Covid-19: Treatments, Cures, and Vaccines

ncargat1 · Oct 12, 2021

gatorpa said: ↑

Interesting over a decade of Tamiflu and there is some resistance but not much.
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(I had to look this up due to faulty memory)

H1N1 has shown almost total resistance to NA (neuraminidase) based anti-virals such as Tamiflu.

All influenza A strains have shown resistance to most current anti-virals available for treating the flu.

Source: CDC
Influenza Antiviral Drug Resistance | CDC

gatorpa · Oct 12, 2021

ncargat1 said: ↑

(I had to look this up due to faulty memory)

H1N1 has shown almost total resistance to NA (neuraminidase) based anti-virals such as Tamiflu.

All influenza A strains have shown resistance to most current anti-virals available for treating the flu.

Source: CDC
Influenza Antiviral Drug Resistance | CDC
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I'm sure these are regional findings.

l_boy · Oct 12, 2021

Covid Live Updates: Moderna Argues for Half-Dose of Vaccine as Booster

Moderna recommding only a half dose booster at six months.

Data shows with Moderna there has been Little or no degradation of long term effectiveness vs severe illness.

Several independent studies have tried to estimate how long Moderna’s two-dose vaccine remains effective against mild, moderate and severe Covid. One looked at Covid cases last summer among more than 15,000 volunteers in Moderna’s clinical trial, some of whom had been vaccinated a full year earlier. Researchers compared Covid cases in July and August among trial participants who had been fully vaccinated between July and October 2020 with cases among those who were fully vaccinated between December 2020 and March 2021.

Those who got vaccinated later had a 36 percent lower rate of disease. But Dr. Hana M. El Sahly, a professor of molecular virology at Baylor College of Medicine and one of the lead researchers, said the study did not find a statistically significant difference between the two groups in cases of severe Covid — of which there were only 19.

duchen · Oct 12, 2021

flgator2 said: ↑

Delta does not appear to make children sicker; Secondary immune response stronger after infection than after shot (msn.com)

Delta variant does not appear to make children sicker

The Delta variant of the coronavirus does not appear to cause more severe disease in children than earlier forms of the virus, a UK study suggests. Earlier this year, the research team found the Alpha variant of the virus did not appear to make children sicker than the so-called wild, or original, form of the virus, first seen in China. New data suggests that kids also do not get any sicker from Delta than they did from Alpha. Researchers compared two groups of school-age children with COVID-19: 694 infected with the Alpha variant between late December 2020 and early May 2021, and 706 infected with Delta between late May and early July. As reported on Thursday on medRxiv Illness characteristics of COVID-19 in children infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant ahead of peer review, children infected with Delta had slightly more symptoms. But in both groups, very few children needed to be hospitalized and long periods of illness were uncommon. In both groups, half of the children were sick for no more than five days. The researchers lacked information on differences between the groups that might have influenced the results, such as whether lockdowns were in place, and the effects of different seasons. "Our data suggest that clinical characteristics of COVID-19 due to the Delta variant in children are broadly similar to COVID-19 due to other variants," the researchers concluded. That appears to jibe with data reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "Although we are seeing more cases in children ... these studies demonstrated that there was not increased disease severity in children," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said of the Delta-driven wave in a statement. "More children have COVID-19 because there is more disease in the community."

Secondary immune response stronger after infection than vaccination

In COVID-19 survivors, important components of the body's immune response called memory B cells continue to evolve and get stronger for at least several months, producing highly potent antibodies that can neutralize new variants of the virus, a new study has found. By comparison, vaccine-induced memory B cells are less robust, evolving for only a few weeks and never "learning" to protect against variants, researchers reported in a paper published on Thursday in Nature https://go.nature.com/3AjGx2B. COVID-19 vaccines do induce more antibodies than the immune system does after a coronavirus infection. But the immune system response to infection appears to outshine its response to vaccines when it comes to memory B cells. Regardless of whether antibodies are induced by infection or vaccine, their levels drop within six months in many people. But memory B cells stand ready to produce new antibodies if the body encounters the virus. Prior to this study, there had been little data on how vaccine-induced B cells compare to infection-induced B cells. The researchers caution that the benefits of stronger memory B cells after infection do not outweigh the risks that come with COVID-19. "While a natural infection may induce maturation of antibodies with broader activity than a vaccine does, a natural infection can also kill you," said study leader Michel Nussenzweig of Rockefeller University, in a statement. "A vaccine won't do that and, in fact, protects against the risk of serious illness or death from infection.
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]]

