Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
One Vaccine Begins Phase 2 Trials; Oleandrin Treatment Is 'Remote'
The Hill: Novavax Coronavirus Vaccine Candidate Begins Phase Two Trials
Novavax on Monday announced it would proceed with phase two clinical trials to determine if its coronavirus vaccine candidate showed positive results for patients. The Maryland-based firm is one of several companies around the world working to develop a vaccine to protect against COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Its move to begin the second phase of study comes just weeks after reporting that its vaccine showed promising signs in early trials. (Wise, 8/17)
In related news —
CNN: Oleandrin Treatment For Coronavirus Is 'Nonsense' Right Now, Experts Say
Is the White House about to promote a new, unproven and sketchy coronavirus treatment? Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow and an enthusiastic Trump supporter, says so. He told CNN he took part in a July meeting with President Trump to discuss oleandrin as a potential treatment for coronavirus. But such early enthusiasm for the compound, made using a toxic shrub, is not only strange, but disturbing, three infectious disease specialists told CNN Monday. (Fox, 8/18)
