Pharmacology/Pharmaceutical Industry
[Press release – not published yet] REGENERON reports positive interim data with antibody cocktail used as passive vaccine to prevent COVID-19
27 Jan, 2021 | 01:21h | UTCCommentaries: Regeneron’s antibody cocktail effective in preventing COVID-19 infection: study – Reuters AND Regeneron says monoclonal antibodies prevent Covid-19 in study – STAT AND Expert reaction to press release from Regeneron giving interim data from its REGEN-COV™ antibody cocktail trial for the prevention of COVID-19 in people at high risk of infection – Science Media Centre
Israel sees 60% drop in hospitalizations for age 60-plus 3 weeks after 1st shot
27 Jan, 2021 | 01:19h | UTCRelated: No serious COVID-19 cases among Israelis given Pfizer shot, minister says – Reuters
In a major setback, Merck to stop developing its two Covid-19 vaccines and focus on therapies
27 Jan, 2021 | 01:18h | UTCIn a major setback, Merck to stop developing its two Covid-19 vaccines and focus on therapies – STAT
Cohort study: Association of potent and very potent topical corticosteroids and the risk of osteoporosis and major osteoporotic fractures
26 Jan, 2021 | 00:38h | UTCEditorial: Topical Corticosteroids and Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis—Cumulative Dose and Duration Matter
Commentaries: Prolonged Use of Topical Steroids Associated with Increased Risk of Osteoporosis – Physician’s Weekly AND Potent Topical Corticosteroids Tied to Increased Fracture Risk – NEJM Journal Watch
Author Interview: Association of Topical Corticosteroids and Risk of Osteoporosis and Major Osteoporotic Fractures – JAMA
Commentary on Twitter
In a cohort study of 723 251 users of potent or very potent topical #corticosteroids, use of these drugs was associated with increased risk of #osteoporosis and major osteoporotic fracture with a dose-response association for cumulative use https://t.co/m5Rp4n0NvK
— JAMA Dermatology (@JAMADerm) January 20, 2021
Covid-19 vaccine tracker: The global race to vaccinate
26 Jan, 2021 | 00:59h | UTCCovid-19 vaccine tracker: the global race to vaccinate – Financial Times
See also: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Vaccinations – Our World in Data
Commentary on Twitter
Israel appears to be the only country that was ready for the vaccines. https://t.co/MPCqNdzi97 pic.twitter.com/bTT8zDpDDF
— Julia Belluz (@juliaoftoronto) January 25, 2021
[Press release – not published yet] Azithromycin and doxycycline are not generally effective against COVID-19 in patients treated at home, shows PRINCIPLE trial
26 Jan, 2021 | 01:03h | UTC
NCCN shares new guidance principles for vaccinating people with cancer against COVID-19
26 Jan, 2021 | 00:47h | UTCOriginal guideline: Preliminary Recommendations of the NCCN COVID-19 Vaccination Advisory Committee
Commentary: NCCN Shares New Recommendations for Vaccinating Patients With Cancer Against COVID-19 – The ASCO Post
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine may be less effective against variant found in South Africa
26 Jan, 2021 | 00:54h | UTCModerna Finds COVID-19 Vaccine Less Effective Against Variant Found In South Africa – NPR
Moderna Press release: Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Retains Neutralizing Activity Against Emerging Variants First Identified in the U.K. and the Republic of South Africa
See also: Expert reaction to preprint from Moderna about neutralising activity of their vaccine against new variants and announcement of plans to trial a variant booster jab targeting the South African (B.1.351) variant – Science Media Centre AND Moderna Launches Trial For Covid-19 Vaccine Booster To Tackle South African Strain – Forbes
Commentary on Twitter
🔥Moderna preprint PUBLISHED🔥
A six-fold reduction in neutralizing titers was observed with B.1.351 variant relative to prior variants Despite this reduction, neutralizing titer levels with B.1.351 remain above levels that are expected to be protective https://t.co/pDfgRn6Ost pic.twitter.com/VLu3iOqAda— Antibiotic Steward Bassam Ghanem 🅱️C🆔🅿️🌟 (@ABsteward) January 25, 2021
WHO COVAX Announces new agreement, plans for first deliveries
26 Jan, 2021 | 00:49h | UTCCOVAX Announces new agreement, plans for first deliveries – World Health Organization
Commentary on Twitter
#COVAX has signed an agreement with Pfizer/BioNTech for up to 40M doses of its #COVID19 vaccine.
We also expect to distribute almost 150M doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine in the 1/4 of 2021, once the vaccine is listed for emergency use by @WHO. https://t.co/yx3FFl9bv8— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 23, 2021
Meta-analysis: Effect of micronutrient supplements on influenza and other respiratory tract infections among adults
25 Jan, 2021 | 01:17h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
Our new article in @GlobalHealthBMJ suggests that zinc supplementation could almost halve the duration of symptoms of acute respiratory infection in adults. We also found small effects of vitamins C and D supplementation to prevent ARIs. [Thread]https://t.co/aJ4VfYFiBG
— Ibraheem Abioye (@DrAbioye) January 20, 2021
[Press Release – Not Published Yet] Colchicine reduces the risk of COVID-19-related complications: Positive results from COLCORONA trial show that colchicine is the only effective oral medication for treating non-hospitalized patients
25 Jan, 2021 | 01:43h | UTCStudy Protocol: Colchicine Coronavirus SARS-CoV2 Trial (COLCORONA) (COVID-19) – ClinicalTrials.gov
“Patients will receive study medication colchicine 0.5 mg per os (PO) twice daily for the first 3 days and then once daily for the last 27 days.”
