Welcome to Overnight Healthcare on Monday, We are following up on the latest developments in policies and news that affect your health. Subscribe here: thehill.com/newsletter-signup..
Notable: Billionaire and “Shark Tank” Host Mark Cuban
If Mark Cuban Bitcoin is “Digital Gold”, it should be taxed like Gold Mark Cuban sticks to vaccination: “If you work for me, I ask employees to vaccinate “View” details teeth Start-up We promise some big discounts on new online pharmacies and medicines.
The FDA also announced today that it will stop using two monoclonal antibody therapies because they do not work against Omicron variants.
In the case of Hill, we are Peter Sullivan (psullivan@thehill.com) And Nathaniel Weixel (nweixel@thehill.com). Write us with tips and feedback and follow us on Twitter: @ PeterSullivan4 When @NateWeixel
let’s start.
The FDA limits the use of two antibody therapies
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday severely restricted the use of a pair of monoclonal antibody therapies for COVID-19. This is because they have no effect on Omicron.
The agency said the treatments given by Eli Lilly and Regeneron should only be used in patients infected or exposed to susceptible variants.
“According to the data, these treatments are very unlikely to be effective against the Omicron variant, which is very common throughout the United States, so at this time, these treatments are in the United States. Not licensed for use in states, territories, and jurisdictions. “The FDA said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Omicron variants began to spread nationwide in late November and now account for more than 99% of infections.
As a result, the FDA states, “It is very unlikely that COVID-19 patients seeking treatment in the United States at this time are infected with mutants other than Omicron.”
Not canceled: However, the authorities did not revoke the emergency permit because the regulator wants to be able to use the drug again in the event of a situation.
“In the future, if patients in certain areas are likely to be infected or exposed to these treatment-sensitive variants, the use of these therapies may be permitted in these areas,” the FDA said. rice field.
We have others, too: Hospitals and doctors have other options. Currently the most recommended antibody treatments are GlaxoSmithKline and VirBiotechnology sotrovimab. The administration will also continue to allocate doses of Pfizer’s antiviral drug Paxlovid, and what is called Molnupiravir manufactured by Merck. However, both Paxlovid and sotrovimab are missing.
Please check this out for details.
More antibodies are present in the months following the booster
A new study shows high levels of coronavirus antibodies that fight the Omicron variant four months after the third dose of Pfizer vaccine. This is a positive sign of the sustainability of booster shot effectiveness.
The Study from Researchers at Pfizer, BioNTech, and the University of Texas Medical Branch have shown antibodies that fight the virus for four months after the third dose, answering the key question of how long protection from booster shots lasts. It will help.
Eric Topol, Professor of Molecular Medicine at Scripps Research Tweet “This is great,” in response to a study that antibody levels were “unexpectedly still quite high” four months later.
remove: Results add to the increased evidence of the importance of booster shots. This encourages health officials to face a surge from Omicron variants.
Last week, a study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that a third injection was 90% effective for hospitalization. Compared to just 57 percent Effectiveness against Omicron in people who have passed the second shot for 6 months.
Remaining questions: There are still unresolved issues as to how long the protection from booster shots lasts for more than 4 months. That information helps you know if and when you need a fourth shot.
Pfizer said Monday that it would evaluate “additional doses of both the current formulation and the Omicron-based vaccine” in the future.
Click here for details..
A “significant turning point” in a pandemic
“We are in a critical time,” said the Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday, encouraging countries to work together to end the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The COVID-19 pandemic is now in its third year and we are in serious danger,” Tedros Adhanom Gebreyes said in a press conference. Reuters report..
“We must work together to end this acute phase of the pandemic. It’s lurking between panic and neglect, and we can’t keep dragging it,” he adds. Pointed out a tool to end the. It is available.
Last week, the agency said there was a 20 percent increase in cases of COVID-19 across six WHO regions. Mark deceleration From the previous week.
However, WHO said, “Despite the slowdown in the increase in case incidence at the global level, all regions reported a weekly increase in case incidence, except in Africa, which reported a 27% decrease.” Warned.
Click here for details..
Virginia AG urges SCOTUS to overthrow Roe
Virginia’s newly elected Republican Attorney General has asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the Roe v. Wade case and hand over abortion authority to the state.
Under the state’s previous Democratic-led government, Virginia joins 21 other states to revoke Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban and reaffirm the heart of the court’s decision in Law in 1973. I urged the judge.
But in the first week of work after defeating the state’s democracy incumbent in the November election, Virginia’s new Attorney General, Jason Miyares, announced a dramatic change in course. ..
” [new] The Attorney General reconsidered Virginia’s position in this case, “Miyares told the judge in a letter on Friday. “Virginia currently has the view that the Constitution is silent on the issue of abortion, so it is up to the people of some states to determine the legal status and regulatory treatment of abortion.”
To monitor: Roe bans the state from banning abortions before fetal viability. This happens in about 24 weeks. The decision on the fate of the Mississippi 15-week ban is expected to clash directly with Roe’s central holdings and nearly 50 years of Supreme Court case law in support of it.
During a tense hearing in the case last month, judges were ready to roll back the legal system that emerged from the egg in a way that might allow the state to impose new restrictions on abortion. It seemed to be there.
Click here for details..
Vaccine unused from French restaurants and sports venues
France began banning restaurants, bars, tourist destinations and sports venues on Monday unless unvaccinated individuals recently recovered from COVID-19 infection.
The country is now requiring individuals over the age of 16 to present a “vaccine pass” to enter many public facilities. Associated Press.. The National Parliament and the Constitutional Council approved the initiative last week.
However, a vaccine pass is not required to attend a political rally. France24..
The new initiative begins with the daily number of COVID-19 cases in France jumping to the highest recorded level throughout the pandemic. New York Times..
According to AP, patients with COVID-19 still fill a French hospital, but the number of individuals in the country’s intensive care unit has recently declined.
Click here for details..
What we are reading
- U.S. pharmacies are rolling out free N95 masks as free Covid-19 tests begin to arrive by email (CNN)
- Remdesivir, which is more readily available than other COVID therapies, is currently approved for outpatient use (MLive).
- They have built a smarter approach to Covid clinical trials. Now they want to do the same for other illnesses (Stat)
- I am worried that resistance may occur when the Covid-19 pill is deployed (Wall Street Journal).
State by state
- Georgia voters determine state status in Medicaid (NPR) with the next governor
- Governor of Illinois Announces COVID-19 Sick Leave Initiative for Vaccinated School Staff (WAVY)
- More evidence shows a decline in Omicron’s surge, but hospitalizations are still high (Portland Press Herald)
- Opponents of vaccination are preparing for the fight over California’s vaccination law (LA Times)
Editorial in the hill
Invest infrastructure to help older Americans lead a healthier life
That’s it for today. Thank you for reading. Check out Hill’s Healthcare page for the latest news and coverage. See you on Tuesday.
..
