Pharmacology/Pharmaceutical Industry
Ghana receives first historic shipment of COVID-19 vaccinations from international COVAX facility
25 Feb, 2021 | 09:12h | UTCSee also: Ghana becomes recipient of historic first shipment of COVAX vaccines – World Health Organization
Commentaries: Covax vaccine-sharing scheme delivers first doses to Ghana – BBC AND Covax delivers first Covid vaccines in ‘momentous occasion’ – The Guardian AND COVAX delivers its first vaccine shots with shipment to Ghana – Reuters
Phase 2 trial: Muscarinic cholinergic receptor agonist and peripheral antagonist for schizophrenia
26 Feb, 2021 | 08:30h | UTCMuscarinic Cholinergic Receptor Agonist and Peripheral Antagonist for Schizophrenia – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Phase II Results Promising for New Schizophrenia Drug Combo – MedPage Today
RCT: Dimenhydrinate and metoclopramide equally effective in the treatment of nausea due to vertigo
26 Feb, 2021 | 08:12h | UTCComparison of efficacy dimenhydrinate and metoclopramide in the treatment of nausea due to vertigo; a randomized study – The American Journal of Emergency Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Series of n-of-1 trials show no difference in muscle symptoms in patients receiving placebo or statins
25 Feb, 2021 | 08:54h | UTCCommentary: Do statins cause muscle symptom side effects? – The BMJ Opinion AND Study: Muscle Symptoms Didn’t Differ Between Statin and Placebo Periods – NEJM Journal Watch
Related study: #AHA20 – In patients who had discontinued statins because of side effects, a N-of-1 trial of a statin, placebo, or no treatment found that side effects often attributed to statins were the same for those taking a placebo (study and commentaries)
RCT: Effect of high-dose subcutaneous Semaglutide vs. placebo in adults with overweight or obesity
25 Feb, 2021 | 08:52h | UTCRelated study: Once-weekly, high-dose semaglutide is effective for improving overweight or obesity among non-diabetic adults – New England Journal of Medicine (study and commentary)
Commentary on Twitter
In this RCT, once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide used as an adjunct to intensive behavioral therapy & low-calorie diet led significantly greater weight loss vs placebo over 68 weeks among adults w #overweight or #obesity w/o #diabetes https://t.co/xFedvckUUj @PennMedicine #STEP3
— JAMA (@JAMA_current) February 24, 2021
[Not published yet] Covid-19 vaccine made by China’s Sinopharm has an efficacy rate of 72.5 percent
25 Feb, 2021 | 09:07h | UTCSee also: Sinopharm’s Wuhan unit reports 72.5% efficacy for COVID shot, seeks approval in China – Reuters
Commentary on Twitter
The Sinopharm unit Wuhan Institute Of Biological Products Co said on Wednesday its COVID-19 vaccine had shown an efficacy rate of 72.51% against the disease in Phase III clinical trials, based on interim analysis. https://t.co/YTmV8xzyhF
— Reuters Health (@Reuters_Health) February 24, 2021
FDA scientists endorse J&J’s Covid vaccine, as new data shed light on efficacy
25 Feb, 2021 | 09:06h | UTCFDA scientists endorse J&J’s Covid vaccine, as new data shed light on efficacy – STAT
See also: FDA says single-dose shot from J&J prevents severe COVID – MedicalXpress
Interview: The scientist who’s been right about Covid-19 vaccines predicts what’s next
25 Feb, 2021 | 09:01h | UTCThe scientist who’s been right about Covid-19 vaccines predicts what’s next – Vox
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
*New from me* Of all the people I talk to on #covid19 vaccines, @hildabast is consistently the most insightful and correct.
In our conversation here, you can see why I think she's become a @zeynep of the pandemic vaccines:
https://t.co/c1T3ehXqix— Julia Belluz (@juliaoftoronto) February 24, 2021
Why COVID vaccines are so difficult to compare
25 Feb, 2021 | 09:02h | UTCWhy COVID vaccines are so difficult to compare – Nature
Position Paper: Management of drug-induced liver injury
25 Feb, 2021 | 08:27h | UTC
Diverticulitis: Observational study in outpatients suggests amoxicillin-clavulanate is a safe and effective option compared with metronidazole-fluoroquinolone
24 Feb, 2021 | 02:16h | UTCCommentaries: Amoxicillin-clavulanate safe and effective compared with metronidazole-with-fluoroquinolone for diverticulitis – American College of Physicians AND Study supports fluoroquinolone-sparing treatment for diverticulitis – CIDRAP
Medication review interventions to reduce hospital readmissions in older people
24 Feb, 2021 | 02:14h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
A medication review in combination with medication reconciliation, patient education, professional education and transitional care is associated with a decreased risk of hospital readmissions. #geriatrics https://t.co/nAeHF82dlm pic.twitter.com/50lEVVeQwn
— JAGS (@AGSJournal) February 16, 2021
Perspective: Is one vaccine dose enough after COVID-19 infection?
