The COVID-19 pandemic has been a call to arms for many of the world’s biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Although progress has been made, these companies must continue to use their top scientists, creative thinking skills, and material sources to blunt and reverse the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. This is especially important …
Oligonucleotides: Innovations in Antivirals for Novel Viruses
As scientists, doctors and researchers race to develop vaccines and therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2, several drugs have emerged as promising candidates. Oligonucleotide therapeutics are one such type of drug, according to Zamas Lam, Senior Vice President of Preclinical Development at QPS, and John Kolman, Vice President of Translational Medicine at QPS.
UK COVID-19 Challenge Trials to Infect Healthy Volunteers with Coronavirus
As communities strive to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, the United Kingdom is funding research trials that will deliberately infect healthy young volunteers with the coronavirus. With these COVID-19 challenge trials, the government hopes to accelerate the development of safe, effective vaccines. However, the strategy is controversial. Researchers must weigh …
Animals and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Contributions and Risks
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, …
