Infectious disease
To date, all the major clinical trials of vaccines against COVID-19 have been in adults.
Eli Lilly announced that it is pausing its clinical trial of a combination antibody against COVID-19 over safety concerns. Typically, this would be because a patient or volunteer showed a serious side effect or became sick, but the company did not clarify what the reason for the pause is.
Please check out the biopharma industry coronavirus (COVID-19) stories that are trending for October 13, 2020.
J&J did not disclose much information about the unexplained illness, stating, “We must respect this participant’s privacy. We’re also learning more about this participant’s illness, and it’s important to have all the facts before we share additional information.”
AstraZeneca signed a deal with Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. government program to advance COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, for a monoclonal antibody cocktail.
Moncef Slaoui, the head of Operation Warp Speed, suggested the first Emergency Use Authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine will likely be around Thanksgiving.
In early August, Russia became the first country to approve a coronavirus vaccine.
Supplies of remdesivir are running out across Europe, leading to rationing and reliance on the generic drug, dexamethasone. The UK rationed its supplies of remdesivir Tuesday in the face of rising demands.
The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is launching a clinical trial of a combination of Gilead Sciences’ antiviral drug remdesivir (Vitrakvy) and hyperimmune intravenous immunoglobulin (hIVIG).
Every week there are numerous scientific studies published. Here’s a look at some of the more interesting ones.
PRESS RELEASES