycin not beneficial for patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 AND [Press release – not published yet] Azithromycin and doxycycline are not generally effective against COVID-19 in patients treated at home, shows PRINCIPLE trial AND Coalition Covid-19 Brazil – Randomized trial: Azithromycin not beneficial for patients admitted to the hospital with severe Covid-19 AND Coalition Covid-19 Brazil – Randomized trial: hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin in mild-to-moderate Covid-19
Commentary on Twitter
In patients with mild-to-mod #COVID19 managed without hospital admission, azithromycin + SOC did not reduce the risk of subsequent hospital admission or death
Read the ATOMIC2 trial here https://t.co/QXJ7T08JZS, being presented at #ECCMID2021 by lead author Tim Hinks @HinksLab pic.twitter.com/ZDiPhuQqFB
— The Lancet Respiratory Medicine (@LancetRespirMed) July 9, 2021
Pfizer says it’s time for a Covid booster; FDA and CDC say not so fast.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:08h | UTCPfizer says it’s time for a Covid booster; FDA and CDC say not so fast – CNN
See also: CDC, FDA contradict Pfizer on COVID-19 vaccine booster – CIDRAP AND Do I need a COVID-19 booster shot? 6 questions answered on how to stay protected – The Conversation AND Pfizer suggests booster shots will be needed this year, but government officials say science will dictate the timing – The Washington Post AND Pfizer to seek OK for 3rd vaccine dose; shots still protect – Associated Press AND Citing the Delta Variant, Pfizer Will Pursue Booster Shots and a New Vaccine – The New York Times (a few articles per month are free) AND Question open on need for COVID booster shot, data awaited, WHO says – Reuters
Can we stretch existing Covid vaccines to inoculate more people? Experts are divided.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:05h | UTCCan we stretch existing Covid vaccines to inoculate more people? Experts are divided – STAT
See also: Quarter-dose of Moderna COVID vaccine still rouses a big immune response
Benefits of mRNA COVID vaccines outweigh rare heart risks, says WHO.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:02h | UTCBenefits of mRNA COVID vaccines outweigh rare heart risks, says WHO – Reuters
See also: EU finds potential link between heart inflammation and mRNA COVID shots – Reuters AND Heart inflammation link to Pfizer and Moderna jabs – BBC
Ranitidine absolved? FDA study finds Ranitidine does not convert to carcinogen NDMA, regardless of diet.
12 Jul, 2021 | 01:36h | UTCEditorial: Ranitidine and Risk of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) Formation
Commentary: Ranitidine: FDA finds no evidence of elevated NDMA, regardless of diet
Commentaries on Twitter
Despite ranitidine (zantac) being pulled from market last year, a new study from the FDA did not find evidence that it increases concentrations of the carcinogenic metabolite people were worried about (i.e., it's probably safe). From @JAMA_current https://t.co/AdRic2GdXS
— Zack Williams (@QuantPsychiatry) June 28, 2021
In this crossover, randomized clinical trial, oral ranitidine did not significantly increase 24-hour urinary excretion of NDMA when administered with a noncured-meats diet or a cured-meats diet. https://t.co/EszRvfJOFJ
— JAMA (@JAMA_current) June 28, 2021
RCT: Another study shows that non-antibiotic outpatient treatment in mild acute diverticulitis is safe.
12 Jul, 2021 | 01:29h | UTCEfficacy and Safety of Non-Antibiotic Outpatient Treatment in Mild Acute Diverticulitis (DINAMO-study): A Multicentre, Randomised, Open-Label, Non-Inferiority Trial – Annals of Surgery (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Related: State of the Art Review: Management of colonic diverticulitis AND Treatment of Uncomplicated Acute Diverticulitis Without Antibiotics: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – Diseases of the Colon & Rectum AND Antibiotics Do Not Reduce Length of Hospital Stay for Uncomplicated Diverticulitis in a Pragmatic Double-Blind Randomized Trial – Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology AND Randomized Trial: Antibiotic Avoidance Associated with Similar Long-term Outcomes in Uncomplicated Diverticulitis
Commentary on Twitter
Another (final?) nail in the coffin for antibiotics in uncomplicated diverticulitis? DINAMO study from Spain – Outpatient treatment with antibiotics versus symptomatic Tx.
No difference in hospitalization rate or revisits to ER.https://t.co/wOc3tBGfxr @AnnalsofSurgery
— Ville Sallinen (@villesallinen) July 9, 2021
Editorial: Aducanumab for Alzheimer’s disease?
12 Jul, 2021 | 01:15h | UTCAducanumab for Alzheimer’s disease? – The BMJ
Related: FDA approvement of Alzheimer’s drug sparks controversy among doctors.
Commentary on Twitter
Our editorial for @bmj_latest on the controversial #Aducanumab approval and what it means for patients, clinicians and researchers.
With @seb_walsh, Richard Milne @ethicsWCS, Carol Brayne @CamPubHealth https://t.co/mnhh4F1gKK— Richard Merrick (@r_merrick) July 9, 2021
RCT: CoronaVac showed efficacy of 83.5% for preventing symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:22h | UTCInvited commentary: CoronaVac: more data for regulators and policy makers
Commentary on Twitter
NEW—Interim analysis from phase 3 trial suggests efficacy of 2 doses of #CoronaVac is 83.5% against symptomatic #COVID19. More research is needed to confirm efficacy in the long term, in a more diverse group, and against emerging #variants of concern.
? https://t.co/TN5b6wwclc pic.twitter.com/4zOvJFIIOH
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) July 8, 2021