Pharmacology/Pharmaceutical Industry
Covid-19 vaccination prevents transmission from vaccinated to unvaccinated household members.
31 May, 2021 | 08:18h | UTCThe indirect effect of mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccination on unvaccinated household members – medRxiv
Commentary on Twitter
More on less transmission, yet another incentive:
"Our results suggest that mRNA-based vaccines do not only prevent #SARSCoV2 infections among vaccinated individuals but lead to a substantial reduction in infections among unvaccinated household members"https://t.co/sIqoOLiH3b pic.twitter.com/6rv2tojR2m— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 29, 2021
[Not published yet] Observational study in Uruguay found CoronaVac reduced mortality by 97 percent – “In people who had received two doses, it reduced infection with the coronavirus by 57 percent and intensive care admissions by 95 percent”.
31 May, 2021 | 08:14h | UTCCoronaVac reduces mortality by 97 percent: Uruguay study – Associated Press
Observational study suggests ceftriaxone is similarly effective to benzylpenicillin for the treatment of neurosyphilis, potentially decreasing the length of hospital stay (mean 13.8 days vs. 8.9 days).
31 May, 2021 | 08:06h | UTCCeftriaxone compared with benzylpenicillin in the treatment of neurosyphilis in France: a retrospective multicentre study – The Lancet Infectious Diseases (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Lab study found CoronaVac serum neutralization efficiency was significantly decreased against B.1.526, P.1, and B1.351 SARS-CoV-2 variants.
28 May, 2021 | 08:26h | UTC
COLCORONA RCT: Colchicine for community-treated patients with COVID-19 – findings suggest it may lower death and hospital admission rates, but further studies are required.
28 May, 2021 | 08:27h | UTCInvited Commentary: Exploiting an early immunological window of opportunity in COVID-19 – The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
RCT: Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine shows 100% efficacy in adolescents – mainly transient mild-to-moderate reactogenicity was frequently observed, such as injection-site pain (in 79 to 86% of participants), fatigue (in 60 to 66%), and headache (in 55 to 65%).
28 May, 2021 | 08:24h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
The 12-15 year-olds mRNA vaccine randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial is published @NEJM today [@BioNTech_Group/@Pfizer]https://t.co/7GlgC9xdd0
—100% efficacy (95% CI 75,100)
—1.8 X higher levels of neutralizing antibodies than 16-25 yr olds
—very good safety profile pic.twitter.com/hQzkpuA5Nu— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 27, 2021
Covid-19: Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is “likely” responsible for deaths of some elderly patients, Norwegian review finds.
28 May, 2021 | 08:22h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
The Pfizer-BioNTech covid-19 vaccine is “likely” to have been responsible for at least 10 deaths of frail elderly people in nursing homes in Norway, an expert review concluded, although it emphasised considerable uncertainty around its conclusionshttps://t.co/w32jH6MtRH
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) May 27, 2021
RCT: 2 inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines show efficacy of 72.8% and 78.1% on symptomatic COVID-19 infection in adults.
27 May, 2021 | 08:38h | UTCCommentary: China’s Sinopharm Publishes Awaited Covid Vaccine Study Details – Bloomberg
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
The #4Humanity phase 3 trial of Sinopharm's Beijing & Wuhan vaccines published in JAMA by @NawalAlKaabi &co https://t.co/ldgUDZ9YTX HT @swiftshoes
WIV04 = Wuhan: efficacy 14 days+ after dose 2, 72.8% (58-82)
HB02 = Beijing: 78.1% (65-86)
Control group was vax adjuvant …1/n pic.twitter.com/AktyTQNoxI— Hilda Bastian, PhD (@hildabast) May 26, 2021
Can people vaccinated against COVID-19 still spread the coronavirus? – “Preliminary evidence seems to suggest the COVID-19 vaccines make it less likely someone who’s vaccinated will transmit the coronavirus”.
