Covid-19: Treatments, Cures, and Vaccines

That just seems highly unlikely though. This is a slow mutating virus (unlike the flu) and one we should be able to sort out fully within a few years. This is not the flu or even HIV in that regard. The major question is how long will the anti-bodies we create remain in our system.

 

Would people be willing to risk their lives/health by participating in the Live Virus Challenge Trial?

Injecting healthy adults with live coronavirus provides moral dilemma, faster path to vaccine

 

It was and is a concern because it is a novel virus that we didn't know existed and it can't be assumed that this virus (or any new virus for that matter) would behave similarly as some other virus or that our adaptive immunity systems would respond similarly. There is simply no guarantee of long term immunity or of us even developing a viable vaccine.

We hope and have some confidence given history and our scientific abilities, but...

 

All animals are equal...

 

This would be an interesting development. Obviously this would not be for the general public, but pretty sure this would be welcome relief to first responders and medical staffs.

https://www.thestreet.com/investing/pfizer-coronavirus-vaccine-fall

A bit more information on the Pfizer vaccine option....it is basically the same technology being pursued by Moderna.

COVID-19 vaccine candidates: 6 front-runners

 

This will be a huge boost as a great first step if news is really good. People are getting a little bit anxious waiting for something good to talk about.

Gilead Sciences Statement on Positive Data Emerging From National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ Study of Investigational Antiviral Remdesivir for COVID-19

 

Results are out. Not quite the home run I think America was waiting for, but good news that we might have our first treatment.

Gilead Virus-Drug Trial Signals Hope, and Fauci Sees ‘Good News’

 

FDA looking to move quickly in approving Remdesivir and then moving on to the next drug. The more drugs we have as treatment options, the less likely this disease kills as many people if there is another go-round with it.

Remdesivir study shows positive news; FDA reportedly will approve soon - CNN

 

Phase 1 Trial results are still a ways off, but J&J must feel pretty good about what they are doing as they have inked their second manufacturing partner within a week. They will not have a candidate into Clinical Trials until September at the earliest.

J&J inks 2nd manufacturing deal to boost capacity for COVID-19 vaccine

 

Pfizer doing human trials in Germany in a combined phase 1/2 study. Sounds exciting but then they discuss potential of having millions of doses available by end of year. reality seems to be that best case we will be well into 2021 before the majority of people are either vaccinated or have had the viirus

Coronavirus vaccine being tested in Germany could 'supply millions' by end of year - CNN

(CNN)A German company working with US pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has begun human trials of a potential Covid-19 vaccine that could supply millions by the end of the year, according to the two firms.

Pfizer says it will begin testing the experimental vaccine in the United States as early as next week, and says a vaccine could be ready for emergency use in the fall, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
………………...
No information on the results is currently available. BioNTech said around 200 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 55 years old would be given doses ranging from 1µg (microgram) to 100µg to find the optimal dose for further studies.
"In addition, the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine will be investigated," added the biotech company.

 

Just remember that Pfizer and BioNTech are working on a vaccine. The lead candidate for success, the Oxford University vaccine is in live trials now as well AND they just signed a massive manufacturing agreement with AstraZeneca. Johnson & Johnson will not have their first list trial until September but have already signed up two companies to help produce their vaccine. Modrena, SinoCan, and others are all in trials.

We are not hoping for a single success, we need to hope for 8-10 successes across different platforms on different technology. That would greatly expedite distribution. But, if anyone thinks this happen before summer 2021, they may be severely disappointed.

 

Posted this on main thread as well......

FDA just gave EUA for Remdesivir
Gilead gets emergency FDA authorization for remdesivir to treat coronavirus, Trump says

 

This is a very interesting finding (I wish that i understood the details more, but I think I follow enough of it). if the data is accurate, it would suggest that the correct anti-inflamatory, such as Actemra (currently in phase 3 trials after anecdotal evidence of success in China and Japan), could be more important than we realize for preventing death. Regulation and suppression of cytokines may allow the natural immune system to more effectively defend the body from the virus.

COVID-19: T cells offer clues to the potential power of Roche's Actemra

 

Israel has developed an antibody that neutralizes the virus. Nes Tziyona Biological Institute Develops Antibody Which Can Neutralize COVID-19 - Vos Iz Neias

 

Scientists Discover Antibody That Blocks Coronavirus From Infecting Cells

Scientists have identified an antibody in a lab that they say can prevent the novel coronavirus from infecting cells. The team hopes the antibody could be used to create treatments for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
...............….....
An antibody named 47D11 was found to bind to the spike protein which the novel coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2, uses to enter the body, and block it in a way that neutralizes the pathogen.

To carry out their study, the researchers used mice whose biology was tweaked to create antibodies similar to those found in humans. They injected the animals with spike proteins that the viruses which cause SARS, MERS, and some types of common cold use to invade cells. These viruses are members of the large coronavirus family of pathogens which also includes SARS-CoV-2, the bug which causes COVID-19. The mice produced 51 antibodies capable of neutralizing the spike protein of the injected coronaviruses. This stage of the research was done before SARS-CoV-2 first came to the attention of health officials in late 2019.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Simon Clarke, associate professor in Cellular Microbiology at the University of Reading, U.K., said in a statement: "Antibodies like this can be made in the lab instead of purified from people's blood and could conceivably be used as a treatment for disease, but this has not yet been demonstrated. "While it's an interesting development, injecting people with antibodies is not without risk and it would need to undergo proper clinical trials."

 

Regeneron scales up manufacturing, eyes human tests of COVID-19 antibody cocktail in June

 

We need to be clear-eyed about a vaccine within 12-18 months according to this article. It is likely this virus will be with us until science and technology have evolved to the point where we can prevent any disease. Until then, this will be like living with the seasonal flu and there will be tens of thousands of deaths per year, like cancer or heart disease or diabetes or car accidents. We are neither invulnerable not immortal, yet.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2020/05/02/coronavirus-vaccine/

 

Roche moving ahead of schedule with Actemra testing and ramping up anti-body testing kit production:

Coronavirus tracker: Sanofi aims to enroll 'hundreds' in phase 1/2 vaccine trial; Roche's Actemra study could be done in May

 

Remdesivir to be approved in Japan by May 7th.....they plan to initially use it for the most severe cases in an attempt to save the most lives.

Remdesivir may be approved in Japan on May 7, health minister says : The Asahi Shimbun

 

Moderna's vaccine about to clear phase 1 and move into Phase 2 trials....I guess that means that no one died??? Good news I suppose, though i had read that there is no way Moderna, even with partners can easily scale this vaccine up for large scale production. Not sure if true or not though.

Coronavirus tracker: Gilead's remdesivir scores Japanese OK; Moderna plans phase 3 vaccine trial in summer

Moderna eyes 'early summer' start for phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial