Pharmacology/Pharmaceutical Industry
Conflicting results from 2 randomized trials testing Tocilizumab for Covid-19
26 Feb, 2021 | 08:48h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Why do 2 randomized trials of tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 blocker, for severe covid-19, have opposite results?
Today @NEJMhttps://t.co/g8LCrhhpLyhttps://t.co/BcN3wOwsl0 pic.twitter.com/sLrQUYI1pf— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) February 25, 2021
PRO-CON Debate: Are Carbapenems necessary for all infections caused by ceftriaxone-resistant Enterobacterales?
28 Feb, 2021 | 20:43h | UTCEditorial: Navigating treatment approaches for presumed ESBL-producing infections
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
🔥NEW🔥 PRO-CON Debate on the role of carbapenems in infections caused by Enterobacterales resistant to ceftriaxone. #AMR @BSACandJAC @IDdocAdi @ABsteward
— JAC-AMR (@jac_amr) February 24, 2021
Real-world data confirms Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine effectiveness
25 Feb, 2021 | 09:09h | UTCAudio Interview: The Real-World Effectiveness of Covid-19 Vaccination – New England Journal of Medicine
Commentaries: Real-world trial of Pfizer COVID vaccine finds high 2-dose, good 1-dose protection – CIDRAP AND Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine performs as well in the real world as in clinical trials, new study concludes – STAT AND In boost for COVID-19 battle, Pfizer vaccine found 94% effective in real world – Reuters AND Expert reaction to NEJM paper on Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine roll-out in Israel and COVID-19 outcomes – Science Media Centre
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
1/
We've just confirmed the effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine outside of randomized trials.Details @NEJM: https://t.co/POgXK8owvM
Yes, great news, but let's talk about methodological issues that arise when using #observational data to estimate vaccine effectiveness.
— Miguel Hernán (@_MiguelHernan) February 24, 2021
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