27 May, 2021 | 08:27h | UTCCan people vaccinated against COVID-19 still spread the coronavirus? – The Conversation
Related: Indirect Protection by Reducing Transmission: Ending the Pandemic with SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination – “Tell the hesitant: the vaccines protect both you and protect others — a lot!”
[Preprint] More data showing a single-dose SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine may be enough in individuals with previous COVID-19.
27 May, 2021 | 08:31h | UTCSingle-dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in a prospective cohort of COVID-19 patients – medRxiv
See also: SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for all but a single dose for COVID-19 survivors – EClinicalMedicine
Related: Another study shows a single dose of mRNA vaccine may be enough for patients with previous Covid-19
Commentaries on Twitter
If you had prior covid and you're wondering about getting vaccinated, here's a new prospective study showing single dose -> marked neutralizing antibody protection to the major variants AND again more than without prior covid and 2 mRNA doses https://t.co/k9v5gEDn2M pic.twitter.com/Z8nT3pL04v
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 26, 2021
One dose of vaccine for prior covid.
Change the policy. Avoid unnecessary side effects and instead of wasting vaccine doses get them to the people around the world in needhttps://t.co/ODhx5kgAnq @EBioMedicine @MattFrieman @VivianaSimonLab @florian_krammer pic.twitter.com/oAeju9AASm— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 26, 2021
Opinion | Rich countries cornered COVID-19 vaccine doses. Four strategies to right a ‘scandalous inequity’.
27 May, 2021 | 08:29h | UTCRich countries cornered COVID-19 vaccine doses. Four strategies to right a ‘scandalous inequity’ – Science (a few articles per month are free)
Commentary on Twitter
Tedros @WHO calls it a "scandalous inequity" that COVID-19 vaccine doses largely have gone to wealthy countries. @kakape and I took a close look at four strategies to improve access and equity–and the likely timelines.
https://t.co/10Os0yCnFE pic.twitter.com/RMeL6t8aCV— Jon Cohen (@sciencecohen) May 26, 2021
Moderna says its Covid vaccine is 100% effective in teens, plans to seek FDA OK in early June.
27 May, 2021 | 08:25h | UTCModerna says its Covid vaccine is 100% effective in teens, plans to seek FDA OK in early June – CNBC
Commentary on Twitter
BREAKING: Moderna study of more than 3,700 12- to 17-year olds found 100% effficacy in those who received 2-dose #covid19 #vaccine, no significant safety problems. Will apply for FDA authorization.https://t.co/l0MHiLjCcA
— Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) May 25, 2021
RCT: Among patients with prosthetic joint infection, antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks was NOT shown to be noninferior to antibiotic therapy for 12 weeks and resulted in a higher percentage of patients with unfavorable outcomes.
27 May, 2021 | 08:20h | UTCAntibiotic Therapy for 6 or 12 Weeks for Prosthetic Joint Infection – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
[Preprint] Meta-analysis of RCT: Ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 – no effect on all-cause mortality, length of stay, or viral clearance
26 May, 2021 | 08:41h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
???Preprint
Ivermectin for the treatment of #COVID19 : A systematic review & meta-analysis of RCTs
10 RCTs
1173 patients
8 RCTs➡️ Mild
1 RCT ➡️ Moderate
1 RCT➡️ Mild& mod
Ivermectin did not reduce all-cause mortality,length of stay or viral clearance https://t.co/QMx0wlfS8f pic.twitter.com/6yddqwqPF6— Antibiotic Steward ???Bassam Ghanem (@ABsteward) May 25, 2021
Methotrexate reduces immune response to mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disease.
26 May, 2021 | 08:38h | UTCCommentary: Methotrexate users have a reduced immune response to mRNA COVID-19 vaccine – BMJ
Editorial | A patent waiver on COVID vaccines is right and fair.
26 May, 2021 | 08:35h | UTCA patent waiver on COVID vaccines is right and fair – Nature
Related: Analysis: Covid-19: How will a waiver on vaccine patents affect global supply?