That is the enhanced immunity from vaccines in individuals who have had COVID. Replicates other findings and supports vaccinations for recovered COVID patients.

ncargat1 · Oct 19, 2021

The anti-viral drug from Atea/Roche, targeted at those with mild or moderate COVID failed to meet its endpoint goal. It failed to show a reduction in viral load in this population. However, it did show reduction in viral load in the severe disease group comparable to the results reported by Merck and Molnupiravir.

As a result, the group is re-organizing their trials and expects to have trials wrapped up by the end of 2022 for safety and efficacy against COVID in patients with severe disease.

HEALTH AND SCIENCE
Atea Pharma’s Covid treatment fails to meet study goal, shares plunge
A mid-stage trial testing Atea Pharmaceuticals’ Covid-19 treatment failed to meet the main goal of reducing the amount of SARS-CoV-2 virus in non-hospitalized patients with mild or moderate disease, the company said on Tuesday.

In the mid-stage study, AT-527 did not show a clear reduction in SARS-CoV-2 viral load in the overall population of patients with mild or moderate Covid-19 compared to placebo, but it showed a reduction in viral load in high-risk patients with underlying health conditions.

Atea said based on the latest results and the evolving Covid-19 environment, it is modifying an ongoing late-stage study testing the drug in non-hospitalized patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 to include changes to the trial’s main goal and patient population.

As a result, the company now expects late-stage trial data in the second half of 2022, instead of the latter half of this year.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/19/ate...t-fails-to-meet-study-goal-shares-plunge.html

ncargat1 · Oct 19, 2021

J&J vaccine given recommendation for 2nd shot by FDA advisory board.

"I think this frankly always was a two-dose vaccine," said panelist Paul Offit, M.D., of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Johnson & Johnson wins FDA panel backing for a second dose of its COVID shot but don’t call it a ‘booster’
But meeting Friday to consider whether to recommend approval of a booster dose for J&J's vaccine, an FDA advisory committee unanimously concluded that a second dose should be administered and suggested that the vaccine performs better as a two-dose series.

With that, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) recommended unanimously for an emergency use approval for a second dose of the J&J vaccine, provided the first shot came at least two months ago. While the recommendation covered all adults, there was much discussion as to whether the second dose should be called a booster or not.
"I think this frankly always was a two-dose vaccine," said panelist Paul Offit, M.D., of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Despite the committee characterizing it as a two-shot vaccine, it also will be available to those who received the shot upon its rollout after authorization on Feb. 27. As of Wednesday, J&J had administered more than 15.2 million doses of its vaccine. Because data wasn’t readily available, it is uncertain how many of these recipients will be immediately eligible to receive a second dose of the vaccine.
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Johnson & Johnson wins FDA panel backing for a second dose of its COVID shot but don’t call it a ‘booster’

ncargat1 · Oct 21, 2021

Pfizer releases info on first randomized trial of booster effectiveness (during Delta peak). The booster was 95.6% efficacy against disease in a trial group of 10,000 who were split between a booster group and placebo group (all participants previously had 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine).

I am not sure that this data adds much though if in 2-3 months it fades again. The better data will be to see if protective immunity lasts longer and/is more effective in the longer term.

