A coronavirus vaccine is still months away, but an antibody treatment could be closer

Scientists can create what are called monoclonal antibodies: lab-made antibodies created specifically to target an infection. Vaccines have the advantage of working longer than an antibody treatment. Antibody therapies potentially last a month or two and then wear off, but they can be used to temporarily protect vulnerable populations such as nursing home residents or healthcare workers or people with chronic conditions. The therapies could also treat people who are already sick with Covid-19. CNNHealth 

CanSino's COVID-19 vaccine candidate approved for military use in China

The Ad5-nCoV is one of China’s eight vaccine candidates approved for human trials at home and abroad for the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. The shot also won approval for human testing in Canada. Reuters 

Cholesterol-lowering drugs help reduce COVID-19 deaths: study

After a follow-up of 28 days, researchers found that the death rate of the statin group was 5.2 percent, lower than the 9.4 percent death rate of the non-statin group. The large-scale study also showed that the use of statin drugs was associated with a decreased incidence of invasive mechanical ventilation, admission to intensive care units, and acute respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19 patients.  CGTN

After saving his own life with a repurposed drug, a professor reviews every drug being tried against Covid-19.

Researchers working with his lab have reviewed published data on more than 150 drugs doctors around the world have to treat nearly 50,000 patients diagnosed with Covid-19. They've made their analysis public in a database called the Covid-19 Registry of Off-label & New Agents (or CORONA for short). It's a central repository of all available data in scientific journals on all the therapies used so far to curb the pandemic. This information can help doctors treat patients and tell researchers how to build clinical trials.CNNHealth 

Hospitals Experiment with COVID-19 Treatments, Balancing Hope and Evidence

Daniel Griffin, an infectious disease specialist, was standing with a group of physicians outside the doors of the intensive care unit at Plainview Hospital on Long Island, N.Y., in late February. Layered in protective gowns, masks, and gloves and standing six feet apart to maintain social distancing, the doctors swapped stories about their COVID-19 patients. Griffin brought up a disturbing trend: Many of his patients seemed on their way to recovery but then relapsed into severe respiratory distress. His colleagues had seen a similar pattern. The fluctuation of symptoms was puzzling for a virus. ScientificAmerica 

UAE and China launch Phase 3 clinical trial in humans for Covid-19 vaccine

The UAE and China collaboration is not the only vaccine at the Phase 3 stage. The University of Oxford has started a Phase 3 trial on its vaccine candidate and the US company Moderna plans to start its Phase 3 trial of 30,000 participants in July. CNNHealth 

UW joins drug trial aimed at preventing major COVID-19 killer: Haywire immune response

UW announced Wednesday that it has joined the Phase III Clinical Trial of a drug known as ruxolitinib, becoming the 32nd site to begin recruiting patients. The drug is a government-approved medication given to bone marrow transplant recipients who are in danger of suffering a cytokine storm. MilwoukeeJournal Centinel  

In early trial, an ancient drug shows promise against severe COVID-19

The medication, called colchicine, is an anti-inflammatory taken as a pill. It's long been prescribed for gout, a form of arthritis, and its history goes back centuries. The drug was first sourced from the autumn crocus flower. MedicalXpress

Trials with Oxford COVID-19 vaccine start in Brazil

Oxford University this weekend started human clinical trials for a potential coronavirus vaccine in Brazil, sponsor Lemann Foundation said in a statement late on Monday. Trials will count on 2,000 health workers volunteers in Sao Paulo and 1,000 people in Rio de Janeiro. Reuters 

Covid-19 vaccine may not work for at-risk older people, say scientists

Akbar said something else might be needed alongside the vaccine for older people, such as the steroid drug dexamethasone, which can block the inflammation caused by the virus and has been shown to save lives in Covid-19.“So for older people, you might have something like an anti-inflammatory drug, like maybe dexamethasone, together with vaccine responses to give you the maximum benefit.TheGuardian

