Covid-19: Treatments, Cures, and Vaccines

Statistically, 30,000 may not be large enough. They would need at least 200-300k people just older than 50 to generate any kind of statistics I would think. Of course, I have no idea how vaccine trials run, so I am just spit balling. However, I would not feel that 30k is anywhere near large enough to validate safety.

 

Some additional details on how limited the study was (also weird stats that add up to 110%):

First data for Moderna Covid-19 vaccine show an immune response - STAT

 

Well, if 1 out of 100,000 develops the condition normally, I would think that you would want your test sample to be at least that large if not larger to try and ensure that what you are doing would catch the anomalous condition were it to be there, no?

 

An awful lot of good research coming out of Israel. This is an old cholesterol drug that has been approved by FDA, but long superseded by Statins. It was effective in lab studies against infected lung tissue and has the potential (if it works in humans) to reduce this virus to the equivalent impact of the common cold in most people.

Hebrew U: Drug could turn Covid-19 into common cold

 

An interesting look at which medications are being used in hospitals by CarePort Health on Covid-19 patients:
- after virtually no use in June, so far in July 41% of the patients (in hospital)are being treated with dexamethasone
- despite all of the hype and headlines, Remdesivir is only being uses on 4.8% of the cases (possibly due to supply shortages)
- hydroxychloroquine use was down at 1% of the cases.

Coronavirus tracker: HHS upholds Slaoui's contractor status; China offers unapproved Sinopharm shots to state employees

 

The more of these the better in my opinion. J&J shooting for well beyond the FDA requirement of 50% efficacy believing their solution can get to 70-80% efficiency. Interesting that they are using the same platform that they only very recently finished developing the first ever accepted Ebola (I am pretty sure that is a fact) vaccine that was only just approved by EU regulators this month. Over 80,000 people have already taken that vaccine with minimally reported negative effects so they are very confident in the basics of their technology.

Johnson & Johnson to start human testing of COVID-19 vaccine next week

 

Phase 1 data from the Oxford vaccine being produced by Astrazeneca released data on Phase 1. It generated a robust anti-body response, in addition to a T-Cell response against the virus.

Report: AstraZeneca's COVID-19 Vaccine Generates Antibodies and T-Cells Against the Virus in Phase I Trial | BioSpace

 

I have heard many different drugs discussed as possible nebulized drug treatments. This is one that people have discussed on podcasts, but I had not seen anything published about it until now. This would still be a ways off if anything positive comes of it. They are still at the stage of doing tests on mammalian cells for activity and toxicity.

US researchers say heparin may neutralise Covid-19 virus

 

well that would be awesome.

 

I found an on-going study in advanced Covid patients (on the ventilator for at least 48 hours) evaluating heparin to combat cytokine storms as well as functioning as an anti-coagulant.

Apparently, there is a second form of heparin that does not possess the anti-coagulant properties that is being evaluated for the nebulizer application for treatment of mild covid cases. Unfortunately, this is where I am "way out over my skis" on this information and may not be recalling it correctly. So, take my comments for what little that they are worth.

 

Here's a new one. Interferon treatment from Synairgen, with promising early results...

Covid treatment trial described as 'breakthrough'

 

Additional good news on the vaccine front. The U of Oxford Adrenovirus shot published Phase1/Phase2 data this morning in The Lancet (actual paper is the second link below). There were no safety concerns in the 1007 people test and found that the 2x shot version yielded a much stronger immune response. I intend to try and read (and comprehend) as much as the full paper as I can tonight.

Coronavirus tracker: Pfizer, BioNTech pen U.K. vaccine supply deal; FDA taps Quest for COVID-19 pool testing

Full Paper:
https://marlin-prod.literatumonline.com/pb-assets/Lancet/pdfs/S0140673620316044.pdf

 

Pfizer and US government announce a whopping $1.95B agreement to purchase up to 600 million (100 guaranteed with option on the other 500 million) doses of their vaccine candidate that they are working on in conjunction with German partner BioNTech. Recall this is also a messenger-RNA (mRNA) based vaccine, similar in its basics to the Moderna vaccine (also a mRNA).

Pfizer and BioNTech Announce an Agreement with U. S. Government for up to 600 Million Doses of mRNA-based Vaccine Candidate Against SARS-CoV-2

 

Promising news from Canada maybe?
New antibody mix could form 'very potent' Covid-19 treatment, say scientists | Medical research | The Guardian

 

I would like to know how much Remdisivir is in US stockpile?

 

Yet another blow for the Hydroxychloroquine champions. The Brazil studies reported results in the New England Journal of Medicine and the results were not good.

New study finds hydroxychloroquine ineffective at treating COVID-19

 

It is very difficult to tell since the US Government bought up all of the supply.

Alternatively, Gilead licenced the drug to an Indian generic company (Cipla) who is ramp production and will provide the drug outside the US for ~ $54/vial. Mylan also liscenced the rights and their generic is ~ $64/vial.

Recall, Americans are paying ~ $390/vial or $2340 for a full treatment course.

 

Remdivisir was touted as a therapy best used early in a hospitalization. Then I read it was only used with 4% of patients, and often late in their illness, and the steroid therapy was used for 20% of patients...so, is it the cost or the supply that is limiting Remdisivir use, or side effects?? Is the federal government limiting availability?