Pharmacology/Pharmaceutical Industry
More flexible storage conditions for BioNTech/Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. – “This change extends the approved storage period of the unopened thawed vial at 2-8°C (i.e. in a normal fridge after taking out of deep-freeze conditions) from five days to one month”.
18 May, 2021 | 07:59h | UTCMore flexible storage conditions for BioNTech/Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine – European Medicines Agency
Commentary: EU Regulator Backs Month-Long Storage of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine in Fridges – U.S. News/Reuters
Commentary on Twitter
EMA has changed the recommended storage conditions for Pfizer vaccine. Instead of 5 days the thawed, unopened vials can now be stored in a normal fridge for a month. 👏 https://t.co/MVkDJRQn4b
— Kai Kupferschmidt (@kakape) May 17, 2021
COVID vaccines can block variant hitting Asia, lab study finds – “Assays using live SARS-CoV-2 offer hope that the vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna will protect against a viral strain first seen in India”.
18 May, 2021 | 07:56h | UTCCOVID vaccines can block variant hitting Asia, lab study finds – Nature
See also: Pfizer, Moderna vaccines effective against Indian variants: study – MedicalXpress
Commentary on Twitter
Pfizer & Moderna mRNA vaccines are effective against multiple SARSCoV2 variants, including the B.1.617 & B.1.618, 2 variants underlying the surge in India. The research, while not yet peer-reviewed, was conducted at NYU School of Medicine in New York City https://t.co/3ziRhk8f4t pic.twitter.com/VzYQKWqyQF
— delthia ricks 🔬 (@DelthiaRicks) May 17, 2021
[Preprint] Delaying second Pfizer vaccine dose to 12 weeks increases specific antibody response 3.5-fold in people over 80 years of age.
17 May, 2021 | 08:53h | UTCCommentaries: Delaying a COVID vaccine’s second dose boosts immune response – Nature AND Delaying Second Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Dose Increases Antibody Response Threefold In Over-80s, Study Finds – Health Policy Watch AND Delay in giving second jabs of Pfizer vaccine improves immunity – The Guardian AND Expert reaction to preprint looking at the immune response in older people after vaccination the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine with either a 3-week or a 12-week dosing schedule – Science Media Centre
Modeling study: Delaying second doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines could reduce deaths by up to 20% under certain conditions.
17 May, 2021 | 08:51h | UTCCommentaries: Expert reaction to study looking at the public health impact of delaying the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines – Science Media Centre AND Delaying second Covid vaccine doses can save lives, study finds – The Guardian AND Delaying second COVID vaccine dose may prevent deaths under certain conditions – The BMJ
The pandemic surge at home is threatening an Indian vaccinemaker’s bid to protect the world.
17 May, 2021 | 08:42h | UTC
#ACC21 – [Not published yet] RCT: DARE-19: Dapagliflozin is safe, but did not significantly improve outcomes among high-risk patients hospitalized with COVID-19.
17 May, 2021 | 08:49h | UTC
Commentaries on Twitter
DARE-19 trial #ACC21 @ACCinTouch
Dapa did not reduce clinical endpoints in #COVID19, but excellent safety profile
🎯 Do not discontinue SGLT2i in 🏥 for #COVID19
Full slideset available in 👇https://t.co/RPi5mpPbbN pic.twitter.com/B9VQdSSAFu
— Enrique Santas (@SantasEnrique) May 16, 2021
DARE-19 findings presented at #ACC21 show #dapagliflozin didn’t significantly ⬇️ risk of organ failure or death or improve recovery in patients hospitalized w/ #COVID19. However, data suggest the SGLT2 inhibitor was well tolerated in acutely ill patients. https://t.co/YjYxbuc952 pic.twitter.com/J4PqwvGpLJ
— American College of Cardiology (@ACCinTouch) May 16, 2021
‘It’s not over yet’: Uncertain protection from Covid vaccines leaves cancer patients in limbo.