Living systematic review: The evidence is insufficient to determine the benefits and harms of vitamin D supplementation as a treatment of COVID‐19.
25 May, 2021 | 08:55h | UTCSummary: Is vitamin D an effective and safe treatment for COVID-19? – Cochrane Library
Perspective | Coronavirus: so many variants, but vaccines are still effective.
25 May, 2021 | 08:46h | UTCCoronavirus: so many variants, but vaccines are still effective – The Conversation
Secondary analysis of RCT finds Tocilizumab was beneficial to patients hospitalized with Covid-19 if CRP levels were greater than 15.0 mg/dL, but not if CRP levels were 15.0 mg/dL or less.
25 May, 2021 | 08:52h | UTC
Meta-analysis: New generation antidepressants for depression in children and adolescents – “most newer antidepressants may reduce depression symptoms in a small and unimportant way compared with placebo”.
25 May, 2021 | 08:40h | UTC
CDC is investigating several reports that teenagers and young adults may have developed myocarditis after receiving mRNA vaccines. Most cases were mild, more often in males than females, more often following dose 2 than dose 1, and typically, within 4 days after vaccination.
24 May, 2021 | 08:41h | UTCCommentaries: C.D.C. Is Investigating a Heart Problem in a Few Young Vaccine Recipients – The New York Times AND U.S. CDC looking into heart inflammation in some young vaccine recipients – Reuters
Related: Israel said probing link between Pfizer shot and heart problem in men under 30 – The Times of Israel
[Preprint] RCT: Both REGEN-COV 2400mg and 1200mg antibody cocktails significantly reduced Covid-19-related hospitalization or all-cause death compared to placebo (71.3% reduction and 70.4% reduction, respectively).
24 May, 2021 | 08:46h | UTCREGEN-COV Antibody Cocktail Clinical Outcomes Study in Covid-19 Outpatients – medRxiv
Commentary on Twitter
REGEN-COV Antibody Cocktail(casirivimab with imdevimab) Clinical Outcomes Study in Covid-19 Outpatients: N:>4000 pts
Both 1200mg IV&2400mg REGEN-COV led to a ≥70% ⬇️ (vs placebo) in Covid-19 hospitalization or all-cause death over 28 days after treatmenthttps://t.co/NJxF4BjZRs pic.twitter.com/CFdvEEIWEL— Antibiotic Steward ???Bassam Ghanem (@ABsteward) May 21, 2021
[Preprint] Pfizer and AstraZeneca Vaccines effective against B.1.617.2 variant after 2 doses.
24 May, 2021 | 08:42h | UTCNews release: Vaccines highly effective against B.1.617.2 variant after 2 doses – Public Health England
Original study: Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against the B.1.617.2 variant – Public Health England
Commentary: Covid: Pfizer and AstraZeneca jabs effective against Indian variant – study – BBC
[Preprint] Effectiveness of the CoronaVac vaccine in the elderly population during a P.1 variant-associated epidemic of COVID-19 in Brazil – “CoronaVac was 42% effective in the real-world setting of extensive P.1 transmission, but significant protection was not observed until completion of the two-dose regimen”.
24 May, 2021 | 08:43h | UTC
M-A: Tocilizumab in COVID-19 – “For hospitalized COVID-19 patients, there is some evidence that tocilizumab use may be associated with a short-term mortality benefit, but further high-quality data are required”.
24 May, 2021 | 08:39h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Tocilizumab as IL-6 antagonist in hospitalized #COVID19 pts, SR/MA/TSA:
➡️10 RCTs/6493 pts (52.2% ➡️ tocilizumab)
➡️some evidence suggests tocilizumab may be associated with short-term mortality benefit
➡️tocilizumab may prevent disease progression to MVhttps://t.co/sWR4Y351sl pic.twitter.com/JPD31Nb5rn— Intens Care Med (@yourICM) May 22, 2021