Commentaries: ‘Major breakthrough’ | Large study shows effectiveness of colchicine to treat COVID-19 – The Canadian AND A gout drug shows promise for Covid-19, but skeptics worry about trusting science by press release – STAT
Commentary on Twitter
Press release 🔥 #colchicine decreased ⬇️
🏥 hospitalizations 25%
🤕 use of ventilation 50%
💀 mortality 44%
in multinational trial of >4,000 non-hospitalized #COVID patientsMore: https://t.co/htMRdParq3
Full report awaited…@EricTopol @DrEricDing @MartinLandray #EBM pic.twitter.com/iodiEJBtV1
— Kari Tikkinen (@KariTikkinen) January 23, 2021
[Press Release – Not Published Yet] Full-dose blood thinners decreased need for life support and improved outcome in hospitalized COVID-19 patients
25 Jan, 2021 | 01:42h | UTC
Randomized trial: Bamlanivimab associated with Etesevimab reduce the viral load in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19
25 Jan, 2021 | 01:36h | UTCEditorial: Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody for Mild to Moderate COVID-19
Randomized trial: Anakinra (IL-1 receptor antagonist) does not improve outcomes in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19
25 Jan, 2021 | 01:37h | UTCCommentary: The right place for IL-1 inhibition in COVID-19 – The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
Commentary on Twitter
NEW Research—Anakinra did not improve outcomes in patients with mild-to-moderate #COVID19 pneumonia
CORIMUNO-ANA-1 trial from Xavier Mariette & colleagueshttps://t.co/SU1Cqmk9MJ pic.twitter.com/gLUkKpKinl
— The Lancet Respiratory Medicine (@LancetRespirMed) January 23, 2021
Revisiting the UK’s strategy for delaying the second dose of the Pfizer covid-19 vaccine
25 Jan, 2021 | 01:32h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
These new data suggest that the UK govt should reconsider the decision to delay the second dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. If they are determined to continue with the delayed second dose, then a robust randomized evaluation is urgently required https://t.co/4xrBFwZWkN
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) January 24, 2021
CDC Report: Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis after receipt of the first dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
25 Jan, 2021 | 01:29h | UTCCommentary: CDC reports rare allergic reactions to Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine – STAT
Covid-19: Reports from Israel suggest one dose of Pfizer vaccine could be less effective than expected
25 Jan, 2021 | 01:30h | UTC
Systematic Review: Topical antibiotic prophylaxis to reduce respiratory tract infections and mortality in adults receiving mechanical ventilation
25 Jan, 2021 | 01:05h | UTC
Randomized trial: No difference in postoperative cognition with intravenous (propofol-based) vs. volatile (sevoflurane-based) anesthetics in elderly patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery
25 Jan, 2021 | 00:57h | UTCIntravenous versus Volatile Anesthetic Effects on Postoperative Cognition in Elderly Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic Abdominal Surgery: A Multicenter, Randomized Trial – Anesthesia (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
5 Important Things To Know About Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBL): Insights From A Clinical Microbiologist
25 Jan, 2021 | 00:58h | UTC
[News release – Not published yet] Lilly’s neutralizing antibody prevented COVID-19 at nursing homes, reducing risk by up to 80 percent for residents
22 Jan, 2021 | 08:40h | UTCCommentaries: Eli Lilly says its monoclonal antibody prevented Covid-19 infections in clinical trial – STAT AND Expert reaction to press release from Lilly about their neutralising antibody bamlanivimab and results from the BLAZE-2 trial looking at prevention of COVID-19 in nursing homes in the US – Science Media Centre
Clinical update: Allergic reactions including anaphylaxis after receipt of the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine
22 Jan, 2021 | 08:35h | UTCAuthor interview: COVID-19 Vaccine Safety–Anaphylaxis and Allergic Reactions
Meta-analysis: Little benefit from antidepressants for the treatment of back pain and osteoarthritis
22 Jan, 2021 | 08:27h | UTCCommentary: Do antidepressants help back pain and osteoarthritis? – University of Sidney AND Antidepressants largely ineffective for back pain and osteoarthritis – The BMJ
Editorial: Antidepressants for musculoskeletal pain – The BMJ
Commentary on Twitter
Antidepressant drugs are largely ineffective for back and osteoarthritis pain, despite being widely used for these conditions, suggests a review of the evidence published by @bmj_latest https://t.co/pBmzSx0NLk @giovanni_ef
— BMJ Group (@bmj_company) January 21, 2021
Meta-analysis: Colchicine reduces new cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease
22 Jan, 2021 | 08:23h | UTCMeta-analysis Evaluating the Utility of Colchicine in Secondary Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease – The American Journal of Cardiology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Related randomized trials: Colchicine in patients with chronic coronary disease (study and commentaries) AND Low-Dose Colchicine Improves Outcomes after Myocardial Infarction (study and commentaries) AND Time-to-treatment initiation of colchicine and cardiovascular outcomes after myocardial infarction in the Colchicine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial (COLCOT) (study and commentary)
Commentary on Twitter
Meta-analysis Evaluating the Utility of Colchicine in Secondary Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease https://t.co/EbMATgpXn4
🔽Major adverse CV events 35%
🔽Risk of MI 27%
🔽Coronary revasc 39%
🔽Stroke 53% (0.47, CI 0.28-0.81)
🔴No impact on CV mortality@mencardio #colchicine— Lempira Guevara Matheus (@Lguevaramath) October 31, 2020
Ten recommendations to improve pharmacy practice in low and middle-income countries
22 Jan, 2021 | 08:21h | UTC