17 May, 2021 | 08:45h | UTC‘It’s not over yet’: Uncertain protection from Covid vaccines leaves cancer patients in limbo – STAT
#ACC21 – RCT: No significant differences in cardiovascular events or major bleeding between patients receiving 81 mg vs. 325 mg of aspirin daily.
17 May, 2021 | 08:31h | UTCComparative Effectiveness of Aspirin Dosing in Cardiovascular Disease – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: High- and Low-Dose Aspirin Equivalent in ASCVD: ADAPTABLE – TCTMD AND Aspirin Dosing: A Patient-Centric Trial Assessing Benefits and Long-Term Effectiveness – ADAPTABLE – American College of Cardiology
Video: Aspirin Dosing: A Patient-centric Trial Assessing Benefits And Long-term Effectiveness Trial
WHO: Wealthy nations urged to delay youth Covid vaccines, donate to solidarity scheme
17 May, 2021 | 08:40h | UTCCommentaries: Vaccinate vulnerable global poor before children in rich countries, WHO says – The Guardian AND Covid: Delay child vaccinations and share jabs with Covax, says WHO – BBC
#ACC21 – [Not published yet] RCT: PARADISE-MI: Sacubitril/Valsartan did not outperform ACE inhibitor after myocardial infarction with new onset heart failure.
17 May, 2021 | 08:17h | UTC
#ACC21 – [Not published yet] RCT: Among patients undergoing TAVR, full-dose apixaban is not superior to standard of care (vitamin K antagonist if indication for oral anticoagulation; antiplatelet therapy if no indication).
17 May, 2021 | 08:19h | UTCCommentaries: ATLANTIS: Apixaban Not Superior to Standard Care After TAVR – American College of Cardiology AND ATLANTIS: Apixaban Has No Benefit Over Standard of Care Post-TAVI – TCTMD
2 recent meta-analysis highlight the benefits of short term (30 days) dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin + clopidogrel in patients within 24 hours of high-risk transient ischemic attack or mild-moderate ischemic stroke.
17 May, 2021 | 08:16h | UTCMeta-analysis 1: Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Versus Aspirin in Patients With Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials – Stroke
Meta-analysis 2: Efficacy and Safety of Using Dual Versus Monotherapy Antiplatelet Agents in Secondary Stroke Prevention: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials – Circulation (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Dual vs. Monotherapy Antiplatelet Agents in Secondary Stroke Prevention – American College of Cardiology
Related Guideline: Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel for acute high risk transient ischaemic attack and minor ischaemic stroke – The BMJ
Unnecessary care? 1 in 3 patients with advanced dementia and atrial fibrillation still given anticoagulants.
17 May, 2021 | 08:13h | UTCOriginal study: Anticoagulant Use for Atrial Fibrillation Among Persons With Advanced Dementia at the End of Life – JAMA Internal Medicine (free for a limited period)
Editorial: Anticoagulation at the End of Life: Time for a Rational Framework (free for a limited period)
Perspective | New SARS-CoV-2 Variants — Clinical, Public Health, and Vaccine Implications.
14 May, 2021 | 08:43h | UTC
RCT: Mixing 2 different Covid vaccines is associated with increased risk of side effects.
14 May, 2021 | 08:46h | UTCHeterologous prime-boost COVID-19 vaccination: initial reactogenicity data – The Lancet
Commentaries: More side effects noted after using 2 different COVID vaccines – CIDRAP AND Covid vaccines: Mixing increases reports of mild side-effects – BBC
Perspective | Vaccines seem to work well against coronavirus variants. It’s also complicated.
14 May, 2021 | 08:41h | UTCVaccines seem to work well against coronavirus variants. It’s also complicated – STAT
Editorial: Vaccinating children against SARS-CoV-2 – “Hard to justify right now for most children in most countries”.