Lilly's Covid-19 drug could be ready for use as soon as Sept, says chief scientist

Eli Lilly and Co could have a drug specifically designed to treat COVID-19 authorized for use as early as September if all goes well with either of two antibody therapies it is testing, its chief scientist told Reuters on Wednesday. Lilly is also doing preclinical studies of a third antibody treatment for the illness caused by the new coronavirus that could enter human clinical trials in the coming weeks, Chief Scientific Officer Daniel Skovronsky said in an interview.liveMint 

Cancer drug cures COVID-19 patient with acute respiratory distress

"The time between onset of ruxolitinib administration and improvement of health is so short that it is reasonable to assume that the drug ruxolitinib contributed to the favorable clinical course," Neubauer explains. Based on the success of the treatment, the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices has approved a clinical trial that will test the effect of the administration of ruxolitinib in additional COVID-19 patients. MedicalXpress

MMR Vaccine Could Invigorate the Innate Immune System to Fight COVID-19

He advises healthcare workers, individuals in nursing homes and others at high risk of contracting COVID-19 to be vaccinated against MMR, in the hope that the innate immune response will be sufficient protection through the critical time of the pandemic, until CPVOD-19 vaccines are available. BioSpace

COVID-19 vaccines and antibodies advance even faster than expected

With large vaccine trials planned and monoclonal antibody trials underway, efficacy data could come this fall or winter. Chemical & Engineering News 

COVID-19 is weakening, could die out without vaccine, specialist claims

"In March and early April, the patterns were completely different. People were coming to the emergency department with a very difficult-to-manage illness, and they needed oxygen and ventilation; some developed pneumonia. "Now, in the past four weeks, the picture has completely changed in terms of patterns. There could be a lower viral load in the respiratory tract, probably due to a genetic mutation in the virus which has not yet been demonstrated scientifically. Also, we are now more aware of the disease and able to manage it," he said. The Jerusalem Post 

Coronavirus treatments are improving. Here’s a guide to what works and why.

It is better to be a coronavirus patient in June than it was in March. Back then, there was just so little we knew about the virus: after all, it was a brand new thing. But as scientists and doctors battle this disease that has infected millions and killed more than 460,000 people around the globe, they have learned a good deal about how it attacks the body, and a little more about how to treat it. That means a better chance of survival for those who have the disease. Salt Lake Tribune 

Your risk of severe COVID-19 may be affected by blood type, new genetic analysis suggests

The study authors found that people with blood type A were 50% more likely than people with other blood types to experience severe COVID-19 symptoms and respiratory failure. By comparison, people with blood type O had a 50% reduced risk of developing severe symptoms of COVID-19 — the disease caused by the novel coronavirus —  or those severe enough to require oxygen or a ventilator. LiveScience

Graph shows stark difference in US and EU responses to Covid-19

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta uses a graph to compare new Covid-19 reported case numbers for the US and Europe.CNN

Moderna’s Coronavirus Vaccine Will Be Ready for Distribution in 2021, CEO Says

“It seems to be possible that we could have efficacy data by, let’s say, Thanksgiving,” Moderna (ticker: MRNA) CEO Stéphane Bancel said during conference Wednesday. That data would potentially allow Moderna to fight for approval either late this year or early in the new year, Bancel said. Barron's 

WHO eyes hundreds of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses before 2021

WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said researchers were working on more than 200 vaccine candidates around the world, including 10 that are in human testing. "If we're very lucky, there will be one or two successful candidates before the end of this year," she told a virtual press conference. MedicalXpress

Study ties blood type to COVID-19 risk; O may help, A hurt

A genetic analysis of COVID-19 patients suggests that blood type might influence whether someone develops severe disease. Scientists who compared the genes of thousands of patients in Europe found that those who had Type A blood were more likely to have severe disease while those with Type O were less likely. Pittsburgh Post Gazette 

