An agreement between US drug maker Pfizer and a UN-backed public health organization could provide a promising COVID-19 drug to more than half of the world’s population, an important step. in hastening the end of the pandemic.
Pfizer said on Tuesday it will issue a license for the antiviral drug Paxlovid to the Geneva-based Medicines Patent Organization (MPP), which allows generic drug companies to manufacture tablets for use in 95 low- and middle-income countries, representing approximately 53% of the population. global number.
Agreement later a similar deal happened in October between MPP and New Jersey-based Merck to produce its own experimental COVID-19 drug, molnupiravir.
Also on Tuesday, Pfizer requested an emergency use authorization for Paxlovid from the Food and Drug Administration. Interim data show that the drug reduces the risk of hospitalization or death by 89% in COVID patients who take the drug within three days of symptoms appearing.
“We believe that oral antiviral treatments can play an important role in reducing the severity of COVID-19 infections, reducing strain on the healthcare system. our health and save lives,” said Pfizer President and CEO Albert Bourla in a statement.
Health officials say the fact that the deal was made even before Pfizer’s drug was authorized anywhere could help end the pandemic sooner.
“It is quite important that we will be able to provide access to a seemingly effective and newly developed drug to more than 4 billion people,” said Esteban Burrone, head of policy at the Drug Patent Foundation. , who estimated production of the pill would begin within a few months.
Also in the news:
►Facilities are growing in 31 states, a US TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins University data shows. Cases for the week ended Monday stood at 584,449, up 15% from recent lows for the week ending October 26.
► CDC on Monday moved four European travel destinations – Hungary, Iceland, Czech Republic and Guernsey – into the “Level 4” category with the highest risk. CDC recommends avoiding travel to destinations in this category where there are incidence of more than 500 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in the last 28 days.
►Maine surpass its record As for the number of people in the state hospitalized with COVID-19 as that number reached 261 as of Monday, 72 of them are in critical care.
►New York State is Expanded eligibility for enhanced COVID-19 for those who “feel at risk.”
►A hospital in Houston temporarily suspend a doctor for spreading misinformation about COVID-19 to her patients and on social media.
📈Today’s numbers: The United States has recorded more than 47 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 764,000 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Global total: More than 253 million cases and 5.1 million deaths. More than 195 million Americans – 58.8% of the population – are fully immunized, According to CDC.
📘 What we are reading: As doctors’ offices and pharmacies fill appointments to vaccinate children, parents across the country are expecting the freedoms their kids can enjoy after getting vaccinated. But The question of face coverings – especially in schools – remains.
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Fauci said vaccinated families ‘can feel comfortable’ spending the holiday together
The president’s medical adviser, Dr Anthony Fauci, said people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 should feel comfortable spending the holidays together with loved ones who have also been vaccinated.
“If you get vaccinated and your family is vaccinated, you can feel comfortable enjoying a typical Thanksgiving, Christmas with your family and close friends,” Fauci said on Wednesday. Two Interview organized by the Center for Bipartisan Policy.
With the number of cases still high, Fauci recommends that Americans wear masks when in groups of people staying indoors.
“But when you’re with your family at home, enjoy it with your parents, your children, your grandparents,” he said. “There’s no reason not to do it.”
Pfizer sends anti-virus data to FDA, requires authorization
Pfizer has Officially request emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to make the COVID-19 antiviral drug Paxlovid available to the United States public.
A recent study found that the drug reduced the risk of hospitalization and death by 89% compared with a placebo when taken within three days of the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. The subjects in the trial were all at high risk for severe disease. An independent review agency discontinued the study early because of its effectiveness. The drug, which limits viral replication, is delivered as three pills taken by mouth for five days.
– Karen Weintraub
Childhood vaccination campaign raises concerns about inequality
Nearly 1 million children ages 5 to 11 received their first COVID-19 shot in their first week of eligibility, the Biden administration announced last week.
But the rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations for elementary school-age children has posed another problem to the nation’s effort to tackle pandemic inequality: The health system has announced There is little data on racism in youth immunization, and community leaders are concerned that Black and Latino children are falling behind.
Only a few states release public data on COVID-19 vaccinations by race and age, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also do not compile analyzes on race.
In some places reporting COVID-19 vaccines for children by race, incidents vary.
In Michigan, Connecticut and Washington, DC, white children are vaccinated at much higher rates than black children. But in New York City, white children ages 13 to 17 are vaccinated at lower rates than black, Latino, and Asian children.
In Connecticut, vaccination rates for 12- to 17-year-olds in many affluent, predominantly white towns exceed 80%.
The Biden administration says it is spending nearly $800 million to support organizations that seek to improve vaccine confidence in communities of color and low-income Americans.
Report calls for clearer federal strategy against COVID misinformation
A new report from a panel of government, academic and press leaders has urged a clearer federal strategy to combat misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the 15 broad recommendations to reduce “harmful chain reactions” caused by misinformation.
Report, published Monday by the Aspen Institute’s Disinformation Committee, following a six-month investigation into the spread of COVID-related misinformation. It stressed the need for a “comprehensive federal approach” with clearly defined responsibilities across the executive branch.
“At the time of this writing, the Federal Government lacks any clear leadership and strategy on the issue of misinformation, despite its own admission of the impact on public health. , elections, business, technology, and campaigns continue for communities of color, including immigrants, and the report says. “This lack of leadership, ownership, or strategy,” said the report. are hindering efforts, slow response times, and duplicate efforts.”
The council also called on social media platforms to be more transparent in sharing background information about viral posts and how they go viral, among other recommendations.
Florida teacher at center of ivermectin lawsuit dies after battling COVID-19
A teacher in Palm Beach County, Florida, who is at the center of a battle to get hospital use of an unproven drug because of her worsening COVID-19 symptoms died of illness.
Tamara Drock, 47, of Loxahatchee, Florida, died of complications from COVID-19 on Friday, 12 weeks after being admitted to Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center for treatment, her husband said.
As she struggles with the disease, last month her husband, Ryan Drock, sued the hospital to ask the hospital to use ivermectin, an FDA-approved drug to treat conditions caused by parasitic worms but not caused by COVID-19.
The closely watched case has become one of many around the country that seek to force hospitals to administer the drug, which has gained popularity among conservatives as a potential treatment for cases of serious illness. The FDA says ivermectin has not proven effective against COVID-19 in preclinical trials.
– Andrew Marra, Palm Beach Post
Contribution: Associated Press