14 May, 2021 | 08:39h | UTCVaccinating children against SARS-CoV-2 – The BMJ
Related: Pfizer COVID-19 shot expanded to US children as young as 12.
Polypharmacy, inappropriate prescribing, and deprescribing in older people: through a sex and gender lens.
14 May, 2021 | 08:30h | UTCPodcast with the author: Dr Paula Rochon talks with The Lancet Healthy Longevity about polypharmacy in older people through a sex and gender lens
Related: Reducing Inappropriate Medication Use & Polypharmacy (several articles and commentaries on the subject) AND Polypharmacy Management in Older Patients – Mayo Clinic Proceedings AND Psychopharmacological Treatment in Older People: Avoiding Drug Interactions and Polypharmacy – Deutsches Ärzteblatt internationa AND Eliminating Medication Overload: A National Action Plan AND Deprescribing in Older Adults With Cardiovascular Disease – Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Commentary on Twitter
NEW REVIEW: @RochonPaula and colleagues look at #polypharmacy & #deprescribing for #older people through a sex & gender lens
👀Read the #openaccess paper here: https://t.co/CpcJswOtt1
👂Listen to the new podcast with the authors here:https://t.co/EXg9wNlE9K pic.twitter.com/AZ4VkKt33p— The Lancet Healthy Longevity (@LancetLongevity) May 13, 2021
Systematic review: Combination fixed‐dose beta-agonist and steroid inhaler as required is clinically effective in adults and adolescents with mild asthma.
14 May, 2021 | 08:23h | UTC
RCT: Tezepelumab can reduce exacerbations in adults and adolescents with severe, uncontrolled asthma.
14 May, 2021 | 08:25h | UTCCommentary: New drug shows promise against tough-to-manage asthma – MedicalXpress
Simplified decision aid: neuropathic pain treatment options in primary care.
14 May, 2021 | 08:17h | UTC
[Not published yet] Observational study in Indonesia finds China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine (CoronaVac) was 98% effective at preventing death and 96% effective at preventing hospitalization in healthcare workers
13 May, 2021 | 06:07h | UTCIndonesia study finds China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine effective in medical staff – Reuters
[Preprint] Observational study finds single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is 76.7% effective in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection
13 May, 2021 | 06:06h | UTCReal-World Effectiveness of Ad26.COV2.S Adenoviral Vector Vaccine for COVID-19 – The Lancet
Commentary on Twitter
One of the first studies to assess real-world effectiveness of the J&J 1-dose vaccine, matches Phase 3 clinical trial, at 77%https://t.co/3YgcML9YSh @MayoClinic @MayoClinicHS preprint pic.twitter.com/XOjQlUaHK2
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 11, 2021
Opinion | American Kids Can Wait – “The U.S. should delay shots for children until global vaccine-manufacturing capacity significantly expands and the crisis in India subsides”.
13 May, 2021 | 06:04h | UTCAmerican Kids Can Wait – The Atlantic
Commentary on Twitter
Now in the Atlantic, @TracyBethHoeg @MonicaGandhi9 and I argue that we ought to vaccinate OLDER people around the globe before we vaccinate children in high income nations. It is in OUR best interest to do sohttps://t.co/B0O8xj4fo1
— Vinay Prasad MD MPH (@VPrasadMDMPH) May 12, 2021
Perspective | How COVID broke the evidence pipeline
13 May, 2021 | 06:01h | UTCHow COVID broke the evidence pipeline – Nature
Editorial: Evidence-based medicine: how COVID can drive positive change – Nature
Related: Scientists say the rush to do Covid research led to a whole lot of waste
Commentary on Twitter
The weak pursuit of evidence-based medicine during the pandemic.
Thankfully, the #RECOVERY and #SOLIDARITY collaborative trial groups led the way in rapidly accumulating pivotal data asking the right questions with large sample size https://t.co/aSAhQvq5dz @hcpearson @nature pic.twitter.com/iM956krq0Q— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 12, 2021