Pfizer and BioNTech Announce Phase 3 Trial Data Showing High Efficacy of a Booster Dose of Their COVID-19 Vaccine
NEW YORK & MAINZ, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) and BioNTech SE (Nasdaq: BNTX) today announced topline results from a Phase 3 randomized, controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of a 30-µg booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in more than 10,000 individuals 16 years of age and older. In the trial, a booster dose administered to individuals who previously received the Pfizer-BioNTech primary two-dose series restored vaccine protection against COVID-19 to the high levels achieved after the second dose, showing a relative vaccine efficacy of 95.6% when compared to those who did not receive a booster. These are the first efficacy results from any randomized, controlled COVID-19 vaccine booster trial.

All trial participants previously completed the primary two-dose series of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, and then were randomized 1:1 to receive either a 30-µg booster dose (the same dosage strength as those in the primary series) or placebo. The median time between second dose and administration of the booster dose or placebo was approximately 11 months. Symptomatic COVID-19 occurrence was measured from at least 7 days after booster or placebo, with a median follow-up of 2.5 months. During the study period, there were 5 cases of COVID-19 in the booster group, and 109 cases in the non-boosted group. The observed relative vaccine efficacy of 95.6% (95% CI: 89.3, 98.6) reflects the reduction in disease occurrence in the boosted group versus the non-boosted group in those without evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Median age of participants was 53 years, with 55.5% of participants between 16 and 55 years, and 23.3% of participants 65 years and older. Multiple subgroup analyses showed efficacy was consistent irrespective of age, sex, race, ethnicity, or comorbid conditions.
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Pfizer and BioNTech Announce Phase 3 Trial Data Showing High Efficacy of a Booster Dose of Their COVID-19 Vaccine

l_boy · Oct 21, 2021

ncargat1 said: ↑

Pfizer releases info on first randomized trial of booster effectiveness (during Delta peak). The booster was 95.6% efficacy against disease in a trial group of 10,000 who were split between a booster group and placebo group (all participants previously had 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine).

I am not sure that this data adds much though if in 2-3 months it fades again. The better data will be to see if protective immunity lasts longer and/is more effective in the longer term.

Pfizer and BioNTech Announce Phase 3 Trial Data Showing High Efficacy of a Booster Dose of Their COVID-19 Vaccine
Click to expand...

That's still good news. Even if it increases infection efficacy for a few months it may help get towards herd immunity.

l_boy · Oct 21, 2021

During the study period, there were 5 cases of COVID-19 in the booster group, and 109 cases in the non-boosted group. The observed relative vaccine efficacy of 95.6% (95% CI: 89.3, 98.6) reflects the reduction in disease occurrence in the boosted group versus the non-boosted group in those without evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection.

To be clear, the effectiveness of 95% is vs the non boosted previously vaccinated group. Presumably the effectiveness vs non vaccinated would be even higher.

philnotfil · Oct 21, 2021

BLING said: ↑

I wouldn’t say the FDA is “efficient” by any measure, but this is hardly a model for what an agency like FDA could typically do either (or how we’d ideally want them to operate). COVID drugs are effectively cutting in line on process, they are cranking out emergency use authorizations as soon as the trials are done.

Odd that you think $10’s of Billions has “nothing” to do with it. That money allowed the drug producers to blow right into phase 2 and 3 as soon as a safety profile was established, and the financial backing allowed them to have everything ready to be manufactured at scale without worrying about a failed trial at an earlier stage. So even before we get to “emergency use authorization” which itself is a fast tracked approval, the entire process is expedited and not repeatable without that $$$ and emergency prioritization.
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Yes, things move faster when the bean counters aren't slowing everything down to make sure profits are maximized.

l_boy · Oct 21, 2021

Has this been posted/discussed?

https://theconversation.com/covid-n...nths-protection-against-severe-disease-169783

COVID: new antibody treatment could offer up to 18 months' protection against severe disease

Rebecca Aicheler, Cardiff Metropolitan University

October 20, 2021 2.09pm BST
A new treatment could soon help protect people from developing severe COVID. AstraZeneca has just released results from a phase 3 clinical trial – the final stage of testing before a drug is authorised – that suggest its new COVID treatment, AZD7442, is effective at reducing severe disease or death in non-hospitalised COVID patients.

