Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Early Blood Plasma Therapy May Hinder Risk Of Severe Covid: Study
The New York Times: Study Says Blood Plasma Reduces Risk Of Severe Covid-19 If Given Early
A small but rigorous clinical trial in Argentina has found that blood plasma from recovered Covid-19 patients can keep older adults from getting seriously sick with the coronavirus — if they get the therapy within days of the onset of the illness. The results, published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, are some of the first to conclusively point toward the oft-discussed treatment’s beneficial effects. (Wu, 1/6)
CIDRAP: Early Convalescent Plasma May Lower Risk Of Severe COVID In Seniors
Plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients with high levels of antibodies appeared to delay or stop progression of illness in mildly ill older adults infected with the novel coronavirus, a study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded. (Van Beusekom, 1/6)
Also —
NPR: Antibody Treatments For COVID-19 Are Worth The Effort, Doctors Say
Many doses of the monoclonal antibody drugs that treat mild to moderate COVID-19 are sitting unused around the country. There are logistical problems with providing these drugs and skepticism over whether they work. But two major health systems have had good success in deploying these medications, and they're reporting hopeful results. Monoclonal antibodies, manufactured by Regeneron and Eli Lilly, have been available since just before Thanksgiving. The Food and Drug Administration authorized them for emergency use after studies suggested that they reduced the risk of hospitalization among people at elevated risk. That includes people over 65 and those with underlying health conditions such as obesity. (Harris, 1/6)
10News.com: San Diego Supercomputer Uncovers Several Potential COVID-19 Treatments
With the help of a supercomputer at UC San Diego, researchers have identified several promising drugs approved for other diseases that might work as treatments for COVID-19.For the last several months, a team led by Valentina Kouznetsova and Igor Tsigelny at the San Diego Supercomputer Center has been scouring the FDA database of approved drugs, running complicated molecular simulations to find compounds that might be just the right fit to smother the virus. (1/6)
Cincinnati Enquirer: UC Scientist Sees Issues With Remdesivir As COVID-19 Treatment
While the world has its eyes on vaccines to stop the spread of coronavirus, therapeutic drugs are still needed to treat hospitalized patients. One of these treatments, remdesivir, is the first and only antiviral agent of its kind that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved so far for COVID-19. But research performed at the University of Cincinnati concludes that the drug is being used too indiscriminately when treating patients hospitalized with the virus. The study was published late last month in the online, peer-reviewed journal Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology. (1/6)
