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MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ORAL ANTI-COVID DRUGS
(MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES (Given IV)
Monoclonal antibodies blocking surface proteins of the coronavirus can slow the infection of new cells with SARS-CoV-2, but their application has been hamstrung by cost, availability, and the need to infuse or inject them.)
PFIZER’S NEW DRUG: (PR-07321332)
In contrast, Pfizer’s ingestible candidate operates inside an infected cell; it blocks enzymes, called proteases, that normally act early in a virus’ life cycle to help it replicate (see graphic, below). Many protease inhibitors are approved for HIV treatment, and Pfizer’s compound has a nearly 20-year history. Pfizer scientists designed a version of the compound back in 2003 to block a protease in the coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a cousin of SARS-CoV-2….Then SARS abated, and Pfizer shelved the product. Last year, the company dusted it off, discovered it could stop SARS-CoV-2 from replicating in human cells, and began to develop it for COVID-19….Monoclonal antibodies blocking surface proteins of the coronavirus can slow the infection of new cells with SARS-CoV-2, but their application has been hamstrung by cost, availability, and the need to infuse or inject them. In contrast, Pfizer’s ingestible candidate operates inside an infected cell; it blocks enzymes, called proteases, that normally act early in a virus’ life cycle to help it replicate (see graphic, below). Many protease inhibitors are approved for HIV treatment, and Pfizer’s compound has a nearly 20-year history. Pfizer scientists designed a version of the compound back in 2003 to block a protease in the coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a cousin of SARS-CoV-2….Monoclonal antibodies blocking surface proteins of the coronavirus can slow the infection of new cells with SARS-CoV-2, but their application has been hamstrung by cost, availability, and the need to infuse or inject them. In contrast, Pfizer’s ingestible candidate operates inside an infected cell; it blocks enzymes, called proteases, that normally act early in a virus’ life cycle to help it replicate (see graphic, below). Many protease inhibitors are approved for HIV treatment, and Pfizer’s compound has a nearly 20-year history. Pfizer scientists designed a version of the compound back in 2003 to block a protease in the coronavirus that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a cousin of SARS-CoV-2….There’s broad agreement among doctors and scientists that drugs that cripple SARS-CoV-2 directly and early in an infection are crucial to helping end the COVID-19 pandemic.(They are quick to emphasize that such treatments shouldn’t replace vaccines as the first line of defense.)…The regimen is also being tested in two additional trials. One is enrolling people who have a standard risk of developing severe COVID-19, including those who are vaccinated; the other offers the pills as a preventive therapy to people who’ve had a member of their household test positive for the virus. Those trials continue and Pfizer hasn’t yet reported their results….
MERCK’S NEW DRUG: (MOLNUPIRAVIR)
On 1 October, Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics announced their antiviral, called molnupiravir, cut hospitalization by half in trial volunteers. (That trial was also halted early because of the drug’s effectiveness.) Yesterday, U.K. regulators approved molnupiravir for people with mild or moderate COVID-19 and at least one risk factor, such as obesity. An advisory committee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will consider the therapy later this month….Molnupiravir works very differently from a protease inhibitor: It tricks SARS-CoV-2 into incorporating the compound into its genetic information, encoded by RNA, and in doing so mutates the virus to a point where it can longer replicate. But some experts worry that in the long term, widespread use of the drug could spur the evolution of additional harmful viral variants. There also remain theoretical concerns about whether the drug could cause mutations in people. So having another COVID-19 drug option like Pfizer’s protease inhibitor is welcome. …“Protease inhibitors are really powerful antivirals, and that’s been demonstrated with HIV and hepatitis ….Other protease inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 are racing through their own clinical trials. In its press release, Pfizer said there were no notable side effects associated with its drug candidate.
Ultimately, scientists say, drug combinations may be key to treating early COVID-19; that molnupiravir and protease inhibitors act on the virus in different ways could make stacking them together a potent strategy if resistance to one becomes widespread. HIV and hepatitis C treatments both employ such combinations now,…[and] combining the oral antivirals now hitting the scene might change the pandemic’s trajectory.
Next-gen supercharged COVID-19 vaccines may also target the common cold
Coverage and Estimated Effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Among US Veterans
”…Question What was the COVID-19 vaccination coverage and estimated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) among US veterans in the first 3 months following vaccine rollout?
Findings In this case-control study including 6 647 733 veterans, 23% of veterans received at least 1 COVID-19 vaccination during the first 3 months of vaccine rollout. VE against infection was estimated to be 95% for full vaccination; estimated VE against COVID-19-related hospitalization was 91%, and there were no COVID-19–related deaths among fully vaccinated veterans… These findings suggest that early vaccination rollout for veterans was efficient, and estimated VE was high for this diverse US population…Conclusions and Relevance For veterans of all racial and ethnic subgroups living in urban or rural areas, mRNA vaccination was associated with a substantially decreased risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalization, with no deaths among fully vaccinated veterans.
”…In this study we describe changes in the relationship between mobile phone data and SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the USA….The effective reproduction number (Rt) represents the expected number of infections caused by a single infectious case, accounting for existing immunity in the population. Rt provides an important measure of epidemic trajectory and indicates whether incidence is growing, shrinking, or holding steady.
(J. Harris: Unless I missed something, this study shows that mobility metrics is not helpful in rural areas.)
AND LAST BUT NOT LEASED;
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