The treatment contains antibodies, which are usually produced naturally in response to a COVID infection or vaccination. They work by recognising specific parts of SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes COVID – and either attack these directly or bind to them to stop the virus from working and flag it for destruction by other parts of the immune system.

ncargat1 · Oct 21, 2021

Excellent data from the CDC today highlighting just how effective the vaccines have been for different age groups: (posted the image below in case the Tweet does not show up).

ncargat1 · Oct 22, 2021

CDC Confirms FDA recommendations on Pfizer, Moderna and J&J boosters:

Today, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., endorsed the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ (ACIP) recommendation for a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccines in certain populations. The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorizationexternal icon and CDC’s recommendation for use are important steps forward as we work to stay ahead of the virus and keep Americans safe.

For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:

65 years and older

Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings

Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions

Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

For the nearly 15 million people who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago.

There are now booster recommendations for all three available COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. Some people may have a preference for the vaccine type that they originally received and others, may prefer to get a different booster. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.
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Coronavirus Disease 2019

G8trGr8t · Oct 22, 2021

ncargat1 said: ↑

CDC Confirms FDA recommendations on Pfizer, Moderna and J&J boosters:

Coronavirus Disease 2019
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I had pfizer, got the booster at 6 months, wonder if Moderna would have provided better option.

ncargat1 · Oct 22, 2021

G8trGr8t said: ↑

I had pfizer, got the booster at 6 months, wonder if Moderna would have provided better option.
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I am in the same boat based on my recommendation from my doctor. I am not worreid about which mRNA is "better". However, I would like to know if the immune response could be broadened and more closely replicate infection if we had chosen the Ad.26 vaccine (J&J) or the protein nano-particle (Novavaxx - not authorized) that provokes response to other antigens besides the S-protein or even the attenuated virus vaccine (not authorized in US) from China.

In any case, I am satisfied with the Pfizer data and the CDC data on probability of developing severe disease (incredibly low) regardless of which vaccine we were given.

ncargat1 · Oct 23, 2021

CDC MMWR data on Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine efficacy in adolescents aged 12-17 years old.

Effectiveness of Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA Vaccination Against ...

Study highlights showed that in a study of approximately 179 kids split between vaccinated and unvaccinated with PCR confirmed covid:

Overall vaccine efficacy against disease was 93%....of those who developed symptomatic disease:

0 - admitted to ICU from the vaccine group; 77 - from the unvaccinated group were admitted to ICU
0 - on life support in the vaccine group; 29 - needed life support from the unvaccinated group
0 - required artificial vantiliation in the vaccine group; 21 - required artifical ventilation from unvaccinated group
0 - deaths in the vaccine group; 2 deaths in the unvaccinated group

l_boy · Oct 28, 2021

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/10/pfizer-moderna-dose-which-vaccine-best/620501/

Interesting article about difference in strengths and dosages of vaccines. Moderna may be better because it has 3 times the dose, plus is spread out over 4 weeks vs 3 weeks. J&J likely comparatively worse due to just one dose.

WC53 · Oct 28, 2021

l_boy said: ↑

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2021/10/pfizer-moderna-dose-which-vaccine-best/620501/

Interesting article about difference in strengths and dosages of vaccines. Moderna may be better because it has 3 times the dose, plus is spread out over 4 weeks vs 3 weeks. J&J likely comparatively worse due to just one dose.
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there was some discussion recently that JJ should have been a 2 dose. No link, I can’t remember where I read it. OldTimers you know

l_boy · Oct 28, 2021

WC53 said: ↑

there was some discussion recently that JJ should have been a 2 dose. No link, I can’t remember where I read it. OldTimers you know
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You remember correctly. It was mentioned in the above link.

l_boy · Oct 28, 2021

Antidepressant Fluvoxamine Significantly Reduces Covid-19 Hospitalization

Speculation that this could apply with other SSRI anti depressants also.

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