Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
The Latest On Covid Treatments — Including Some That Aren't At All
When it comes to possible covid treatments, there's the good —
Fox News: Steroid Nasal Sprays Reduce COVID-Related Poor Outcomes, Study Suggests
Regular use of steroid nasal sprays afforded COVID-19 patients protection against virus-related hospitalization, ICU admission and death, the Cleveland Clinic announced Tuesday. However, the findings don't suggest the sprays as a COVID-19 treatment and further findings are needed to confirm the results, the health system said. The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health and published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, stemmed from over 70,000 COVID-19 patients ages 18 and older at the Cleveland Clinic health system from April 2020 to March 2021. Of the group, 17.5% were hospitalized, 4.1% were admitted to the ICU and 2.6% died at the hospital. Just over 14% of patients were taking a steroid nasal spray, also known as intranasal corticosteroids (INCS), before infection. (Rivas, 9/28)
Reuters: COVID-19 Pill Developers Aim To Top Merck, Pfizer Efforts
As Merck & Co (MRK.N) and Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) prepare to report clinical trial results for experimental COVID-19 antiviral pills, rivals are lining up with what they hope will prove to be more potent and convenient oral treatments of their own. Enanta Pharmaceuticals (ENTA.O), Pardes Biosciences, Japan's Shionogi & Co Ltd (4507.T) and Novartis AG (NOVN.S) said they have designed antivirals that specifically target the coronavirus while aiming to avoid potential shortcomings such as the need for multiple pills per day or known safety issues. (Beasley, 9/28)
The bad —
Axios: Ivermectin Prescriptions Soar
Prescriptions for Ivermectin soared more than 70% between 2019 and the beginning of 2021, according to insurance claim data compiled by Komodo Health. Ivermectin — which has some dermatological uses in humans but is mostly for veterinary purposes — has not been shown to be at all effective against COVID, yet its use has soared, fueled in part by rampant misinformation. (Reed, 9/29)
The Oregonian: Stop Inhaling Hydrogen Peroxide To ‘Treat’ COVID. Doctors Beg People Not To Follow This Dangerous And Ineffective Trend
Medical experts are warning the public of a dangerous trend that has been spreading on social media where people are skipping intensive care units and instead treating COVID at home by inhaling hydrogen peroxide through the use of a nebulizer. Hydrogen peroxide is a mild antiseptic used topically on the skin to prevent infection on minor cuts and wounds. It is also used as a mouthwash to remove mucus or soothe minor mouth irritation. (Rodriguez, 9/28)
And the ugly —
Salt Lake Tribune: Utah Lawmaker Invites GOP Caucus To Reception With COVID-19 Vaccine Skeptic
A Utah House representative invited his entire GOP caucus to a Tuesday night reception featuring a presentation by a well-known COVID-19 vaccine skeptic who has promoted unproven drugs to treat coronavirus patients. A copy of the invitation sent by Rep. Mark Strong to his Republican colleagues states that Utah Open for Business, a group stridently opposed to vaccine mandates, would be hosting the event at a Sandy hotel. State lawmakers, businesspeople and a representative from the Utah Attorney General’s Office were expected to attend the reception to talk about “the federal mandate on businesses and surrounding issues,” the email stated. (Rodgers, 9/29)