Canada buying 140,000 blood tests to begin immunity testing of COVID-19

 Blood samples collected from tens of thousands of Canadians will soon be tested for signs of COVID-19 antibodies as the federal government seeks to learn how many people have already contracted the novel coronavirus.KarmloopsThisWeek 

What are "super" antibodies? Doctor explains cells found in less than 5% of COVID-19 patients

The neutralizing antibodies, or "super" antibodies, work by targeting what is known as the spike protein of the coronavirus, Ogden said. Named for its spike-like appearance, the protein populates the outside of the coronavirus and is "essential" for the virus to attach itself to human cells.  CBSNews 

Israel signs agreement with Moderna for potential COVID-19 vaccine

 Israel has signed an agreement with Moderna Inc for the future purchase of its potential COVID-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotech firm last week confirmed plans to start a trial of 30,000 volunteers of its much-anticipated vaccine in July as the company enters the final stages of testing. Financial Post 

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will likely protect for a year: CEO

According to a report in City A.M., AstraZeneca is aiming to deliver two billion doses of the drug by the end of the year. "We think it will protect for about a year," Astrazeneca CEO Pascal Soriot was quoted as saying on Bel RTL. The drugmaker last week said it had reached an agreement with Europe's Inclusive Vaccines Alliance (IVA), spearheaded by Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, to supply up to 400 million doses of the University of Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine, with deliveries starting by the end of 2020. National Herald 

Cost-free COVID-19 tests and treatment available for uninsured

As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the Rio Grande Valley, people who suspect they may be sick are encouraged to get tested even if they’re uninsured. Federal funds are available to cover costs associated with COVID-19 care through the COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing and Treatment of the Uninsured Program. KRGV

Researchers want to pick up the pace on early testing and treatment for COVID-19

In addition to early testing, the researchers call for the development of small-scale, rapid-response outpatient studies that use viral-shedding metrics and symptoms to assess the risk of disease progression. Such therapeutics could include antiviral drugs such as remdesivir, favipiravir and selinexor, as well as a growing list of antibody formulations. GeekWire

WHO moves to update COVID-19 guidance after 'great news' in drug study

“This is the first treatment to be shown to reduce mortality in patients with COVID-19 requiring oxygen or ventilator support,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement late on Tuesday. The agency said it was looking forward to the full data analysis of the study in coming days. Reuters 

U.S. narrowing support to seven COVID-19 vaccine candidates, expects them to be free for many

U.S. government officials also said that they expect many Americans to get an approved vaccine to prevent COVID-19 at no charge once it begins distribution, potentially in January. Reuters 

CNRS researchers develop ultra-fast saliva test to detect Covid-1

EasyCov, a diagnostic test developed by researchers from the French laboratory Sys2diag goes on the market today. Portable, it can be carried out anywhere and gives its result in under an hour. ScienceBusiness 

Lilly launches Phase III study of arthritis drug in Covid-19

The company said it had initiated the Phase III study of Olumiant, one of multiple JAK inhibitors that are being tested to find if they can mitigate the cytokine storm associated with Covid-19's worst complications. MediCityNews

China's Sinopharm touts 100% antibody response for COVID-19 vaccine it's already giving to workers

As of today, all 1,120 volunteers in the phase 1/2 trial have received two injections of the vaccine at low, middle or high dosing strengths—or placebo—either 14 days, 21 days or 28 days apart, according to CNBG. The seroconversion rate for the 14-day and 21-day schedule of the mid-dose was 97.6%. At 28 days, it was 100%. FiercePharma

How Exactly Do You Catch Covid-19? There Is a Growing Consensus

ix months into the coronavirus crisis, there’s a growing consensus about a central question: How do people become infected? t’s not common to contract Covid-19 from a contaminated surface, scientists say. And fleeting encounters with people outdoors are unlikely to spread the coronavirus. Instead, the major culprit is close-up, person-to-person...The Wall Street Journal

