Global cases of the novel coronavirus have surpassed thirty-seven million, and the global fatality count is now more than one million. Most media and scientific coverage of the pandemic has focused on its impact on humans. But animals have also been affected by the virus — and many have also played major roles in SARS-CoV-2 …
23andMe Data Bolsters Link Between COVID-19 and Blood Types
Did you know that a person’s blood type may be linked to the likelihood that they will catch COVID-19 and experience severe symptoms? Recently 23andMe, a personal genomics and biotechnology company best known for providing direct-to-consumer genetic testing services, published preliminary data for an upcoming study that strengthens prior research on this subject. Although the study has not …
COVID-19 versus the Seasonal Flu: Facts and Figures
Since SARS-CoV-2 (or the novel coronavirus, the virus that causes COVID-19) emerged, many have compared it to the seasonal flu. The seasonal flu virus and SARS-CoV-2 can present with similar symptoms: both seasonal influenza strains (flu A and flu B) and SARS-CoV-2 are contagious viruses that cause respiratory illnesses in humans. The outcomes of the …
U.S. Plans to Offer Free COVID-19 Vaccines to All Americans
On Wednesday, September 16, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense (DoD) released two documents outlining the federal government’s strategy to provide all Americans with free, safe, and effective COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible. The first document was a report to Congress, and the second was a …
Amodiaquine: Learning from the Hydroxychloroquine Mistake
Both the scientific community and the general public now know that hydroxychloroquine is ineffective against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The FDA revoked its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the drug in June 2020, after it failed in clinical trials. Now there is another drug, a close chemical relative of hydroxychloroquine’s called amodiaquine, that …
FDA No Longer Requires Premarket Review for Some COVID-19 Tests
On August 19, 2020, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) no longer requires the premarket review of laboratory developed tests (LDTs), including certain tests used to detect COVID-19. A type of in vitro diagnostic test, an LDT is designed, manufactured, and used within a …
Mobile Medical Units Deployed in the Fight Against COVID-19
Teaming up with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly recently announced an innovative trial that aims to provide temporary COVID-19 immunity to one of the most high-risk populations: elderly patients in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The 2,400-person trial will test Lilly’s experimental, lab-grown COVID-19 neutralizing antibodies. Ideally, …
Vero Cell Studies: Misleading Results in the Fight Against COVID-19
For a few months in early 2020, hydroxychloroquine was touted as a promising treatment for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. After months of testing and trials, there’s little doubt that it’s not effective. What went wrong? Scientists who ran the lab experiments — which yielding promising data — used the wrong type of cells. …
How the FDA Is Accelerating COVID-19 Testing and Treatments
Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, many governmental agencies and public health officials around the world have worked tirelessly to protect public health. Joining other federal, state, and local agencies, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has played a pivotal role in many aspects of the public health response to the pandemic, including …
Studying Lab-Grown Miniature Organs to Understand COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2 has a certain versatility in invading organs such as the kidneys, lungs, and liver. Physicians treating patients and scientists in research settings are witnessing firsthand how it can devastate those organs. It is unclear, however, whether the damage is due directly to the virus or is indirect damage from complications. The disease processes in …