24 Feb, 2021 | 02:47h | UTCIs One Vaccine Dose Enough After COVID-19 Infection? – NIH Director’s Blog
Related: France’s health authority recommends single vaccine shot for people who have had COVID-19
Pro-con Debate: Starting antihypertensive drug treatment with combination therapy
23 Feb, 2021 | 01:26h | UTCCon: Starting Antihypertensive Drug Treatment With Combination Therapy
Pro: Starting Antihypertensive Drug Treatment With Combination Therapy
State of the Art Review: Vaccines for older adults
23 Feb, 2021 | 01:23h | UTCVaccines for older adults – The BMJ (free for a limited period)
Editorial: Prophylactic anticoagulation for patients in hospital with covid-19
23 Feb, 2021 | 01:59h | UTCProphylactic anticoagulation for patients in hospital with covid-19 – The BMJ
Related: Full-dose Heparin best for moderate COVID-19 regardless of D-dimer — Data released from ACTIV-4a, ATTACC, and REMAP-CAP trials AND Cohort study: Early initiation of prophylactic anticoagulation linked to reduced mortality in patients admitted to hospital with Covid-19
Can COVID vaccines stop transmission? Scientists race to find answers
23 Feb, 2021 | 01:42h | UTCCan COVID vaccines stop transmission? Scientists race to find answers – Nature
Related: Fauci: There’s evidence COVID-19 vaccines don’t just protect you — they may stop you from spreading the virus to others, too – Insider AND [Preprint] Covid-19 vaccination associated with reduced viral load, may reduce transmission (study and commentary)
Consensus statement: Preoperative management of opioid and nonopioid analgesics
21 Feb, 2021 | 21:57h | UTC
RCT: Five oral analgesics (including opioids) are equally effective for the treatment of acute musculoskeletal extremity pain in the emergency department
21 Feb, 2021 | 21:39h | UTCA Randomized Trial Comparing the Efficacy of Five Oral Analgesics for Treatment of Acute Musculoskeletal Extremity Pain in the Emergency Department – Annals of Emergency Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary on Twitter
Hot off the Press: A Randomized Trial Comparing the Efficacy of
Five Oral Analgesics for Treatment of Acute
Musculoskeletal Extremity Pain in the Emergency
Department https://t.co/qfUNn2TgZM @benjaminbwf pic.twitter.com/BzVM3W5F0L— AnnalsofEM (@AnnalsofEM) December 30, 2020
Opinion – Is it time to delay second doses of coronavirus vaccines?
21 Feb, 2021 | 22:39h | UTCIs it time to delay second doses of coronavirus vaccines? – CNN
3-month interval between first and second dose of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine results in higher vaccine efficacy than 6-week interval
21 Feb, 2021 | 22:42h | UTC
Opinion – Delayed second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine: innovation or misguided conjecture?
21 Feb, 2021 | 22:38h | UTCDelayed second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine: innovation or misguided conjecture? – The Lancet
Study: One Pfizer/BioNTech shot gives 85% Covid protection
21 Feb, 2021 | 22:41h | UTCOne Pfizer/BioNTech shot gives 85% Covid protection – study – The Guardian
Original study: Early rate reductions of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 in BNT162b2 vaccine recipients – The Lancet
Commentary on Twitter
NEW Correspondence reports early findings from study of #Pfizer #vaccine in health-care workers in Israel, suggesting early reductions in #COVID19 infection and symptomatic rates following first dose. Read https://t.co/ONU8bS3Iwo pic.twitter.com/BDDvA7Juyb
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) February 19, 2021
Pfizer vaccine doesn’t need ultra-cold storage after all, company says
21 Feb, 2021 | 22:37h | UTCPfizer vaccine doesn’t need ultra-cold storage after all, company says – ARS Technica
News release: PFIZER AND BIONTECH SUBMIT COVID-19 VACCINE STABILITY DATA AT STANDARD FREEZER TEMPERATURE TO THE U.S. FDA
Commentary on Twitter
?Pfizer BioNTech announced submission of new data to the U.S. FDA demonstrating the stability of their COVID-19 vaccine when stored at -25°C to -15°C (-13°F to 5°F), temperatures more commonly found in pharmaceutical freezers and refrigerators?https://t.co/egFsSe4oBB
— Antibiotic Steward? Bassam Ghanem (@ABsteward) February 19, 2021
A single dose of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine is 92.6% effective in preventing Covid-19. Is delaying the second dose to get more people vaccinated an alternative?
19 Feb, 2021 | 02:59h | UTCSafety and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid-19 Vaccine – New England Journal of Medicine
Commentary: Researchers urge delaying Pfizer vaccine’s second dose as first highly effective – Reuters