Coronavirus: Dexamethasone proves first life-saving drug

The low-dose steroid treatment dexamethasone is a major breakthrough in the fight against the deadly virus, UK experts say. The drug is part of the world's biggest trial testing existing treatments to see if they also work for coronavirus. It cut the risk of death by a third for patients on ventilators. For those on oxygen, it cut deaths by a fifth. BBCNews 

Face masks critical in preventing spread of COVID-19

A study by a team of researchers led by a Texas A&M University professor has found that not wearing a face mask dramatically increases a person's chances of being infected by the COVID-19 virus. ScienceDaily 

Can blood plasma of recovered COVID-19 patients help prevent infection in others?

Survivors of COVID-19 are donating their blood plasma in droves in hopes it helps other patients recover from the coronavirus. And while the jury’s still out, now scientists are testing if the donations might also prevent infection in the first place. NBCNews 

The CDC — finally — has new guidelines for reducing Covid-19 risk post-lockdowns

The CDC released two new guidance documents Friday. One is for individuals thinking about leaving the house to engage in activities like going to restaurants, nail salons, gyms, and the bank; traveling; and hosting small gatherings like cookouts. The other lists considerations for event planners (with the disclaimer that “these considerations are meant to supplement—not replace—any state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations with which gatherings must comply”). Vox 

UF Health researchers developing COVID-19 vaccine using gene therapy technique

The technique uses a harmless virus to help fight a harmful virus. In this case, the harmless virus is used to package and deliver a gene from SARS-CoV-2, the strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The gene therapy vaccine can’t replicate on its own but is potent enough to trigger a beneficial, antivirus response from the immune system. News4Jax

GeneStore Launches Affordable 'Made in France' COVID-19 RT PCR Test Kit at € 9.9 That Delivers Results in 1 hour

CNR - Centre National De Reference Des Virus De Infections Respiratoires, France, has validated and approved GeneStore RT PCR test for COVID-19. The test which is 'Made in France', helps deliver results in 1 hour, and is based on a multiplexed one-step RT PCR approach. GeneStore is commercialising the test at a highly affordable price point of 9,9 Euros, to facilitate higher volumes of testing globally. PRNews 

Regeneron sees ‘a lot of reason for hope’ as human testing of its coronavirus drug begins

The antibody cocktail is being tested in four human populations. Two groups of people will receive the drug to test its effectiveness as a treatment for Covid-19; the other two will receive it as a possible prevention. CNBC

UW model predicts second wave of COVID-19 in U.S. starting Sept. 15

Updated forecasts from a University of Washington model on the spread of COVID-19 is predicting a second wave of the virus just as summer ends with tens of thousands of more deaths in the United States likely.KOMONews

How One Health System Is Transforming in Response to Covid-19

We must leverage the lessons learned throughout this crisis to transform the way we care for patients. Public and private payers must vigorously work with health systems to accelerate the move to value-based payment approaches that support new care models. If we are able to transform our nation’s care delivery and payment systems in ways that fundamentally improve health care for our patients, providers, and communities, we will have found the silver lining of Covid-19. HarvardBusinessReview 

Five Coronavirus Treatments In Development

So there's an urgent need for better therapies. The good news is that there are some on the horizon. Some are being tested now, some will be begin testing soon, and others are in the beginning of the pipeline. NPRShots

Sweden, the pandemic and precarious working conditions

Most commentary on the Covid-19 death toll in Sweden has been on the absence of lockdown, yet privatisation and precarity in eldercare should really be in the spotlight. SocialEurope

Fauci Says Covid Pandemic His ‘Worst Nightmare,’ Far From Over

Moderna Inc.’s final-stage trial is expected to start in July, followed by a test of Oxford University and AstraZeneca PLC’s shot in August. Johnson & Johnson said in a statement that it has accelerated its schedule, with the first human trial now set to begin in the second half of July, instead of the previous schedule for starting trials in September. The trial will include 1,045 healthy adults and will be conducted in the U.S. and Belgium. Bloomberg 

Europe to Accelerate Trials of Gene-Engineered COVID-19 Vaccines-Sources

European officials aim to speed up trials for coronavirus vaccines containing genetically modified organisms, two EU sources told Reuters, in a move that could help shots developed by companies like AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson. The European Commission is expected to put forward the plans as early as next week. They are part of a wider EU strategy aimed at securing enough doses of a possible vaccine for the bloc as it fears lagging behind the United States and China. TheNewYorkTimes 

Anti-inflammatory and cancer drugs tested in UK as possible COVID-19 therapy

Severe cases of COVID-19 are believed to be triggered by an over-reaction of the immune system, known as a cytokine storm, and researchers are investigating whether drugs that suppress certain elements of the immune system can play a role in arresting a rapid escalation of symptoms. Yahoo! Finance 

An oral COVID-19 antibody test is being developed in Bethlehem. It could be ready this summer.

Here’s how the test would work: human antibodies would be collected from oral fluid via a wand and pad and placed into the OraSure oral fluid specimen collection device buffer for storage and transport to a lab for testing. The company notes the test is easier and pain-free compared to the deep nose swabs COVID-19 testing uses and serology antibody testing blood draws.LeightValley 

COVID-19 Pandemic Transforms the Way We Shop, Eat and Think About Food, According to IFIC’s 2020 Food & Health Survey

COVID-19 has also upended almost every aspect of our daily lives, not the least of which includes our eating and food-purchasing habits. Among the 85% who have made any change, the biggest—far and away—is that 60% of Americans report cooking at home more. Respondents also say they are snacking more (32%), washing fresh produce more often (30%) and thinking about food more than usual (27%). GlobeWire 

Trump blames testing for spike in COVID-19 cases. Experts fault reopening of states.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly blamed testing as the reason for documented spikes in the number of COVID-19 cases across the U.S. — but data and public health experts attribute the surge to the easing of lockdown restrictions just weeks ago. NBCNews 

‘We don’t actually have that answer yet’: WHO clarifies comments on asymptomatic spread of Covid-19

“The WHO created confusion yesterday when it reported that asymptomatic patients rarely spread the disease,” an email from the Harvard Global Health Institute said Tuesday. “All of the best evidence suggests that people without symptoms can and do readily spread SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. In fact, some evidence suggests that people may be most infectious in the days before they become symptomatic — that is, in the presymptomatic phase when they feel well, have no symptoms, but may be shedding substantial amounts of virus.” STAT

US researchers identify targets for Covid-19 vaccine

Researchers in the US have identified regions of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) to target with a vaccine, by harnessing tools used for the development of cancer immunotherapy. Using this strategy, the researchers believe a resulting vaccine would provide protection across the human population and drive a long-term immune response, the study, published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, said. IndiaTVNews 

COVID-19: Drug targets enzymes that enable virus to invade cells

 SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, enlists the help of two enzymes on the surface of human cells in order to invade them. A new study suggests that a compound that inhibits both enzymes could make a highly effective treatment. MedicalNewsToday

Lab-grown mini-lungs could reveal why covid-19 kills

What happens next could shed light on the strange and deadly effects of covid-19—because it’s not just the virus that matters, but the body’s reaction to it. People are dying from that reaction, and organoids could help zero in on where the damage is worst. Accurate cell models are already pinpointing how the virus gets into the body, where it causes the most harm, and will help in the search for treatments. MIT Technology Review 

Wilmington pharma company teams up with Swiss company on drug that could aid COVID-19 patients with respiratory distress

“In a previous trial of VIP for ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) caused by sepsis, seven of eight patients on mechanical ventilation showed substantial improvement and six ultimately left the hospital alive,” said Jonathan Javitt, MD... DelawareBusinessNow